ATLANTIC CENTRALAnd I have grades, and pull long trains that actually require this power. How often would BEMF actually work?
not sure what you're asking.
i already stated that bemf is often disabled when consisting
if you only had a single locomotive, the deocder could sense via bemf that the motor was slowing down going up a hill and would increase the drive voltage to the motor. monitoring bemf occurs all the time. of cource this is less realistic
as already mentioned, bemf improves slow speed performance. it could, for instance, momentarily provide a higher drive voltage to get the loco moving and then quickly reduce the voltage to maintain a slow speed and potentially increase it at times if it senses the motor stalling.
being able to control speed using software makes it easier to experiment with other ideas. (no reason there couldn't be software in a DC throttle to manage the output voltage).
"micro-operation" is also becoming popular, at the very least requiring a brake to slow/stop the train. the knob on the throttle only controls "tractive effort" and acceleration, not speed, so setting it to zero wouldn't stop the train. westinghouse brakes are not like car brakes that can be reduced. reducing loco brakes results in a complete reduction of brakes. i think the TAT-V did some of this by maintaining a control voltage using fat capacitors, but i don't believe the braking was as realistic
so micro-operation requires thinking more like a loco engineer and less like a video game. neat for some, not so for others
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
I also like that not only can I tune locomotives to run together, but I can also use DCC to make sure that when the throttle knob is at 9 o clock the engine is going 5 mph, at 12 o clock it's going 20, and I can set the top speed so operators can't blast through at 150 mph.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
I think both systems have their place. When I first started back in 90's, I was simply looking to set up a 5x9 table layout. It was very easy to get started with atlas track, caboose hobby turnout control, and a basic MRC power pack. The only major change for the next several decades was to add an Aristo-Craft Train Engineer! Since we typically only operated one train at a time and could park locos on the layout using the Atlas selector, the setup was perfect! For the new RR'er, IMO, this is an optimal solution to set up a layout quickly with walk-around control at a very modest cost. Sadly, the AC train engineers are hard to find.
Of course, DCC can do all that and more. IMO, DCC is a bit intimidating for someone new to model railroading. Today, we're blessed with many fine starter systems that are easy to setup. Buy a loco with a decoder and one is up and running quickly. Walk around control is possible but at a significant added cost for radio systems. I think DCC with wifi control is an exciting development that would appeal to many. One can start out using an old Ipad or cellphone. Not perfect but gets one running with DCC more quickly and at a modest additional cost. My new layout will definitely have DCC and walkaround control using wifi. My old MRC pack and TE control taught me the value of walkaround control. Sound will be nice but don't believe I will use it full time. JMO.
gregc ATLANTIC CENTRAL And I have grades, and pull long trains that actually require this power. How often would BEMF actually work? not sure what you're asking. i already stated that bemf is often disabled when consisting if you only had a single locomotive, the deocder could sense via bemf that the motor was slowing down going up a hill and would increase the drive voltage to the motor. monitoring bemf occurs all the time. of cource this is less realistic as already mentioned, bemf improves slow speed performance. it could, for instance, momentarily provide a higher drive voltage to get the loco moving and then quickly reduce the voltage to maintain a slow speed and potentially increase it at times if it senses the motor stalling. being able to control speed using software makes it easier to experiment with other ideas. (no reason there couldn't be software in a DC throttle to manage the output voltage). "micro-operation" is also becoming popular, at the very least requiring a brake to slow/stop the train. the knob on the throttle only controls "tractive effort" and acceleration, not speed, so setting it to zero wouldn't stop the train. westinghouse brakes are not like car brakes that can be reduced. reducing loco brakes results in a complete reduction of brakes. i think the TAT-V did some of this by maintaining a control voltage using fat capacitors, but i don't believe the braking was as realistic so micro-operation requires thinking more like a loco engineer and less like a video game. neat for some, not so for others
ATLANTIC CENTRAL And I have grades, and pull long trains that actually require this power. How often would BEMF actually work?
