ProtoThrottle
"That’s one impressive piece of hardware." – Tony Koester
"I'm having more fun with trains now than I have in years." – Pete Mulvany
"Overall, this is truly a game changer for me... that’s an investment worth making." – James McNab
"...the only description I can think of is WOW!!!! What a cool addition to any layout, it was so easy to use and realistic to operate you guys have hit a real home-run here." – Lionel Strang
Features
- Fully wireless throttle
- Eight detent throttle handle
- Reverser handle with centered position
- Brake handle and spring-loaded horn handle
- Push-on/push-off bell button
- Front and rear headlight knobs with dim and ditch light settings
- Auxiliary buttons that can be assigned to any DCC function
- Works with any standard DCC decoder
- Interfaces to any DCC system (with separate receiver specific to your DCC system)
- Highly configurable to suit your operating style
- Designed and built in the USA!
- Multiple colors and handle options available
- Securely store your throttle with the ProtoThrottle Pocket
- EMD-style knob and handle upgrades available from Scotty's Model Shop
Due to regulatory requirements, the ProtoThrottle can only be shipped to the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Orders placed with a shipping address to any other country will be cancelled and refunded.
Product Reviews and Instructional Videos
Configuration Examples
Athearn GP40-2 with Tsunami2 decoder
ScaleTrains.com Dash 9-44CW with Loksound 5 decoder
Setup Guides
Configuring Headlights for the ProtoThrottle
Setting up Auxiliary Lighting Functions on the ProtoThrottle
Decoding the ProtoThrottle Notch Settings
Choosing a ProtoThrottle Braking Mode
Recalibrating the ProtoThrottle Horn and Brake Handles
Specifications
Approximate Dimensions: 7.6"(L) x 3.2"(W) x 3.0"(H)
Approximate Weight: 15oz
Powered by 2x AA batteries (not included).
Documents
The complete gEDA design files are available on GitHub.
User Manual | Menu Map (Legal Size)
Previous User Manuals: v1.0 | v1.1
Firmware
v1.2.2 (Rev 4EC009) | Release Notes (4/17/2021)
v1.1.0 (Rev A73AE5) | Release Notes (10/21/2018)
v1.0.0 (Rev A4A983) | Release Notes (06/29/2018)
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News & Application Notes
ProtoThrottle Giveaway
When we started this adventure with the ProtoThrottle over 5 years ago, little did we know that we’d sell 10 throttles, let alone 100. But thanks to an enthusiastic ProtoThrottle user base, and a growing community engaged by the most realistic train control on the market, we just crossed the 1000th throttle mark! To celebrate, Iowa Scaled Engineering in conjunction with A ModelersLife Podcast, will be giving away ProtoThrottle #1000 in a drawing held Sunday, January 29, 2023, at the Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show. Stop by the ModelersLife booth in the Better Living Center to enter the drawing. Entry into the drawing is free, but we will be accepting donations to benefit the Colorado Model Railroad Museum – “where a miniature world of wonder awaits”. The museum is an amazing ambassador for the hobby and we’re happy to help support their efforts! Join us Sunday afternoon for the ProtoThrottle drawing and stop by the Spring Creek Model Trains booth in the Stroh building to try out the ProtoThrottle yourself. See you there!
New Red ProtoThrottle Faceplate!
Introducing the limited edition Red Faceplate ProtoThrottle! Available exclusively from Spring Creek Model Trains. See it in person (and get your own!) at the St. Louis Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet this weekend or contact the store directly: 402-365-7628 customerservice@springcreekmodeltrains.com.
Updated ProtoThrottle Pricing
After absorbing about $30 (per throttle) in cost increases over the last couple years, and $20 more on the horizon, we have reluctantly made the decision to increase the price of the ProtoThrottle going forward. Starting August 1, 2022, the new pricing will be as follows:
Standard Grey/Blue Faceplate: $499
Black Faceplate: $519
All other colors: $549
The original prices will remain in place until then, including at the St. Louis Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet, so if you’ve been holding off getting one, now might be the perfect time!
New Blue ProtoThrottle Faceplate!
Available exclusively from Des Plaines Hobbies… ProtoThrottle with blue faceplates! Also, check out their other deals at their 39th Anniversary Sale this weekend, Jun 24-26, 2022!
ProtoThrottle Update – Spring 2022
As we near the end of our current run of ProtoThrottles, we wanted to provide an update on the next batch (which, by the way, includes #1000!). When the current stock of throttles in the ISE store is gone, that’s it until we get this next batch back in house, assembled, and tested. See below for our best estimates when that will happen. In the meantime, Spring Creek Model Trains and Des Plaines Hobbies may still have some in stock.
Check back here periodically for the latest updates.
Current Status
Final assembly & testing: Done! We are back in stock with the grey and block faceplate throttles. A few green ones will be coming later.
Updates
May 13, 2022: Back in stock!
April 8, 2022: Faceplates received.
March 25, 2022: Final faceplate machining started this week. Will hopefully receive faceplates by mid-April.
March 8, 2022: Received 117 assembled boards. The remaining boards are awaiting light switches.
February 17, 2022: Faceplates complete (ahead of schedule!) and sent back to the machinist for final engraving.
February 14, 2022: Faceplates delivered to the anodizer, expect to be done in 2 weeks.
New ProtoThrottle Dealer!
We would like to welcome a new dealer to the ProtoThrottle family: Des Plaines HobbiesRead More...
Rebuilding the Hills Line
Excellent modeler and good friend, James McNab, recently completed a video series for Model Railroader magazine on his Hills Line model railroad. Available to Trains.com subscribers through Trains.com Video, this series is now also available on DVD. Check it out!
P.S. The ProtoThrottle might make a few guest appearances…
St. Louis RPM 2021
We will be at the St. Louis Railroad Prototype Modelers (RPM) Meet this coming Friday and Saturday (July 30-31, 2021). Stop by our tables, say hi, and see our line of products, including some new ones this year!
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Gobble Gobble!
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