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

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Information on this wiki page provides particular details about this model not found in the quick start guide.

Rapido BART Subway
BART A-car Thumb.jpg
Model Information
ManufacturerRapido
ScaleHO-Scale
Power TypeDCC Dual Mode w/Sound
Release DateFirst Run: July 2024
Retail Price$339.95 USD
Decoder Information
Decoder Type(?)WOWElectric (OEM)
Version(?)5
Sound Set(?)1
Lighting Functions5
Prototype Information
BuilderFirst Delivery A/B - Rohr Industries
C1 Delivery - Alsthom (Alstom)
C2 Delivery - Morrison Knudsen
AC Traction Rebuild - ADtranz
Build Date1968-1996
First Delivery A&B 1968-1975
C1 Delivery 1987-1989
C2 Delivery 1994-1996
A&B Rebuild 1998-2002
Motive PowerThird-Rail Electric
More Info[1]

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 Bay Area Rapid Transit cars in HO-scale from Rapido Trains and TCS brings all the sights and sounds of yesterday's tomorrow 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 sounds recorded directly from the real thing
  • 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
  • Hostling Lights (C-car only)
  • 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
  • Separately-applied windshield wipers, grab irons and other detail parts
  • MPH-accurate speed curve up to 80mph* (*Results will vary due to electrical and mechanical tolerances. Assumes 15V DCC 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. Program CV 181 with a value of 0 to disable all of the automatic horn sounds on DC power. Other DC mode operational behaviors such as the startup voltage can be adjusted using the DC Mode Indexed CVs which are detailed in the Indexed CVs section below.

By default, all available lighting functions will turn on when DC power is present. All lighting outputs will operate the same lighting effects and directional control in the same way as on DCC power. Lighting configurations for DC can be changed using DCC CV programming. See the Standard CV section below for more details.

Consisting

In real-life operation, all of the BART cars (be they A, B, or C) are powered and contribute to the tractive effort. In the model, this is limited to the A and C cars; regardless, it is normal and expected that users will operate multiple powered cars in a push-pull configuration. There are multiple ways to go about creating a consist of multiple decoders. The most simplistic way to do this is to start by assigning unique DCC addresses to each powered unit, and then using a TCS command station to create a consist. The individual cars can then be configured exactly to your liking thereafter. Please see our documentation on Consisting with the TCS Command Station for more information.

Alternatively, many configuration options are available via CVs. We recommend following these steps to set up a CV 19 Consist:

  1. Assign unique DCC addresses to each powered unit
  2. Program the CV 19 Consist Address of all units in the consist to the same number (be sure to use the correct CV value for forward and reverse direction).
  3. Program CV 21 in each unit to 165
  4. Program CV 22 in each unit to 3

To remove one or more units from the consist, program CV 19 to 0.

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 motors and inverters. The DC traction motors on the BART cars are most audible when traveling at very high speeds where the gearbox whine becomes prevalent. As the speed changes, the traction motor will change its pitch and dynamics to an appropriate sound based on the speed.

The most prevalent sound in these cars is not the motors themselves, but 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. Once the car reaches a set speed, the decoder will randomly start playing sounds heard when the BART cars are traveling at high speed. This includes the sounds heard when traveling underground through a tunnel, as well as when running above ground on the raised rail platforms. The decoder will select a random high speed sound to play, play it for a random amount of time, and then wait a random amount of time before playing another high speed sound. If the speed drops below the minimum speed for high speed sounds to play, the sound will stop playing immediately. This feature is enabled automatically on every power cycle, but can be manually disabled and re-enabled by using Button 20. You can configure the speed at which the high speed sounds will start playing using CV 194.

Station Announcement and Whoosh Sound Features

The BART decoder has two types of station announcements. Both of these announcement types operate by randomly selecting and playing one of the available sounds whenever the button is pressed.

