Bulletin: Athearn SD80MAC

Manufacturer: ESU, Item number: 12447, Version: V1-R1

This file was made SPECIFCALLY for the Athearn SD80MAC and is function mapped for their lighting. This special mapping includes the "Pusher Lights" on F5

The SD80MAC is a 5000 horsepower C-C diesel-electric locomotive. The SD80MAC uses a 20 cylinder version of EMD's 710G prime mover,formally known as the V-20 710G3B-ES and is the first diesel locomotive to use a 20-cylinder engine since the SD45/SD45-2. The SD80MAC introduced a wide radiator housing similar to GE locomotives and the placement of dynamic brakes at the rear of the locomotive. Key spotting difference between the SD80MAC and SD90MAC include: no external rear sandbox on the 90MAC, rear number boards, and the placement of the front numberboards (above the cab windows on the SD80MAC, on the nose on most SD90MACs). The SD80MAC also has recessed red marker lights in the nose, an identifying feature unique to Conrail locomotives, although NS has removed the lights on most of their former Conrail engines.

We've tried to be as prototypical as possible with this iconic locomotive. Because of this, the notching on this SD80MAC file may be slightly different from what you are used to. Like many modern EMDs there is a warm-up cycle when you initially turn on the prime mover. This will cause the prime mover to rise and hold for a short period of time. There is also a high and low idle dictated by the isolation switch. If the isolation switch is not activated Notch 1 and Notch 2 are the same as this is high idle. Activating the islolation switch will drop the sounds to low idle.

Recorded from a EMD SD80MAC

This project is an isolation switch based low idle version. It has a single turbo late (silenced) exhaust stack.

File also contains a "low Idle" Mode on F15 when Standing Still.
Pressing F15 while not moving will lower the prime mover and lock the motor. F15 must be turned off to go to "regular idle" and begin moving.

Another Mode is "Reverser In Center Position". When pressing F24 while stopped, the motor will lock so you can throttle through the notches like the prototype in neutral. F24 must be turned off to begin moving.

This project has "Run 8" mode. When turning on F26 with F28 off, the prime mover goes to run 8. Turning off F26 returns the prime mover sounds back to normal mode.

This project has "Coast" mode. When turning on F27 with F28 off, the prime mover goes to idle for coasting purposes. Turning off F27 returns the prime mover sounds back to normal mode.

You can still use F26 and F27 for manual nothing. You have to keep both F26 and F27 off before pressing F28 to turn on manual notching. Once F28 is on, you can use F26 to notch up and F27 to notch down. F26, F27, and F28 must be turned off to return to normal mode.

This project has "Load" mode. When turning on F29 with F15, F24, F26, F27, F28 off, the prime mover goes into load mode. While you are using load mode, the prime mover will notch up 1 or more notches based on primary load settings(CV104). The throttle notches up using speed instead of requested speed while using the load feature. F29 must be turned off to return to normal mode.

This project has "DPU" mode. When turning on F5, the headlight and red marker lights activate on the end of the locomotive that is opposite from the direction of travel.

This file is also equipped with a Smart Start feature that cycles the prime mover on and off at intervals of your choice if the throttle is left at Idle and the loco is stopped.

Smart Start (Sound CV14):
CV168=0 No Smart Start Cycle - Default
CV168=1 - 3 Minute Cycle
CV168=2 - 6 Minute Cylcle
CV168=3 - 9 Minute Cylcle
CV168=4 - 12 Minute Cylcle
Etc.....
CV168=255 - 765 Minute Cycle

3rd Gen Horn Pack 1
Horns (SoundCV9):
CV163=0 Leslie S-3L-R
CV163=1 Leslie S-5T-RRO-R
CV163=2 Nathan K-2H
CV163=3 Nathan K-3H-L
CV163=4 Nathan K-3L
CV163=5 Nathan K-3LA
CV163=6 Nathan K-5HL
CV163=7 Nathan K-5H-R24
CV163=8 Nathan K-5L
CV163=9 Nathan K-5LA
CV163=10 Nathan K-5LA-R24
CV163=11 Nathan K-5L-LA
CV163=12 Nathan K-5L-R24
CV163=13 Nathan P-3
CV163=14 Nathan P-5-R24
CV163=15 Leslie RS-3L-RO

