Can't wait, finally made the purchase..

[Anonymous]

Just starting out. have done plenty of reading and recently spent about 20 minutes on the phone with Tonys trains

They are extremely helpful. Purchased NCE powerpro ( 5 amp) after lenghty discussion comparing it to digitrax. Based on my needs he recommended the NCE system

Also bought A soundtraxx enabled locomotive and other misc stuff. Ready to build my layout (yardmaster from Atlas book #9) this weekend.

And wow, this stuff is getting expensive - just as expensive as my rc helicopter hobby, well not quite yet.

Cheers
Scott

[AntonioFP45]

Shaley68,

Which Soundtraxx locomotive did you get? Was it the GE AC4400?

Why did Tony's recommend that you go NCE instead of Digitrax? What miscellaneious stuff did you get? Please give us some details as a number of modelers on this Fourm are getting into DCC. Some of us (me, especially) are as "green" as can be and would benefit from reading consumer feedback!

God Bless and Cheers!

[Anonymous]

shaley68...Congrats on your purchase of NCE DCC. [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
Having had my own for 5 years now, I can honestly tell you, I've never had a moments regret. It was money well spent.
Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

how much did all that cost?!?

[Anonymous]

Congrats and welcome to the wonderful world of DCC. Having an NCE myself, you'll be plesently suprised at how easy it it to use. Please let us all know what loco you got and when it finally arrives (should be within a week, Tony's is fast), let us know how everything works out.

Jay

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the party. I wish you well on your new layout.
Is it in HO or N?

James

[Anonymous]

Mostly he recommended the NCE beacuse it could do everything the digitrax chief could do and is far more user friendly. Larger readout screen, plain english descriptions etc and support for more functions

My requirements were:
1. Has to have full support for sound. Must be able to address all functions of soundtraxx decoders (this eliminates atlas and mrc)
2. Need a walkaround throttle (eliminates zephyr unless pay $140 more)
3. Has to be user friendly. I am not a rocket scientist just an accountant (favors NCE)
4. Want a knob/dial for throttle - no keypads (favors NCE, did not like keypad throttles)
5. Enough power to support up to 4 locos (i have a 4x8 layout - but may expand) (does not favor entry level systems- atlas, mrc, zephyr )
6. Would like to program decoders from computer and/or provide readback of decoder settings right from the command system/throttle (NCE has read/write and computer interface is included)

This also helped...
http://www.litchfieldstation.com/s/c/s/5/5.html
http://www.litchfieldstation.com/s/c/s/u5/u5.html

And i purchased a dcc (soundtraxx) locomotive, misc cables and cab panel. Just under $700 for all.

Here is a list of the locos and prices before and after dcc/sound from tony's

http://www.dcctrains.com/download/Loco-Specials-2c.pdf

I could have spent less and been fine but... i like the premium stuff. Hell, the soundtraxx decoder cards are about $110 each. I'm not about to put that on a $30 locomotive.

I'll keep ypu updated on my progress

[Anonymous]

If it's HO, what's your curve radius?

[Anonymous]

HO 18inch radius, "yardmaster" layout from Atlas book.. Why do you ask?

[Anonymous]

Generally speaking 22" is now the norm and even larger if possible.

Reason being, longer passenger cars and bigger locos(six axle) generally
require larger radius to avoid derailing.

This also applies to larger steamers. I believe a 4 X 8 can accomadate 22"
leaving very little shoulder room.

If this is a consideration then I would post the question.

[Anonymous]

While larger radious curves are now the trend, I feel their pusing is highly overrated, and in response to the growing popularity of using larger equipment, such as full scale lenght passenger cars. Yet, most of your modern rolling stock is in the 50 foot range, still quite trackable on 18 inch radious. I dug deep into the archives and found the plan. It has merit and can be expanded easily in any direction. I also feel that with this plan, that a modern shortline feel can easily be obtained with said 18 inch radius curves.

Just some of my ramblings on the subject.

James

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Grayhound Challenger

While larger radious curves are now the trend, I feel their pusing is highly overrated, and in response to the growing popularity of using larger equipment, such as full scale lenght passenger cars. Yet, most of your modern rolling stock is in the 50 foot range, still quite trackable on 18 inch radious. I dug deep into the archives and found the plan. It has merit and can be expanded easily in any direction. I also feel that with this plan, that a modern shortline feel can easily be obtained with said 18 inch radius curves.

Just some of my ramblings on the subject.

James

James;

There is a great deal of HO equipment that will not run on 18" radius track, especially "premium stuff" as Scott mentioned.

Regarding modern equipment, UP's Mankato Sub runs right by here, most trains are mixed freight with a significant number of autoracks - which will not fit on 24" radius with prototypical coupled spacing let alone smaller.

To use 18" radius curve, a number of compromises have to be made, you are willing to accept those, but many of us are not. Please consider stating those compromises more clearly in your message so as not to mislead people starting out.

Scott: I strongly recommend that you go with 24" minimum radius. One way is to expand the plan by 33%. There are a large number of 4 x 8 plans that can be expanded by 25% to 33% and still work well. (5x10 to 5'4" x 10'8")

[Anonymous]

Thanks gentlemen,

I will do some testing before i build my layout. I would like to run AMTRAK and other coach cars. I believe these are of the "large" type. May reconsider entire layout and size.

Any suggestions for a small layout (4x8 to 6x10). I would like a layout that provides for some yard work (not a lot), reverse loop, and/or other complex maneuvering, I am more into this hobby for the technology, sounds, lighting, wiring, switching etc and not so much into the scenery, scale look, etc.

[Anonymous]

Me, I'm the odd ball, just in it for the fun of it.