TA462 Have you even picked an era yet? You can pickup good DCC ready loco's like Atlas, Kato, Intermountain and Proto 2000 for anywhere between 50 and 150 bucks, depending what you want and where you buy them. Look around Ebay and you will get an idea of what you will get for your money. STAY AWAY from Bachmann DCC Onboard loco's. The decoders are garbage and you will need to replace them sooner then later. Some of the newer ones seem ok but older stuff I would avoid. The detail level on the older stuff is poor as well, almost toy like.
Have you even picked an era yet? You can pickup good DCC ready loco's like Atlas, Kato, Intermountain and Proto 2000 for anywhere between 50 and 150 bucks, depending what you want and where you buy them. Look around Ebay and you will get an idea of what you will get for your money. STAY AWAY from Bachmann DCC Onboard loco's. The decoders are garbage and you will need to replace them sooner then later. Some of the newer ones seem ok but older stuff I would avoid. The detail level on the older stuff is poor as well, almost toy like.
Thanks for the info. Yes I'm going to be doing a modern day railroad.
RailfanS thanks for the link i will check it out tonight while I'm at work.
Here's a link to some reading material about DCC:
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/nswmn2/DCC.htm.
There's alot of info here, so don't get to intimidated. I would recommend looking at the "DCC is for everyone" and "Installing Decoders & Gen info" sections to start with. Keep in mind that the author of this site is an NCE user, so some of the sections and articles apply only to NCE systems (It's pretty obvious which ones are about NCE equipment). Make sure you do PLENTY of research before deciding on a DCC system, there's several systems available and most of them are good systems, You just have to decide which one best suits your needs and budget.
I'm going to agree with a previous poster and recommend you stay away from Bachmann DCC on board loco's as well. The decoders that come with these loco's are, in my experience, junk. If you really do want one of these models though, just plan on replacing the decoder from the start.
Good luck, and remember to research EVERYTHING before you buy
Cape Vincent Southern Railroad
HO scale Horseshoe Curve in 5’x10’
My YouTube
BroadwayLion richhotrain: One advantage of a DCC layout over a DC layout is that it is a lot easier to operate multiple trains on the same track with DCC. Since power is applied to the loco motor through the decoder rather than directly through the track, not all locos on the track will run with power applied to the track. Many of us with a DCC layout will have a combination of sound and non-sound locomotives. Rich Eh... DCC is not worth the effort. There still is only one of ME. I cannot keep track of two trains at once. If I pull one into the pocket, it's isolated, I throw the switch and run a different train. DCC is fine if you have a BIG layout (which I do have) AND lots of operators (which I do not have). To buy locomotives with DCC? well if you are buying an EXPENSIVE locomotive, yes go for it, but if you are buying a CHEAP locomotive, you will get an even cheaper DCC unit. LION bought two cheap DCC locomotives for his layout (they are not really on the line yet) but before they are put on the railroad the DCC boards will be removed and the motors directly wired to the wheels. [These locos were not available in DC]. ROAR
richhotrain: One advantage of a DCC layout over a DC layout is that it is a lot easier to operate multiple trains on the same track with DCC. Since power is applied to the loco motor through the decoder rather than directly through the track, not all locos on the track will run with power applied to the track. Many of us with a DCC layout will have a combination of sound and non-sound locomotives. Rich
One advantage of a DCC layout over a DC layout is that it is a lot easier to operate multiple trains on the same track with DCC. Since power is applied to the loco motor through the decoder rather than directly through the track, not all locos on the track will run with power applied to the track.
Many of us with a DCC layout will have a combination of sound and non-sound locomotives.
Rich
Eh... DCC is not worth the effort. There still is only one of ME. I cannot keep track of two trains at once. If I pull one into the pocket, it's isolated, I throw the switch and run a different train. DCC is fine if you have a BIG layout (which I do have) AND lots of operators (which I do not have).
