top of page

IDR Models VIC W Class
DCC Sound Installation with Light Modifications

Now available with a NEW​ Remastered Custom Sound Project

including "Full Throttle - Drive Hold" feature

About the VIC W Class Locomotive

The W class are a diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotive ordered and operated by the Victorian Railways of Australia.

The Victorian Railways called for tenders in Mid 1957 for diesel shunting locomotives. Tulloch won this order by offering a designed based on the German shunting locomotive in service at the time. The locomotives entered service between December 1959 and December 1960. 

NSWGR 7101 - Tulloch built one additional locomotive in standard gauge which was offered as a demonstrator on a sale or return basis for a 12 month trial to the NSWGR which went into service on 11 November 1960, numbered 7101. With tulloch hoping to receiving an order for similar units, the trial lasted just over 6 months and ended with the NSWGR returning the locomotive to Tulloch who sold it onto the Victorian Railways to become W266 with an additional one W267 both built in standard gauge.

The W class was generally allocated to Ballarat, Geelong and Melbourne for short shunting trips, and one each at Ararat, Bendigo and Seymour, explicitly for yard work only. However, on the odd occasion, Seymour-based W241 was used on the Shepparton goods, and also ran out to Rushworth and Colbinabbin. It also made it to Benalla a few times.

The W class locomotives were originally powered by V12 Mercedes Benz diesel engine, however between 1973 and 1977 at least 10 engines were replaced with General Motor diesel engines. This resulted in the long hood being raised in height and a second exhaust stack at the end of the long hood was fitted, with the original adjacent to the driving cabin plated over.

The W class lasted in service until the mid-1980’s with only W241 and W250 both operational, W243 and W255 are static displays and W244 in storage.

DCC with Sound and Light Modifications

In February 2020, IDR Models released the VIC W Class and NSW 7101 Locomotivs, which includes a 21 Pin socket for fitting a DCC decoder, built in Stay Alive Device and factory speaker. 

In DCC, the Headlights and Marker Lights will operate directional.

 

​For this installation, we recommend the ESU LokSound 5 (Sound) with our remastered Custom Sound Project for the W Class or the LokPilot 5 (No Sound) for those not wishing sound

Here at DCC Solutions, we offer a light modification to separate the headlights, white and red marker lights for individual DCC control to provide more opitional lighting operations when running your W Class model.

The DCC Solutions VIC W Class Custom Sound Project is packed with

sounds and features not found on other sound decoders

 or even the supplied factory fitted sound

Factory Fitted Sound only offers very basic sound and features

So why not get fully featured sound and upgrade the Factory Sound with DCC Solutions W Class Sound

Our Custom Sound Project now includes these fantastic features:

Full Throttle – Drive Hold

This feature allows you to simulate a hard-working loaded train by pressing the F1 function button. When the button is pressed, the motor will remain at a constant speed, while the sound can be controlled independently by adjusting the speed on the throttle, so this can simulate a hard-working locomotive. This exciting feature gives the operator the ability to have the loco crawling in notch 8 or coasting at 100 km/h along the track. Release the Drive Hold function button, and you simply go back to throttle-controlled speed, motion and sound. Available only from DCC Solutions, our Drive Hold will stop your loco when you reduce the speed to zero, even while the function is still active. Your ESU factory sound or sound from other providers will not stop your loco at speed step 0 with the drive hold switched on, which can damage your model because you ran into something.

Coasting On Demand

This feature allows you to enter coasting mode whenever you want with a press of a button. Often, when coming to a stop, the throttle of a real locomotive is put into idle and the locomotive coasts to a stop. Another situation that occurs is that once a train is up to speed when operating over rolling countryside, the driver can coast to maintain a certain speed. By pressing the coast function button, the sound drops into coasting and remains there. Using the throttle speed control, you can now speed up or slow down the train, with the sound remaining in coasting mode. Press the function button to exit coasting, the sound will return to the speed that's set when exiting.

Working Brake

Press the Brake Function button, and your locomotive will come to a stop at a much shorter distance than if you were to bring it to a stop by reducing the throttle speed. Release the brake and your locomotive will move off again, or choose to have it remain stationary when the brake is released. The brake can also be used while driving to slow the locomotive up.

Brake Squeal on Deceleration

Activate this function and when you reduce the throttle speed, your locomotive will begin braking and slow up quicker as you continue to lower the throttle speed, and you will hear the squeal of the brakes. Accelerating will release the brakes.

