Railpro Installation

This video covers the install and basic programming of a Railpro LM-2S locomotive module. If the locomotive has a "DCC-ready" board with a 9-pin harness on it (like the one in the video), the LM-2S can be plugged directly in and can be used immediately. Other locomotives may require a separate harness to convert an 8-pin connection to the 9-pin required by Railpro. Non-DCC ready locomotives require hardwiring a 9-pin harness. I will hopefully cover this in a subsequent video.
Although this video is nearly 15 minutes long, the procedures shown and explained in it are very quick. A simple install such as this usually takes less than a few minutes from the time you sit down to the time you can start running the locomotive.
As noted in the video, if you are changing sound files be prepared to wait while the file is transferred to the module. Prime mover sounds are large files and take some time to fully transfer. Horns, coupler, etc are smaller and can be transferred relatively quickly. I only demonstrated setting up a new prime mover sound in the video, but all other sound files work the same way. It is also the same for lighting functions.
Hopefully this video helps a few people out. Like I said, I will hopefully be doing a video on a complicated install soon. I think more people would benefit from something like that.

[@bowlerguy219]

Thanks for leading the way on this Kevin.

[@RollerCoasterDreams1]

I am excited to use Railpro. It looks like it can be the future of model train control.

[@captainbill12]

I would recommend to anyone using Railpro; when you set the "Motor Full Load Current" I would recommend doing it at least 3 times or until the reading it gets is consistent. What I have seen is that one or two times will not give the same motor full current load reading. After the 3rd or more times the reading becomes consistent. This may be due to the motor not being warmed up. I just know that the first reading you get will not match subsequent reading from the same test. This is only my observations with the system functionality.

[@freewake84]

+captainbill12 Yes, I typically do this as well. However, I've found that running it once is sufficient for normal operation. Railpro will work perfectly fine if the setting is run once. I didn't show it in the video as it isn't really necessary. One other reason that running it a couple of times may drop the value is that it could be polising the wheels/track and lowering the resistance. Overall I've seen the difference in readings to be rather negligable....usually within 10-20 mAh.

[@nickygmp_350]

I've always been super intimidated by DCC, but this seems super easy to use. Just looked it up and I'm about to go in for the purchase. Can't wait to have wig-wagging ditch lights on my diesels

[@WhiteRiverRails]

That’s a revolutionary system! Makes me want to repacked my DCC stuff with it.

[@freewake84]

You can do both. Railpro runs on DCC powered layouts without issue and will not interfere with DCC. In fact, one of the recent updates also enabled a "DCC-mode" for Railpro, so that if you wanted to you could turn the Railpro module into a DCC decoder to run with your DCC-equipped locomotives. Of course you lose the load-sharing when you do that, and will need to speed match traditionally, but it is cool to have the capability. Lots of guys I know run both DCC and Railpro. Pick up a couple of LM-3S modules and a CI-1 computer interface controller. That's the least expensive way to jump into it. Your computer (laptop) can act as a controller until you get a real Railpro controller.

[@WhiteRiverRails]

KPack That’s awesome. So I could get one of the RailPro engine modules, and the controller, and just run the program off my NCE system’s track power?

[@si12volt1]

can Rail Pro do N Scale havent seen any videos on N Scale

[@freewake84]

No N scale for Railpro yet. Lots of people want it, but it would be very difficult to fit all the circuity into such a small package. Keep in mind that Railpro has radio receivers/transmitters built in, as well as other components not found in DCC. Some of those things may not be made in small enough sizes to be practical for N-scale. Also keep in mind that Ring Engineering is a small company and manufactures all it's products in house in the US. They don't have the budget, machinery, or technology that a big overseas electronics company has.

[@michaelczarny5807]

Did you ever do a follow-up video for a more detailed / complex Railpro installation ?

[@freewake84]

Check out my the video series I did on the ScaleTrains Dash 9. Part 2 of that is all the installation work. I didn't get video of every part, but it does show how I did some things.

