I'm starting back into the hobby (N guage) and before I start laying track and wiring, I'm considering going to DCC. I do have a few questions.
Currently, I have three Bershires and two 0-6-0 dockside tankers. I have located a walkthrough for wiring the Berkshires, but I'm concerned that something as small as a dockside may not be convertible. Is there provisions for installing a decoder into a small engine like this?
Is there some recommendations on what the better system is? I understand some power stations/cabs allow for a single DC engine to be operated, but it isn't recommended to do so for long periods of time. What brand offers DC control as well as DCC and what are your recommendations?
Terry
Terry - Welcome to trains.com!
Darren (BLHS & CRRM Lifetime Member)
Delaware and Hudson Virtual Museum (DHVM), Railroad Adventures (RRAdventures)
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First, I was modeling N scale for quite a while before I switched to HO.
I think it would be really hard to put a decoder in a dock-sider. What I would do is try to find one that already had a decoder in it from some manufacturer. I don't know if anyone sells them that way or not.
As far as I know, Digitrax is the only DCC maker that allows you to run a DC locomotive using their system. I also think that it is kind of 'hokey' doing that.
Our club has Digitrax and I don't like it. (That is an opinion.) There are also quite a few of our club members who have had Digitrax on their home layouts that are now switching to NCE. (That is a fact.)
The two best DCC systems available, again in my opinion, are Digitrax and NCE.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Many of the N scale modular groups use Digitrax, so if you have an interest in getting involved with a group take a look around and see what they are using.
I run DC locos that I can't convert quite often on my Digitrax DCC layout. It is not something you would want to do all the time, but it certainly works with limitations.
There are tons of threads on here about picking a DCC system. There are many decent ones out there to choose from. They all have their limitations and advantages so you really need to determine what your needs are. For example if you want more than one throttle, because you want to run with your kids or friends, that might significantly influence a decision.
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
Who made the dockside tankers?
The Z-2 decoder from TCS is very small and you might fit one of those in.
Be aware that many older N scale steamers are barely "retrofittable" as they use the loco's frame for one electrical path to the motor and use the tender for the other path.So you have to insulate the motor from the loco's frame to start with and then replace the metal drawbar with a non-conductive one to isolate the tender.Then comes the wiring wich isn't easy either.Finding room for the decoder might not be the only problem you may encounter.These older N scale steamers are not "DCC friendly".Carefully check the design,it may save you some frustration...or have an experienced DCC installer do the retrofit.
I have two Bachman 0-4-0 docksides and one Model Power 0-6-0 tank engine. I'll look into the z decoder to see if that might fit.
Thanks
Thanks.
I had heard that the NCE is superior to Digitrax from an N modeler at the San Diego club. He was very helpful is answering some of my basic inquiries. I will probably use a DCC installer to retro fit these if they are at all possible.
Or perhaps I can have an isolated section (around the proposed wharf area) to run the docksides on using standard DC control.
MacTrom I had heard that the NCE is superior to Digitrax from an N modeler at the San Diego club.
I had heard that the NCE is superior to Digitrax from an N modeler at the San Diego club.
Opinions are just that, opinions. There are many that feel differently. You most certainly won't get a consensus view that NCE is superior. In what way does an individual define "superior"? Each system has is strong points and weak points. However, if you are predisposed to choose NCE based on that one opinion, you most likely won't be disappointed, they make a good system. For what it is worth, a simple search on this forum will result in passionate diatribes on why each system is superior based on different merits. The usual discussion takes the form of "NCE is simpler to use and has a shorter leaning curve" followed by a vehement defence of how simple DIgitrax is to use. Quickly followed by a "Digitrax is superior because is it is a more comprehensive integrated solution based on the Loconet interface" and so on.
However, my advice would be to make sure you understand what your current and future needs will be and choose a solution accordingly. The vast majority of NCE users like their system, the same goes for Digitrax, MRC, Lenz. Only occasionally do you come accross someone that switches, and usually it is because they did not really get a good handle on their needs and find a short coming that impacts them.
Yeah I 'heard' Atlas track is no good either, and your traisn will always derail if you use it. Meanwhile, on my second layout using Atlas components (actually, third 'serious' one - most track on every layotu I built when I was a kid was Atlas as well,) and I can run traisn at 'warp speed' without derailments.
Lots of heresay in this hobby, and most every other aspect of life, come to think of it. I'm more than happy with my Digitrax and would not contemplate switching. If I was startign from scratch (which actually I did since I lost all my equipment at one point), I'd buy Digitrax again.
As for tiny decoders, the smallest US one is probably the Digitrax DZ125, however CT Elektronik has some that are even smaller. Not cheap, but when you need the absolute smllest thing you cna find... A friend of mine uses these to cram decoders into his scratchbuilt and kitbashed N scale steamers, most often into a short slope back tender which hols th motor, decoder, and gear reduction for the drive shaft leading to the loco. How he manages to strip and solder 1/8" long pieces of wire is really beyond me. Giant magnifier or not, and even with my soldering station, I think I'd be unsoldering the adjacent wire as I soldered the next one on. To top it off, his soldering iron is kind of beat, unless he has a fancy ultra fine point one I haven't seen.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Hi,
First there was two "Docksider" on the market; I beleive; one by Rivarossi/Atlas which use the same frame and motor as the small B&O 0-4-0 and one made by Bachmann both produced years ago.
I have both Docksider and the Rivarossi run better than the Bachmann.
If You have choice use always the better running engine for this kind of project.
As mentionned in the Ntrack steam booklets, a Micromo motor whith reductor could be subsitued for this frame (0-4-0). I think is the n°1016 but not sure
I have the Rivarossi in hand and after I separate the loco from the frame it seems possible to put a Lenz Mini Silver decoder in the roof of the cab which is just above the end of the motor., You must isolate the motor from the frame and the decoder and use only the motor control function of the decoder; cut away the non used wire to gain place .
I am not convinced by the use of a Z decoder because the old three poles Rivarossi motor eat some current to turn, may be to much for the small decoders.
Two of my old 0-4-0 are DCC using the same decoder and transmission as the Docksider and they run like a charm under DCC. However the decoder is in the tender, one use a heavily modified and home made tender and the second a Bachmann sloped one which is easy to use.
I really recommand these decoder for Nscale engines; they are small and powerful and have a lot of CV access.
I have also used them with sucess in an Atlas V1000, a 0-8-0 Walthers switcher and three Bachmann Consolidation.
Good luck.
Marc