Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
To run more than one engine on the same track at the same time will require either: 1. The track seperated into blocks with seperate transformer/controllers for each block. With the block system, you drive the tracks, not the trains. Considered ancient tech. 2. DCC, MTS, or one of similiar systems that put full power on the track at all times and requires some type of controller/decoder in each engine. Requires clean track to operate well. Control signals come from a central controller/command station. 3. Battery/Radio control(RC). A battery and radio controller is placed in each engine. Requires batteries to be recharged, most have range limits, and is the most expensive if you have more than a couple of locos. RC does not require track to be clean. The choice of control of course is up to you. Blocks require alot of switches and a minimum of seperation between locos. You can't control two locos in the same block seperately. The cost of blocks is dependent on the sophistication, and the number of blocks in the track. DCC, MTS and like systems require only one controller for the whole system. Boosters to increase the current capabilities will add to system cost. These systems allow much finer control of the loco and its features, such as lights, sound, coupling/uncoupling, speed scaling, and etc. The initial cost is usually around what you would pay for another mid priced loco. Power boosters range from $100 and up. Reverse controllers range from about $25 and up, for loops, Wyes and such. The cost of sound for each loco, tends to be what I consider, extremely high, unless you adapt an Ho sound system. The quality Large Scale sound systems are usually from $250 and up. The motor controllers range from about $50 US and up. Digitrax has plug in decoders for Aristocraft locos and wire in decoders for others. I personally use the Digitrax system and decoders and am quite happy with it. I live in Florida, so I don't have the weather extremes that alot of people seem to have. Battery/ RC eliminates having any power to the track. Loops, Wyes, and such, are no problem with RC since the tracks are not powered. The costs of the controllers/recievers for R/C can be significent. If you only run a couple of locos it's not too bad. I have about 20 locos, and if I went R/C it would have sent me to the poor house. I can't give you prices on R/C systems. Check RCS, or similiar, for prices. If you live in an area of extreme climates, then it is about the only way to run trains with some degree of reliability. You will have to take into consideration your local climate. The conditions where your track will be, your level of technical expertise, and how deep your pockets are, before you can make the decision which system to use. As recommended before, put down something simple in the yard and play with it for awhile. That will not only give you alot of fun, but it will start to give you some information on what "your" particular requirements will be, and what will work best for you. Each situation is different and will require a different solution. The main thing is....... Gitt'er done!! Have some fun!!
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag