I run my trains with a DC power pack and I have been having trouble finding DC locomotives anywhere except for one hobby shop, but it doesn't carry any transition-era locomotives. does anyone know where the sell DC locomotives online?
Disclaimer: I AM A TEENAGER!!!
Me
Say what?
Almost all locos in HO and N scale are DC powered.
Rich
Alton Junction
I think the OP's problem is the microchip between the DCC input and the DC output.
Sheldon (Atlantic Central) guts those things and E-bays them. My own locos pre-date them, but if I ever encounter one I'll do the same.
A DCC-Ready loco will run fine on analog DC, since the `DCC Ready' feaure is simply a connection between the rails and the motor in the form of a component-free board.
Supposedly, DCC locos can be set to some address to run on analog DC. Not having any experience with same, I can't comment on the possible bovine-doo content of the various claims.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - analog DC, MZL system)
DCC ready is a DC locomotive into which you can easily plug a DCC decoder if you want to. Until you do, it's a DC locomotive.
Most DCC locomotives will run on DC unless you have turned off that capability in the decoder. There is a CV in the decoder that controls that.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Anythign current will run on DC even if it has a decoder. Only a few older decoders would fry if run on plain DC.
However, Athearn sells non-DCC locos, and Atlas Silver Series locos are DCC ready but have no decoder. Atlas Trainman locos have no decoders either. There are transition era locos available in those lines. Also don;t forget lookign on eBay, there were plenty of transition era locos made by other companies such as Proto 2000 that are out of production but can be found online and at train shows, often for less than they were new. Most are DCC ready but do not have decoders installed.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
As stated by others, almost all DCC equipedlocos have "dual mode" decoders that will run on DC.
BUT, that does not mean they will run well on all DC power systems, nor does it even mean they will run at all on all DC power systems.
Fact is, most DCC dual mode decoders run very poorly on advanced DC control systems - because most advanced DC control systems use some form of pulse power or modulated motor control which generally sets the DCC decoder crazy.
I use such a system - Aristo Craft Train Engineer wireless radio throttles - for this reason I remove all DCC decoders that happen come with some of the locos I buy.
And all locos generally run better on DC without a DCC decoder.
Bachmann in particular now sells a great number of their locos with an inexpensive decoder installed - they simply won't run on my system - BUT the good news is Bachmann also includes with the loco a set of jumper plugs and the decoders can simply be unpluged and the jumpers installed, returning it to simple DC operation.
And, cheap as they are, the decoders do sell well on Ebay.
Other brands that I generally purchase are offered in DC versions - Athearn, Intermountain, Proto2000, and Bachmann make up most of my fleet of about 120 locos.
The only brand not always offered in DC, or easily converted back, are Broadway Limited and MTH.
I don't buy any MTH - Broadway - they have to be cheap to justify the rewire job.
To the OP - I suggest you look into online shopping if your local shop does have what you want - it is the wave of the future in this hobby.
Still happy with DC, not likely to change,
Sheldon
The LION cuts all of that electronic stuff out of his locomotives, and wires the tracks directly to the motors. Usually one or more power units are connected to additional cars with additional power pickup, and thus my revenue trains all run with 48 wheel power pickup. ☺
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS