Ok before you tell me to go read a book. I have them and am in the process of reading many. I have yet to come across this in a book and am looking for a quick answer i guess.
I am leaning toward picking up a zephyr for my layout. 2 questions before I take the leap.
Will the unit be able to run two seprated tracks? What i mean by that is that I will have the standard freight rail lines, that will be all connected. I will also have a seprate subway line that is not connected to the freight lines. Is this where blocks come in?
Does the zephyr have the aility to control Automatic Brake Control? This is probably more advanced since I am just getting into this but I figured I would throw it out there. What I want to have happen is when the subway train (elevated) is running, have it stop at a station for a period of time, run to the end of the line, reverse and come back the other way (reversing module?). Is ABC related to this or not. I have been doing some reading and I see that a lot.
Layout is about 10x16 and HO.
Thanks
well as it happens it may be able to with the addition of a CML electronics 'locoshuttle', i think it is the first shuttle unit for DCC systems, but is far more than a basic shuttle system, also it is for digitrax only at present. it is likely to cost around 2/3 rds the price of a zephyr!! but google CML electronis and see if it's what you are looking for.
For the first part, Yes. Essentially your two separated tracks are just two blocks - it's really just the same as if there are gaps or insulated rail joiners between sections of a contiguous layout.
For the second part, the Zephyr doesn't have anything built into it to do what you want to do, but I would assume you could certainly add electronic devices from Digitrax or other manufacturers to allow you to do that. Maybe check out the Walthers catalogue / website. You would need some sort of detection set-up, either thru the rails or by infra-red or light-based electric eye. I'm not sure but Digitrax has some add-ons designed to make it easy to set up working signals that might be able to be used to do what you want. I'd check the Digitrax website too.
As the other responders have already stated, no problem at all with running the 2 distinct tracks from the Zephyr.
AFAIK there are not any DCC command stations that can automate the layout as you describe on their own. The CML product can be seen at http://www.cmlelectronics.co.uk/products/dss1.htm it looks like a simple and elegant solution for what you want. There are other ways using a PC interfaced to the Zephyr that can fully automate the layout, including signalling etc. but this would be a much more complex and expensive solution.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
The Zephyr can;t do brake on DCC, only the DCS100 (Super Chief) command station has that option. You also need at least one additional booster - which can be a DB150. The CML product or one of the ones from DCC BitSwitch is a more effective solution and will work with the Zephyr.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.