To DC or Not DC, That is the Question!

[gmpullman]

Antonio...
When I started building my layout about 8 years ago I decided to go with the Walthers code 83 (Shinohara) because of the extensive catalog of switch types available. I admit, I went a little crazy with cross-overs, double slips, etc. and my track plan evolved into a pretty complicated mess... When it came to operation I was content with letting two trains run on the double track and as you can imagine, it became pretty boring very fast.
When I started playing with DCC and I didn't have to concern myself with "blocks & cabs" it has re-invigorated my interest in the railroad again! OPERATION is truly what it should be. Just like real crews, I only have to concern myself with route selection and I can move any locomotive / train ANYWHERE I want it to go. That, for me, has opened up a whole new world of operational possibilities and I'm having FUN again!
As an added bonus, it seems to me that the dozen or so DCC converted locomotives run better than they ever have! I only have about 75 more to do and I'll be in DCC heaven!

[Bikerdad]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Martin Mika

I am putting together my layout in N scale, I have no experience with DCC, and I am wondering how much more difficult, if at all, and more costly it would be to do it in N.
Loyout will be a 20'X6' dogbone, and I have about 20 locos: mostly kato, lifelike, and Atlas
Any advice would be appreciated. Oh and BTW, I can spend up to about $500.

I'm assuming that the $500 is for the DCC. Your best value would be to get a Digitrax Zephyr ($160 or so), a UR90 IR panel ($40) , a UT4 throttle ($70), an autoreversing module ($25, if you have a reversing loop), and spend the rest for decoders for your favorite locos. If decoders are above and beyond the $500, then consider the Lenz or NCE systems in addition to Digitrax. One $$$ question is how important is going wireless with the throttles to you?

If the $500 is for the whole shebang, you can get anywhere from 4 to 12 decoders out of the remaining balance, depending on your desires in decoders. If you don't have a dedicated yard switcher, but you do want one for DCC, then scamper over to Feather River Trains (www.featherrivertrains.com) and snag an Atlas VO1000 that is factory equipped with a decoder. If that's too stiff, you can wait and after you've done a few simpler decoder installations, do a different switcher.

N Scale decoders have a street price anywhere from $15 up to $60. Most of the PnP/drop-ins run $25-$30 on the street. Basic 2 function wired decoders are around $15-20.

I hope this helps, if you have any more questions regarding N Scale, mosey over to www.nscale.net and the friendly folks there will be glad to help you out. [8D]

BD - 10 Decoderized N scale locos and climbing...

[Anonymous]

Stay with DC, old trains (like my 1979 rivrossi 4-8-8-4) are hard to get into. Believe me
I repair my own trains.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone use R/C such as Aristo HO Train Engineer or Rail Lynx? Hoping for some encouraging words electricity is something I just don't get.
Thanks for any help!

[joeh19012]

WANTED: Advice about power-routing turnouts (the older Walthers/Shinohara code 83 ones).

I've been reading A LOT (too much, probably) about layout construction, turnouts, flextrack, and so on so that I can actually get started putting my layout together. Over the years, I've had a plan professionally drawn, modified it with CAD, bought turnouts, etc.

I now find that a good portion of my equipment is out of date, relative to the available technology. Instead of twin coil switch machines, the Tortoise stall motor is being recommended. DCC has altered the way manufacturers supply goods and how modelers purchase them. Still, I want that "dream railroad..."

Anyway, one source I read (gmpullman) said that he ran DCC without any problems using Walthers/Shinohara power-routing turnouts. Other sources (wiringforccc.com) give extensive directions on how to modify these turnouts so they'll work with DCC. Unfortunately, those modifications come with many cautions.

I have 17 of those turnouts, and I really don't want to spend my time modifying them--I'd rather install them. I don't mind cutting gaps in the rails, around the frogs, jumpering rails, or cutting gaps when turnouts are connected frog to frog. I would appreciate any advice from anyone who is successfully using DCC with these turnouts, without rebuilding them using the circuit board ties and retro fitting half-joiners onto the points and closure rails.

I have the original 1990 version of Andy Sperandeo's "Wiring" book, so I have the info on cutting gaps. What else do I need to do? Thanks, thanks, thanks.

[Anonymous]

I have debated back and forth on this with myself for the past two years as I built my current layout. The track and wiring are complete and it is as DCC friendly as I can make it. So was my previous layout. But there is only one of me, the layout is relatively small (9' X 18' modules in a rectangle) and I only run one train at a time. I realize the advantages of sound, lighting, etc. that DCC offers, but like some others, the cost and the effort don't seem to be worth it, at least for now.

My compromise for the last layout and this one is the Crest (formerly Aristo) Train Engineer radio control system. It gives me mobilty for following the train and switching movements and has a momentum feature but doesn't require more that five minutes of wiring to connect and requires no decoders, etc.

Just another point of view,,,


John Timm

[rrinker]

QUOTE: Originally posted by joeh19012

WANTED: Advice about power-routing turnouts (the older Walthers/Shinohara code 83 ones).

I've been reading A LOT (too much, probably) about layout construction, turnouts, flextrack, and so on so that I can actually get started putting my layout together. Over the years, I've had a plan professionally drawn, modified it with CAD, bought turnouts, etc.

I now find that a good portion of my equipment is out of date, relative to the available technology. Instead of twin coil switch machines, the Tortoise stall motor is being recommended. DCC has altered the way manufacturers supply goods and how modelers purchase them. Still, I want that "dream railroad..."

Anyway, one source I read (gmpullman) said that he ran DCC without any problems using Walthers/Shinohara power-routing turnouts. Other sources (wiringforccc.com) give extensive directions on how to modify these turnouts so they'll work with DCC. Unfortunately, those modifications come with many cautions.

I have 17 of those turnouts, and I really don't want to spend my time modifying them--I'd rather install them. I don't mind cutting gaps in the rails, around the frogs, jumpering rails, or cutting gaps when turnouts are connected frog to frog. I would appreciate any advice from anyone who is successfully using DCC with these turnouts, without rebuilding them using the circuit board ties and retro fitting half-joiners onto the points and closure rails.

I have the original 1990 version of Andy Sperandeo's "Wiring" book, so I have the info on cutting gaps. What else do I need to do? Thanks, thanks, thanks.

See the site http://www.wiringfordcc.com for info on turnouts. But REALLY you don't have to worry about it (other than the same gaps you need for ANY two-rail wiring, DC or DCC) IF you are careful when running - with the power-routing turnouts like that, approach against the set route will result in a short when the loco crosses the gaps. So just don;t run against the turnouts and you'll be ok [:D] The other potential problem is when the point rail and the adjacent stock rail are not at the same polarity - any equipment with metal wheels out of gauge can also cause a short by touching both of the rails at the same time - the tread on the stock rail and the back rubbing the point rail. This is the reason for making the modification suggested on Wiring for DCC.

--Randy