As I’ve posted before in the DCC section, I’m rebuilding/moving my current layout and converting to DCC. since i don’t know what room I will have at my new place, I’m planning on building small modules as layout design elements. One of those, I’ve decided, will be a harbor shelf-sized switching module in N scale. I have a couple of Bachmann docksides (DC) that I plan to use as local switchers. I’m thinking of having a double ended yard, electrically dead, isolation between the mainline DCC and the harbor module DC. The main would push cars into the yard, dropping them off. The dockside comes in from the DC side, pulls them out and switches to harbor industries, including (maybe) car float. And vice versa.
i went to look in the track plan database but only one that showed up was Rice Harbor. Anyone have thoughts or possible track plans that I can use for inspiration? Thinking something along size of 12-18” x 30-48”.
RR_Mel It sounds like you are planning to have DC and DCC operation simultaneously on your new layout. Might I suggest that you make a small section of dead track slightly longer than a N scale truck to prevent crossing the power between the two controllers as the rolling stock passes. Possibly long enough to stop your dockside before it gets into trouble on the DCC track. Mel Bakersfield, California
thats what the yard will be for. Probably 4-6 car lenght of dead track, preventing either engine from getting into the other electrical system.
Btw, I’m moving to riverside area. We’ll be close to neighbors!
Mac
If you're already converting part of the layout to DCC, why not convert it all? It's not difficult to add decoders to older locos, especially with the tiny decoders available today. Doing so will make operations ssooooo much more enjoyable!
Hornblower
N scale dockside engines are still way too small for today’s decoders. Some say, “stick the decoder in a tender or pusher car” but that doesn’t fit well for me. Since I have the docksides (2 of them) and they run fine, giving them the harbor to work allows me the oportunity to keep them running.
And i can power the harbor with my MRC 2500 so that doesn’t end up in the closet. Lol