Ok so it looks like i have a lot off reading to do to understand how DCC works. One thing i would like to know as i am making my discussion is, should i buy track ,a good DCC contol and a good engine. Why i am saying this is i know how i am and want to have the ability to do it all. If you say track ,is there track bundles or do i just need to buy one at a time.
There is track and there is track. Sectional track is in short pieces and usually in fixed radii for the curved pieces. Flextrack has different manufacturers, and it comes in different 'codes', with the number meaning the height of the metal rails in thousandths of an inch. Code 100 scales out to about 165 pounds per yard in the real world, and I don't believe any railroad every used such a heavy rail. The Pennsy and one or two others used 155 pounds per yard on their most demanding routes, but most railroads used less heavy rails. So, the current code that is favoured runs from Code 83 down to Code 70 in each scale, with some industrial trackage getting down into the Code 40 - 50 range. Some of the commercial stuff is hard to bend well, some is pre-weathered and even harder to form into curves.
You can buy individual pieces or bundles. I believe trainworld sells boxes/bundles of Atlas flextrack, the most popular in N. America, for a good rate. You'll get the better price per bundle/box, although shipping will cost you. Depending on your track plan, you are going to need at least three or four pieces of flextrack, but maybe more like 15 or 30. Determine your linear length once you have a scale drawing and order what you need plus 15%. Leftover lengths don't really have a shelf life and they won't go bad, but they are nice to have if you decide to alter your tracks in one place or add a siding...whatever.
You seem to be asking if you should settle for a train set (boxed) or buy individual pieces. Depends on what you want. Atlas and Bachmann Spectrum train sets are not too bad. Spectrum is Bachmann's premier line. Most of us pick and chose from what is attractively priced and that has a good reputation across the various manufacturers. Generally, go for their top of the line models with or without decoders and sound. Generally, the better engines cost more. There are still some duds, but the warranties are excellent in the hobby as a rule.
All the DCC operating systems are 'good', with very few reliablity problems. They have different capabilities, but mostly in terms of how many locomotives they can power...so the power supply and circuitry must be able to power how many trains you plan to have in motion at any one time. For many, it comes down to how things look and feel when holding them. The throttle held in your hand, the visibility of the controls and their ease of activating with large fingers...all the usual ergonomic factors influence people, and not always to their satisfaction after they have made their purchase. It is a good idea to visit local clubs and find out what they use...and why.
Is this what you are looking for? Tony's Train Exchange has a lot of good information about DCC and has a comparison matrix.
Yea this is helpful. I have read and talked to many and keep comeing back to the question is a box set worth buying when i will have to buy better later on.
Does DCC have to use speacial track or is it just how it is wired? As you can see i am New to the hobby and want to know everything before jumping in.
Matt
DCC can be used with virtually any track. I use Bachmann nickel-silver EZ-Track myself and haven't had a problem with it. To keep the power to the track consistent it's recommended that that feeder wires are soldered to the track every 6 feet. Some people use prewired joiners for this. As for myself, if it's not soldered I don't trust it. Corrosion WILL work it's way into a non-soldered joiner and break contact.
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
A good place for you to start in seeking answers to your questions about DCC is Tony's Train Exchange. Download his "DCC Primer" and read through it, which explains what DCC is and how it works in fairly plain, non-technical terms.
http://www.tonystrains.com
Then click on the "DCC For Beginners" tab near the top of the page.
Matt, what kinds of things do you want to be able to do with your trains once your layout is set up? Run one train at a time, or more than one? Lots of flexible control over locomotive speed and sounds, or not so much?
If you have absolutely nothing now and very little knowledge of DCC then a DCC on board box set will get you started. It will come with a DCC equipped engine, a few cars, an 18 inch circle of track and a controller. They can be purchased for around $200.
As you gain knowledge and experience, you will wind up replacing the track and the controller, but it will get you up and running while you decide what you want to build. You can then buy the things you need in small affordable increments..
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
If you want a train set, buy the box set you like, set it up and have a great time.
If you want a model railroad and to start a life time hobby, very little of the boxed set will be useful down the road, but it can get you started.
All the above. I want to start off basic and keep growing. I would like to have an amazing layout like i see some of you have, but i am being realistic and know that will take time. I am thinking about a larg rail yard. Were i live there is serveral very larg rail yards that i can duplicate. But i also could do an industral look. It's all up for grabs. What i want is to have all the sounds with multiple trains moving around.
I would start by looking at the verious DCC systems, (most of which can be up graded as your layout grows and finances allow) select one.
Then select a DCC equiped loco of your choice, road name etc.
As for track that is a hot topic with many, however I would stay with one of the more popular brands as they all will work with DCC.
Select a track plan or design your own.
Read up on the verious layout construction methods.
Generate a material list.
Go to your local Lumber yard or other source of construction materials and purchase some lumber, (the tools if you need) glue, screws, nails and have at it.
Others may direct you differently but this is how I started my lay out after being out of the hobby for about 30 years and wanted to get back in.
Be carefull jumping into the deep end. Those beautiful large layouts that you are admiring are the result of years of work and a substatial investment of money. If you get in over your head you will get frustrated. Start small so that you can run trains then add on as your skills and budget evolve. Learn one new skill at a time and put each new skill to work before you move on to the next one.
Phoebevet is dead on.
Start small, learn skills, make lots of mistakes. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will your private railroading empire be.
This will give you the skills, patience, and desire to build a really big layout. Or you may never get there. Even though I've designed my dream layout, I'm still haveing too much fun with the "test" layout to rip it up and start over.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
Phoebe VetBe carefull jumping into the deep end. Those beautiful large layouts that you are admiring are the result of years of work and a substatial investment of money. If you get in over your head you will get frustrated.
My own layout is in it's 3rd reconstruction since 1999. It started as 4' x 7' 8". Another section of 2' 6" x 7' 8" was added to expand it several years later. Around 2005 a 3' 6" x 4' 5" extension was added. In that amount amount of time I've put several thousand dollars into it and I'm still working on it.