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DC and DCC Operation of
Atlas Gold Series HO Scale
Alco RS-3 Diesel Locomotives
equipped with ESU LokSound
Select Sound-Decoders
07 May 2014, Version 1.1
for ESU Firmware Version 4.8.9156
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Quick Start for DC and DCC Operation of Atlas Gold Series HO-Scale Alco RS-3
Diesel Locomotives Equipped with ESU LokSound Select Sound-Decoders
Congratulations on your purchase of an Atlas Master™ Gold Series HO-scale model of an Alco RS-3
locomotive that is factory-equipped with an ESU LokSound Select sound-decoder. This sound-decoder
provides the highest quality sound plus state-of-the art motor control. Your locomotive can run on either
conventional DC (with basic features) or on NMRA Digital Command Control (with full features).
This document describes the features of the LokSound Select sound-decoder installed in the Atlas HO
Gold Series Alco RS-3 locomotive when the locomotive is operated on DC or on DCC power. You can
download from the Atlas website the current version of the Atlas User Manual
[1]
, which includes this
locomotive. This User Manual provides a more complete description of both DC and DCC operation.
DC Operation of your Atlas HO-scale Gold Series RS-3Locomotive
Using a standard variable-voltage DC power pack, turn the DC throttle up slowly until you begin to hear
locomotive sounds (around 5 volts). You will hear the diesel engine Start-Up sound sequence, which
lasts about 25 seconds. The locomotive will NOT move before the Start-Up sequence has been
completed. The headlight facing the direction in which the locomotive will move turns on in its Dim state.
Once the start-up sequence has been completed, turn up the throttle voltage up to (about 7 volts) until the
locomotive starts to move. Note that you must turn the throttle to a higher setting than you would to make
a non-sound locomotive start to move. The locomotive starts moving slowly due to built-in inertia from the
BEMF (Back EMF) motor control. The headlight in the direction of movement will turn from Dim to Bright;
the headlight facing the opposite direction will continue to be illuminated in the Dim state.
On a DC-powered layout, an Atlas HO-scale Gold Series Alco locomotive will automatically produce
sounds that are appropriate for its current state of operation. (e.g., the Startup sound sequence before the
locomotive begins to move) and Brake Squeals as the locomotive grinds to a halt. However, it is not
possible to trigger individual sounds (such as the horn or bell) manually with DC track power. If you wish
to have manual control of sounds, Atlas suggests that you invest in a Basic DCC system which will allow
you to control all available sounds and other special effects in your locomotive and yet be essentially as
simple to operate as a DC power pack. Basic DCC systems that are currently available include the:
- NCE DCC Twin,
- MRC Prodigy Explorer DCC,
- MRC TECH 6 Sound Controller 6.0 (usable in smaller scales, but primarily intended for O-scale
Moreover, one can change certain operational characteristics of the locomotive when operating on DC
power by using the same DCC programming steps that are used to change these characteristics in DCC
operation. See Reference [1] for details
and larger).
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DCC Operation of your Atlas HO-scale Gold Series RS-3 Locomotive
Works
Works
• Start-Up Behavior
As shipped from the factory, this locomotive behaves as follows at start-up:
- Locomotive sounds will start up immediately after DCC power is applied to the track; you will
first hear the sounds of a diesel locomotive starting up from a powered-down state, followed
by normal idling sounds and then (after the Start Up sound sequence has finished playing
and the DCC throttle is advanced) running sounds will be heard.
- Even if you advance the DCC throttle, the locomotive will NOT move until AFTER the entire
If the above behavior at startup is acceptable, there is nothing more that you need to do. If, however,
you would like your locomotive to behave differently, see Example 3 in Appendix 4 of Reference [1] to
change the behavior described in the first Dash item and Example 1 in Appendix 4 of this same
reference to change the behavior described in the second Dash item
• DCC Functions Available in Atlas HO-Scale Gold Series Alco RS-3 Locomotives
The ESU LokSound Select sound-decoder provides a number of different DCC functions that can be
triggered by pressing the appropriate key (e.g., press the “5” key to trigger DCC Function #5) on your
DCC controller. The following table lists the DCC functions available in the ESU LokSound Select
sound-decoder installed in Atlas Gold Series HO-scale RS-3 locomotives.
