Just wondering how big of a layout people have that are running DC. I have a single DC throttle, and as mentioned in my previous post "One man's junk.." in general discussion forum, I rescued a pair of 4x2 foot 1/4 inch plywood sheets. Recycle, reduce, reuse......sorry too much Bob the Builder lately. I need more Thomas and friends in my mental system. Anyways I did figure on a basically a 6 1/2 by 2 foot layout area on the two sheets with a small area for the computer monitor, but now I'm thinking of just a straight 8x2 foot area, or what just popped in my head an 8x2 area with another 4x2 penninsula making a T shaped layout. But again, I have only a single DC throttle and don't really want to ponder into DCC yet, costs too much. I also have to keep the size down as we live in an apartment and no one know's if we'll always be living here with that extra room to use. I think my job is just afraid to call what they have me on as a lay off for possible legal reasons. But at least on the knews last night the local job service admitted that most of the open jobs in the area require degree's and such so certain un-named people will start believing me when I tell them that.
MILW-RODRJust wondering how big of a layout people have that are running DC.
Keep in mind that basically for each DC train you want to run, you're going to have to have a separate DC powerpack (although you can get ones with two throttles instead of one). With DCC you can set a train running on the mainline, then use the same controller to say switch cars in a yard while the train or trains on the mainline run on their own.
Based on your original post, it looks to me as if you're planning a point-to-point railroad, and not a particularly large one, either. I also gather that you're looking to do things as economically as possible, which suggests not too many locos and, given the layout size, likely only you as the operator. DC will serve you just fine for such a layout - your wiring need not be complicated (if you have only one loco, a single pair of wires is all that's required). If you plan the layout thoughtfully, you can get plenty of enjoyment out of building and operating a small layout, without the need to spend a lot of money. This is the way a lot of us used to do it, and many still do.
In addition to building and detailing your layout, you can learn how to re-build older (cheaper) models with better details, and, if it interests you, to scratchbuild, too. If, at some future time you want to change to DCC, it shouldn't be difficult, either. In other words, you can get a lot of enjoyment out of our hobby, and it doesn't have to cost you big bucks.
I have an around-the-room style layout with about 200' of main line, with plans to add another 100' or so. It's currently set up for one operator, although I may provide for a second for those occasions when one is available. Control is DC, with only a pair of wires to the track, although I've wired passing sidings and staging tracks so that I can park locos or complete trains when and where required. Running a train requires the full attention of the operator, so only one train is in motion at a time - DCC would be a waste of money for me. Probably close to half of my rolling stock is old Athearn blue box and similar stuff, although it's all been upgraded (and the enjoyment derived from doing that upgrading didn't cost a lot, either).
With careful attention to trackwork, a reliable power pack, and a good-quality loco, you can have lots of fun, and the rest, with some ingenuity, can be accomplished at a reasonable cost.
Wayne
MILW-RODR,
I am building a large DC railroad. 800 sq ft, double decked, 8 scale mile double track mainline, four to six trains running at once, signals, etc.
Sounds like you are off to a good start in the hooby, take your time, learn what you like and don't like.
Learn about older control systems and about DCC, then when you are ready for something bigger, you will know what is right for you.
Forget what people say about DC requiring someone to "sit and flip switches" for mulit train operation. Those who say that have never seen any of the better DC wiring methods at work. There are lots of DC wiring schemes that allow each operator to assign his/her track sections as they move around with their train. No diffeent than DCC operators having to throw turnouts and make sure they don't run into each other.
Without computer operation, one operator running more than one train on the same route is difficult - DCC or DC. With a properly designed control system two operators can move two trains safely around on DC or DCC, with ease.
Sheldon
My MR is 24x24' in my garage--fairly extensive, but comfortable enough for me to run. I use DC, and the layout is controlled by an MRC Controlmaster 20 and divided into about 8 mainline blocks, plus several blocks for my yard and engine facilities. I run block feeders about every 3 feet on the mainline trackage and have fairly smooth operations. My minimum radius is 34", maximum grade is 2.25%.
I'm pretty happy with the DC control, since I usually only run one train at a time--my op sessions are done in 'real' time, so that theoretically there would only be one or two trains on my mainline per hour (in my mind, my MR 'schedules' around 26 trains per day). Since I don't really NEED to run multiple trains, DCC really doesn't seem necessary to me. Besides, I run all steam, and 98% of that is brass, and I keep hearing that brass doesn't really convert that well to DCC without major work.
Right now I'm installing operating upper-quadrant semaphore signals on the layout, so I'm quite happy with DC operations the way that they are. I'm not putting DCC down, mind you, it's just that it doesn't really seem necessary to my layout.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
I have been back in the Hobby for about two years... DCC is great no doubt about it ,,, I am still happy with DC,,, I have a small 4x9 layout N scale,,, I have a MRC dual control with an ez track layout ... this allows me to run two main lines at a time ... I beleive if I would do any addations to my layout I would want to go to DCC... I would think for the project your looking at starting DC would meet your needs,,, Good luck with the job issues ....
