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dc layout

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  • Member since
    November 2010
  • 2 posts
dc layout
Posted by glastar on Friday, November 26, 2010 8:46 PM

my interest is structure and scenery.  I have stayed with a dc powered layout since we live out in the western desert and no one will probably ever see it . Hence, I rarely ever operate the trains.  Is there any good reason to switch?

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 27, 2010 12:55 AM

Do you mean switch to DCC?

If you hardly ever run a train or indulge into complex switching operation, involving more than one loco, there is not much of a reason to switch to DCC, as you apparently don´t need the virtues of this system. DCC minimizes the wiring effort, can improve a loco´s performance (but not beyond the mechanism´s abilities) and allows for sound, which still is a little uncomfortable on DC operated layouts.

The basic difference between DC and DCC is that with DC you control the track power and with DCC you control the loco. From your description of operation, I´d say you don´t need that.

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Saturday, November 27, 2010 5:37 AM

 Sounds like the only advantage would be in you want to run more than one train on the same line at the same time. One of the other things I like is I leave my engines on the track all the time parked on spurs. No wiring switches to kill the power to the spur.

 Cuda Ken

I hate Rust

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