To buy locomotives with DCC? well if you are buying an EXPENSIVE locomotive, yes go for it, but if you are buying a CHEAP locomotive, you will get an even cheaper DCC unit.
LION bought two cheap DCC locomotives for his layout (they are not really on the line yet) but before they are put on the railroad the DCC boards will be removed and the motors directly wired to the wheels. [These locos were not available in DC].
ROAR
After all of your knoledgable posts LION, It is hard to beleive you feel that way about DCC.
Truck.
Goodness181 richhortrain, At the moment i do not have a layout. I am in what my wife calls the "Planning budget phase" so I'm just trying to wrap my head around the lingo. That she wants everything i may need all laid out so she can create a budget for me and let me know how much i can spend and when i can spend it. So was just looking at the DCC ready loco's and was cuirous. Oh and I will be going with a DCC layout to.
richhortrain,
At the moment i do not have a layout. I am in what my wife calls the "Planning budget phase" so I'm just trying to wrap my head around the lingo. That she wants everything i may need all laid out so she can create a budget for me and let me know how much i can spend and when i can spend it. So was just looking at the DCC ready loco's and was cuirous.
Oh and I will be going with a DCC layout to.
Hmm....Then I would lay out everything at the higher prices for her...ideally so she can give you a bigger budget!!!
What many on here say they do is they have a "free budget" for each..for them for MRRing {Model RailRoading} and for her for her shoes, jewelry, purses, accessories, etc. Each get the same amount...say $50 a month each to spend any way they want no questions asked by the other party. That is how you could do it. Then you save your $50 a month till you get the price you need to buy whatever, with no questions or coments from the wife.
If you lay out for her that it costs about $300 for a good DCC system, about $300 for a loco with DCC and sound already in it, she may increase your allowance to say $100 a month. It may more depend on what you have in "disposable income" that will set your budget. Not ALL DCC locos are expensive. You can get decent runnings locos for around $50-$60 for diesel and $100-$130 for steam. They will be DCC without sound. SOund locos will cost more.
There is a constant "war" between the factors of buying already installed, or buying and installing your own between those on here who do each. SOme say it is cheaper either way. It also depends on your skill levels of doing instalations.
But you will have other expenses to face since you don't have a layout yet. You will have building costs for the table, track costs for track and switches {if you have plan that helps}, wiring costs, scenery costs for sceneic assecesories {paint, grass, ground foam, trees etc.}, costs for structures, costs for locos, costs for RR cars and more like: figures {people}, autos, trucks, etc.. SOme of it you can make/buy on the cheap if you use the search feature in the right side margin here and type in , say "trees"...you will get threads about cheap and easy and many "trees" made from everything from cottom balls to furnace filters! You can spend a few hundred or a few thousands building and "finishing" your layout.
to the hobby and our fun!
Good luck getting the best budget out of her you can!!
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Depends on the DCC system, mine has 2 knobs on the throttle so I can actually CONTROL 2 trains at a time, not just start one and let it free run and control another. There's just one of me as well, but I can bring out a helper, couple it to the back of my train, then help shove it up the (non-existent) hill and then drop off at the top without stopping.
Making it more relevent to a subway layout - the express could be automated while you control the local around the schedule, or vice-versa. Of course, don't mess up, or there will be an accident. A lot harder to mess up with DC, bridge the shut off block and the train you about to hit will move away from your oncoming one, sort of self-protecting. Such is not the way of a real railroad though.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
BroadwayLion richhotrain: One advantage of a DCC layout over a DC layout is that it is a lot easier to operate multiple trains on the same track with DCC. Since power is applied to the loco motor through the decoder rather than directly through the track, not all locos on the track will run with power applied to the track. Many of us with a DCC layout will have a combination of sound and non-sound locomotives. Rich Eh... DCC is not worth the effort. There still is only one of ME. I cannot keep track of two trains at once. ROAR
Eh... DCC is not worth the effort. There still is only one of ME. I cannot keep track of two trains at once.
Hey, what's the problem?