I'm not asking anything, it was retorical based on that fact that many times it is turned off.
Again, the TRAIN ENGINEER uses buttons to increase/decrease speed, and I learned decades ago how to control a model train with reasonable realism using a knob or the buttons on the TE.
Again, personally, I'm not into momentum, brakes, or computers thinking for me about this.
Even on a large layout like I am building, I don't feel our selectively compressed distances and times are practial for all this "micro-operation".
It is for this same reason I don't like CTC that simulates every prototype step, or that puts the dispatcher out of view of the layout.
Others are welcome to persue the hobby as they see fit, after 50 years I already know what I enjoy and don't enjoy. I am a failure at conforming to "popular".
Westinghouse Air Brakes - the subject of my 7th grade science fair project - I get it.
And I don't see running model trains as anything at all like a video game, but then again I don't play video games, never have.
Sheldon
ATLANTIC CENTRAL tstage ATLANTIC CENTRAL Tom, a number of my DC diesels have factory constant lighting with working Mars lights, they are very effective, especially on the full voltage pulses of PWM control. This is not a criticism, just an observation. Many "newer" modelers who went with DCC early or right away in their modeling, are simply and completely unaware of what has been done, and is commonly done with DC. Sheldon, Are lighting effects easily turned on/off or adjusted (e.g. pulse rate, type) using DC? Or, is that something that is pre-set by the factor boards that come with the locomotive? Tom The pulse rate of the Mars lights is constant no matter loco speed and is preset. Depending on the throttles you use, lighting comes on full brightness (or very nearly so) as soon as the loco moves, or often before it moves. With the PWM DC throttles I use, lighting comes on well before the locos move, and you can let the loco sit like that with no harm - I might not want to do that for hours....... There is no turning them off or on, they are automaticly on if the loco has power, off if it is completely off. But in most cases the lighting is directional, headlights go off in reverse, backup or "B" end lights come on only in reverse, so the rear facing headlight of a back to back pair of A units is off when the train is moving forward. I model the 50's, no ditch lights, daytime running lights just becoming standard, some roads using Mars lights. It works fine for me, I don't really want to be bothered with turning headlights on and off....... Sheldon
tstage ATLANTIC CENTRAL Tom, a number of my DC diesels have factory constant lighting with working Mars lights, they are very effective, especially on the full voltage pulses of PWM control. This is not a criticism, just an observation. Many "newer" modelers who went with DCC early or right away in their modeling, are simply and completely unaware of what has been done, and is commonly done with DC. Sheldon, Are lighting effects easily turned on/off or adjusted (e.g. pulse rate, type) using DC? Or, is that something that is pre-set by the factor boards that come with the locomotive? Tom
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Tom, a number of my DC diesels have factory constant lighting with working Mars lights, they are very effective, especially on the full voltage pulses of PWM control. This is not a criticism, just an observation. Many "newer" modelers who went with DCC early or right away in their modeling, are simply and completely unaware of what has been done, and is commonly done with DC.
This is not a criticism, just an observation. Many "newer" modelers who went with DCC early or right away in their modeling, are simply and completely unaware of what has been done, and is commonly done with DC.
Sheldon,
Are lighting effects easily turned on/off or adjusted (e.g. pulse rate, type) using DC? Or, is that something that is pre-set by the factor boards that come with the locomotive?
Tom
The pulse rate of the Mars lights is constant no matter loco speed and is preset.
Depending on the throttles you use, lighting comes on full brightness (or very nearly so) as soon as the loco moves, or often before it moves.
With the PWM DC throttles I use, lighting comes on well before the locos move, and you can let the loco sit like that with no harm - I might not want to do that for hours.......
There is no turning them off or on, they are automaticly on if the loco has power, off if it is completely off.
But in most cases the lighting is directional, headlights go off in reverse, backup or "B" end lights come on only in reverse, so the rear facing headlight of a back to back pair of A units is off when the train is moving forward.
I model the 50's, no ditch lights, daytime running lights just becoming standard, some roads using Mars lights.
