Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
An alternative to Both DCC and DC. I have a large N-scale layout, The Royal Morovian Railway (Morovianrail.com) with many vintage and of course very small engines. DC became impractical as the RMR grew to 33'x18' with mountains blocking my view in almost every direction. DCC, though interesting, seemed very expensive and intrusive to my engines, and frankly I was just not willing to pay an expert to convet 30-40 engines on a growing roster. Besides, with most N scale steam locomotives, there is just no room for a decoder. From it's inception in 1996 until just two years ago it had been controlled by 5 independent controllers, (MRC, Troller from the 80's, hand helds, etc.) but it was terribly difficult to maintain control of more than one or two trains at a time. My block sections were very long, as much at 40 feet in a couple of cases. Not fun. Then in October MRR 2002 ran a review of the Roadmaster DBC (Digital Block control) from Signal Research. It is a great alternative to DCC. No engine modifications at all. Standard DC wiring, but NO block switches any where on the layout, No Running around, no need for multiple controllers. The Roadmaster consists of a Master Control Panel with a 2 line digital display, several easy to use buttons, and then a Block Control board for each 8 blocks. The board connects 8 DC outputs to your track, each board having it's own 3 amp dedicated power supply. Total capacity 256 blocks, 99 trains. It has optional three color signal output, east and west for each block (1 signal driver t board for each block control board, nd the signal driver board also includes block occupancy output for LEDS on your main switch panel(s) ). Everything can be operated from a single location!!! They are working on a hand held, too. Like DCC, there is a learning curve, and in my case, nearly half a mile of rewiring was required. But it has all been worth it in the long run. Here's a link to their website http://signalresearch.com The Royal Morovian is still a work in progress after nearly 9 years, but at least now it is fully operational (well still work to be done on the old Arnold-Rapido track sections that I installed in '96-'97). The RMR is of Swiss/German prototype, circa 1930-1960. It is built in three main sections, ladder frame work, hard-shell on some, but the best part of the scenery is the styrofoam mountains, but that is for another time. Most of the trackwork is Peco fine scale, code 55 rail, Peco switch motors that take a beating now and then. Vollmer and Viessmann Catenary is in the planning stages, though it will not be "operational" . Some signals are still Arnold bulb type, driven by aux turnout contacts, but all new signals will be Viessmann LED type snd driven directly by the Roadmaster with prototypical aspect changes. Some semaphores will still need to be turnout controlled or controlled by micro reed switches between the rails. I've tried several IR type sensors, but found that every time I change the light levels in the room, the sensitivity changes, even under a mock snow shed. Micro Reeds are dependable (I use them all the time in residential security installations). The Viessmann semaphores have a very nice "slow motion" activation of the flags. Thanks for reading, hope this give you an alternative to the DC - DCC dilema. Bob Fallier, New Hampshire
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag

Update Reply

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Model Railroader Newsletter See all

Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!

Subscriber & Member Login

Edit post

Post Body

Tags (Optional)

Subscriber & Member Login

Users Online

Search the Community