Broadway limited PRR L1s DCC Upgrade
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- Another project I recently finished is replacing the electronics in a BLI Pennsy L1s 2-8-2 steam locomotive. I have had this loco for quite a while, and it never seemed to run right. So I decided to remove all the BLI electronics and replace them with a TCS Wow Steam decoder. I used the newest WOW-121 Steam, version 4.5 on a TCS AK-MB1 motherboard.
I used a Scale Sound Systems "Boiler Barker" speaker- these are designed to fit in the boiler of the loco- the speaker was mounted to the BLI Smoke Generator mounting bracket and this placed it almost right under the smokestack. I was concerned it may sound muffled being in the boiler, but it actually sounds very good! And the sound is more properly localized to the boiler, not coming from the tender. The speaker I used was SKU STBB-1720, which is 17mm Dia x 20mm L x 14.5mm H.
This decoder sounds different to me, but it may simply be because I do not have it set up properly just yet. I am used to steam engines chuffing away, with the intensity being affected by the throttle setting. I think the TCS decoder uses a "load sensing" algorithm which increases the "chuffs" based on how hard the loco is working. This can be calibrated using the TCS Audio Assist feature. I have not done this yet. When the loco is rolling along on flat track with no grades and a light train the "chuffs" are very subdued. This may be more prototypical and I am just not used to it. Any TCS experts out there please comment and let me know!
I have at least two other BLI steamers to do the same upgrade on- a PRR H10s 2-8-0 and a PRR I1sa 2-10-0. I will work these in the near future. I also have a very early BLI PRR M1a 4-8-2 that I obtained from Shorty Parker. This will be a "later" project.
I am trying to clear my bench of all the various DCC, weathering, upgrading, etc. projects as I really need to get back over on the layout and get working on scenery, adding trees (LOTS of trees!!), bushes, details, figures, vehicles, etc. I also need to get the signal system working again and get ready for some operating sessions.
Great project, Rob. I really enjoy listening as you think through a project. I am too guilty of diving in before I get my brain engaged.
ESU has announced an adapter board that replaces the BLI motherboard (Paragon 3 and 4) and basically drops into the model and allows use of a LokSound decoder that retains smoke unit control. It is running late, but should be here in Q3 24. Also, TCS is working on upgrades to the WowSound decoders to allow smoke unit control. TCS said it would be ready July/Aug timeframe. I Love your layout by the way!
Rob, your video inspired me to return to tackling decoder replacement in a BLI Blue Line Mikado that I have been afraid to tackle.
Nice Rob, kinda reminds me of the
farmer who went to bring in the hay
then saw a board loose on the gate,
so he stopped to fix it then noticed
a broken fence and went to fix it,
when he finished it was dark out
and the farmer said where did the
day go!!!! 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
When it doesn’t chuff it’s coasting which is prototypical. Also, the L1s used a banshee whistle. I did the exact same decoder swap to my L1. I have it up on my page. I also added the support bracket which sits right above the trailing truck. For some reason BLI never added it. If you look closely it’s just a gap and you can see the spring which really bothered me. Luckily I got the part from Cal Scale. Great job on your model. It looks great. TCS is top dog
I tell you what Rob - you've got that gem dialed in tight! I may have to re-evaluate my whole "turn of the Century - THIS Century" time frame of modeling. Wow, that's nice.
And just a warning: my wife may be less than thrilled when I tell her I have to, uh, change some things in my train world, so if you get angry emails you'll know who to blame. Well, her, not me!
Nice job again, Rob. You consistently offer a higher-quality video experience than any modeler out there. And there's more than 20,000 people that agree! Thank you for your efforts in these less than simple times. Hope you're health continues to improve.
Highball The Rollby!
thank you for sharing a great detailed video as sound a lot better than one outbox from Australia
Hi mate. Just an observation. When I listen to sound equipped locomotives, I think the steam whistles and diesel horns should be relatively loud. When you're trackside on the real thing you want to hear it , right? Even 'across town' you hear the horns and whistles in real life. Great loco anyway. Good to see trains running on your layout again in the videos.
BLI + TCS is my favorite combo. Nice job! Function 15 should take you to switching momentum unless they changed it from v4
When you were talking about the engine not chuffing at all. It might be because of no “load” behind the engine. I know you’ll figure it out but as someone who knows very little about it all. That’s just what I figure cause why should it work hard when it’s not pulling or pushing anything
Nice. Thw Paragon3 boards are definitely not my favorite, TSU 2200 hardwired for me. Nice conversion job though, 'loving the content as always.
Ah, I see it has a Walthers Trainline 3-pole motor that was used in the early Alco FA units.
Great job ... Enjoyed your video!!!
Hi Rob. My BLI L1s has lighted markers on the front end. Did you end up loosing them in your conversion?
The weathering looks great. What AK # paint did you use? Thanks for any info you can provide.
This video is great, but is there a simplified way to do this? It's a bit overwhelming to see all you went through. I'm hoping to replace the decoders in my BLI locomotives one at a time, but I need to walk before I can run. Do you have a recommendation of where to get that sort of basic info so I don't screw up my engine or decoder in the process?
Sadly, not really. Bli locomotives r all a wired mess. It’s in everything. They made the process of switching it out difficult for no reason
I can surely use that smoke machine.
👍
Your train cabinet always intrigues me, surely that's a DB "Rabbit" and now on the work bench is a DB steam loco, is there something you are not telling us?
Rob; she looks and sounds fantastic - great updates. Excuse my ignorance on U.S. prototypes but what's the idea behind the wee cabin on the tender? Accomodation for a conductor? I've never seen that before: makes for an interesting tender, rather than jut being a wagon for coal and water.😁
That cab on the tender is for a break man. Not many tenders have it usually there is room for them in the engine cab.
@@kyleburkholder6003 I see, Thanks Kyle.
What size Boiler Barker did you use?
It was: STBB-1720: 17mmDia x 20mmL x 14.5mmH
@@robbennett1965 thank you
The weathering looks great. What AK # paint did you use? Thanks for any info you can provide.