I have to convert the Port Destiny Terminal to DCC . I plan to rebuild it this next year I will probly do it then . I have purchased a few DCC locomotives but the majority of my roster is still DC
oops
Karl
NCE über alles!
davidmbedardWhere is Sheldon?
Quick, call MRC, see if we can get his picture on some tech V boxes . BTW, what are they up to now,,,tech V, Tech VI ?? I stopped counting at tech II.
Get with the program, Karl.
Tech 7 is the latest and greatest.
Rich
Alton Junction
DC here also and don't think i will ever go to DCC but don't mind to buy locomotives DCC ready.
Russell
I run DC. I've considered setting up DCC as an operating option since my 14x19x13 'C' shaped layout is well blocked and DCC would install easily...but I've decided against it. The primary reason is the prohibitive cost of installing decoders in 73 locomotives and the need to remotor many of them for DCC operation. Then there is also the dealing with codes and programming...I have trouble resetting the clock in my car for daylight savings time.
I honestly think DCC is an awesome technology...for someone who has patience with it. I am not at all impressed with the onboard sound, though.
I currently power my trains with a pair of MRC 550's which came out during the mid 1970's. They work well for running smaller and lighter trains...up to 4 Athearn BB's and 40-50 cars. More than that the power packs strain and sometimes trip the thermal breaker. In the very near future I'll be bypassing the 550's tranformers with external, regulated, 150W (15V-10A) bench power supplies tied through the 550's meters and rheostats.
The rest of my auxiliary power needs (lighting, signals, switch machines, signal relays and control) will be supplied with salvaged computer power supplies.
Ah...and here is another reason to stay with DC. Since I've been a major scavenger, salvager, and dumpster diver for a good 35 years and have a room full of totes full of archaic electrical and electronic parts. What can I say.
For me DC makes sense.
Okay...I'm done. LOL!
Mark H
(DC...and proud of it!)
Modeling in HO...Reading and Conrail together in an alternate history.
hon30critter Couldn't learn to play the guitar either. Dave
A number of years ago I bought that tape and book to "Learn to play guitar overnight." The only problem was, I couldn't stay up all night!!!
Robert H. Shilling II
Along those same lines and to quote Steven Wright: "I used to be into 'Save the Whales'. However, after you get two or three of those in your garage..."
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
"Where is Sheldon"
Generally, Sheldon has much better things to do with his time these days........
And again, just for the record, the throttles on the ATLANTIC CENTRAL are NOT MRC Tech anything......we are much more advanced than that.
They are ARISTO CRAFT wireless radio throttles - which the grandchildren are also using the run the On30 train around the Christmas tree as we speak.
If you want my opinion on this thread, just re-read what Fred W and Dr Wayne had to say - they covered it rather well.
Don't expect to hear too much more from me, I plan to spend my holiday playing/working with my trains - not reading this..............
To the OP - Lots of people still run DC, but as stated earlier, who wants to listen to this crap?
Sheldon
PS - one more note - I'm still using DC, DC with signals, detection, CTC, ATC, local and dispatcher turnout control, true interlocking, wireless radio thottles - how many of you have ALL of that on your DCC layout?
I know, you will say you don't need or want all that - but I do - And I don't need or want DCC.
I have a 4x8 layout that models the New York Central in HO Scale. I use Bachmann DCC Dynamis. It is a great system and very easy to use. It works very well because I have a single oval and many sidings and spurs. But it was mentioned earlier in the discussion that is works in some situations and not the others.
My Layout Photos- http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/ajwarshal/library/
ATLANTIC CENTRALThey are ARISTO CRAFT wireless radio throttles -
Nice..Nay excellent control..I have used those before on a friend's layout and like them.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Merry Christmas!
tstage Merry Christmas!
And Happy New Year!
And don't let the door hit you in your Christmas presents, on the way out!
