likeadvise on tortoise sw mach

[Anonymous]

I agree with the previous posts, but you might also want to investigate some of the add-ons made for Tortoises, among other things Tortoise, at http://tonystrains.com/technews/tortoise/index.htm

While they're not cheap, you can make all sorts of things happen, including automatically throwing a switch if a train approaches from the "wrong" direction.   I don't use them, but you might find them appealing.

[Gary UK]

Unless you intend to eventually have computer control on your layout,I don't see any advantage in powering the turnouts through your handheld throttle (DCC) but that's me.I like to follow my trains so flipping a switch here and there along the layout side does the job very nicely.On the other hand,having to remember an individual adress for each turnout and worse yet,having to dial them in a hurry to correct a wrongly thrown turnout before the loco derails makes digital control of TO's a waste of efforts and money.

DCC is the top for controlling the trains but absolutely not for turnouts,but then,like I said before...that's me.

I gota agree with that. I used NCE switch-its as i could hook up for DCC control and have momentary push -to -make buttons on a local pannel. Now i NEVER use the throttle to change a switch.  Its a dam sight easier just to hit a button!

[Jacktal]

Unless you intend to eventually have computer control on your layout,I don't see any advantage in powering the turnouts through your handheld throttle (DCC) but that's me.I like to follow my trains so flipping a switch here and there along the layout side does the job very nicely.On the other hand,having to remember an individual adress for each turnout and worse yet,having to dial them in a hurry to correct a wrongly thrown turnout before the loco derails makes digital control of TO's a waste of efforts and money.

DCC is the top for controlling the trains but absolutely not for turnouts,but then,like I said before...that's me.

[Texas Zepher]

building a layout using tortoise sw machines.like best advise hooking them up .either with or w/o stationary decoders.

That totally depends on how you want to operate the layout. Are you going to simulate older prototypical operation where the switchman had to get off the train and change the turnouts.?  Is the operator going to follow the train around the layout or operate it from a single location?  What is the era of the layout, is it going to have CTC where dispatch controls the turnouts remotely?  Is a yard master going to control them from a single or multiple control towers (panels)?

I personally don't like DCC controlled turnouts, makes running the layout that much more like controlling a video game or DVD than a railroad.  Our club just converted from having motoroized turnouts to manual throw.

[bigredtrk]

building a layout using tortoise sw machines.like best advise hooking them up .either with or w/o stationary decoders.