Speed Matching Locomotives and Simplified CV Settings - Southern Alberta Rail

Speed matching locomotives for reliable DPU operation. Four quick CV mods for improved performance and a few easy lighting effects. If you really dig techno babble and complicated solutions ... this is not the video for you.

[@hutchewah]

Man,this helped me a lot. Thanks for the info. I’m just getting started with dcc and Digitrax and my lash ups was starting to upset me! With your help I adjusted my locos and now it’s working great! Thanks again!

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Great to hear! Happy it helped out.

[@jimbaritone6429]

Thank you Grant! I've admired your layout for some years, not only because of your excellent design but because we live in the same part of the world, and have the same kind of idea about what a model layout should do. I haven't had a layout since 1973 (I was younger then), but I've spent quite a bit of time researching the improvements to N scale. Amazing to see how far it's come. I've had a basic idea for my layout for some time, and have gotten out the maps to use in planning out a "realistic" regional operating area. Some of the railway I've come up with for my region of interest never got built, but it was once considered, and could have. I don't have a single loco, car, or piece of track at this point, and I'm retired on a modest fixed income. That said, I feel the same way about parts for the layout (locos in particular) that it's the same as buying tools: good tools are a pleasure to use and generally last, while cheap junk tools are often more trouble than they're worth, unless it's a "one-off" situation. I may build some of my own electronics, mainly because that (at least) is something I know how to do. I also know a bit about how open-source projects work, so DCC++ doesn't scare me as such. Having had to "do it for real for the crowds" as far as design/build gives me a bit of a leg up. Possibly the biggest problem right now is simply the startup costs. I like Kato locomotives - I know there's more expensive power, and cheaper power, but Kato seem to get good reviews from pretty much everyone. Trouble is, finding them, and at affordable prices, has been very difficult not only because of the virus situation, but because I've been away from N scale for so long. However, sooner or later, I'll find a good source. I particularly like the way you have operations running on your layout, with scale speeds, scale-size trains, and actual RR operating rules and procedures. This adds a huge level of fun, as well as realism. I'm not as concerned with super-detailing as I am with making the whole thing work. I may be relocating to somewhere near you, possibly nearby the aviation museum south of Calgary. So, I may meet you for real someday. But if not, thank you for all of the videos you've made, showing your layout and explaining the operations end of it. I look forward to your future "lessons!" Cheers!

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Thanks for all that Jim. N scale has come along way to be sure. Certainly a believer in function first. If a locomotive looks great but doesn't run well then it's just perfume on a pig as far as I'm concerned. Spent some time at that museum to the south. Nothing like an evening Merlin engine run up! Cheers!

[@michaelgough6977]

Thank you for this video. Running a dcs 50 controller and by following your steps I was able to get two locos MUed running at almost the same speed. Seemed to work fairly with ESU and tsunami decoders I was using

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Glad the vid Wass helpful Michael. Have fun! -grant

[@SteveH-TN]

Thanks for sharing this video and information

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

No worries

[@markbridgwater]

Well done and to the point. Mine are mostly Kato with DN163s so I'll be starting with your settings and go from there. In fact, many of them I recently reset to factory setting with CV8 set to 8 as a clean starting point in case I had a bunch of previous momentum and other interfering settings. I've also cleaned the wheels and made sure the drivetrains (not gears) were lubricated if needed. Speed matching is long overdue on mine, and a source of frustration finding two or three that matched. I will say the latest Katos seem to be more closely matched than the old days so I'm glad you used two locomotives with different vintage. Or is the real trick to leave one in a drawer for awhile, lol. Thanks again!

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Hey Mark. Not sure the drawer thing did any good but you know what they say.... Friends don't let Friends model CSX.....

[@MARINECORPS61992113]

The beauty of DCC

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

You got that right. It sure changed the hobby.

[@dgp2012]

Very informative video Grant. I also did not know about CV 57. I’ve been trying to speed match my locomotives but never quite get it right. I’ll try your method. Cheers, Daryl

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Give it a go Daryl.

[@bradjustad3527]

REALLY LIKE THE ROCK SLIDE SHED DISAPPOINTED U REMOVED IT BEAUTIFULLY MODELED BIG FAN MARIAS PASS AND THE NUMEROUS SNOW SHEDS OF THE BN GREAT VIDEO VERY HELPFUL

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Had to make room for a believable Summit Lime!! It was a tough decision but in the end it will pay off. I too am a big fan of Marias Pass. Essex is only 3 hours and 45 minutes from my front door and I've stayed at the Izaak Walton Inn a few dozen times taking in the action. Beautiful spot! Happy the video was helpful Brad. Cheers. -grant

[@brtree74]

Hi Grant. Awesome video! Great to see how you speed match your fleet for seamless ops with DPU's. Very good learnings, I didn't know about the BEMF CV57. Looking forward to trying to improve the fleet here with this tutorial. Thanks for posting. Cheers Brad

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Let me know how it works out Brad.

[@joeloverti672]

Thanks for making seem easy to do. Will have to try this method. Thanks also for a look at your layout and scenery, it is very well done.

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Thanks a bunch! Hope it helps out.

[@steamy1225]

Thanks for all the info. i 'm new to this but i've been using Decoder pro from JMRI and used Motor tab or Speed table tab. Results fairly decent. But you idea is good too and i will try it with next locomotives i'm gonna convert and speed match. Thanks.

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Give it a whirl and see if you like it. The nice thing is it's easy to reset the decoder if you don't!

[@Longshadowsmodeltrees]

Great video Grant, thanks for good information. Bob

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

You bet Bob. Hope you can use some of it. grant

[@vintagetraincollection8910]

Nice video!!!Well done

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Hey thanks for watching! Appreciate the comment.