Ya got four paws.
Alton Junction
Lion can then sell the decoders on-line and make a few bucks back as well.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
richhotrain One advantage of a DCC layout over a DC layout is that it is a lot easier to operate multiple trains on the same track with DCC. Since power is applied to the loco motor through the decoder rather than directly through the track, not all locos on the track will run with power applied to the track. Many of us with a DCC layout will have a combination of sound and non-sound locomotives. Rich
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
HAHA Yea i tell her that she may wear the pants in this family but i wear the belt that holds them up!!!!
Thanks for your help richhotrain.
Goodness181
Wait a minute, you've got this all wrong. Waddya mean, so your wife can create a budget for you and let you know how much you can spend and when you can spend it?
Here is the way it is supposed to work. You figure out how much you need to spend on your model railroad, and then your wife gets what's left to spend on necessities, assuming that anything is left.
LOL
Seriously, though, as you research everything, come on back to ask whatever questions pop about about model railroading or DCC.
Thanks
Goodness181,
From your initial post, it is not clear if you have a layout at this time or whether it is DC or DCC.
Regarding your question about "Powered, DCC Ready", the term "powered" is included in the description because some locomotives are unpowered or "dummy". A dummy locomotive may look just like a powered locomotive, but it will be lighter and less expensive because it lacks the drive train. Obviously, a dummy locomotive cannot pull cars behind it, but it can be part of a consist with one or more powered locomotives such as an ABBA configuration. I have a Santa Fe F7 ABBA in which the A units are powered and the B units are dummies. Unless you pick up a B unit, you cannot tell if it is powered or not.
For me I dont want all of my engines having sound. My layout is small and alot of engines making sound is to much for the little room. I have a couple of key favorite engines that make sound but that is about it.
I am not rolling in money so since I usually dont have alot to spend I will buy a non DCC engine and add a basic decoder later. If the engine is like my Kato SD40-2 Mid I used a FX decoder so I could get the flashing ditch lights. For me not having everything do everything is no biggy, running my favorite engines reliably is far more important. Also I found that sometimes the DCC onboard locos dont have the best decoders in them. It is cheaper to buy the non DCC engine and add a baisc decoder for $20-$30 and save over $50 all together. Sound on the other hand I usually buy installed so I dont have to worry about getting the right sounds for the engine type.
Massey
A Veteran, whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."
locoi1sa If the desired locomotive is available with sound and DCC that would be the best and cheapest way to go. If not then Soundtraxx, Loksound, and QSI solutions makes decoders that will fit. Do some research before you buy it. After you buy it take it apart and see where and how large a speaker can fit it. If you have never installed a decoder other than plug and play ones a sound decoder can be daunting. Pete
If the desired locomotive is available with sound and DCC that would be the best and cheapest way to go. If not then Soundtraxx, Loksound, and QSI solutions makes decoders that will fit. Do some research before you buy it. After you buy it take it apart and see where and how large a speaker can fit it. If you have never installed a decoder other than plug and play ones a sound decoder can be daunting.
Pete
Cool. Thank you. I' going to pick up one of Kalmbach's books on DCC after the holidays i think so i can read up some before venturing into DCC Land.
Thanks again.
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Cool thanks Massey, This is what i suspected but wanted to double check and make sure. So would you recomend buying locomotive with a DCC Decoder and allready has sound decoder in it and pay a little extra or should i buy a locomotive that is "DCC Ready" and then purchase the DCC Decoder and Sound Decoder Seperatlly? Also can you buy DCC Decoder and Sound Decoder that is all in one? or do these typically come seperate?
DCC ready means that it has a plug or socket for a decoder already installed in the engine. Converting to DCC is pretty much plug and play. Powered... well you should already know what that means.
So i was parusing through walthers website looking at some Locomotive's and was curious. In the description where it reads "Powered, DCC Ready" What does this mean? Does this mean i can run it on a DCC Layout or do i have to buy a Decoder for it before i can run it???