what is dcc?

[wisandsouthernkid]

i have older bachmann and tyco locos and rolling stock. but i want to upgrade to that thing called dcc but what will i have to do with my rolling stockif anything to make it compatible and can it be used with older locomotives?

[selector]

Hello.  I used the search function at lower right of this page, and typed in "converting old locomotives to DCC:.  I got this thread to come up, plus several others in the list.

http://cs.trains.com/forums/1322105/ShowPost.aspx

Good luck and hunting.

-Crandell

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I'm betting that none of your locos are even DCC Ready. To get them operable with DCC they must be converted. If these are the old plastic frame locos then the motor may already be isolated from the frame. If they're the pancake type motors (motor built into power truck) that gets a lot trickier as these pick up power through one set of wheels on one truck and send it back to the track through the other truck. I don't see any easy way to convert this type nor would I try to. The old Tyco stuff I had as a child had the old Mantua drive which also had the motor buried in a power truck, usually the front truck and that would pose as many problems as the pancake type would. Any locos with the motor centrally located in the chassis between the trucks and  I know they were around then as I have 2 Atlas GP40's from that era sitting here that I converted myself. I also had a Cox loco (Athearn in Cox box) that had the motor centrally located to power both trucks. I also did the same with an antique Bachmann GP40 (bought in 1977) that was set up in this way. In the case of the Atlas locos the motor was already isolated from the frame. The Cox loco (if I still had it) would have to be modified just as a BB Athearn would have to be and that's a very simple thing to do. As for the rolling stock there shouldn't be any problem unless they're lighted passenger cars. Those have been known to toss a wrench or two into the machinery.

[tstage]

Eric,

I would be a really good idea for you to learn as much as you can about DCC so that you can make some informed choices down the road.  Here's a link that should be helpful for you:

DCC For Beginners

You can either read it online or download it onto your computer as a .pdf file.

Tom

[richg1998]

Some more beginners DCC info. There is quite a bit to DCC. Take one section at a time. Patience will be a great asset. You are going from the analog area to the digital area of model railroading.

 

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/nswmn2/DCC.htm

Rich