Start-Up sound sequence has played.
DCC Function Key Operation for Atlas HO-scale Gold Series RS-3 Locomotives
Function
Function
Key
Locomotive Behavior when
Press Function Key
Behavior
(Latching or Non-
latching)
Front and Rear Headlights are directional. Both head-
F0
F1 Bell (1st push on/2nd push off) Latching No No
F2
Horn
F3 Two Coupler Clank sounds alternate Non-Latching No No
F4 Diesel Fans (1st push on/2nd push off) Latching Yes Yes
F5
F6 Optional Ditch Lights (1st push on/2nd push off) Latching - F7 Switching Mode (1st push on/2nd push off) Latching No No
F8
F9
F10
F11
F12 Dim Headlight (1st push dim/2nd push bright) Latching No Yes
F13
lights Dim when On and stationary. Headlight in
direction of movement Bright. (1st push on/2nd push off)
Horn blows until push F2 key again Latching
Horn blows only while Horn key held down Non-Latching
Dynamic Brake Fan (1st push on/2nd push off)
Only active when prime mover sound on
Audio Mute and Start Up/Shut Down Latching
Manual Notching Up sounds (1st push on/2nd push
off)
Manual Notching Down sounds (1st push on/2nd
push off)
AUX3 Function Output (1st push on/2nd push off).
Preset to MARS light
AUX4 Func Output
(1st push on/2nd push off)
Latching
Latching
Latching
Latching
Latching
Latching
Only with
Engine
Sounds
On
No No
No No
Yes Yes
No No
Yes No
Yes No
- -
- -
Only
When
Moving
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DCC Function Key Operation for Atlas HO-scale
Function
Works
Works
Front Headlight
Rear Headlight
Gold Series RS-3 Locomotives (continued)
Function
Key
F14
F15
F16
F17 Brake Set/Release sounds with each push Non-Latching Yes Yes
F18
F19
F20 Air Compressor sounds (1st push on/2nd push off) Latching Yes No
F21 Pop Valve sounds (1st push on/2nd push off) Latching No No
Talking Defect Detector sounds Latching (For RS-3,
Cab Radio Communication sounds (on/off) Latching (For RS-3,
Rail-joint Clank sounds (1st push on/2nd push off)
Only active when prime mover sound on
Sanding Valve sounds
(1st push on/2nd push off)
Short Air Let-off sounds Latching (always
Locomotive Behavior when
Press Function Key
Behavior
(Latching or Non-
latching)
press F14 twice.)
press F15 twice.)
Latching
Latching
press F19 twice)
Only with
Engine
Sounds On
No No
No No
Yes Yes
Yes No
No No
Section 4.1 in Reference [1] explains the operation of DCC functions F1 to F21 in detail.
• Headlight Operation in Atlas HO-scale Gold Series RS-3 Locomotives
The F0 or Headlight DCC function key turns on or off the directional front headlight and rear
headlight. The default states for the front headlight and rear headlight are Off. When switched On,
the Directional Headlights1 operate as shown in the table below. This headlight behavior mimics, to
the extent possible, the way prototype yard or local switching locomotives operate.
Only
When
Moving
Light Forward Stopped after Forward Reverse Stopped after Reverse
Bright Dim Dim Dim
Dim Dim Bright Dim
When the locomotive is first powered up, you may need to press the F0 (or Headlight) key on your
DCC system one or two times to turn on the directional front or rear headlight.
• DCC Programming Locations
Most DCC systems allow you to program a Configuration Variable (CV), such as the DCC address of
a locomotive, in either of two places:
- On a special section of track not connected in any way to your layout and called the Program
Track. (In DCC terminology, programming locomotives on the program track is called Service
Mode Programming.)