West Penn Nscale I have been back in the Hobby for about two years... DCC is great no doubt about it ,,, I am still happy with DC,,, I have a small 4x9 layout N scale,,, I have a MRC dual control with an ez track layout ... this allows me to run two main lines at a time ... I beleive if I would do any addations to my layout I would want to go to DCC... I would think for the project your looking at starting DC would meet your needs,,, Good luck with the job issues ....
Back to the post, two feeder wires from the power pack to the track is all I'll really need? What gauge wire. I know I have a spool of wire laying around some where that would be enough to wire my entire layout with feeder wires to every piece of track and the turn outs, but it's for high powered audio speakers so it's a thicker gauge. I really need to find it but it's right around 12 gauge, no bigger than that. The power pack is an old Railpower 1400, or Tech II it's got moth moniquers on it. There was some post where I asked if it would be worth the 10 bucks for and one person said snatch it up, he bought one new and was still using it. Unfortunetly, after the weekend it went up to 15 bucks. One of these days when I have an extra 20 I might go see if the LTS still has the other Tech II that had momentum and brake controll for 18 bucks, which was 15 before that same weekend.
The layout itself I'm still messing with, trying to play around with 2 quarter sheets of 1/4 inch plywood to see what would be the easiest configuration to use DC. At first all my turn outs will be manual but I would like to make the layout easy enough to get to them so if I wanted to convert to electric turn outs it wouldn't be that difficult. My first plan had all manual turn outs to keep it more involved but them I went to the LTS and they had these cool looking switches that were all shinny and red and pretty and I thought I might put in powered turn outs so I could use those switches lol. Kinda lame I know. I've had about 4 plans so far, but every time I went back to do a few improvements on some track idea's and ended up not liking what I had, including a plan that matched up pretty good with a small HO plan from April '08 issue of MR that was 28x94. It looked real good untill I realized all 3 of my track industries where on a switch back and I tried to put in a run-around. Quickly decided not to go with that one. I need to work on it today but my latest idea is going to be a table 4 foot long and some wheres between 18-24 inches wide with my down town area having a coal dealer and freight house (a DPM transfer house kitbashed to fit the area) with a 6 foot long leg off one of the ends that will be around 12 inches wide and hold 2 or 3 industries plus my staging/yard track. I think I'll really like this one. Plus the main line will run to the edges of the layout so I can easily expand when I want to, the other idea's would have meant redoing some track work and ripping up track, this new idea is more future friendly. I migh add lights to the buildings and such but that's not as important to me, I won't have any passenger service so I don't see trains running at night. But I will be the only operator, or rather I should say there will only be one operator and only one train running at a time (I don't even see how I would have enough room for more than one train) and it's small enough I imagine operating sessions would be run real time and probably prototypically. I want this to be more than something I would use once or twice a month, I imagine using it maybe once or twice a day sometimes, but at least once a week. It's going to be more than just pretty scenery with a train running loops around it every 5 minutes, I'm not saying those kinds are dumb or anything I'm just saying not the kind I want.
MILW-RODRBack to the post, two feeder wires from the power pack to the track is all I'll really need? What gauge wire. I know I have a spool of wire laying around some where that would be enough to wire my entire layout with feeder wires to every piece of track and the turn outs, but it's for high powered audio speakers so it's a thicker gauge.
Back to the post, two feeder wires from the power pack to the track is all I'll really need? What gauge wire. I know I have a spool of wire laying around some where that would be enough to wire my entire layout with feeder wires to every piece of track and the turn outs, but it's for high powered audio speakers so it's a thicker gauge.
I'd guess that my two feeders are #16 and they're only 3' or 4' long. All of my track was soldered together, with electrical gaps cut later, where needed. I'm using an MRC Tech 20 for power, and have had over a dozen locos running at one time, with no shortage of power.
My first large layout was a modular layout which ran around the walls of a 25' X 50' basement. I had a single track main line with several long passing sidings. I used two MRC 20 power packs. I used 12 ga buss wire with comon ground. I only had two main line power packs so I used toggle switches for each block. I had a small yard which also had an old MRC power pack. I soon realized that adding additional main line blocks was going to be a small fortune in switches and wire,
I swithced to Digitrax DCC and have never looked back. I am again building a large baseent layout, but only have two 12 ga buss wires. I have wireless Digitrax so running a throttle buss is not an issue. By the way, my Digitrax Chief which I purchased 10 years ago is still going strong. I will be upgrading to duplex radio soon, however I will still be able to use my existing Digitrax system and throttles.
Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.