I am working on a 10x12 shelf layout that goes around the walls of a room. I have 2 parallel tracks and no turnouts, crossovers, etc. The basis for this "layout" is to just have 2 trains running in opposite directions. Each of the shelf sections (aside from the 4 corner pieces) are only 12" wide. The idea being to turn the trains on, let them run themselves to death and be able to sit in the room and watch tv while they go 'round and 'round.
My question is this: Can I get loco's (HO) that will run on DC that HAVE sound? I have 25 and 27.5" radius curves so I can run larger equipment. I don't really see the need to have DCC for 2 loops of track that never touch each other. What I'd really like to do is have the sound, ditch lights, and possibly 2 loco's per train. I know it's possible 2 run more than one loco at a time with DCC but not sure about DC. I guess the alternative, espescially the way my layout is set up, is to just use dummie's for the 2nd or 3rd loco in the train.
Make sense? :)
Yes. It's easy.
Atlas/Walthers/Life Like Proto 2000 and BLI (Broadway Limited) use QSI
Precision Craft Models PCM, some euro models also, some Stewart/Bowser Executive line locos use Loksound from ESU
Athearn Genesis uses MRC
Bachmann Spectrum and Blackstone steam uses Tsunami
All the above listed locos are ready to run on DC and DCC layouts with no modification. However your DC track should support 16V. Just be sure the description says "with sound"
You can do a post install yourself using any of the above solutions, but you'll need a DCC decoder to program them once for dual mode operation (and to set up volume and chuffs if steam)
Blueline (Another division of Broadway Limited (BLI)) also sells DC only sound versions. They will not work on DCC unless you add another decoder. They too require 16V DC track voltage to run at full clip.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
DigitalGriffin However your DC track should support 16V.
However your DC track should support 16V.
What do you mean by this? The power supply should be 16V?
The 'problem' is that the sound electronics takes some minimum voltage to operate. So most of the ones that work on DC pretty much keep any voltage from reaching the motor until the track voltage reaches 5-6 volts. Then the soudns come on, so you can operate things without moving the loco. Downside is that at full 'normal' voltage(12V) the loco will only get 6-7V and not ruin at a very fast top speed. Was a tiem when this was a huge benefit since most models ran WAY too fast at 12 volts, but the locos with sound are usually higher quality and run at a reasonably prototypical top speed at fuill throttle, so half doesn't cut it for some people.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Hi!
I've got a BLI Paragon RSD-15 (with decoder, with sound) that I run on a DC layout. The sound is really nice, especially when I use the Quantum Engineer that allows control of the individual sounds. If you intend to stay DC, then like another poster mentioned, I would buy the BLI Blueline series locos as they are less expensive due to the fact that they have no decoder.
I am relatively new to "locos with sound", and when I hear that crossing signal from the locos "horn", it just makes me smile (I'm 64 - sometimes in my teens, sometimes in my 80s). Having said that, having a number of locos running at the same time with sound might get to be a little "too much" and you may want to turn down the volume.
Like the plumber that was at the house yesterday said, "I can't believe that kind of sound can come from that little engine"!!!
ENJOY,
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central