DJO BRAKIE DJ wrote:in dc you got to do blok overkill sometimes to run 2 different trains on the same track stretch. i like momentom too and its a lot more easy to control on dcc. engines dont get hot on dcc when you keep on the momentom. ------------------------------- I never had a locomotive to overheat while using momentum on my old MRC Tech II 2500..I traded this toward a CM20 at a train show. The 2500 was probably one of the best power packs MRC made to date. Now a locomotive would slightly overheat while using pluse power but,not enough to become overly concerned about.I used pulse power on and off for years. As far as running 2 trains on DC you can do so without block overkill by using Atlas selectors and equalling out the blocks and passing sidings... Now a hidden fact about DCC is the use of "power districts" which is no more then old fashion blocks that DCC was to do away with. However,basic DCC operation can be no more then 2 wires hooked to the track with a isolated programing track-unless one wants to remove all of his/her programmed locomotives from the layout. DCC has it place just as DC does,both gets the job done and neither is a sure answer for train control. good goin brakie you made my point. i dont like using atlas selectors at all. i want to run engines not track bloks. just thinking about wiring up bloks is why i got out from model trains for 8 years. power districts is an option on dcc and you dont have to have them if you dont want them. but on dc you got to set up bloks with selectors.
BRAKIE DJ wrote:in dc you got to do blok overkill sometimes to run 2 different trains on the same track stretch. i like momentom too and its a lot more easy to control on dcc. engines dont get hot on dcc when you keep on the momentom. ------------------------------- I never had a locomotive to overheat while using momentum on my old MRC Tech II 2500..I traded this toward a CM20 at a train show. The 2500 was probably one of the best power packs MRC made to date. Now a locomotive would slightly overheat while using pluse power but,not enough to become overly concerned about.I used pulse power on and off for years. As far as running 2 trains on DC you can do so without block overkill by using Atlas selectors and equalling out the blocks and passing sidings... Now a hidden fact about DCC is the use of "power districts" which is no more then old fashion blocks that DCC was to do away with. However,basic DCC operation can be no more then 2 wires hooked to the track with a isolated programing track-unless one wants to remove all of his/her programmed locomotives from the layout. DCC has it place just as DC does,both gets the job done and neither is a sure answer for train control.
DJ wrote:in dc you got to do blok overkill sometimes to run 2 different trains on the same track stretch. i like momentom too and its a lot more easy to control on dcc. engines dont get hot on dcc when you keep on the momentom. -------------------------------
I never had a locomotive to overheat while using momentum on my old MRC Tech II 2500..I traded this toward a CM20 at a train show. The 2500 was probably one of the best power packs MRC made to date.
Now a locomotive would slightly overheat while using pluse power but,not enough to become overly concerned about.I used pulse power on and off for years.
As far as running 2 trains on DC you can do so without block overkill by using Atlas selectors and equalling out the blocks and passing sidings...
Now a hidden fact about DCC is the use of "power districts" which is no more then old fashion blocks that DCC was to do away with.
However,basic DCC operation can be no more then 2 wires hooked to the track with a isolated programing track-unless one wants to remove all of his/her programmed locomotives from the layout.
DCC has it place just as DC does,both gets the job done and neither is a sure answer for train control.
DJ,Thanks for proving my point..Seems like there's a lot of modelers never understood the very basic wiring of a Atlas selector.
Also one doesn't need blocks on his/her layout if he/she will be running one train.
As I mention I have used DCC and found its ok but,not needed on my type of layouts which is ISLs..
I am not ignorant of DCC and what it can or can not do and the importance of power districts on large layouts..
What turn me off to DCC was the need to put decoders in my locomotives and then program 'em. Then address 'em every time I need to run a different loco or move a locomotive. In comparison on my basic DC ISLs all I need to do is turn on the power pack and go or slide a selector switch and go.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
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BRAKIEon my type of layouts which is ISLs
I've forgotten....what is/are ISL's?
Thanks
maxman BRAKIEon my type of layouts which is ISLs I've forgotten....what is/are ISL's? Thanks
Industrial Switching Layout.
I picked the term up at a Layout Design Group I am a member of-we meet 3-4 times a year.
Silver Pilot After getting caught up on the thread there seems to be one overrriding theme amongst our friends who are using DC - they primarily run one train at a time. doctorwayne I'm certainly not against DCC, and did investigate it out of curiosity - while I may be fairly set in my ways, I find it beneficial to remain open-minded, and I'm always as eager to learn as I am to share my own limited knowledge. However, for my interests and operating scheme, I saw no benefits whatsoever: any of my locos run well in almost any combination, I almost always operate alone, and my operating scheme requires an attentive operator for every train, as almost all do some local work at the various towns along the line. While the sounds available nowadays are impressive, they're not especially appealing for me either, although I must admit that most of the time, I keep the speakers for my computer turned off, too. ATLANTIC CENTRAL OR as an option, the CTC Dispatcher can assign those routes and the Engineers just run the trains and obey the signals. From the Engineer's point of view, how is that any different than DCC? If I'm all alone, the whole railroad can be asigned to my throttle and I can go anywhere with my wireless throttle. I only run one train at a time OR have them on independent routes OR have a crew with an Engineer for each train. I have no interest in trying to operate two trains by myself on the same route. My choices, I understand they are not for everyone. Sheldon To quote some of them. That's they primary operating style, then DC works fine for them.