  • The first type was recorded from a real BART locomotive operator who announced all of the lines (colors) and destinations over the intercom within the cars. These announcements would be spoken by the operator before departing from a station.
  • The second type of announcements were recorded at a BART station. Each of these announcements feature the "robot voice" which would be heard while waiting on the platform at a BART station.


The BART decoder features seven unique "Whoosh" runby sounds which include all different consist lengths from 4 to 10 cars. The Whoosh feature randomly selects and plays one of the available sounds whenever the button is pressed. Pressing the button a second time while a sound is playing should stop the sound currently playing.

Train Brake Options

The BART decoder feature a new, configurable braking mode. By default the BART decoder ships with the new, single-stage braking mode enabled. In this mode, a single button is used to apply and release the brakes. Pressing the button once to "on" will apply the brakes; Pressing the brake button a second time will release the brakes. In the real-life operation of the BART system, most of the braking is done regeneratively using the traction motors, with only the final ~10mph of speed being cut off by the disc brakes. The braking rate in legacy brake mode is determined by the value in CV 183.

Users familiar with other WOWSound decoders will likely be familiar with our normal Train Brake feature which has a 5-stage braking system. With the 5-stage brake system, a separate brake application and brake release button are used. Each press of the brake application button increases the braking force.

To restore the 5-stage braking system, change the value of CV 61 to disable Legacy Braking Mode.

By default, the BART decoder is programmed with momentum for acceleration and deceleration which we believe accurately represents the regenerative braking deceleration rate. You can change the momentum on-the-fly by mapping the Momentum Function to a button. You can also make use of our Variable Momentum feature to make dynamic acceleration and deceleration curves based on the current speed, just like the real thing! With this feature, you can set a faster deceleration rate for high speeds and faster acceleration for low speeds which can add even more realism!

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 as a safety feature during the retrofit period between 1998 and 2002; however, their installation was not universal and is based on the road number. In operation, these lights are always on for each end unit as long as the locomotive has power and is in operation. Mid-train units will not have this or any lights on. 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 away from the window of 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 only allow the high light to be active on the forward-facing unit, program CV 53 on BOTH end units to 0. To disable the high light, you can program CV 53 with a value of 255.

In order to use this function of the decoder, you must install the physical hardware for the high light onto the body of the A or C car. Please refer to the instructions from Rapido on how to do this.


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 location of the sensor is immediately behind the cab end, in the middle of the body. To trigger the sensor, swipe a magnet in any direction across the sensor.

The brightness of the interior light can be changed by adjusting the value of indexed CVs 16.6.439 and 16.6.441. The brightness value as a percentage of 0-100 is held in NMRA indexed. 0 is off and 100 is maximum brightness. Both of these need to be changed to the desired 0-100 value. The default brightness is 80 percent.

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.

AUX Input Sound Mapping

Optionally, a user may choose to map a sound function to the magnetic sensor. By default, no sound is mapped to the sensor, and it is used exclusively to control the interior lights, as described above. Some examples of valid configurations are listed below:

  • If an individual sound (example: Station Arriving Horn Quill) is mapped to the AUX input, that sound will play every time the sensor is triggered.
  • If a sound type with two elements (example: Doors Open/Close) is mapped to the AUX input, the sound played will toggle each time the sensor is triggered. In this example, the first trigger will open the doors, and the second trigger will close the doors.
  • If a sound type with a looping element (example: Air Compressor) is mapped to the AUX input, the sound will play for a designated amount of time. The duration of the sound can be set using CV 173. The value is 172 divided by 2 is the number of seconds the looping sound will play before it shuts off.
  • If the "Mute" sound is mapped to the AUX input, the decoder will mute until the next time the input is triggered or a power cycle occurs.

If you map a sound to the AUX input, such as the Doors, you should remove the interior light function control from the AUX input and assign it to another DCC function using CV 36 and Indexed CV 16.0.292

RailCom®

This decoder features the DCC Bi-directional communications standard, RailCom®, as an enabled feature by default. RailCom support requires both the decoder and the Command Station to include the supporting hardware and software. Examples of RailCom-enabled command stations include the TCS CS-105 and LT-50. Some features of RailCom include mainline CV read-back, advanced block detection, and receipt confirmation for function commands. RailCom is a constantly evolving technology whose scope of features has yet to be fully realized.

