Texas Zepher wrote: So having that revelation the instant I first saw the system, I am truely curious, as to why others such as your self do wait. Do you not believe all the other people that post messages similar to the one that you just posted? I am not trying to be condesending or smart-alecky, I am truely puzzled with the situation.
So having that revelation the instant I first saw the system, I am truely curious, as to why others such as your self do wait. Do you not believe all the other people that post messages similar to the one that you just posted? I am not trying to be condesending or smart-alecky, I am truely puzzled with the situation.
I've only been back in the game for a year. Call me slow, but I had no idea what DCC was or what it entailed financially or technically. I'm not one to jump into something without researching what I'm about to jump into.....
Texas Zepher wrote: I am guessing a reference you are using is the 2nd Diesel Spotters guide about page 337. The text on that page would lead one to believe what you have said.
I am guessing a reference you are using is the 2nd Diesel Spotters guide about page 337. The text on that page would lead one to believe what you have said.
Never heard of the Diesel Spotters Guide......guess I'd better get one..... I actually saw that difference pointed out on the web somewhere..I can't recall where I saw it. I was just wondering if it was a typo on the box it came in or something....
NeO6874 wrote: Texas Zepher wrote:...So an H16-44 is a hooded unit with 1600hp riding on four axle trucks of which all are powered....Maybe I'm being nitpicky, but I thought that the H16-44 was a B-B locomotive? Did you mean it has four axles total, with all four axles powered?
Texas Zepher wrote:...So an H16-44 is a hooded unit with 1600hp riding on four axle trucks of which all are powered....
...So an H16-44 is a hooded unit with 1600hp riding on four axle trucks of which all are powered....
Maybe I'm being nitpicky, but I thought that the H16-44 was a B-B locomotive? Did you mean it has four axles total, with all four axles powered?
-Dan
Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site
TwinDaddy66 wrote:I did it...I converted to DCC last night and you guys were right...WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG!!
I understand the financial aspect, I understand the fleet of 300 locos to covert aspect, but I don't understand the waiting-to-see if it is something I really want.
The Zephyr hookup was easy...too easy.
Which brings up my questioning of this model number. The box says FM H16-44 Baby Trainmaster...but sourses say there was no -44 babyTM...it was FM H16-66, and the H24-66 was the Trainmaster....is Bachmann wrong?
So an H16-44 is a hooded unit with 1600hp riding on 4 axles which all are powered.
Now, back to the particular reference from page 337. Notice it says "Units built from 1954 through 1958 have a "Baby Train Master" car body. So the name came about after the Train Master came out in 1953. Also reading between the lines here there were H16-66s built that were NOT "baby trainmasters". I don't believe it was ever an official designation of the company for any particular unit. I thought that after 1953 all hood units that had both a long and short hood got the nick name of baby train master if they had the wrap-over-from-the-top grills at the end of the long hood. Notice page 336 of same book. There is a photo of an H16-44 that the caption even says "with the boxy Train Master Lines". There are H16-44s both with and without these wrap-over grills.
In my opinion, Bachmann is no more incorrect calling the unit a baby train master for having these grills than any one who has ever mentioned a Phase for an EMD F unit. Nick names and designations are just used by people (and in the EMD case almost entirely model railroaders) to generally and easily classify units.
Edited - to fix the error noted in the post below.
I use an old Pentium III PC with Windows 98 to run Decoder Pro. I was going to toss it out as Microsoft no longer supports Windows 98. I re-formatted the hard drive and installed the windows 98 that came with the computer; donloaded current edition of JAVA (free) and Decoder Pro (free). This computer has a serial port and I already had a Digitrax MS-100. When the computer dies, I will need to get a USB-Locobuffer.