After getting caught up on the thread there seems to be one overrriding theme amongst our friends who are using DC - they primarily run one train at a time.
doctorwayne I'm certainly not against DCC, and did investigate it out of curiosity - while I may be fairly set in my ways, I find it beneficial to remain open-minded, and I'm always as eager to learn as I am to share my own limited knowledge. However, for my interests and operating scheme, I saw no benefits whatsoever: any of my locos run well in almost any combination, I almost always operate alone, and my operating scheme requires an attentive operator for every train, as almost all do some local work at the various towns along the line. While the sounds available nowadays are impressive, they're not especially appealing for me either, although I must admit that most of the time, I keep the speakers for my computer turned off, too.
I'm certainly not against DCC, and did investigate it out of curiosity - while I may be fairly set in my ways, I find it beneficial to remain open-minded, and I'm always as eager to learn as I am to share my own limited knowledge. However, for my interests and operating scheme, I saw no benefits whatsoever: any of my locos run well in almost any combination, I almost always operate alone, and my operating scheme requires an attentive operator for every train, as almost all do some local work at the various towns along the line. While the sounds available nowadays are impressive, they're not especially appealing for me either, although I must admit that most of the time, I keep the speakers for my computer turned off, too.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL OR as an option, the CTC Dispatcher can assign those routes and the Engineers just run the trains and obey the signals. From the Engineer's point of view, how is that any different than DCC? If I'm all alone, the whole railroad can be asigned to my throttle and I can go anywhere with my wireless throttle. I only run one train at a time OR have them on independent routes OR have a crew with an Engineer for each train. I have no interest in trying to operate two trains by myself on the same route. My choices, I understand they are not for everyone. Sheldon
OR as an option, the CTC Dispatcher can assign those routes and the Engineers just run the trains and obey the signals. From the Engineer's point of view, how is that any different than DCC? If I'm all alone, the whole railroad can be asigned to my throttle and I can go anywhere with my wireless throttle.
I only run one train at a time OR have them on independent routes OR have a crew with an Engineer for each train. I have no interest in trying to operate two trains by myself on the same route.
My choices, I understand they are not for everyone.
Sheldon
To quote some of them. That's they primary operating style, then DC works fine for them.
THANKS BRAKIE! You've proved my point
BRAKIE Also one doesn't need blocks on his/her layout if he/she will be running one train.
If you're only running one train at a time the DC works fine. Heck why get Atlas Selectors if you're only running one train at a time or bother with blocks? To go even farther, just hook up a car battery. its 12 volts DC and then you don't even need to mess with a throttle system. But the one from the train set is probably working just fine for you.
Silver Pilot Silver Pilot After getting caught up on the thread there seems to be one overrriding theme amongst our friends who are using DC - they primarily run one train at a time. doctorwayne I'm certainly not against DCC, and did investigate it out of curiosity - while I may be fairly set in my ways, I find it beneficial to remain open-minded, and I'm always as eager to learn as I am to share my own limited knowledge. However, for my interests and operating scheme, I saw no benefits whatsoever: any of my locos run well in almost any combination, I almost always operate alone, and my operating scheme requires an attentive operator for every train, as almost all do some local work at the various towns along the line. While the sounds available nowadays are impressive, they're not especially appealing for me either, although I must admit that most of the time, I keep the speakers for my computer turned off, too. ATLANTIC CENTRAL OR as an option, the CTC Dispatcher can assign those routes and the Engineers just run the trains and obey the signals. From the Engineer's point of view, how is that any different than DCC? If I'm all alone, the whole railroad can be asigned to my throttle and I can go anywhere with my wireless throttle. I only run one train at a time OR have them on independent routes OR have a crew with an Engineer for each train. I have no interest in trying to operate two trains by myself on the same route. My choices, I understand they are not for everyone. Sheldon To quote some of them. That's they primary operating style, then DC works fine for them. THANKS BRAKIE! You've proved my point BRAKIE Also one doesn't need blocks on his/her layout if he/she will be running one train. If you're only running one train at a time the DC works fine. Heck why get Atlas Selectors if you're only running one train at a time or bother with blocks? To go even farther, just hook up a car battery. its 12 volts DC and then you don't even need to mess with a throttle system. But the one from the train set is probably working just fine for you.
Actually I hate a power pack that comes in a train set.I perfer the better packs by MRC espeically the CM20.
12 volt battery? Why not windup?
Why blocks? I usually use one in the engine service area..I would do that even if I was using DCC.
I don't understand why you DCC guys think everybody needs DCC even on a simple 1 horse ISL or small layout where no more then 1 train can be ran...
IMHO that would be overkill and a waste of hobby dollars.
BRAKIE Industrial Switching Layout. I picked the term up at a Layout Design Group I am a member of-we meet 3-4 times a year.
Ah! So I didn't forget. I just never knew in the first place. Makes me feel a little better today.
Although the thread has managed to last nearly 11+ pages now and stay relatively civil, it appears that the thread's usefulness has declined to a point now where there's nothing left but to take whacks and cheap shots at one another. Therefore, I'm locking this thread so that we can move on.
Remember: The MRRing "sandbox" is wide and broad enough that we can ALL choose how we want to play in it - without the need to throw sand at one another for choosing a different corner to play in.
Thanks to everyone for trying to either constructively contribute or discuss the topic at hand.
Regards,
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.