Super. Hello from the Tracy Mountain Railway in Colorado. 💙 T.E.N.

I have since found that Hornby Do make a DCC track connector! This will not have the suppressor in it that the ordinary DC connector has! if you use the DCC connector or solder the power feed direct to the track it cures the slow running problem obviously caused by the suppressor.

Greetings from across the pond in the U.S.A. I enjoy your videos. One thing I did notice in this video when you were showing the crawl on DC after running in (what we call "breaking in") was the fact that the left side valve gear (the crosshead) had dropped below where it is supposed to be. Otherwise, very impressed with a new to the UK scale we've had in the states since 1945 when Hal Joyce created the scale and sold it as H. P. Products.

If it crawls in DC, it will crawl even better in DCC. The problem lies with the decoder I am sure. Try another decoder. I recommend the ESU LokPilot 5.

Hi Simon, You might want to try these CV settings, I normally find these are a good starting point. CV2=0, CV3=60, CV4=35, CV5=255 & CV6 (if available)=127. If you do decide on a sound decoder, if you use an ESU LokSound V5 there is a smoothing method built in. You set CV54=0, exit the programming & press F1 on your throttle. The loco will shoot forwards at an alarming rate of knots but will then stop. This sets the decoder's "backlash" settings to give you a smoother low speed running. Or as Rapido Trains dubbed it "The awesome slow speed thingy!" Merry Christmas!

very interesting video, i thought it would have been better in dcc, you are right about the hornby controllers i got the hornby rovex set a few years ago and mine was the same really noisy but using a gaugemaster controller the loco was alot quieter, thanks for sharing. Tom

This is a very useful video as I might also be a bit nervous in the fitting of a DCC chip to a brand new locomotive, but you have made it look so easy. So many thanks for that! The new train set fits nicely onto that table top so for the moment I guess it will give you a lot of pleasure watching it run around the circuit. I will be interested if you decide to return to dcc and fit a speaker - I love the sounds they make! Merry Christmas to you and the family.

I have some Berliner TT Bahnen old stuff. The crawling is problem here, however some modellers tried digital or motor with flywheel. The reason is the gear ratio. These locomotives used to fly somewhere at 300 kmph (computed in the scale) by 12 VDC. ...and the bigger the propelled wheel diameter, the bigger the non realistic speed. Our modellers use to change the worm gear, because the original has a ratio of 1 revolution to 2 cogs ("double snail" 😎) to a worm gear ratio of 1 revolution to 1 cog. The speed is dropping to a half. A tractive effort gets doubled. (...but, having a lot of the old stuff, I think it is not reasonable to buy new motors, decoders and new worm gears, that many, how many propelled axles are there...) Btw, I like so much those Pullman coaches.😍

Always interesting Simon, odd about the slow running, you’ve exhausted everything I know about sorting it out. Cheers for now, John

Here is the thing with the chip. The CV values on the dapol chip are set up for a he the dapol engine. Meaning the motor and wheel size. The Hornby A1 has different gearing and very large driving wheels meaning the cvs must be changed cause they are just not suited to the loco. I’d try a different chip, maybe a lok pilot and see if it’s any better

For imperfect motors; As well as refining cv's and experimenting with them, I have some success in running my motors for an hour on a lowish speed, both directions, on a rolling road

Hi Simon, I think I would assemble the track with the siding inside the oval. You could possibly develop this into a layout with a station in the middle! The only solution to the slow running DCC problem would be a different decoder. The one you have got may be specifically intended for N gauge. Thanks for uploading.

thanks will do that with the diesels when they come out,

At 2:20 you can see an issue. The cross head on the piston rod has come out from the slide bars and is bending down

I do like how Hornby is using a proper close coupling system with close couplers on both the coaches and engine. Good thing about TT120 being a new standard for the british modelling is that it gives them the chance to set things like this up as the standard and aren't held back / got the excuse of older tooling for why it's not done right like the Japanese and Europeans.

Try connecting power to the track without using the supplied connecting track. I understand that might affect DCC slow running. The component inside that track piece is the possible culprit. Regards.

Lovely to see this loco running, strange about the running on DCC especially on the z21. You’ve done much that I would have done TBH, maybe CV3 acceleration to 70, 80 or more. Maybe worth a try. However with a decent gaugemaster DC controller you’ll be good with that. Merry Christmas.

The motion on the left hand side is out of its guide thingy, sorry I’m not sure what the parts are called.

Those Hornby controllers are pulsed phased and that's what that buzzing noise is

I suspect there is a capacitor across the motor leads somewhere, perhaps on the circuit board? Many years ago I had the same problem with the Bachmann Deltic; removed the cap and the minimum speed dropped dramatically.