EMD 3rd Generation Bell Template Pack 2
Bells (SoundCV10):
CV164=0 EMD 8475495 Steel Bell 049
CV164=1 EMD 8475495 Steel Bell 066
CV164=2 EMD 8475495 Steel Bell 068
CV164=3 Graham-White E-Bell 006
CV164=4 Graham-White E-Bell 009

Auto Bell:

Many Second and Third Generation locomotives have been fitted with an Automatic Bell that is triggered when the horn is blown. In MANY cases this cannot even be bypassed on modern locos. Before the FRA mandated this feature on new locomotives the bell was of course turned on and off separately. Some locomotives were delivered with a manual bell and have been converted to an automatic bell. This creates a challenge in sound file creation.

We realize that not every loco with a particular prime mover had this feature. As such we have built in an option to turn the feature on and off. We will set the default in the file to be what is most appropriate for the particular file.

To turn the feature OFF - Auto Bell OFF:

1. Remove the Auto bell sound slot from the function mapping chart
CV31 = 16, CV32 = 8
----------------------
CV311 = 4

2. Change the sound configuration of the Auto bell sound slot
CV31 = 16, CV32 = 1
----------------------
CV287 = 0

To turn the feature ON - Auto Bell ON:
1. ADD the Auto bell sound slot from the function mapping chart
CV31 = 16, CV32 = 8
----------------------
CV311 = 12

2. Change the sound configuration of the Auto bell sound slot
CV31 = 16, CV32 = 1
----------------------
CV287 = 1


Auto Bell Timer:
The Bell timer is amount of time the bell will play after the horn if the auto timer is active. The timer is broken down into 1/4 of a second increments.
CV169=4 - 1 Second
CV169=8 - 2 Seconds
CV169=12 - 3 Seconds
CV169=16 - 4 Seconds
CV169=20 - 5 Seconds - Default
Etc...

3rd Gereration Brake Squeal Template Pack 1
Brake Squeal (SoundCV11)
CV165=0 Composition Shoe #1
CV166=1 Composition Shoe #2

EMD 3rd Generation Air Dryer Template Pack 1
Air Dryer (SoundCV12)
CV166=0 GP60 Air Dryer 1
CV166=1 SD60E Air Dryer 2
CV166=2 SD70M-2 Air Dryer 3
CV166=3 SD70MAC Air Dryer 4

KeyFunctionsSound slotsVolume CVsVolume values
F0Headlights Front/Rear
F1Bell428360
F2Horn3, 4275, 283128, 60
F3Coupler529160
F4Dynamic Brake629990
F5Emergency Lights
F6Aux1-Aux2 Front Ditchlights Flashing by default
F7Flange Squeal2343530
F8Prime Mover, Traction Motor, Starting Delay1, 19, 25, 26259, 403, 451, 459100, 40, 80, 60
F9Drive Hold
F10Independent Brake1133960
F11Radiator Fan831540
F12Dimmer
F13Aux4-Aux5 Rear Ditchlights Flashing by default
F14Hand Brake1436360
F15Isolation Switch2141940
F16Air Dryer On Shutdown
F17Brake Set/Release Automatic2948360
F18Sanding Valve1335520
F19Short Air Let Off2444380
F20Compressor730730
F21Air Dryer1738780
F22Cab Door15371100
F23Engine Compartment Doors1637980
F24Reverser Center2041140
F25Shutters Open/Closed3250730
F26Manual Notching Up / Run 8
F27Manual Notching Down / Coast
F28Manual Notching Logic2746720
F29Load
F30Automatic Brake1033160
F31Soundfader

Make sure that index CV31 is set to 16 and index CV32 is set to 1 before changing a volume CV.