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I wanna play train! or Trouble is I don't know anything about model railroading.
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Jacob, <br /> <br />Regarding your questions, <br />[quote]QUOTE: <i>Originally posted by JnM Lines</i> <br /><br />I was thinking I could go buy the Digitrax Zephyr control deal at the Hobby Town near me and just set up a loop of the true track I have to watch it run. Trouble is I don't know anything about model railroading. I think from generalized observation that the engine, while being "DCC ready" doesn't need to possess a decoder to operate, nor does the Zephyr require a single engine to have the decoder. Is this true?[/quote] <br />Correct. A DCC (Digital Command Control) "power pack" like the Zephyr will operate one train without a decoder. In DCC you need to think in terms of trains rather than locomotives as more than one locomotive can be made to act as one. If you purchase a power pack, any power pack, you are set to run trains. <br /> <br />[quote]QUOTE: Can I just plug the stuff into the outlet for now to see it run? [/quote] <br />Yes. To make your DCC ready locomotives run all you need is a power pack (DC, Direct Current, or DCC). <br /> <br />[quote]QUOTE: Furthermore, I am already tired of the loop the <i><i>train not traveled </i></i>is running on. I want turnouts. Trouble is I don't know anything about model railroading. Ideally something is available that will simply satiate my wants right now; quick and easy turnouts.[/quote] <br />I believe that Bachmann and Life-Like both have turnouts for their track with roadbed. I cannot recall who makes EZ-Track. <br /> <br />[quote]QUOTE: However I do in the very near future, as my knowledge grows, want to have fully operational turnouts (I am not certain of the terminology, would this be a DCC turnout?) that are remote controlled. Is something like this available?[/quote] <br />There are stationary, does not move, DCC decoders. A DCC system "talks" to each decoder on the layout. So theoretically a decoder can be made to control just about anything. Manufacturers now make decoders that control model railroad items besides locomotives (turnouts, cranes, etc.). I believe there is even talk of having decoders control couplers. <br /> <br />[quote]QUOTE: Respectfully, <br />Jacob[/quote] <br /> <br />Have fun Jacob. <br />Jaime
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