Very interesting. I'm not that familiar with the basic hornby controller, I get the feeling that it's an older design with a poor wave frequency, causing the harsh buzzing and not brilliant slow speed control. A standard controller I use is the hm 2000, but I obtained one of those hm6000 bluetooth things and its ghastly - exhibiting pretty much the same symptoms as your base hornby controller. The dapol loco is what it should run like on dc, and even then the dapol loco is crawling it appears at around 8 times a higher speed than the old tomix EF81 with an hm2000. A 3 pole motor only makes it jerk more at very slow speed, or makes the possibility of a stall at start higher, neither 3 poles or lack of flywheel actually inhibit slow speed running (fyi the gaiety 5 pole with 40:1 was actually worse at slow speed than the dublo 3 pole, likewise the 21 pole boucher wasn't much over the lionel super motor). No idea about the dcc chip: I've many locos in a variety of scales that run better and crawl slower on dc (bowser, athearn, bttb, tillig, hobbytown etc - my tomix and kato n are just dc - the Japanese home market having next to no interest in dcc). I personally think trying a gauge master or possibly one of the hm2000 or even a toaster might hopefully make it run better. I recently obtained the new tillig E77 in tt scale: yes it's a lot more pricey, but in all honesty sometimes you really feel like the money spent is justified. It's a revelation compared to this A1. Now, I don't want to sound nasty, but that is an awful looking motor, as in a cheap bargain warehouse type. And it's not due to where its made: it's just that hornby looks like they really screwed down the costing of its motor supplier. If I'm honest Simon, If its reliable on its tracking, I'd almost be tempted to just enjoy it as a running train: for better or worse it's a stunning looking train, large enough to have a presence on it's own accord (something that N just doesn't quite have), and small enough to have have a train running through scenery (something that 00 just can't accommodate in a given area. Gosh, it really is a beauty! P.S if you do happen to get a gauge master could you do a review please? I like your down to earth reviews and I've been tempted, but I've not seen or heard how it compares with the hm 2000, and I've gotten sick of spending money on controllers that end up worse than what I've already got. Tempted to almost take the plunge and just plumb for a heisswolf but dear oh dear the price!

Hi Simon. Happy New Year. Did you ever get a chance to chasing the chip to compare slow running? Thanks for the upload

Not that I have much knowledge, but did you try the slow running after you replaced the heavy grease? Just a thought. It is very good to watch your video as I have also ordered the TT120 Easterner train set having been used to n gauge

I noticed it didn't have a fly wheel on the motor I think that may help the slow speed a little. When N scale came out they didn't and there was no slow speed at all. Just a thought.

Which DCC system are you using , and who made the decoder??

Perhaps the slow running is due to the 3 pole motor. I believe the oo and n scale locos are now using 5 pole motors. Just a thought!

At 2'20" and 6'20" it's obvious the valvegear slider has dropped out - might this have something to do with the 'smoothness' of running? Al.

Hi, I think your crosshead might have slipped out of the crosshead guides at 2:01; Does anyone know if this is a common issue on these models?

Hello. Did the decrease/oil make a difference? Waiting for the A4 set.

The crosshead is not in the slidebar on the left hand side

As to the minimum speed: this does look like a chip issue. What is the brand of your chip? I recommend Zimo, but these are very hard to find at present; second to that, ESU is good.

Are there any holes to let the sound out?

Is there a smoke option for the TT:120 scale, or is it too small to make it viable?

I wonder why Hornby chose to use the motor they have and not use a coreless motor in the TT range. Running would be even greater improved

siehste nich das der Kreuzkopf aus den Gleitlager ist

New viewer & subscriber here. Also, you owe my credit card an apology 😂 Regarding future mods, I've already ordered three maglight units (R7338) to attempt to fit the the coaches. Fingers crossed they're not bonded shut! As for the engine, given it has power already, could a small bulb be put in the cab for illumination while running?

I couldn't see any flywheel on the motor. Could that be part of the slow running problem?

Is it me or does the track have the same too close sleeper spacing as OO?

Hi the motion on that loco is not right the piston rod is not in it's right position

What make of decoder did you use? I get absolutely super running with Zimo decoders and would suggest that this is what you want to try.

I would just use DC. It may be more trouble free.

Hi Simon! That's a really odd issue with the slow speed on DCC! I was expecting great things! As others have suggested, it may be a decoder issue. All except one of my locos use Zimo chips, but the one that doesn't is my Dapol 33, which has a Next18 Imperium - and it's my best crawler by far! Weird! All the best, Ian.

It doesn't appear to have a flywheel? No amount of tech can overcome the lack of mechanical inertia.

If this A1 has the same design of mechanism as the 4mm scale A1/A3s, try stripping the chassis down and clear out ALL the grease from the gearbox and gear wheels.Then lubricate with just a smidgen of light oil. Once all the grease has been removed there should be a very noticeable increase in performance.

Nothing you can do about the crawl.I had to change a chip in one of my loco.s.The old chip was great for crawl.The new chip on lowest cv 2 makes no difference.My old chip was hornby my new chip was rails direct. 8 pin.Maybe its certain makes of chip to different loc,s.

I've always been a bit apprehensive, moving to DCC, as I usually have only 1 loco running at a time. The most basic Gaugemaster controller is light years better than the basic Hornby one.

Set cv 3 and cv4 to 0 it will give you a super crawl

U will need to change cv settings if the motor runs slower on dc then its a software I'd try a gauge master dcc chip I ues them for my none sound 00 gauge a4s and I ues locksound v5 for sound and I can get them to crawl at ridiculous slow speed like a inch per minute Maybe thay will work for tt

Unfortunately, this Roayl British toy is technologically as advanced as german models circa 1995 plus decoder. (shiny metal, no kurzkupplungs, no direction dependent ighting, obsolete 3-pole motor, slightly shiny plastic, wheel flanges bright silver). Will by it because tis nostalgic and exotic for TT, but otherwise... techologically unimprssive. The cars however are very good. At least the first impression of them.

Only a 3 pole motor and no flywheel? Hm... Anyway with the decoder you might want to see if you can control its PWM frequency. It will be interesting finding out how you debug and resolve its poor DCC performance, it is one reason why I try to buy locos with built-in decoders.. no faffing around trying to match up inscrutable decoder docs with completely undocumented motors!

Try a different make of chip.

I regret you are not using gloves? electronics don't take kindly to skin oils???

You can't improve the running, it's hornby, cheap motors and chip modules, told you it was a waste of money, n gauge already runs better with farish and dapol. Stick with n gauge. Simple and cheaper.

The standard set comes with a power track that has a RF capacitor fitted, have you removed that? Could that be the problem of the slow running?