It works fine for me, I don't really want to be bothered with turning headlights on and off.......
Thanks for the reply, Sheldon. I thought that might be the case for DC since I didn't think there would really be any practical way of adjusting a flash rate or light type. But that's great that that type of lighting is available for DC users.
For the gyralight effect on my Aerotrain it was noticeably faster than the footage on a NYC DVD that I have. I was able to adjust the flash rate on the auxillary lighting decoder and slow it down to match what was on the DVD. Maybe that doesn't really matter to some folks but it was important to me.
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Bayfield Transfer Railway What is it you want to do?I run TT&TO in dark territory. I need headlights that can be bright, dim, or off; I need some way to power the cab roof flasher; I need the ability to turn the class lights on and off; I need the ability to turn the numberboards on and off.And I'm lucky; I model late enough that sections aren't used, and a dim headlight counts as a marker, so the class lights don't need to be able to be green or red. After slicing computer DIP switches up and wiring a couple engines with switches in the battery boxes to turn all the lights on and off, I went to DCC gladly.
What is it you want to do?I run TT&TO in dark territory. I need headlights that can be bright, dim, or off; I need some way to power the cab roof flasher; I need the ability to turn the class lights on and off; I need the ability to turn the numberboards on and off.And I'm lucky; I model late enough that sections aren't used, and a dim headlight counts as a marker, so the class lights don't need to be able to be green or red.
After slicing computer DIP switches up and wiring a couple engines with switches in the battery boxes to turn all the lights on and off, I went to DCC gladly.
And again, DCC suits the features you need and want.
tstage ATLANTIC CENTRAL tstage ATLANTIC CENTRAL Tom, a number of my DC diesels have factory constant lighting with working Mars lights, they are very effective, especially on the full voltage pulses of PWM control. This is not a criticism, just an observation. Many "newer" modelers who went with DCC early or right away in their modeling, are simply and completely unaware of what has been done, and is commonly done with DC. Sheldon, Are lighting effects easily turned on/off or adjusted (e.g. pulse rate, type) using DC? Or, is that something that is pre-set by the factor boards that come with the locomotive? Tom The pulse rate of the Mars lights is constant no matter loco speed and is preset. Depending on the throttles you use, lighting comes on full brightness (or very nearly so) as soon as the loco moves, or often before it moves. With the PWM DC throttles I use, lighting comes on well before the locos move, and you can let the loco sit like that with no harm - I might not want to do that for hours....... There is no turning them off or on, they are automaticly on if the loco has power, off if it is completely off. But in most cases the lighting is directional, headlights go off in reverse, backup or "B" end lights come on only in reverse, so the rear facing headlight of a back to back pair of A units is off when the train is moving forward. I model the 50's, no ditch lights, daytime running lights just becoming standard, some roads using Mars lights. It works fine for me, I don't really want to be bothered with turning headlights on and off....... Sheldon Thanks for the reply, Sheldon. I thought that might be the case for DC since I didn't think there would really be any practical way of adjusting a flash rate or light type. But that's great that that type of lighting is available for DC users. For the gyralight effect on my Aerotrain it was noticeably faster than the footage on a NYC DVD that I have. I was able to adjust the flash rate on the auxillary lighting decoder and slow it down to match what was on the DVD. Maybe that doesn't really matter to some folks but it was important to me. Tom
Tom, you are most welcome, happy to explain. In your case a DC operator would just have to build a little circuit with the correct flash rate, no big deal.
These circuits go back to the early Proto2000 days in the 90's or before. And simple directional constant brighness lighting goes back much father, but it was not factory installed.
Again, it is just funny when people tell me I can't do something that has been being done for 30 years now.