For Digitrax Systems you plug a Loconet cable into the USB-Locobuffer. Your Decoder Pro/Computer communicates through your Zepher (in my case Digitrax DCS-100) to your programing track and to the layout. Rather than use CV codes on a DT-400 or your Zepher command station Decoder Pro uses drop down windows for you to select the decoder functions you want. Decoder Pro converts these selections to CVs and sends them to your Command Station then to the decoder on the programing track. Decoder Pro allows you to save the file for each locomotive. Sometimes some of my decoders start acting weird. I just take the loco to the programing track; fire up Decoder Pro; and re-write all of the saved CVs back to the decoder.
Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.
TwinDaddy66 wrote:I was looking at that too. What interfaces the computer and the Command unit? Serial cable and what else......?
Keep it simple, just get the Locobuffer II USB. Plug a Loconet cable in one side and the USB cable in the other. Loconet will carry the comamnds to the comamnd station. Works like a champ. You'll then want to go to the JMRI website to get Decoder and Panel Pro.
http://jmri.sourceforge.net/
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
John,
It depends which DCC system you get. Digitrax and NCE (except for their Power Cab) have a RS-232 port on their systems. The NCE Power Cab now has a USB interface available (purchased separately) for connecting to a computer.
Although I haven't had a chance to use the JMRI Decoder Pro software yet, I have seen it in action and look forward to using it - i.e. whenever I get me USB interface for my Power Cab. The fact that it's versatile, powerful, FREE, and well supported is a real plus.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Me too. I was like a little kid again. I'd been out of the hobby for 40 years, and 3 months or so earlier, I'd set up some trains and started a layout. I found myself with a bit of spare cash and bought into DCC. After half an hour of smiling and playing like an 8-year-old, I powered down the DCC system and ripped out all the DC stuff. Then I brought DCC back up, and I've been happy ever since.
Don't spend too much on decoders until you've tried one with sound. After that, for me anyway, they all have to be sound.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Yes, Bachmann is wrong (there's a shocker). The H16-44 is not the "Baby Trainmaster". A lot of people call it that because they don't know about the H16-66.
Paul A. Cutler III************Weather Or No Go New Haven************
Congratulations, John! to the wonderful world of DCC! And I'm glad you're happy with your Digitrax Zephyr. It will be a very good DCC system for you. And you can easily expand and build upon it - if and when your layout grows.
John, I know exactly what you're saying about turning into a 5-year old. It's been over 3 years now since I converted to DCC but I'm still amazed how much fun it has added to my own MRRing experience. No regrets for me...even now that I'm 8.
IIRC the FM H16-44 was a 4-axle roadswitcher that did share some features with the trainmaster line (the H24-66 and the H16-66) in the earlier production runs, but these similarities got cut later on to cut costs in producing them.
The baby Trainmaster was the H16-66, because it was a 1600HP prime mover in the TrainMaster series, as opposed to it's 'bigger brother' the H24-66
TwinDaddy66 wrote:Which brings up my questioning of this model number. The box says FM H16-44 Baby Trainmaster...but sourses say there was no -44 babyTM...it was FM H16-66, and the H24-66 was the Trainmaster....is Bachmann wrong?
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
First...Thanks to everyone on this site for the help and information.....
I did it...I converted to DCC last night and you guys were right...WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG!!
After reading many many many posts on the subject...what to do..how to do it..which system to buy...I finally purchased a Digitrax Zephyr and a couple of decoders yesterday and locked myself in the basement.
I jumped in with both feet flailing. I installed a Digitrax DH163AT in my Athearn SD40-2 along with replacing the cheesy headlight with real lights and installing a reverse light as well. It took some time since this was my cherry, but it all worked out and I did myself proud I should say.
The Zephyr hookup was easy...too easy. Set up a program track, hooked everything up to the mainline and I was running. I played around with some CV's and got the headlights doing all kinds of neat stuff! I was acting like a 5 year old at Toys' R' Us! My wife said she has never seen a grown man go so crazy over a pulsing light on a toy...oh well....it's only just beginning dear!!
I took the plunge and I'm glad I did. For those still debating (like I was for 6 months)...go ahead and go DCC, you wont regret it. Now if I can figure out how to put a decoder in my Spectrum FM H16-44 "Baby Trainmaster".
Sorry so long,
John