Old HO trains and DCC

[Anonymous]

I have a set of old HO trains from my grandfather (1940-1950) and then an engine from the 70's. I am slowly getting back into the hobby after a 30 year absence and need to buy a new power supply for the existing group of engines (12). Will this set of old stuff run on the the new DCC technology? I am assuming from the little I have read that it will, but I will need to install the decoder stuff in the old engines to have the benefits of DCC. Is this correct? Thanks. DRAE

[prewardude]

Hi Drae,

Welcome to the forum! FWIW, you would probably be better off posting this question in the Model Railroader forum. They deal in HO over there; most of the guys here are O gauge three-railers. Here's the link for the MR boards:
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/default.asp?CAT_ID=8

Regards,
Clint

[rrandb]

[#welcome] Where have you been for thirty years?? [?] We have been looking everywhere for you...[(-D] To benifit from DCC each engine will need its own decoder. You can run non-DCC equiped loco's but they will have none of the DCC benifit's. they will be just as in your grandfathers day. One engine per contrller or a block system( insulated rail joiners) and a controller for each engine and swithes and...its why DCC is now popular. Thats the quick answer. While your engines are more than worthy of the name Classic Toy Trains the other forum i.e. Model Railroads will have more guys that model HO. I'm so glad we found you again and welcome back.. ENJOY [#welcome]

[Anonymous]

thanks for the replies.....I have posted the same message over on the Model Railroader forum....sorry to have posted in the wrong place. DRAE