- Anywhere on the Main Line (regular track) of your layout. [In DCC terminology, programming a
locomotive on the main line of your layout is called either Programming on the Main (POM) or
Operations Mode (Ops Mode) programming.]
In almost all cases, the ESU LokSound Select decoder installed in your Alco S-2 locomotive can be
programmed on your program tack WITHOUT a Program Track Booster connected between the
1
The LokSound Select decoder uses constant voltage lighting that is independent of track voltage.
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program track output of your DCC system and your physical program track. However, if you do need
Air Horn Name
CV48 Value
a Program Track Booster, Atlas recommends the PTB-100 from SoundTraxx.
• Programming a New DCC Address for Your Locomotive
The decoder in every Atlas Gold Series locomotive comes from the factory set to use the short
address “3.” However, in order to control (independently) several locomotives on the same track at
the same time, it is necessary that each locomotive have a unique DCC address. A convenient
choice for the DCC address is the road number printed on the side of the locomotive’s cab.
Frequently, the number on the side of the cab is a 3- or 4-digit number, which is treated in DCC as a
Long (or 4-Digit) Address.
If your DCC system allows you to program 4-digit addresses on the main line (many DCC systems
do), Atlas recommends that you take advantage of this capability by programming the address of your
Gold Series locomotive on the main line using Operations Mode (Ops Mode) programming.
• Air Horn Selection
For the Alco RS-3 switcher, the default horn is a Dual Leslie A200/A125 Horn (i.e., CV48 = 64). If you
wish to use a different air horn, you may choose from the 16 air horns that are listed in the following
table. To select a horn, write into CV48 the value listed to the right of the name of that horn in the
table.
Dual Leslie A200/A125
Leslie A125 65
Nathan M5 66
Nathan P3 67
Nathan P5A 68
Nathan Single Chime 69
Leslie A200 70
Leslie S3L 71
Leslie S5T 72
Nathan M3 73
Hancock Air Whistle 74
Wabco E2 75
Leslie Supertyfon 76
Nathan M3H 77
Dual Single Chime 78
Nathan K3 79
64
•
Resetting your Lok-Sound Select Equipped Loco to Factory Default Val
Resetting the firmware in the LokSound Select sound-decoder to its factory-built configuration can
resolve many problems that sometimes occur with firmware-controlled electronics. In fact, we have
found that at least 20 to 25 percent of the problems with Gold Series locomotives that we receive for
repair at Atlas can be resolved simply by resetting the sound-decoder. Hence, the very first step you
take to resolve a problem should be to reset the LokSound Select sound-decoder in your locomotive
using the following procedure:
- Place the locomotive on your program track and write the value 8 into CV8.
- Cycle power to the decoder first off and then on again by:
o Tipping the locomotive to one side so that all the wheels on the opposite side are off
the rail,
o Holding the locomotive in this tipped position for 5 to 10 seconds,
o Slowly lowering the locomotive back down until all wheels are once again on the
program track rails.
ues
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The second dashed item listed above (power cycling) is extremely important; do not omit it.
REFERENCES
[1]. User Manual: DC and DCC Operation of Atlas Gold Series Diesel Locomotives equipped with
ESU LokSound Select Sound-Decoders, Version 1.20, 07 May 2014 (or later). Download from
Atlas model website:
http://www.atlasrr.com/
Choose Support, DCC Support, and then double click on the listing for this document.
[2]. LokSound Select User Manual for Diesel and Steam Decoders, Third Edition (or later), May 2012.
You can download the ESU LokSound Select User Manual document from the ESU website:
http://www.esu.eu/en/start/
by first selecting DOWNLOADS. Then click on Instruction Manuals. Next, click on Digital
Decoders. Finally, single-click on the Download icon in the box labeled LokSound Select Users
Manual.
Appendix: Body-Removal Instructions for Atlas HO-Scale RS-3 Locomotives
When reading these instructions, please refer to the exploded diagram and parts list that was packed with
your Atlas HO RS-3 locomotive.
