Train Controls

[Head Elf]

Here I am, almost 60, and I am interested in trains again! Of course back in the day, we just hooked up power to a dial and off we went.  Now days, there is all sorts of ways to control the trains remotely with and without sounds, etc. and I am so confused.  Also, how much power do I need for a lay out? Is there a program with CAD-like layout help? I have nothing right now but want to get a garden train set up within two years.  Can anyone give me suggestions on what to look for in train controls and help me understand them - book, magazine article, on-line article, whatever?

[Rex in Pinetop]

The first question back to you is do you want to go battery and radion control or do you want to go with track power?

The second question is how large of a layout are you going to build with what kind of grades?

The third question is where do you live?

There are a lot of pros and cons to each type of system but first we need to know what you have in mind.  FYI I'm 66 and love to play with trains.

Rex

[dwbeckett]

First WELCOME to the fourm. Next where do you live North Pole or what? Last start reviewing past post's and products reviewed section of both this fourm and Garden Railway's mag. Hope that get's you started.................And if you care I will be 66 next mounth, been doing large scale since 1989

Dave

[Mt Beenak]

G'day and welcome to the forums.

 I believe in the KISS principal.  Keep It Simple, Stupid.  I run track power and use antique, wire wound controllers, which were designed and built in the earliest days of model railroading.  My power supply is a 10 amp / 12 volt transformer, although my meter tells me it puts out 13.6 volts without load.  

The benefits of my system are that it is cheap and simple.   I can fix any problems myself with basic tools.   The old controllers were made sturdy and are capable of being opened and repaired.    I can run any engine out of the box.

I have started adding sound systems to my locos.  Each manufacturer makes a version to be used with DC track power.

You can start simple and get more complex as you become acquainted with everything there is to offer.   The only advice you should follow is to get out in the garden and run something.  You will never regret it.

[two tone]

Hi Head Elf,  It helps if you put in your bio where you are based as you can see im in the UK,    As others have said it depens on lenth of track and how much incline you will have.  I have 400ft of track almost flat.  I use a 10amp 18vdc power supply and control my lay out with the T/E not the new one and my turnouts are controlled by the same controller Ive had it for 5 yrs plus with no problems.    I run Bachmann Consolidations 2 locos at a time with 6-7- coaches the same number of frieght wagons on the other one.    Hope this helps

[J Layne]

If you're looking for some CAD type software, research anyrail.com. I've had it for over a year and it's pretty user friendly. They also seem to continuously provide web updates that have really improved it. It doesn't do the 3D layout images but I probably couldn't handle that anyway!

Overall I'm pretty happy with it.

[g. gage]

Welcome aboard; you’re right there are many new things out there; however there is also the old tried a true and combinations of the two. Four example I have a 450’ loop using an Aristo Ultima 10 amp power supply for track power. It’s radio controlled by an Aristo Train Engineer (the old 27mega hertz) which allows me to walk around with my train. I throw my switches by hand and switch cars in and out of sidings. Or sometimes I just sit in a lawn chair a watch trains go by.

 

I would suggest listing what you want from your railroad lay some track on the ground check things out. See what you like, you may end up with a whole new concept.

 

Good luck, have fun, Rob

[rpc7271]

Welcome. To answer the second part of your question first: CADD is a great way to go if you can use it. I am a CADD Tech and use Bentley Microstation professionally. AwfulCad, oops I mean AutoCad (Lite) is another professional alternative. There are CADD programs out there that are specifically designed for model train design. The nice thing about most of them is that they have templates for most of the commerically made turnouts so you can just drop them in. Since I have a professional projram available to me I don't bother buying a second program.

For your first part of the question about powering your trains: You can still just hook up your trains and turn a dial and run trains. This is commonly refered to as an analog system. If you do it that way and want to run multiple trains then you have to break the layout up into blocks. Doing it that way results in your running lots of wire to all of the blocks. This way is more running your track as opposed to running your trains.

The next way to run trains is to use a Digital Command Control System (DCC). This system sends a constant voltage current through the track all the time. Each locomotive has a DCC receiver in it that receives a signal that tells the loco what to do. Most systems have a throttle that will operate multiple locos but each loco must have it's own DCC receiver. (Some people do put the control system in a secondary control car that way they can switch it from one loco to the next but if you want to run 2 trains you still need 2 control cars).The advantage of the DCC system is 2 fold. The first is that you can program the receiver to make the loco behave the way you want it to. Second you can add sound and blow the horn and ring the bell (among other sounds) whenever you want to. The other thing that you need to deal with is dirty track. Tracks outside collect dirt very quickly and the track mnust be cleaned often. If you would rather spend your time running trains and not cleaning track then the wah to go is to convert your locos to battery power. Using battery power means no analog system and no wiring. There are several control systems that are battery powered. Most conform to the DCC standards.

[mgilger]

I use RR-Track for my track designs.

http://www.rrtrack.com/

For the control, I use the Aristo-Craft Ultima 10 amp power supply along with the older 27mhz variety TE walk around. I have 1000 feet of track down and so far it's been working better than what I had originally hoped for.

Mark