RailCom can be completely disabled by changing CV 29. Specific (supported) RailCom features can be selectively Enabled or Disabled by modifying CV 28.

RailCom® is a registered trademark of Lenz Elektronik GmbH.

Button Mappings

The tables below outline the default sounds and lights assigned to DCC function buttons for this particular decoder from the factory.

BART Function Map for Sounds and Lights
Button Mappings
Function Button Sound Function Light Function Fx #
0 (None) Headlight / Markers / High Light F0F & F0R & F3
1 Open/Close Doors
2 Horn - Playable
3 Flange Squeal
4 Station Announcements (Intercom)
5 Station Announcements (Robot Voice)
6 Brake On/Off
7 (None) Hostling Lights On/Off (C-Car Only) F1
8 Mute / Un-mute All Sounds
9 Whoosh (Runby)
10 Horn - Station Approach Quill (Random)
11 Horn - Forward Quill
12 Horn - Stop Quill
13 Horn - Reverse Quill
14 Couple
15 Uncouple
16 HVAC (Idling) Sounds On/Off
17 Air Compressor On/Off
18 (None)
19 (None)
20 Enable/Disable High Speed Sounds
21 (None)
22 (None)
23 (None)
24 Change Horn Type
25 (None)
26 (None)
27 (None)
28 (None)
AUX (None) Interior Lights On/Off F2
Random Sound Mapping
Random

Sound Channel

Sound

Played

1 Air Compressor (Type 1)
2 (None)
3 (None)
4 (None)

Sound List

Complete List of Sounds

To change sound mappings, use indexed CV 16.4.X See the Sound Mapping Indexed CVs table in the Indexed CVs section below for more information.

Set CV 31 to 16. Set CV 32 to 4. Then, use CVs 257 through 324 to select the button and the sound you would like to map to the button.

Sound Type Sound Number High Byte Low Byte Sound Name
Air Compressor 0 0 0 BART Air Compressor Type 1
1 0 1 BART Air Compressor Type 2
Brake Squeal 3 0 3 Brake Squeal Sounds *
High Speed Tunnel Sounds 33 0 33 Tunnel Sounds
High Speed High Rail Sounds 34 0 34 High Rail Sounds
Coupler Clank 35 0 35 BART Coupling 1
36 0 36 BART Coupling 2
37 0 37 BART Uncoupling
Door Sounds 38 0 38 BART Door Open/Close
Flange Squeal 39 0 39 Flange Squeal 1
40 0 40 Flange Squeal 2
Horn Forward Quill * 41 0 41
Horn (Playable) * 43 0 43
Horn Station Arriving Quill * 45 0 45
Horn Reverse Quill * 51 0 51
Horn Stop Quill * 56 0 56
Idling Sounds 57 0 57 BART Idle (HVAC) Sounds
Momentum Feature 58 0 58 Momentum Feature
Mute 60 0 60 Mute All Sounds
Rotate Feature 61 0 61 Rotate Feature
Station Announcements (Intercom) * 63 0 63
Station Announcements (Robot Voice) * 73 0 73
Whoosh * 84 0 84 BART Runby Sounds

* For sound types marked with this symbol, use the listed sound number to map the sound type to a button; otherwise special randomization elements may stop functioning, or expected behavior of the sound type may not function properly.

Horn

CV 120 Value Active Horn
0 (default) BART "Beeper"
1 BART Emergency Air Horn

Standard CVs

The BART decoder follows the motor and lighting CVs as outlined in the Version 5 Standard CV list. Listed below are common CVs which may be modified or referenced by the user.

