Model Building HO SP Consist Build 14 - DCC Programming and Speed Matching

The SP Consist Build series is about Dan's efforts to recreate a set of 5 locomotives he photographed on the front of a Southern Pacific grain train in Truckee, California in 1993. There were two SP SD45Rs, a Cotton Belt B30-7, a Conrail SD40, and an EMD Leasing GP38-2.
In the last episode of the Southern Pacific consist build, Dan finished weathering and detailing his HO scale model of Conrail SD40 6283.
In this episode Dan loads sounds into the engine’s ESU LokSound 5 DCC decoder, configures the lighting, assigns function keys to control the lights and sounds, and speed matches the locomotive to the rest of his HO fleet.
Dan talks about the process of loading sounds into the LokSound DCC decoder using the LokProgrammer software. This powerful app can also be used to set up the model’s lighting, choose a horn sound, assign function keys to different lights and sounds, and much more!
Dan discusses why it can be a good idea to have standards for function key assignments that work for many different locomotives with different lighting setups.
The LokProgrammer software can save the decoder’s programming in a computer file, which is very handy if the decoder ever needs to be reset. Putting the locomotive back the way it was before the reset is easy if you have a backup file!
Dan also demonstrates his methods for speed matching locomotives, and talks about why he wants all of his locomotives matched to each other so that they can be run in any combination.
At the end of the show, Dan also reveals the next model in the consist that will be getting worked on!
Join Dan for some HO scale high tech fun!

[@timosha21]

I'm a train and I approve this video!.

[@DanielCortopassi]

Good to know, thanks so much!

[@jhoodfysh]

Very good ideas Dan, that IT background helped set standards I am sure. The model sure looks great.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you like how the model turned out. Thanks for watching!

[@trapdriver7006]

Excellent informative video which I enjoyed watching.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!

[@robingagnon9659]

wow great information in this one for DCC. Thanks for sharing all of that :)

[@DanielCortopassi]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@josephbozzuto7415]

Great video!

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thanks so much!

[@Vman7757]

Thanks Daniel.

[@DanielCortopassi]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@conrailfan6277]

As a HUGE Conrail freak I've got to give 2 thumbs up Dan, your right about the air brake function on coupling Dan, I set in my Semi the other day watching UP switch out boxcars in Laredo, and you can hear the Loco charging the airlines up after they hooked up to the cars they were pulling!! You should do a lineup of your engines like you did in the shot before you started programming, I love that EMD Demonstrator that was in the shot!! Looking forward to the rest of the consist build Dan!! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@DanielCortopassi]

I have a few more Conrail engines on my roster, mostly GEs from Atlas and ScaleTrains. SP was leasing some Conrail power in the 1990s so it's a good excuse for me to run them. I think I'd need to clear off some more counter space to shoot a bigger lineup! Maybe I'll do that at some point. Since I haven't had a big layout (yet), I haven't had many opportunities to see all my finished models out of their boxes. Thanks for watching!

[@dave3156]

What a pleasant surprise today finding a new consist video. Looks like the train room is coming along? Thx Dan

[@DanielCortopassi]

The semi-finished room where I did the speed matching is actually the game room, which is next door to the train room. Getting that one done will allow me to clear out a lot of stuff from the train room so that I can get to work on it. I'm hoping to do some things differently to speed the process along a little faster, but we'll see. Thanks for watching!

[@scottday8]

Thank you for these builds I really enjoy seeing them being done plus it gives me confidence I always look forward to seeing the next video

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you're enjoying them. Thanks for watching!

[@donaldkormos5529]

Great video ... I learned a lot!! So far, I have only changed CV values using JMRI's DecoderPro with my DCC++EX system. Next I'll try speed matching locos for a consist ... so your video was super useful. Maybe someday I'll try new sound tables.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you found the video helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@thebfsniper1869]

You could setup brake functions, since you don't use a brake function for dynamics. You could do independ, train, and E Brake functions. With the E Brake you could also set it to turn off headlights and turn on SP red beacons. If done correctly the Ebrake can override the drive hold function incase of real emergency.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I guess when I get to the point of having my layout running I might reconsider using the brake function. So far it's not something that I really use, but most of my running has been switching. Thanks for the suggestions!

[@Trains-With-Shane]

Excellent video as always. Can't wait to see you start working on that Dash 7. I love ESU's hardware. I have a few N scale locomotives that i'm considering sending out to have Loksound decoders installed into. I'd attempt it myself but my soldering skills are not up to par for wires and contacts that tiny. lol. The first DCC/Sound locomotive I ever owned had a Loksound select in it. I think it was a U28c if I recall correctly. I've got other brands, Paragon, Soundtrax, etc. but I definitely prefer the ESU decoders for their feature sets. Definitely a practice of getting what you pay for.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm anxious to get started on the next engine, too, or get back to it. I was trying to work on them all at once when I started this series and that got to be too much. I've tried just about everything as far as decoders go, and I've never found anything with as much versatility as the LokSounds. Thanks for watching!

[@paraflamdragonruff9487]

Im a big fan of yours Dan! I was just wondering out of the 1000s of trains, locos, consists youve seen in your life what was it about this specific 5 loco consist that made you want to model it? Thanks for your GREAT videos!

[@DanielCortopassi]

The main thing is photos. I kick myself sometimes for not having taken very many pictures of trains back in the 80’s and 90’s. I’m glad I was in Truckee that day in 1993 and managed to take a picture of those locomotives. I really don’t have many other photos of SP trains from that period. I’m glad you liked the video. Thanks for watching!

