Class 47

4 December 2016

Things have moved on a bit since the story below. In particular I have been playing with smoke but that will have to wait for another day.

Spurred on by my success with the fans in my Class 33 I have cut the fan circuit from my original Heljan class 47 PCB as shown here. Note that some of the scratching came about from my original fiddling with the board and are not necessary for this exercise.

The wires at the top go to the fan. I removed the connector. The wires at the bottom go to the AUX and common connectors on the ESU XL decoder.

17 January 2009

I bought my Heljan class 47 from Tower Models at the Reading show in December 2008. I have fitted an ESU LokSound XL decoder. It was supplied by South West Digital (SWD) and includes class 47 sound. I tried it in the garden for the first time over Christmas. It is pulling my Bournemouth Belle Pullman set from Golden Age Models. This is my first attempt at uploading a video on to YouTube:

It is not the most interesting video I shot but it is the shortest. My YouTube link kept breaking while trying to upload longer videos. This next one is longer and more interesting:

I used instructions provided by Heljan and SWD to modify the circuit board for the Loksound decoder. I would have preferred to make up a new board but I wasn't sure what all the components were for. I did check that I could get a new board, from Howes, if I messed it up.

Having gained some confidence I am planning to make some changes to my wiring as shown below. This has already been done by correspondent Tim but I haven't tried it myself yet. My thanks go to Tim for providing the diagram which is a modification of that supplied by Heljan, and SWD. To his surprise and my relief it worked. Note that there are 2 further cuts to be made on the other side of the PCB as shown in the instructions from Heljan, and SWD (see below).

Cuts on the other side as specified by Heljan and SWD.

I assume that the red lights should only be used when running light engine so I have separated the "box" lights (FL and RL) from the red lights (Aux 2 and 3). Two function buttons are required, one for the box lights and one for the red lights, and the outputs need to be directional. I haven't finally decided which function buttons to use because I am constrained by the number of functions available on my ZTC511 (0-8) and by the need for as much compatibility with my steam engines as possible (see Decoders and Sound).

Using the diagram as shown above the box lights should work as programmed by SWD. That is when F0 is on the front box lights should be on when going forward and the rear box when going backwards. The lights may be too bright this way since we have reduced the number of bulbs on each output. They can be dimmed using the following CVs:

113 HL

114 RL

116 Aux 2

117 Aux 3

As always the values in CVs should be noted before changing them so that they can revert back to the original values if the change doesn't work as intended. A function is needed to switch the rear lights on, Aux 2 or 3, when moving in the appropriate direction. To use F7 CVs 183 and 186 need to be set as follows:

183 = 8 will put Aux 2 on when moving forwards

186 = 16 will put Aux 3 on when moving backwards.

My current assignment of functions is:

The ZTC511 has separate buttons for F0 to F8 but the handheld ZTC622 only has 4 buttons with a shift button. Shift,F4 implies pressing the shift button following by the function button and shift+F8 implies pressing shift and F8 together. The ZTC622 buttons can be programmed for toggle or momentary operation but the ZTC 511 buttons are toggle only. This makes it very difficult to come up with an acceptable function allocation and I have not come up with a final solution as yet. Perhaps the new owners of ZTC will beat me to it and come up with an upgrade. For the time being I have had to forego some of the features of the sound decoders.

The fan is running from the decoder through the circuitry on the Heljan board. It is a bit noisy. I suspect that is due to the pulsed output from the Loksound function output. I haven't decided what to do about that. I also plan to add cab lights as described in the installation notes obtained from SWD.

The class 47 is destined to pull my Bournemouth Belle Pullman set as running in 1965-67. I need to confirm the route indicators. I think they were 1B95 in the Up direction and 95 Down but I would appreciate advice on that.

I need to source maker's plates and transfers for the number. I am planning for D1922.

D1922 was loaned to the Southern from October 1966 to September 1968. It was transferred from Cardiff Canton (86A) to Eastleigh (70D) for that period. I found the following references to support my plan for the Bournemouth Belle:

The Southern since 1948 p106: May 1967 - D1922 on Down Bournemouth Belle headcode 95

From Booking Boy to Bulleids p142: 1/7/1967 - D1926 on Up Bournemouth Belle headcode 1B95

Southern Steam Surrender p113: 9/7/67 - D1924 on Last Down Bournemouth Belle headcode 95

and other pictures of D1922:

Swanage Railway in Colour p6: Summer 1967 - D1922 on Weymouth to Waterloo at Wareham

Swanage Railway in Colour p46: D1922 on Swanage to Eastleigh headcode 98