Standard CVs (1-256) and Default Values for BART Decoder
CV Number CV Value Description
CV 1 3 2-digit DCC Address
CV 2 0 3-point Speed Table - Start
CV 3 40 Acceleration
CV 4 40 Deceleration
CV 5 0 3-point Speed Table - Max
CV 6 0 3-point Speed Table - Mid
CV 7 * 5 TCS Decoder Architecture Version
CV 8 * 153 TCS Manufacturer ID
CV 11 0 Keep Alive® Timeout (Disabled by Default)
CV 13 7 DC Mode lights F1-F8
CV 14 3 DC Mode Lights F0 F/R & F9-F12
CV 15 2 Decoder Lock KEY
CV 16 2 Decoder Lock LOCK
CV 17 192 4-digit DCC Address MSB
CV 18 0 4-digit DCC Address LSB
CV 19 0 DCC Consist Address
CV 21 255 Consist Function Button Control (F1-F8)
CV 22 255 Consist Function Button Control (F0 & F9-F12)
CV 28 7 RailCom® Configuration
CV 29 14 User Configuration CV #1
CV 31 16 Indexed CV Selector - High Byte
CV 32 0 Indexed CV Selector - Low Byte
CV 33 0 Function Button Remapping - F0F
CV 34 0 Function Button Remapping - F0R
CV 35 7 Function Button Remapping - F1
CV 36 255 Function Button Remapping - F2
CV 37 0 Function Button Remapping - F3
CV 49 0 Lighting Effect - F0F
CV 50 16 Lighting Effect - F0R
CV 51 32 Lighting Effect - F1
CV 52 44 Lighting Effect - F2
CV 53 32 Lighting Effect - F3
CV 61 37 User Configuration CV #2
CV 66 128 Motor Trim - Forward
CV 67 to

CV 94

28-point Speed Table
CV 95 128 Motor Trim - Reverse
CV 105 0 User Identification CV #1
CV 106 0 User Identification CV #2
CV 109 3 TCS Decoder Extended Identification - High Byte
CV 110 0 TCS Decoder Extended Identification - Mid Byte
CV 111 1 TCS Decoder Extended Identification - Low Byte
CV 118 * 0 Traction Motor Type Selection
CV 120 0 Horn Type Selection (0 or 1 valid for this project)
CV 141 200 Random Sound 1 (Air Compressor) Frequency
CV 145 100 Random Sound Cutout Frequency
CV 152 10 Traction motor Chopper Low Load Calibration
CV 154 85 Traction motor Chopper High Load Calibration
CV 173 20 AUX Input Looping Sound Timer (x/2 = Seconds)
CV 176 240 User Sound Options CV #1
CV 177 160 User Sound Options CV #2
CV 178 0 Automatic DCC Sound Options #1
CV 179 15 Automatic DCC Sound Options #2
CV 181 255 DC Mode Sound Configuration
CV 183 32 Train Brake Deceleration Rate - Stage 1
CV 184 26 Train Brake Deceleration Rate - Stage 2
CV 185 16 Train Brake Deceleration Rate - Stage 3
CV 186 8 Train Brake Deceleration Rate - Stage 4
CV 187 3 Train Brake Deceleration Rate - Stage 5
CV 194 70 High Speed Sounds Start Speed (of 126)
CV 248 * 1 Sound Set Revision Identifier. First Run = 1
CV 249 * 183 Decoder Hardware Model Identifier

* Note: CVs marked with this symbol are read-only and cannot be modified.

Note: Programming CV 8 with a value of 8 OR 2 will perform a factory reset.