[@gerdeguelle1967]

nice video and clear explanation

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Thanks! Hope you can use some of the info.

[@PeterCPRail8748]

Grant thanks for the great tip 👍

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

You bet!

[@JoseAntonio-xc3ju]

Magnífico Parabéns!

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Thanks!

[@blainedunlap4242]

Matching two is not a problem. You need a speedometer and standard to do a fleet so they ALL match together.

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

I match ALL to the first one Blaine. I see the benefit of a speedo. Just haven’t needed it in all the years I’ve been doing this. Thanks for the input. Cheers.

[@georgiasunbelt]

Now I just gotta translate what you did into NCE 😊

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Gotcha. I don't know a thing about the NCE system. I do know that some of the CV's are universal among DCC systems.

[@dougs6460]

Great scenery!! At 1:30 DPU SAR 401, who makes the number decals? I've been looking for that size and haven't found them. Thanks for sharing.

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

The numbers on the long hood are painted on. I use a reverse mask that a local sign shop cuts out of thin vinyl for me. I paint the hood orange, apply the vinyl and paint the top colour... Remove the vinyl and you have orange numbers.

[@dougs6460]

@@SouthernAlbertaRail Thank you Grant. That explains why you have large numbers, and I can't find them! I'm still looking, maybe O or G scale.

[@derekalexander4030]

Thank you for the tutorial. Any chance that you could do one on the nice rock work that you have done? Making them and then coloring them.

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

I will be doing a rock work tutorial as I get further along with scenery around the Crowsnest area.

[@KingTrump2024]

You want a challenge, Loksound 3/select and Loksound 5 with momentum...... :)

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

I can imagine!!

[@JPOGers]

Could you do a video on speed matching locomotives using the Digitrax DT602D throttle system if you have it?

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Afraid I don't have a 602 series throttle.

[@ronaldrondeau7870]

Hi Grant, have a question for you, Im using NCE an all my engines have soundtraxx Tsunami 2 decoder. Will yo programming will work and what are values for cv 3 and 4

[@sparky107107]

on my layout I have a 9 level helix, 2% grade. so if I want to run a long train say of 50 cars, should I be setting the cv 57 to max? or still shut it off. if you watch any of my go pro live videos you can see the helix I have.

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

I turn 57 off but that means you have to control the throttle as the train will slow down with increased drag such as a grade or a series of curves. If you want the train to maintain speed you have to have 57 turned up but the locomotives will fight with each other.

[@dougkathydavies3024]

Hello Grant, I'm trying to speed match my locos and am having a hell of a time. I posted some questions on a couple of the forums but that didn't help much. My issue is the fact that as soon as anything other than the default values are entered into CV's 2,5 and 6 every one of the locos runs poorly. By poorly I mean they slow down and speed up with different settings of the throttle and they do this at different rates. I'm running an NCE Power ProR system, all of my decoders are TCS and all of my locos are Kato (N-Scale). I can play with the CV settings for hours and still can't get a decent match. Could you please go through a typical session where you speed match a couple of locos and show all of the steps you use? It would be a great help. I know you run Digitrax so there are likely some differences but maybe I'm missing something.

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Hi Doug I think this is going to come down to a Digitrax vs. TCS thing. I tried TCS decoders in the past and ran into the same issues. I think they us different CV numbers for BEMF. I'll do some poking around and see if I can find some info for you.

[@dougkathydavies3024]

@@SouthernAlbertaRail Thanks, Grant. I had no idea what speed matching was years ago when I bought the decoders. They just seemed to have what I wanted and they also had nice drop-in ones. I know now that there is a known bug in the TCS decoders but, from what I've heard, it may not be in all of them. I have that question posted to the TSC Users Group on Groups IO so hopefully it will be answered there. I doubt you'll find a work around for them. Thanks for your help and for looking for the answers.

[@TheSupradude26]

I started buying up mostly new but also several used Kato locomotives in the late 90's through about 2005 when I was building my latest and first big layout, and found that many of the used locomotives, even some of the ones I purchased new would eventually have a loud squeeling sound. The collection eventially grew to about 60 units and I would say that over 20 of them made that obnoxious and loud sound. It wasnt a gear sound rather it seemed like a noise coming from the motor itself. I know that many other Kato users must be familiar with the sound Im referring to, but Ive never been able to remedy it because I dont know exactly where its coming from. They do it when running by themselves, pulling heavy trains or when part of a consist up to 6 locomotives at the head end. Do you or anyone else who may see this know how to fix it?

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

Bearing blocks on the worm gear. Clean the gunk and/or fuzz that has accumulated around the worm gear shaft and give the blocks a tiny bit of lubrication.

[@Calispeedboi]

What do you think of the loksound decoders

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

I'm not a fan of sound honestly. In a room full of trains it can get overwhelming. That being said I do like the few Loksounds I have in my Rapido locomotives. I have reprogrammed them from factory specs so they will play nice with my mostly Digitrax equipped fleet.

[@troybrodrick7208]

are you turning off acceleration and deceleration before speed matching?

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

No acceleration or deceleration. Both are set at zero from the factory and I leave it that way. CV 3 and 4 if memory serves.

[@charlierumsfeld6626]

Who built the slide shed?? WOW! What is it made of?

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

The slide shed is an old resin kit I offered way back in the late '80's.

[@ttpechon2535]

For us DC folks, could we just use resistors?

[@SouthernAlbertaRail]

In theory. I've been using DCC for decades so I'm by no means fluent with DC operations. Cheers