first controller??? which one should i get???

[r.y.a.n]

i will want to run multiple trains at once but do not have a lot of money...what kind of controller should i get?

[tstage]

ryan,

Some quick but important questions for you first:

• Are you talking about DC or DCC?
• How big is your layout or how big will it be?
  
• When you say "multiple", are you meaning MU'd locomotives or one's in a consist?  Or, do you mean several single (un-MU'd) locomotives running simultaneously?
• How many locomotives will you be running at a given time?
• Will any of them have sound?

Tom

[simon1966]

What scale?

It would not be the first time that a lengthy discussion ensues only to discover that the OP is planning a 3 rail Lionel layout!

[r.y.a.n]

its a n scale layout. i am using two boards that are 8ft in length and 4ft high. So you can say 16x8 piece of board? What is the difference between DC and DCC? i want to be able to park engines in the yard, run different engines at different speeds on different lines.

[r.y.a.n]

i am not worried about sound right now. i want to have a total of 5 or six locomotives

[cacole]

 Start with a Model Power Tech 4 dual control DC controller.  Once you have your layout up and running with no problems this way, you can then decide if you want to switch over to DCC.

[r.y.a.n]

will i only be able to run one engine at a time?

[fwright]

r.y.a.n

its a n scale layout. i am using two boards that are 8ft in length and 4ft high. So you can say 16x8 piece of board? What is the difference between DC and DCC? i want to be able to park engines in the yard, run different engines at different speeds on different lines.

If you want more than one engine on the layout at a time, you are going to have to learn some about wiring - regardless of DC or DCC.

DC multi-train operation:

• no modifications to locomotives
• sections of track (often called blocks) are isolated electrically.  Only one engine (or consist) in a block at a time.
• electrical switches (often called block toggles) are wired to each block to select which throttle (power pack or controller) controls that block of track
• block toggles are set so that one throttle controls a given train/engine on the layout where ever it goes
• if multiple trains are sharing the same track, continual resetting of block toggles for the correct throttle can get awkward unless special wiring is used
• handing off a train from one throttle to another throttle while train is in motion is not a great idea
• DC throttles are generally cheaper than DCC equivalents, and you can build your own or buy
• one throttle for each train running at the same time
• a Dual power pack with 2 throttles is rather awkward for 2 people to use simultaneously

DCC multi-train operation:

• each engine must have a decoder installed in it - decent decoders are $15 and up.  You can install decoders yourself; it may take some soldering and fitting in some older engines.  Newer engines often have a plug for a decoder to plug into.  You can now readily buy good engines with decoders installed at the factory.
• you select which engine you want to control on the DCC throttle
• controlling more than one engine from a single DCC throttle is feasible, but may test your video gaming skills.
• the track wiring is simpler, as no block toggles are needed.
• a base DCC system that allows you to program engine decoders to perform more to your liking costs over $100.  And that only comes with one throttle.  A second throttle adds $60-$100.  Setting up a nice 2 throttle walk-around system with computer interface costs $300+ plus engine decoders, but you don't have to do it all at once.

Other questions you will have to answer for yourself:

• how many operators at a time on the layout?  Do you plan to set the different engines on different lines on "run and forget"?  Do you prefer to sit back, beverage in hand, and watch your trains run on their own?  Or will each engine be under active control at all times?
• will control be from a central place?  Or do you want walk-around controllers?  Central control is somewhat cheaper and easier to wire, but many prefer walking around the layout following your train with throttle in hand.  Walking around allows seeing scenery from different angles, seeing which way the turnouts are thrown, and being able to see exactly what you are doing on switching moves.  The ultimate in walk-around is wireless to get rid of the throttle tether cables, but that adds $$.  Walk-around throttles are available in both tethers and wireless in both DC and DCC.  A tethered walk-around throttle system will normally require wiring a throttle bus and installing plug-in jacks for the throttles on a layout as big as yours.

The right controller for you depends on what you want from your control system.  There are all sorts of feature vs cost trade-offs along the way - I've only outlined a few of them.

my thoughts, your choices

Fred W

[r.y.a.n]

thank you very much. you helped me a lot