Instructions for Removing the Plastic Body Shell from an Atlas HO-Scale RS-3 Locomotive
1. Remove the couplers from the locomotive frame by unscrewing them.
2. Remove the plastic fuel tank casting by sliding it away from the metal frame. Be careful of the
detail parts. With the fuel tank casting removed, you now have a better place to hold the frame.
3. Remove the side handrails from the cab on both sides, if you can. Do not remove these handrails
from the sill casting. If you are unable to remove the handrails from the cab relatively easily, do
not force them.
4. The plastic hood casting is held onto the metal frame by four tabs that project downward from the
bottom of the hood casting: two near the rear (one tab on each side) and two near the front.
Each of these tabs has a rectangular slot in which it that engages a rectangular dimple that
projects inwards from an opening in the frame. To release a body tab, it must be pressed inward
away from its mating frame dimple. Grab the portion of the frame from which you removed the
fuel tank with one hand and with the other hand grab the hood. Push inwards so that both body
tabs clear their frame dimples. Be careful where you place your hands and fingers so you don’t
break the handrails and detail parts. After the frame tabs have been released, pull the rear part
of the hood up just enough so that the rear tabs will not become reengaged with the dimples on
the frame. Repeat this same process for the front tabs.
5. Usually this technique will work. If it does not, turn the locomotive upside down and locate the
hood tabs. Use a small screwdriver to push the tabs (just a little) inwards away from the frame.
To release a tab from its dimple on the frame, you must push inwards on the tab until it clears the
dimple. Don’t let the screwdriver go too far up, or you will damage the shell. Perform this same
operation on all four tabs so they are clear of the frame dimples. Again be careful. You can see
these body tabs and frame dimples on the Atlas HO RS-3 parts diagram.
6. Once the tabs are released, in order to remove the hood casting from the frame and the sill
casting, carefully wiggle and pull on the entire hood so that it is free of the sill casting which will
remain on the frame. Be sure that you are not holding onto the handrails when you grasp the
body so that you don’t break the handrails and or other detail parts.
7. To replace the hood casting on the sill and frame, repeat these steps in reverse order.
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ESU License Agreement
Software License Agreement
1. ESU LokSound, GmbH & Co. grants you, the owner, and the right to use the software that is included with
your LokSound Select system only with the locomotive that you purchased.
2. Copyright: The software is owned by Electronic Solutions Ulm GmbH & Co. and is protected by German
copyright laws and international treaty provisions. Therefore, neither you nor anyone else may copy the
Proprietary Rights and Obligations
The structure and organization of the Software/Firmware are the valuable properties of Electronic Solutions Ulm
GmbH & Co. You will not make or have made, or permit to be made, any copies of the Hardware, Software/Firmware
code, or any portions thereof. You are not to modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, de-compile, disassemble or
create derivative works based on the Hardware or Software/Firmware. Trademarks shall be used in accordance with
accepted trademark practice, including identification of trademark owner’s name. The LokSound Select Hardware,
Software, and Firmware are covered by various US and foreign patents and patents pending.
No Other Rights
Electronic Solutions Ulm, GmbH & Co. retains ownership of the LokSound Select Hardware design and operating
Software/Firmware code. Except as stated above, this agreement does not grant you any rights to intellectual
property rights to the LokSound Select Software, Firmware or Hardware. The use of any trademarks as herein
authorized does not give you any rights of ownership in that trademark.
© 2014 All rights reserved. Information in this publication supersedes that in all previous published material. The
contents and the product it describes are subject to change without notice. LokSound is a registered trademark of
Electronic Solutions Ulm (ESU) GmbH & Co. MRC is a trademark of Model Rectifier Corporation. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective holders. Atlas Model Railroad Co., Inc. makes no representations or
warranties with respect to this publication. In no event shall ESU be liable for any damages, direct or incidental,
arising out of or related to the use of this publication. Issued: 05/2014
software.
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