[@phillipsakalik4877]

Dan, Loved the video! I’m looking to get a Lokprogrammer in the near future and this answered many of my questions! One more for you: I see you’re using a Mac which I also have. Do you use Parallels Desktop or how exactly do you run Windows on your Mac when using the LokProgrammer software? Is one method better than another?

[@DanielCortopassi]

I've been using Parallels Desktop for a few years now, and it works well. It's pretty seamless. The LokProgrammer software shows up in the dock just like any other app. I haven't tried any other methods so I can't really say how well anything else would work. I know there's a way to reboot the Mac as a Windows PC, but I haven't found it necessary to do that so I haven't looked into it. I bought the Parallels software for the LokProgrammer. I have a couple other small apps that are Windows based, like one that I can use to program my scanner for railroad channels, so the software works well for that too. Thanks for watching!

[@NicksCollectableCreations]

I have not seen such an in-depth overview of the Loksound programming software and keeping the same settings for CV's across all the locomotives just makes too much sense 😀 I have seen speed matching talked about, but I have wondered, does it have to be adjusted over time as the locomotives breaks in ?

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you liked the video. Generally I haven't needed to redo the process, unless something happens like a decoder reset and I haven't made a backup file (which is why I'm careful to do that now). It's been years, though, since I've had a layout large enough to have my locomotives running at speed for extended periods. I guess we'll see if anything changes when I start building my new HO layout. Thanks for watching!

[@sugarcubeaudio152]

Dan thanks for the great video I do have a question . Have you replaced the stock athearn motor with a Kato motor?

[@DanielCortopassi]

This is a Kato model, so it already has that motor. Thanks for watching!

[@sleepy8490]

Daniel loved the video, I wanted to ask what DCC system you recommend to starters trying to get into that side of the hobby with a limited budget?

[@CentralJerseyRailfan]

NCE Powercab and Digitrax DCS52 are often the most recommended from what I heard. The former might be a it more user friendly but it’s all up to personal preference

[@DanielCortopassi]

Someone else already answered but I would also say that the Digitrax Zephyr Express (DCS52) or the NCE Powercab are the most popular starter systems. I'm a Digitrax guy but I know a lot of people like NCE. Both work so it's mostly a matter of which one you like better. If you hang out with other modelers, and most of them are using one or the other of those brands, that can be another factor. I've had a Zephyr (an older version than the one that's currently offered) for years and I use it all the time. Thanks for watching!

[@atsfandy]

Love this whole process with the build two questions when you speed matching do you have one locomotive no matter what that speed match to period, and does the computer program for doing all your programming plus storage of program settings work with non sound as well.

[@thebfsniper1869]

The LokProgrammer can be used with LokPilot decoders (Non sound). it can only be used with esu decoders though. I usually set the top speed to be 65 smph and mid throttle to be 32 smph.

[@DanielCortopassi]

The LokProgrammer works with ESU LokSound (sound) and LokPilot (non-sound) decoders. I don't think it would work with other brands. If I understand your first question, I match everything to the SP GP35 that I used in this video. It's a bit of a random choice, but it works. That engine is actually a stand-in for a Kato NW2 that I used to use as my standard. I chose it because it is slow compared to other models. There's no way to make it run faster, so I brought all my other locomotives down to match it. That model is currently taken apart, though, awaiting a new sound decoder, so for now I'm using the GP35. Thanks for watching!

[@bobmartin3018]

I use F3 for the rear headlight and turn off the headlight directions real engines the headlights don’t go on and off when changing direction

[@DanielCortopassi]

That sounds like a good way to do things, too. I know the real ones don't work like that, but sometimes I like the directional lighting because it tells me which way the locomotive is set to move. I guess it's one of those things like coupler trip pins that I'm not ready to let go of yet. Thanks for watching!

[@BritanniaPacific]

I’d also like to see how this would play out with steam locomotives. Programming should be simpler for a steam locomotive as it wouldn’t have that many lights and sounds for operating.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I don't have that many steam locomotives, but having a system of some sort is still useful. Mine is still a work in progress. I set up my model of UP 844 so that it has working class lights, so the function keys there can be similar to a diesel. I guess a lot of it would depend on how important it is to control different sounds. My current standard for steam calls for putting the blow down sound on F4, which is the same key I use for dynamic brakes in diesels. Some of my SP steamers have a horn and a whistle, which is another wrinkle. Thanks for watching!

[@additudeobx]

Hi Dan, I'm interested in knowing what the status is on the SP B30-7 #7788 Consist build. I've seen that engine with 3 paint schemes. Cotton Belt on side with SSW 7788 Hood and Rear SP Speed Lettering on side with SSW 7788 Hood and Rear SP Speed Lettering on side with SP Lettering on Hood, not sure on rear. I'm anxious to see what you are going to do.

[@DanielCortopassi]

After taking some time to work on a couple of layout projects, I'm once again working on the consist build. I am working on the B30-7 right now. I am going to repaint my unit as 7787, as that's the one I photographed back in 1993. I'm not sure about 7788, but 7787 was repainted into the speed lettering scheme sometime between my summer 1993 photo and late 1994. Some of the speed lettered ex-Cotton Belt units were sublettered SSW under the unit number on the cab. I am going to model my unit as it appeared in my photo, in traditional scarlet and gray with "Cotton Belt" on the long hood. Thanks for watching!

[@donaldkormos5529]

Question: Does the LokProgrammer unit & it's LokProgrammer software work with other commercial decoders? Looks very useful.

[@thebfsniper1869]

ESU decoders only

[@DanielCortopassi]

Someone else already answered, but no, the system is for ESU LokSound and LokPilot decoders only. Some people use JMRI for other decoder brands. I haven't really delved into that so I can't comment much about how well it works. Thanks for watching!