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DC or DCC? or The quest for the ultimate Multi-train system.
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[quote user="el-capitan"][quote user="BRAKIE"][quote user="marknewton"][quote user="el-capitan"] <p>If the engineer fails to stop for whatever reason (inexperience with the rules, not knowing the town names, not paying attention) on my DC layout he will hit the block boundary at the end of the siding and the train will stop, probably causing a short circuit. If my layout where DCC his train would continue on through the siding, into a tunnel where a head-on collision could happen with the oncoming train. This is one of the con's to DCC in "my" book</p><p>[/quote]<br /><br />In my book this has nothing whatsoever to do with DCC, it's a problem with the operators. Whether it's a DC or DCC layout, bad driving is bad driving...<br /><br />Mark.[/quote]</p><p> </p><p>Absolutely! While theres been 1 or 2 freak DC head ons at the club we have had more then our share of side swipes due to inattentive train handling and ignoring red blocks.</p><p>[/quote]</p><p> </p><p>I agree. Bad train driving is bad train driving. However, on a DC layout engineers are confined to operate on the section of layout that a dispatcher sets for them. Even my home layout travels through 3 seperate rooms. As the dispatcher I cannot see where every train is but since I have DC I know that train 2 is either operating on one of the blocks that I set for him or he is at a dead stop at a block boundary (I usually keep a block shut off in between trains to avoid rear-ending the train in front.) I do not have this type of control over my layout with DCC.</p><p>I run 2 rail Oscale. My heaviest steam locomotive is over 12 pounds. I've know people to own steam engines that weigh over 20 lbs. All of my cars weigh close to or over a pound each. When 2 Oscale trains hit head on it's not like 2 matchbox cars bumping into one another. a 40 car train can weigh over 50 lbs. That's alot of mass to be stopping all at once. I tend to want to avoid this.</p><p>The title of this forum is "The quest for the ultimate Multi-train system". not "101 reasons why DCC is perfect". I love what DCC has done for the hobby. I would probably have it myself if I didn't need to make the choice between spending $1000 to put decoders in all of my locomotives or buy another brass steam locomotive. I just want more. I want to be able to dispatch from my laptop on wi-fi from my backyard. There would be a schematic on my screen of my entire layout. If I click on a turnout, it switches. I would be able to see all of my trains run around on the schematic and know exactly where they are. Maybe GPS locators in each engine and caboose. Come on, I can look on the internet to pinpoint exactly what seat my kid is sitting in at the movie theater because he has a gps cell phone, why can't that technology be used in railroading.</p><p>Finally, I want one, just one, DCC guy to admit that accidents are more likely on a DCC layout over a DC layout. Even if its only.01% greater, admit that it is more likely. Because I have yet to hear someone with DCC say that.</p><p>[/quote]</p><p>Not picking on you as an individual; however, most of this thread is pure BS. You are assuming that block control is only used on DC. It can be used equally well on DCC if you want to. Block control is not related to DC or DCC. It is a means of controlling track power. The actual running of trains is determined by the operation of the DC power pak or the DCC throttle.</p><p>I have used DC and now have DCC and will never go back.</p><p> </p>
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