Hello Readers,
I am about to buy an Athearn Train set for my layout and want to ask if I am able to run more than one train at the same time. I am very new to US Model Railroad but I have some experiences with my last layout where I used old Märklin trains without DCC so I had only my old transformer. Now I want to start an american layout and have to buy new trains. My finial question is: "If I buy a Starter Set form Life-Like or Athearn, can I then run several trains at once or should I buy a DCC Set - If yes, what would you sugesst me?"
Thanks for your help - and bye.
When using traditional DC the way to run more than one train on a layout is to separate the layout into electrically isolated blocks (using insulated rail joiners for example) and then use electrical switches so that each block can be connected to multiple "cabs" -- or power packs. So if you had Block 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, blocks 1, 2 and 3 might be connected to Cab A and Blocks 4 and 5 connected to Cab B. Then as the train in block 3 approaches block 4, block 4 might then be connected to Cab A so the train can move on, and perhaps Cab B would then be connected to Blocks 1 and 2. And so on. I believe Atlas publishes a wiring book that explains how to do this with their components. Kalmbach used to publish a fine book by Andy Sperandeo that went into more depth, and was not limited to explaining Atlas components, but Kalmbach has let it go out of print and I am not aware that Kalmbach publishes anything any longer on the topic of block control and advanced DC wiring. Someone will correct me if I am mistaken.
The thing is, the engineer in charge of the train on Cab A has to know not to run his train onto blocks controlled by Cab B, and so on. Yes it can be done, and guys did it for years without complaint, but once DCC came around people realized that running trains on multiple cabs on a block control DC layout often called for "unrealistic" conversations with the other trains and with the dispatcher, if you had one. "Who has block 4?" for example, or "Hey who just started running my train?" One issue also is -- who controls those electrical switches? And are they located on a central panel, or are they located near the blocks themselves?
Block control and multiple cabs with DC power works best, in my experience, with a really large layout with long blocks so that interference between trains is fairly minimal. With a small layout the blocks are short (which means the trains are short), the trains are constantly running up to the end of the controled block or beyond it, and flipping the electrical switches gets complex and finnicky and frankly, often not a lot of fun.
The reason Kalmbach has let the Sperandeo book go out of print is almost certainly that DCC seems to be the way to go for now, until we have battery powered trains run with wireless throttles, which I predict are less than a decade away in HO. And yet there still seems to me to be a need for good clear instruction on DC wiring -- it is just that other than Atlas I do not know where you go to find it.
The Andy Sperandeo wiring book, and the older Linn Westcott wiring book, are still commonly seen at swap meets and, I assume, on Ebay.
Dave Nelson
Mos,
To The Forums.
Well You have and will have many questions. So my suggestion to You will be to do a little reading to familarize yourself with the systems and the power requirements associated with DC/DCC layouts. The link below is just one source of many for info. Anything that is in blue, is clickable that you can read-up on. Also try to get used to reviewing the other threads on the Forums before You post Your questions, You may find that there may be another thread already going on pertaining to Your questions, just a different title. Also when You post try to explain what scale you are interested in, HO,N, etc. That will help others to help You. Here is the link, just click on it:
http://modeltrains.about.com/od/modelrailroadtrains/u/model_railroad_basics.htm
Frank
Welcome aboard!
You're starting off right. The first step is to do your research. Decide what you really want before you buy the wrong things.
The most expensive items on your layout will usually be your locomotives. So, I would recommend going to shows and train shops, or going to open houses for clubs and layouts. In particular, pay attention to the sound-equipped engines. If you decided you want sound, you will be better off buying sound engines right away, rather than buying non-sound engines and trying to retrofit sound decoders into them. The installation itself is tricky, and the sound-equipped engine is usually a bit cheaper than buying the components individually.
How big will your layout be? One thing I discovered very early is that DCC makes a big difference on a small layout. Blocks and cabs in DC can accomplish a lot, but on a small layout, there is limited opportunity to do proper block wiring. This issue doesn't matter with DCC.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MosI am about to buy an Athearn Train set for my layout and want to ask if I am able to run more than one train at the same time.
Since you mentioned Athearn, I have assumed we are talking HO Scale here.
"If I buy a Starter Set form Life-Like or Athearn, can I then run several trains at once or should I buy a DCC Set - If yes, what would you sugesst me?"
I might suggest you piece together your own set. Choose your command system, locomotives, rail cars, and track separately. That way you get only what you want and don't get stuck with an item just because it was in the set.
P.S. Also if you stick with the set concept I would recommend you avoid Life-Like. The trains are toy like and while the power-loc track is a great concept, it is poorly (cheaply) implemented and limiting on the track arrangments one can make.
First, thank you all for your answers.
I did some research on the internet and came to the conclusion that DCC would be the best oppertunity because I'm very sure I want to run more than one train.
["Texas Zepher"]low-end DCC controller called E-Z Command.[/quote]
What do u mean with low-end? I think running only a few trains would be ok because I haven't much space but enough for up to 8 trains and with the E-Z Command I can control up to 10. I guess that would be fine.
Texas ZepherAlso if you stick with the set concept I would recommend you avoid Life-Like. The trains are toy like and while the power-loc track is a great concept, it is poorly (cheaply) implemented and limiting on the track arrangments one can make.
Except for the locos (because of the price) I don't see any reason to buy something from Life-Like. I don't even like the EZ-Track. I will stick to ATLAS Code 100 in combiation with Bachmann Trains.
Also I can't afford to buy expensive things because I have to import all the stuff and the tax&charges are too high for them.
Texas ZepherI might suggest you piece together your own set.
I'll do it - I already bought a DCC loco form Bachmann so I can see if DCC from Bachmann is good for my propose.
@MisterBeasley
you said:
MisterBeasleyThe most expensive items on your layout will usually be your locomotives. So, I would recommend going to shows and train shops, or going to open houses for clubs and layouts.
unfortunately I can't find and US-locos or US-Layouts in my local shops. Here in Germany they build more German layouts.
MisterBeasleyHow big will your layout be?
I have an area of apx. 39'' x 160'', which I can use. And yes I already read that in smaller spaces you should use N scale but I grew up with HO and will continue to use it.
Sad is too that I can't find any usefull trackplans for that size.
@zstripe
sorry. I meant HO scale
@dknelson
thank you for your reply.
As I see is wiring with DC complicated and I'm not very good in wiringworks.
dknelsonuntil we have battery powered trains run with wireless throttles, which I predict are less than a decade away in HO
Can't wait for it
MosWhat do u mean with low-end? I think running only a few trains would be ok because I haven't much space but enough for up to 8 trains and with the E-Z Command I can control up to 10. I guess that would be fine.
It cannot program much on the locomotive decoders except for the channel number.The only programming mode is programming on the main - no programming track.Locomotives have to be on channels 1-9.The expansion "walk around companions" throttles are as expensive as the original unit. Until you purchase one of these to control the trains one has to continually manually switch the control knob between them. It does have an emergency stop though for when the operator gets confused about which train is which.There is no computer connection.There are no wireless expansions that I know of.
To some the only having 8-functions would be a limitation. I never use all those functions anyway, but thought I would include that for completeness.
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If you are considering the low end DCC controllers there is the NCE Twin. It at least has two knobs so two trains can be controlled simultaniously without having to do the keyboard shuffle. It has its own different set of limitations, and similarly adding an additional throttle is almost as expensive as the original unit.