Rapido Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Subway - HO Scale

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Overview

This page details features and other information regarding Rapido Trains’ San Fransisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Subway cars. This model has been faithfully recreated in HO-scale using modern 3D scanning technology, as well as original design documentation. This model includes a TCS WOWSound® decoder with authentic sound files recorded from the prototype, and on-board Keep-Alive® device for uninterrupted operation, even over dirty track. The WOWSound® electric locomotive sound package includes sounds for horn, traction motor, air compressor, HVAC, coupler close/release, brake release and application, and many more!

Loaded with prototypical features, the SCV-42 Charger in HO-scale from Bachmann Trains brings all the sights and sounds of Siemens' sleek new diesel-electric locomotive to your layout.

Features include:

• DCC sound-equipped for sound, speed, direction, and lighting control
• Dual-mode NMRA-compliant decoder operates sound, motor, and lights on DCC or DC power.
• TCS true CD-quality audio with 16-bit depth resolution at 44,100Hz
• Authentic and prototypical sounds
• On-board Keep-Alive® device that keeps your engine running during power interruptions due to dirty track or loss of electrical contact
• Directional headlight and marker lights
• Interior lights operated by "magic wand"
• Forward-mounted "high light", with authentic amber color
• TCS' industry-leading "quiet drive" Back EMF motor control for superior slow-speed performance and load compensation
• User-loadable speed table options (3-point, 28-point, and 126-point curves)
• Two select-able horn options - "beeper" horn and emergency air horn
• Two configurable Momentum Modes
• TCS' new and exclusive Function Pagination System
• Separately-applied windshield wipers, grab irons and other detail parts
• Realistic top speed (limited in some cases by track voltage)

Specific Features

DC mode operation

When operating in DC mode, the decoder will sit still and silent until a sufficient track voltage is present. Once the minimum voltage is met, the idling sounds will turn on. As the voltage continues to increase, the locomotive will begin to move once the next threshold is met. A directional horn quill will play automatically based on the direction of travel. Users may trigger a station approach horn quill by quickly adjusting the track voltage up and back down quickly. The directional horn blasts and quill are enabled by default and are controlled by the DC Mode Sounds CV 181. Program CV 181 with a value of 0 to disable all of the automatic horn sounds on DC power.

Traction Motor Sound Features

The BART decoder features prototypical traction noises like “traction motor” and “traction motor chopper" for the as-delivered DC powered traction motors. TCS recorded the DC traction sounds from C-car #339 prior to its decommissioning. The sound package in the BART decoder authentically recreates the on-board experience of the DC-powered BART cars.

There are two elements that make up the traction sound on the DC-powered cars - the traction motor and gearbox, and the "chopper." DC traction motors have a dramatically different sound, as they do not have the audible 'stages' of acceleration as with AC traction. The DC traction motors on the BART cars are most audible when traveling at very high speeds where the gearbox whine becomes prevalent.

The most prevalent sound in these cars is instead the "chopper" which is an analog control module which converts the incoming power from the third rail into an appropriate DC voltage and current for the set speed. This control module is very clearly audible inside the car, and externally as well. Since the module is constantly working to regulate the power to the motor, the audible sound will fade in and out based on the conditions the specific car is under. Any time the car needs to change speed, either accelerating or decelerating, the 'chopper' sound becomes louder; whereas while coasting at a consistent speed, the sound fades down to a low level, and sometimes becoming inaudible. TCS has faithfully recreated this behavior by including the 'chopper' sound as a separate sound file which plays at a variable volume. This variable volume is based on the load, as well as the acceleration and deceleration. When changing speed to accelerate or decelerate, the sound will play at its loudest (as set by the sound type volume). When coasting (traveling at a set speed), the traction chopper volume will vary based on the load on the motor.

High Speed Sounds

The BART decoder features a brand new high speed sounds feature.

Station Announcement Sound Features

The BART decoder features new sounds such as “Whoosh” and “station announcements”

New Lighting Features

The BART decoder features an optional "high high", positioned centrally on the front of the car just below the roof line. Both A cars and C cars had these lights installed, but their installation was not universal and is based on the road number. In operation, these lights are always on as long as the locomotive has power and is in operation. On the C cars, this light is placed dead-center above the door in the front of the car; whereas on the A cars, the light is slightly offset towards the operator's cabin.

TCS has implemented automatic and manual control modes for the high beam. In automatic mode, the high light will turn on as long as the headlight/marker lights are on. To manually take control of this light function, you can use CV 37 to remap the function control for F3. Any decimal value programmed into CV 37 will remap the high light control to that button. To disable the high light, you can program CV 53 with a value of 255.

The BART decoder also features interior lighting. By default, the interior lights are controlled using the Rapido "magic wand" which has a magnet inside. This magnet will trigger an on-board "Hall Effect" sensor which will then toggle the lights on or off. The status of the interior lights (as well as all other light functions) will be remembered through a power cycle unless otherwise turned off or disabled. The interior lighting may be programmed to also accept a DCC function command. In order to remap the interior lights to a DCC function button, simply reprogram CV 36 to a decimal value from 0-28. To remove the operation of the light from the magnetic sensor, you must also change the AUX Input Light Mapping indexed CV 16.0.292.

Button Mappings

The values outlined below in the button mapping, sound list, and CV values are the defaults assigned to this particular decoder from the factory.

For information on how to program your locomotive using the values provided in the charts below, please see our Comprehensive Programming Guide, WOWDiesel V4 Programming Guide, and/or List of Standard CV's.