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Southern Rail 2170 Class

DCC Sound Installation with Light Modifications

Now available with our NEW Remastered

LokSound 5 Custom Sound Project

THE INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WILL BE UPGRADED IN 2022

About the 2100 Class

The Queensland Railways 2100 class first entered service in 1970. The class family consists of the 2100, 2130, 2150 and 2170 classes. It formed the mainstay of Queensland Rail's coal haulage from the opening of the Goonyella line until electrification in the late 1980s. A new batch of locomotives was ordered with the opening of each new mine and the 2170 class entered service when the German Creek, Oaky Creek and Blair Athol coal mines came into operation.


The 2170 class was a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, at Comeng’s Rocklea plant for Queensland Rail between 1982 and 1984.

They were an evolution of the 2150 class but differed from the earlier class mainly by having modified traction motors, Dash 2 modular electrical cabinets and air-conditioned cabs.

The 2170 class were mainly used for coal haulage but after the electrification of the system in the late 1980s, all except numbers 2202 to 2210 were placed into general traffic and underwent modifications.

These modifications included:

  • A suffix. Weight reduction by reducing fuel tank capacity by 1,300 litres, all except 2202 to 2210.

  • D suffix. A driver-only operation (DOO) cab modification, lowering the nose of the locomotive and the addition of a larger windscreen for the driver.

  • F suffix. The addition of auxiliary fuel tanks.

Most have been sold for further use overseas with seventeen going to South Africa and twelve to Ferronor in Chile. 

DCC with Sound and Light Modifications


In November 2018, Southern Rail released the 2170 Class locomotive which includes a 21 Pin socket for easily fitting a DCC decoder plus a speaker with enclosure. In DC/DCC all lights in the model operate directional.


For this installation we recommend the ESU LokSound 5 (Sound) with our Custom Sound Project for the 2170 Class or the LokPilot V4.0 (No Sound) for those not wishing sound. We offer several options of DCC installations for this model to suit all budgets and can supply the decoders only for the DIY installers.


We have tweaked the motor control of the ESU decoder to provide super slow smooth speed which is perfect for shunting operations allowing the loco to move ever so slowly towards its rolling stock. Also, for those wanting the locomotive to move off slowly and build up speed like the prototype. You will be impressed with the smooth slow speed motor control.


Light Modification - While the model has the potential to separate the lighting for individual control, to access the front lights which are located on the roof of the cab, the model requires major work to dismantle the cab to gain access to the lights and may result in damage to the model. The rear lights are accessible for modification. As a result, we are only offering the separation of the Red Marker Lights for this model.

DCC Solutions with Customised 2170 Class Sound

Something you won't get with OEM Sound from the manufacturers

The DCC Solutions QLD 2170 Class Custom Sound Project - EMD 16-645E

is packed with sounds and features not found on other Sound Decoders

Our Custom Sound Project now includes these fantastic features:

Full Throttle – Drive Hold

This feature allows you to simulate a loaded or empty 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. This exciting, new feature gives the operator the ability to have the train crawl in notch 8 or coast at 100 km/h. Release the Drive Hold function button and you simply go back to throttle-controlled speed and motion. 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 fitted or downloadable sound will not stop your loco at speed step 0 with the drive hold on.

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 the

NSW's 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 and the sound will exit and return to whatever speed is 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.

Working Dynamic Brake

Apply the Dynamic Brakes and the Prime Mover will wind down to idle while the Dynamic Fans engage to assist with cooling. Reduce the throttle and the decoder's dynamic braking logic will reduce your speed faster than normal. Disengage Dynamic Braking and the primer mover will returned to it's notched speed and the fans will turn off.

Random Start-up Sequences with Move Off and Stopping Sounds

Now with random start-up sequences including hot or cold engine starts 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.

Coupling and Release with Shunting Mode

Activate coupling or release and your loco will automatically reduce its speed to allow for a more realistic coupling or release operation. Once the operation is completed your loco will continue to run at slow speed for a few more seconds before returning to the speed set on your throttle.

Remastered Horn Sounds

WABCo A/B Series playable and short blast horn.

Random Sounds

At least 12 random sounds that will play when either the loco is stopped or moving to add to the realism. 

And includes all these great features to make your Southern Rail 2170 Class drive and sound impressive.

  • EMD 16-645E Roots Blower Prime Mover.

  • Short Blast and Playable Horn

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

  • 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 to simulate a heavy loaded or empty train

  • Proper Working Dynamic Brakes: The prime mover winds down to idle, fans activate and brakes faster due to Dynamic Brake motor logic

  • 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 with auto active shunting mode to reduce the speed of the loco for shunting

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

  • EMD air compressor.

  • Manual Notching - manually control the notching rather than letting the decoder do it

  • Low beam to High beam Headlight operation

  • And more (See below for full list)

  • Motor settings and sound volumes tuned to specifically suit the Southern Rail's 2170 Class Locomotive Model.

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

  • Full function button remapping to suit your personal requirements.

  • This Sound Project is also suitable for other brands of 2170 Class Models.

INSTALLATION AND MODIFICATION FEATURES

Standard DCC Installation: ESU Non sound decoder with no lighting modifications.

Standard Sound Installation: Alternate brand of sound decoder with factory generic sound. No lighting modifications.

Premium Sound Installation: ESU LokSound 5 sound decoder with our custom EMD 16-645E sound project. No lighting modifications.

Premium Sound Installation and Light Modification: Upgraded 4 Function lighting outputs with the DCC Solutions light modification and our custom EMD 16-645E sound project that allows you individual control of the front/rear headlights with white marker lights, front/rear red marker lights using the function buttons on your DCC throttle.

Here is the selection of sound and function labels using the ESU LokSound 5 with 4 Function Lighting Outputs.

SOUND and OUTPUT FUNCTION LABELS

Premium Sound Installation and Light Modification

Function                       Description  

0 (HEADLIGHT)          Directional Headlights

1                              Full Throttle Drive Hold

2 (HORN)                  Playable and Short Blast Horn

3                              High Beam Headlight

4                              Dynamic Brakes

5                              Coasting on Demand

6                              Brake

7                              Brake Squeal on Deceleration

8                              Prime Mover Cold/Hot Start Up/Shut Down

9                              Reserved [For Light Mods]

10                              Rear Red Markers

11                              Reserved [For Light Mods]

12                              Front Red Markers

13                              Directional Red Markers Lights

14                              Reserved [For Light Mods]

Function                       Description  

15                              Fan

16                              Compressor

17                              Coupling/Uncoupling + Shunting Mode

18                              Wheel Squeal

19                              Guard's Whistle

20                              Sanders

21                              Volume Fader - Reduces Sound 50%

22                              Front Headlight On/Off

23                              Reserved

24                              Spitter Valves

25                              Manual Notching

26                              Notch Up / Short Air Release

27                              Notch Down / Cab Door

28                              Disable Move Off and Stopping Sound

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

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

All functions can be reprogrammed to suit your own personal requirements

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