Random Start-up Sequences with Move Off and Stopping Sounds

Now, with random start-up sequences, your start-up and shut down will not always sound the same.

As your locomotive begins to move off you will hear the sounds of brakes releasing with random speed activated wheel squeal, rail noises and other sounds. Some of these sounds are random or speed sensitive that will turn on/off automatically depending on your take-off speed. When the locomotive comes to a stop you will hear the squeal of the brakes, air releases and then the compressor will cut in automatically to fill the reservoirs with air until full and will cut out.

Random Sounds

While the factory fitted sound will only offer you 1-2 random sounds, DCC Solutions will have up to 10 random sounds that will play when either the loco is stopping or moving, to create even more realism to running your model.

And includes all these great features to make your IDR Models W Class drive and sound impressive

  • VIC W Class Custom Built Sound Project

  • Random Start-up sequences, including Automatic Hot or Cold Engine Starts.

  • VR RVB Hurricane 3 chime and NSWGR playable and short blast horn

  • Air and Brake Release Sounds when loco moves off and stops, including Brake Squeal.

  • When the loco stops after braking, the compressor cuts in to fill the reservoir and will turn off when the tanks are full.

  • Speed sensitive Wheel Squeal and Rail Noise when the loco moves off.

  • Full Throttle Drive Hold - Lock the loco speed and control the sound independently simulating a heavy loaded or empty train

  • Coasting On Demand

  • Working Brake to bring your locomotive to a stop even when Full Throttle Drive Hold is active, unlike other ESU sound files.

  • Directional Coupling and Release with brake line release plus auto active shunting mode to reduce the speed of the loco.

  • Stop & Drive Random Sounds including, compressor, rail noise, track wheel squeal, air releases and more!

  • Wheel Squeal

  • Brake Squeal on deceleration and off on acceleration.

  • Guard's Whistle

  • And more (See below for full list)

  • Optional light modifications for individual light control for more prototypical operation.

  • Low Beam/High Beam Headlight

  • Play 10 different sounds simultaneously.

  • Motor settings and sound volumes tuned to specifically suit the IDR W Class Locomotive Model.

  • Slow Speed performance, perfect for shunting

  • Individual sounds slots and master sound volumes can be adjusted by the user to suit personal requirements.

  • Full 28 function button remapping to suit your personal requirements

DCC INSTALLATION AND MODIFCATION OPTIONS

Standard DCC Installation: ESU Non-sound decoder

Premium Sound Installation: ESU LokSound 5 programmed with the DCC Solutions Custom VIC W Class Sound Project 

Premium Sound Installation and Light Modification: ESU LokSound 5 programmed with the DCC Solutions Custom VIC W Class Sound Project, plus upgrade to 6 Function lighting outputs with the DCC Solutions Light Modification to separate the headlights and marker lights for individual DCC control.

Factory Sound Upgrade: Reprogram the factory install ESU LokSound 5 with the DCC Solutions Custom VIC W Class Sound Project 

DCC Solutions SOUND and FUNCTION Labels

Premium Sound Installation and Light Modification using the ESU LokSound 5

F0    Headlights

F1    Drive Hold - Full Throttle

F2    Horn

F3    High Beam Headlight

F4    Reserved

F5    Coasting On Demand

F6    Brake

F7    Brake Squeal on Deceleration

F8    Prime Mover Start Up/Shut Down

F9    Front White Markers

F10  Rear Red Markers

F11  Rear White Markers

F12  Front Red Markers

F13  Directional Markers Lights

F14  Reserved - For Light Mods

F15  Fan

F16  Compressor

F17  Coupling /Uncoupling + DCCS Shunting Mode

F18  Wheel Squeal

F19  Guard's Whistle

F20  Sanding Valve

F21  Volume Fader - Reduces Sound 50%

F22  Front Headlight

F23  Rear Headlight

F24  Reserved

F25  Shunting Mode

F26  Short Air Release

F27  Cab Door

F28  Reserved

Note: The above functions are for the LokSound 5 Decoder programmed with DCC Solutions Premium Custom Sound Installation with Light Modifications

The functions and sounds will be different from any standard generic ESU Sound Files or other Sound Decoders.

To learn how to use these functions, see the Info & Help page.

IDR W243.jpg
bottom of page