[@nickygmp_350]

Just got one, it’s great but the receiver can’t fit in my locomotive, the only way I can run it is with part of the shell missing

[@snoops702]

I love my railpro

[@suelinerr]

Very well done. Thanks for sharing.

[@miachevydude]

Does the LM-S2 module have any kind of built in capacitors that would function as a "stay alive" function for dirty track,so that the loco will not stall when running over switch frogs?

[@paistefreak18]

miachevydude no

[@SuperFrecciaNera]

Hello. I'm sorry I did not understand. But the system is DCC or analogic? The Track is powered with DCC or not? Thank you

[@freewake84]

+SuperFrecciaNera Railpro is neither DCC or DC. It can use either DC or DCC power to run. All it requires is consistent voltage to power the locomotive modules. The commands are sent wirelessly through Direct Radio from the controller to the locomotive modules. Railpro's power supplies are filtered DC, meaning the DC output is constant without any spikes in power. Railpro locomotives can be run on any DCC-powered track as well. They don't respond to DCC commands and Railpro cannot control DCC locomotives....the Railpro locomotives only use the track power from DCC, nothing else. Hope that answers your questions!

[@aidand4013]

Is this good for g scale

[@freewake84]

Yes, definitely. Ring Engineering has released a module meant for large scale (O and G) that is rated for the type of amps that those pull. They are ready for battery power if you decide to do that. They are all sound modules and radio controlled. Look up the LM-3S-G from Ring Engineering for more info.

[@mijiajosef3270]

Hi can you advise on how to connect the module to a DCC Installed locomotive?

[@mijiajosef3270]

Dave Im sorry but it seems u didnt understand the question.

[@jdtII]

Are you converting all your locomotives to rail pro or just your new ones

[@freewake84]

+Jacob Triezenberg All. I have no interest in DCC at this point. Been there, done that and am happy to past it. My locomotive lineup is not terribly large so it's not difficult to do. At this point I have something like 14 or 15 with Railpro fully installed. The remaining few are in their boxes waiting their turn for detailing, weathering, and Railpro install. Whatever DCC decoders I had have since been sold or are gathering dust in a parts drawer. Once switching to Railpro I found it so enjoyable that I just had no interest in bothering with DCC anymore, so there was no reason to keep any of it around.

[@BriansModelTrains]

Very Interesting and well done. Almost ready to pull the trigger on this. Is there anything you do not like about it? I have read what ever I can find on this but and would like to know even more. Thanks again.

[@freewake84]

As with any new system there is a bit of a learning curve. However, it's MUCH easier to learn Railpro than it is DCC. Not having to mess around with CVs, programming tracks, or non-intuitive throttles makes it a very easy system. Overall I have been very pleased with it. The only thing that bothered me when I first got it was the sound library was pretty small. It is still on the smaller side, however Ring Engineering has really been working hard at putting out new sounds. Just in the past few months they have released the EMD 567, GEVO, Alco 539T, and dynamic brake sound files. I know that more sounds are being worked on. The really nice thing about the system is that it can be easily upgraded with new software. It is relatively easy to write new functionality in into program updates that can then be downloaded on the locomotive modules. Basically you are limited only by the amount of storage on the locomotive modules.

[@BriansModelTrains]

freewake84 I started a Yahoo Railpro group website. It would be great to have you join. I just bought my unit today so it will not arrive till Tuesday. groups.yahoo.com/groups/railpro

[@jiaoneal]

If im using railpro i need to buy locomotive dcc ready only?

[@freewake84]

+neal j No you do not need to buy DCC-ready, but that is the easiest and usually least expensive way to go. You can buy locos with DCC already installed and switch it out to Railpro, but that usually costs more. You can also by DC locomotives and hardwire them for Railpro. The hardwire is the same process as would be for a DCC install with a 9-pin plug. There are various videos out there that show how to do it. I usually buy DCC-ready myself but end up removing the factory board and lighting, and hardwiring in a 9-pin plug and LED lighting. But that's just me.

[@Synthematix]

the dr5000 is the best system

[@freewake84]

Never heard of it

[@Synthematix]

@@freewake84 Dijikeijs dr5000 its bloody awesome