Gopher Models CountryLink XPT – Sound Fitted

Description

Gopher Models N Scale CountryLink XPT with factory fitted DCC sound, exclusive to Buckambool Model Trains. The first ever ready-to-run Australian N Scale diesel multiple unit!

Available to purchase when stock arrives, pre-order is not available. Pricing TBA and please note some details are subject to refinement

This Gopher Models item represents a CountryLink XPT circa 2006-2014. This livery first debuted in 2006 and was first replaced on a power car in mid-2014.

This set features:

• 1x XP power car (motorised with sound decoder)
• 1x XP power car (dummy with function decoder)
• 1x XBH first class w baggage passenger car
• 1x XBR first class buffet & saloon passenger car
• 3x XF economy class passenger car

5 passenger cars not enough? Rest assured there will be extra single cars available in both SRA red and CountryLink/NSWTrainLink blue.

Features for the XPT lover!

• Accurate replication of 3 different iconic liveries of the XPT, including SRA as delivered and the current NSWTrainLink scheme
• Operational lighting in all passenger cars that glows through the iconic gold tinted windows – and check out the hot plates in the kitchen of the buffet car!
• Paxman VP185 prime mover recordings taken from a post-2000’s XPT – sorry, we don’t have a recording of a Paxman Valenta for the as delivered models, time machines have not been invented yet sadly…!
• Bonus recordings as follows:
  • XPT Driver conducting ICE radio test
  • Radio recordings featuring XPT train crew moving through the procedure of closing and arming passenger car doors after a scheduled stop, including a little issue!
  • In-cab vigilance bell
  • Driver’s door and foot pedal
  • Westinghouse brake valve (rarely used, only if electro-pneumatic brakes fail)
• Ability to lock one XPT power car into supply (notch 2) while the other notches as normal (On the prototype, this is to provide auxiliary power to the passenger cars at all times)

Factory installed electronics:

• Installed with Zimo MS591N18 DCC sound decoder and ZIMO MX689N18 DCC function decoder ZIMO from factory
• 15 x 11mm sugar cube speaker with large enclosure
• Authentic XPT sound project featuring crisp Paxman VP185 prime mover recordings, and the iconic town & country two tone horn

Model features:

• Die-cast metal chassis, and injection moulded body on both power cars
• Injection moulded body & under frame in all passenger cars, with an internal weight
• Coreless motor for silky smooth operation with very minimal noise, max. scale speed approx. 160kmph
• No traction tires
• Electrical pickup on every single wheel of the entire train, 2-pin connectors between all cars – no flickering interior lighting or stalling on dirty track!
• Operating triple headlights, ditch lights and white/red marker lights, as well as interior lighting in all passenger cars*
• Fitted with kinematic couplers featuring an electrical 2-pin connector

*Interior passenger car lighting is always on with track power

Sound functions:

• F0 – Triple Headlight (on leading power car), red markers (on trailing power car)
• F1 – White marker lights (on leading power car)
• F2 – Town horn (playable)
• F3 – Country horn (playable)
• F4 – Ditch lights (on leading power car)
• F5 – Idle
• F6 – Notch 5 (highest rpm of prime mover)
• F7 – Headlight low beam
• F8 – Sound on/off (sound is off by default)
• F9 – Supply (lock one XPT power car into notch 2)
• F10 – 
• F11 – Guards whistle
• F12 – Guards bell 1x (clear for departure)
• F13 – Platform departure announcement
• F14 – Thank you for travelling CountryLink
• F15 – Vigilance bell
• F16 – “Crew position for doors closing”
• F17 – “Please arm the doors”
• F18 – Guards bell 2x (stop immediately)
• F19 – Shunting mode
• F20 – Park brake apply
• F21 – Coupler crash
• F22 – Passenger car door
• F23 – Driver’s door
• F24 – Driver’s foot pedal
• F25 – Radio chatter – Problem with crew door signal
• F26 – Driver conducting ICE Radio test
• F27 – Compressor
• F28 – Westinghouse brake valve

Compressor and air release sounds all play at specific intervals based on driving conditions and whether the locomotive is stationary or in motion.

History:

The New South Wales XPT (short for eXpress Passenger Train) is a class of diesel-powered passenger trains built by Comeng and ABB. Based on the British Rail-designed High Speed Train (HST 125), each XPT set comprises two XP power cars in a push-pull configuration and, between them, from four to seven passenger carriages.

The XPT was procured following a competitive tendering process, with an initial contract for 30 trainsets, comprising 10 power cars and 20 carriages, in March 1980. Testing commenced in August 1981 and the first set entered service under the State Rail Authority during January 1982. The XPT proved to be considerably faster than existing trains, reducing the journey time between Sydney and Melbourne by up to two hours.

Throughout the 1980s, additional XPT sets were procured, permitting the launch of services such as the Northern Tablelands XPT and the Riverina XPT. During the early 1990s, sleeping cars were procured, permitting the XPT to effectively take on overnight services such as the Sydney/Melbourne Express. There were also advanced plans made for additional XPTs to be produced for Thailand, but they were later abandoned.

The XPTs are currently operated under NSW TrainLink, running on long-distance regional and interstate North Coast, Main Western and Main Southern line services throughout New South Wales and interstate into Victoria and Queensland.

The trains have been subject to refurbishments and overhauls to permit their use into the twenty-first century. During October 2016, the NSW government announced the XPT fleet would be entirely replaced as part of the Regional Train Project. The replacement fleet, originally set to enter service in 2023, has encountered delays (now scheduled for around 2025–2027), thus the XPT will operate longer than originally anticipated with the potential for them to be retained after the new trains enter service.

Curious to learn more about the XPT fleet and history? Wikipedia is a great place to start: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_South_Wales_XPT