Volume Control CVs and Default Values for BART Decoder
CV Number CV Value Description
CV 195 15 Volume - Air Compressor
CV 197 0 Volume - Brake Release
CV 198 50 Volume - Brake Squeal
CV 201 100 Volume - High Speed Sounds
CV 202 15 Volume - Coupler Clank
CV 205 100 Volume - Doors
CV 207 50 Volume - Flange Squeal
CV 208 100 Volume - Horn Forward Quill
CV 209 100 Volume - Horn (Playable)
CV 210 100 Volume - Horn Station Arrival Quill
CV 211 100 Volume - Horn Reverse Quill
CV 213 100 Volume - Horn Stop Quill
CV 215 15 Volume - Idling (HVAC) Sounds
CV 225 80 Volume - Station Announcements (Intercom)
CV 226 80 Volume - Station Announcements (Robot Voice)
CV 227 75 Max Volume - Traction Motor
CV 228 70 Max Volume - DC "Chopper" Sound
CV 230 80 Volume - "Whoosh"

Note: All Volume CVs have a valid range of values from 0 to 100

Indexed CVs

The BART decoder uses a selection of "Indexed CVs" for advanced configuration. Below is a list of the available indexed CVs. For a fill list of Indexed CVs with detailed descriptions, CLICK HERE.

BART Indexed CVs
CV 31 CV 32 High Byte CV Value Low Byte CV Value Description
16 0 262 0 261 5 DC Mode Horn Quill Delta - Regulated Power Pack
16 0 264 0 263 75 DC Mode Motor Start Voltage - Regulated Power Pack
16 0 266 0 265 10 DC Mode Motor Hysteresis - Regulated Power Pack
16 0 268 0 267 116 DC Mode Max Voltage - Regulated Power Pack
16 0 276 0 275 10 DC Mode Horn Quill Delta - Unregulated Power Pack
16 0 278 0 277 100 DC Mode Motor Start Voltage - Unregulated Power Pack
16 0 280 0 279 29 DC Mode Motor Hysteresis - Unregulated Power Pack
16 0 282 0 281 180 DC Mode Max Voltage - Unregulated Power Pack
16 0 292 0 291 8 Light Function Mapping - AUX Input
Interior Light Brightness Control (Constant Dim)
16 6 440 0 439 80 Interior Light Brightness
16 6 442 0 441 80 Interior Light Brightness

The values shown in the Sound Mapping table below correspond to the Sound Numbers in the Sound List for this project.

Sound Mapping Indexed CVs
CV 31 CV 32 High Byte CV Value Low Byte CV Value Description
16 4 258 255 257 255 Sound Mapping - F0
16 4 260 0 259 38 Sound Mapping - F1
16 4 262 0 261 43 Sound Mapping - F2
16 4 264 0 263 39 Sound Mapping - F3
16 4 266 0 265 63 Sound Mapping - F4
16 4 268 0 267 73 Sound Mapping - F5
16 4 270 0 269 3 Sound Mapping - F6
16 4 272 255 271 255 Sound Mapping - F7
16 4 274 0 273 60 Sound Mapping - F8
16 4 276 0 275 84 Sound Mapping - F9
16 4 278 0 277 45 Sound Mapping - F10
16 4 280 0 291 41 Sound Mapping - F11
16 4 282 0 281 55 Sound Mapping - F12
16 4 284 0 283 51 Sound Mapping - F13
16 4 286 0 285 35 Sound Mapping - F14
16 4 288 0 287 37 Sound Mapping - F15
16 4 290 0 289 57 Sound Mapping - F16
16 4 292 0 291 1 Sound Mapping - F17
16 4 294 255 293 255 Sound Mapping - F18
16 4 298 0 297 33 Sound Mapping - F20
16 4 300 0 299 34 Sound Mapping - F21
16 4 302 255 301 255 Sound Mapping - F22
16 4 304 255 303 255 Sound Mapping - F23
16 4 306 0 305 61 Sound Mapping - F24
16 4 308 255 307 255 Sound Mapping - F25
16 4 310 255 309 255 Sound Mapping - F26
16 4 314 255 313 255 Sound Mapping - F28
16 4 316 0 315 0 Sound Mapping - R1
16 4 318 255 317 255 Sound Mapping - R2
16 4 320 255 319 255 Sound Mapping - R4
16 4 322 255 321 255 Sound Mapping - R4
16 4 324 255 323 255 Sound Mapping - AUX