Frank
ATLANTIC CENTRALPS - one more note - I'm still using DC, DC with signals, detection, CTC, ATC, local and dispatcher turnout control, true interlocking, wireless radio thottles - how many of you have ALL of that on your DCC layout? I know, you will say you don't need or want all that - but I do - And I don't need or want DCC.
Sheldon,
Well, most of my layout is narrowgauge, so there's little need for signals, CTC, ATC, etc. Detection would be nice, but CCTV works rather well and tells me more about stuff I need to see, rather than just sense. I'm a fool for having that much hidden track, but it works for me.
More generally,
But, really, a two-page pity-party about the persecution of DC users? The victimhood fits like a hair shirt and is obviously just as itchy.
As a converted-to-DCC but still uses DC from time to time, it would be good if we all quit treating the DC vs DCC thing as something like politics or religion. Just because the other guy gets power to his train differently than you says nothing about your choices and your opinion there says nothing about the other person's choice. There's only reasons, some good, some bad, some just because folks are old and set in their ways. That's life, like anything else. Most of the choices we make have no moral value nor do they reflect on whether one is a "real model railroader" or not or whether the choices you made carry any weight with someone else and their situation -- although the tone some take in discussing such things is alternatively fraught with insecurity and superiority. It's not better or worse than anyone elses's choices, it's just you.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
A large quantity of rather old HO locomotives keeps me from going the DCC route. No only do I not want to go to the trouble and expense, but some of the engines are marginal to begin with in terms of running quality. But I do recognize the many positive qualities of DCC and enjoy operating sessions on DCC layouts. I have to say also that a really well done DC layout with block control can also be very enjoyable and it may well be the case that some of the dissatisfaction with DC block control was caused by not working with it at its best.
For a time a decade ago I was intrigued by the claims made for an automatic block control DC system put out by an outfit called Signal Research, and I was almost surprised to see that that they still have an active website. http://signalresearch.com/index.html
But as far as I can tell their system is still hobbled by having just one controller, although they have added wireless since the last time I checked the site.
Dave Nelson
Neither, I went "Wind Up", cause I'm really old skool. It's heck to try to switch though.
Merry Christmas All
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Geared SteamNeither, I went "Wind Up", cause I'm really old skool. It's heck to try to switch though.
This topic seems to get a lot of people "wound up".
Is wind up better then a string? I use string for power.
BRAKIE Geared Steam Neither, I went "Wind Up", cause I'm really old skool. It's heck to try to switch though. Is wind up better then a string? I use string for power.
Geared Steam Neither, I went "Wind Up", cause I'm really old skool. It's heck to try to switch though.
You just have to make sure what string you grab, the train, or the duck. Quack Quack!
andrechapelon Raises hand. I know this one. The answer is Sheldon (not the one played by Jim Parsons). Andre
Raises hand.
I know this one.
The answer is Sheldon (not the one played by Jim Parsons).
Andre
Andre--you forgot Tom, lol!
Just never got around to it, and though I've got a moderately sized layout, it's set in the mountain West where the main would only be handling around 18-20 trains every 24 hours, and I don't operate on a Fast Clock. Therefore, I only run at the most, 2 trains at once. I can handle that on DC. Were I starting over and having actual operating sessions with friends (I'm strictly "Lone Wolf"), I'd probably go DCC, but I'm not starting over, so I'm happy as is. Besides, when you've got as many brass lokies as I have, decoders and speakers start getting into stratospheric territory,
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
It's not a case of forgetting, Tom. It's a case of not being aware. You're not really vocal about it.
Sheldon, OTOH, IS really vocal about it.
Merry Christmas.
BTW, DCC rules, DC drools.
The hobby is dying.
The hobby costs too much.
The manufacturers are greedy.
Craftsmanship is dead.
Real model railroaders cut their own stripwood from trees they've grown from seedlings, wind their own motors and scratchbuild thir own soldering irons.
andrechapelon BTW, DCC rules, DC drools. The hobby is dying. The hobby costs too much. The manufacturers are greedy. Craftsmanship is dead. Real model railroaders cut their own stripwood from trees they've grown from seedlings, wind their own motors and scratchbuild thir own soldering irons.
