Digitrainsound Gresley A1/A3 Steam Locomotive.
3 Cylinder LNER/BR/Flying Scotsman etc. By Paul Chetter.
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available.
Please spend a few moments to read these notes which have been produced so that you may obtain
the maximum satisfaction from your new sound scheme.
The sounds should work perfectly when the decoder is fitted correctly. Individual locos may require
some fine tuning that you can achieve with your DCC controller.
What is Multi-Drive?
This is a system developed by Paul Chetter as described in his articles in Hornby Magazine, Issues
39 to 41. The sound recordings were taken from the sole surviving A3 locomotive, 4472 Flying Scotsman, for authenticity.
4472 has had a long and varied life. The sounds included on your decoder are from different periods. Not all featured sounds would have been generated by the loco during all periods. And some sounds never appeared on other locomotives of this class. You will need to select the most appropriate. (Or the ones you prefer!) For example, there are a further 4 whistles on the decoder not yet assigned to a function key. One is the Chime Whistle fitted for 4472’s overseas adventures; also included is the Bell fitted for use on USA railroads.
The sounds have been programmed in such a way that you, the user, may change the way that the
sounds respond to your driving style or needs. This avoids the need for reprogramming and all the
additional costs that would imply.
Operating Your ZIMO Sound Decoder.
As supplied, your new decoder will work in a ‘light engine’ configuration, but you will be able to switch
between the available sounds using your DCC controller using the straightforward instructions below.
This project utilises Zimo’s ability to switch between the sounds of a heavy train load or sounds of a light engine.
These are all fully configured within the project, waiting for you to make your choices.
You can revert at any time. This gives you three times the fun at no extra cost!
All the CVs have been optimised for the latest Hornby A3 models, but should work equally well with other 3 cylinder Gresley A1/A3 mainline locos. (Tornado is an example of a Thompson A1, a specific sound project will be available for this loco.)
You may need to make minor adjustments to perfect it for your individual model
.There are 20 Functions, most of which have an individual sound attached. Some will perform a
physical function (like turning on the lamps, if fitted), and some will do both (depending on equipment
installed). Please study the list below.
Some of the sounds have a finite length and will play from start to finish when selected. Other sounds
will ‘loop’ until switched off, whilst others will vary in length, depending on how you operate the F keys
on your DCC controller. I’ll leave you with the pleasure of finding out which is which.
In any of the driving sound sets, increasing the speed step by 1 will produce an acceleration sound for
a few seconds. If you wish continuous acceleration, ease the throttle setting upwards rather than 0-
128 in one jump!
Similarly, in each sound set, a reduction of 1 speed step will stop the exhaust beats and the loco will
‘coast’ (or drift) for a few seconds before resuming exhaust beats. Continuous drifting can be
simulated by easing the throttle settings down, one step at a time.
All sounds may be modified (including changing or removing them) individually, and the volume levels
of each one may also be varied to your own needs. For this, and much more information on your
decoder’s outstanding abilities, please download the latest Decoder Manual from:
You can get advice in English by joining, for free: [email protected]
The Sound Sets
There are two sound sets loaded on your decoder.
Set 1 Light Engine. At very slow speeds, this set will simulate a very lightly stressed loco. This
becomes more aggressive with acceleration, and as speed increases.
Set 2 Heavy Loaded. This is the one to use if you have a heavy train on the hook.
Special Zimo Function on F5.
As supplied, it is possible to toggle between Set 1 and Set 2 (change from one to the other and back
again) and this may be done even whilst the loco is moving, with no loss of sound. This is useful to
vary the sound of the exhaust beats. But it really comes into its own when you run light loco up to a
train, couple up and chug away with the heavy sounds.
All you need to do to make this happen is to press F5 on your DCC controller, and press again to
change back.
Function Keys List
F0 – Loco Lamps (If Fitted) white and yellow wires
F1 - Sound on/sound off
F2 – Long and Short Whistle (Hold key to extend duration)
F3 – Long Single Whistle
F4 – Toot Whistle
F5 – Light/Heavy selection
F6 – Coal shovelling. Plus firebox flicker if fitted to green wire Aux 1 (This sound is also random)
F7 – Injector (This sound is also a random sound when standing)
F8 – Blower (This sound is also a random sound when standing)
F9 – Wheel Flange
F10 – Smoke Generator 1 (If Fitted), Aux 2 brown wire
F11 – Smoke Generator 2 (If Fitted), Aux 3 optional solder pad attachment
F12 - Hand Brake
F13 – Buffering Up
F14 – Coupling sound
F15 – Cylinder Drain Cocks Open
F16 – A3 Tender Watertank Filling (Hold key to extend duration)
F17 – Late 4472 Westinghouse Type Pump
F18 – Station Announcement ‘Platform 10’
F19 - Station Announcement General
F20 Guard’s whistle
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