That pretty much wraps it up, Andre. Time to close up shop...
I have a 35 x 13 layout and run one train at a time. it is a free lanced shortline with minimum track and no passing sidings. In order to run a different locomotive, I have to park the first one out of the way on a stub track. It is a DC layout because its simply easier for me to flip the big toggle switches that powers the stub tracks than it is to push the little button on the DCC throttle to select the locomotive (I need reading glasses only). I also like the speed control that I get with the aristo craft throttle that I use.
I installed a DCC system to run the locomotives that have onboard sound. I really only like the horn and the bell, but the other sounds are tolerable if the volume is kept low enough. Its NCE and like it, but prefer to operate the layout in DC for running silent locomotives.
I tried a few locos with silent decoders for operation only, but replaced the decoders with standard DC light boards because of the preferable operation with the Aristo Craft throttle and the dc toggle switches. So for me, its only DC locomotives or DCC/Sound locomotives.
Silent DCC locomotives are the odd-man out on my layout due to the lack of them having any operating advantage over the DC locomotives. In addition to being pointless, it would be expensive to convert the DC locomotives to DCC.
- Douglas
LION is, well, a LION, and things he does in a way of his own. Him Runs DC; cannot afford DCC. DCC buys me nothing, I have to run eight trains at once, and still have only one head.
LION runs DC analog automation. Train run by LPP in cab. Signals are automated.
LION runs the TOWER : A GRS Model-5 machine with 36 levers on it. Train leaves (and arrives) at the 242nd Street station every 3 minutes. No way I am actually going to run all of those trains.
LION has 15 amp regulated power supply. (2 amps would have been enough or so it seems, but it has to be regulated)
1 wire for the tracks
1 wire for ground,
1 wire for +16v signal bus, and
250 wires for the signal and automation system.
50 wires for the Model Board, and
50 wires for the GRS Machine.
More wires for the turnouts: 70 conductors have been pre-installed for this service.
Here is master relay board of LION:
RAILROAD of LION has Positive Train Control (PTC) -- Eat your heart out Metro-North!
Any Questions, LION would be happy to bend your ear.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
richhotrain Get with the program, Karl. Tech 7 is the latest and greatest. Rich
Wow, Tech 7 ?? Thats what I get for using wooden track and a AA battery huh?
Still DC operation with MRC 20 and a few others.400+ locomotives from 8 countries and not about to change all of them over. About 20 are with sound , Qsi, Paragon 2, and blueline.
I have a train room with 2 levels. Waist high table 15ft x 38in with 3 n gauge main lines inside an HO main line. Them an eye level HO mainline that goes around the room 20ft x 20 ft. I can run all 5 mainlines at the same time or seperate. No need for DCC.to run several trains. I like to keep it simple. None of the mainline have switched so nothing derails.
kbkchoochWow, Tech 7 ?? Thats what I get for using wooden track and a AA battery huh?
Using AA batteries is far better then modeling a weed coved abandon track I would think..
I am still using DC. I hate sound and see no reason to change over. All day at work I deal with high tech electronics. Controller area networks, 20 onboard computers, and every other "upgrade" and "improvement" to cars known to man.
I am not anti technology, I am anti change for the sake of change. Do we really need 1500 dollar headlights when the old system worked fine?
So, for me using DC is a nice change of pace. Nothing to program, no settings or software. Turn the throttle and it goes. My 4x8 is set up for 2 train operation. How many more trains can you operate on a 4x8 ? Maybe when I have time and build a large basement layout. I envision one operator 2 train operation. Double main, one train will circle and the other will switch. We shall see.
Jim
BRAKIE tstage Merry Christmas! And Happy New Year!
And Festivus for the Rest of Us !
Now that we have had the Airing of Grievances, it's time for Feats of Strength !
Somebody move the Aluminum Pole out of the way.
Frank Constanza