ATLANTIC CENTRALI'm not asking anything, it was retorical based on that fact that many times it is turned off.
why do you say many times it's turned off? can you provide some examples other than consisting?
i believe bemf makes a difference on the 1960's vintage brass engines i have using open frame motors.
gregc ATLANTIC CENTRAL I'm not asking anything, it was retorical based on that fact that many times it is turned off. why do you say many times it's turned off? can you provide some examples other than consisting? i believe bemf makes a difference on the 1960's vintage brass engines i have using open frame motors.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL I'm not asking anything, it was retorical based on that fact that many times it is turned off.
I'm not keeping a spreadsheet, I just know what some friends have had to do, and what I read here on the interweb.
And as explained before, for me consisting is MOST of the time.
I'm not interested in modeling a little short line with one GP9 and proto throttle, I would get bored silly.
Greg,
No offense to you or anyone, but my interest in model trains is not centered around being a railroad engineer.
It is about creating the whole layout as both a minature display and a representation of railroading. I see model trains more from the perspective of the viewer, or a railfan, than from the perspective of the engineer/operator.
I enjoy operation......until you make it too detailed, too dry, and too serious.
I like having the option of just "turning on some trains" and watching them run.
To make the point a little stronger, if I only had room for a small bedroom layout, I would likely put it all on Ebay tomorrow.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Greg, No offense to you or anyone, but my interest in model trains is not centered around being a railroad engineer. It is about creating the whole layout as both a minature display and a representation of railroading. I see model trains more from the perspective of the viewer, or a railfan, than from the perspective of the engineer/operator. I enjoy operation......until you make it too detailed, too dry, and too serious. I like having the option of just "turning on some trains" and watching them run. To make the point a little stronger, if I only had room for a small bedroom layout, I would likely put it all on Ebay tomorrow. Sheldon
That's why on anohter thread, I referred to scale trains as toys. They are once you start playing engineer or any other railroad employee function.
Like Sheldon, for me. it is all about creating the whole layout as both a minature display and a representation of railroading. As with Sheldon, I see model trains more from the perspective of the viewer, or a railfan, than from the perspective of the engineer/operator.
Rich
Alton Junction
eaglescoutOne thing I have not seen mentioned--"Imagination." All my years as a kid and now as a 73 year old I can "hear" the bells and whistles and "see" the lights without the need for expensive DCC operation. If you want it fine but we already deprive kids of using their imaginations for so many things.
Sheldon wrote: The biggest thing lacking from DC is sound, if you want sound you need DCC.
There were sound systems in DC years ago that were in use, sound is not exclusive to DCC.
The big difference between DC and DCC is that in DCC you have independent control of locomotives in the same block. This is a game changer for me and many other modelers. That is the reason I switched to DCC. It is also the reason that most OPs based layouts converted to DCC nearly two decades ago.
If you are a solo operator or have an OPs scheme designed so that you don’t need the flexibility to run locomotives independently in the same block, then the advantages of DCC are reduced significantly. However, if you run multiple trains in close proximity with multiple operators or simply like the flexibility of not having to be as concerned with blocks, then DCC is the way to go. For myself and many modelers, this one aspect of DCC is worth all of the possible drawbacks to the system – for us, sound is the value added extra, not the main advantage of DCC.
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
trainnut1250 Sheldon wrote: The biggest thing lacking from DC is sound, if you want sound you need DCC. There were sound systems in DC years ago that were in use, sound is not exclusive to DCC. The big difference between DC and DCC is that in DCC you have independent control of locomotives in the same block. This is a game changer for me and many other modelers. That is the reason I switched to DCC. It is also the reason that most OPs based layouts converted to DCC nearly two decades ago. If you are a solo operator or have an OPs scheme designed so that you don’t need the flexibility to run locomotives independently in the same block, then the advantages of DCC are reduced significantly. However, if you run multiple trains in close proximity with multiple operators or simply like the flexibility of not having to be as concerned with blocks, then DCC is the way to go. For myself and many modelers, this one aspect of DCC is worth all of the possible drawbacks to the system – for us, sound is the value added extra, not the main advantage of DCC. Guy
I was selling model trains when the PFM and Modeltronics systems hit the market.
They were not that good, and full of limitations, size being a major one.
I don't think any of the current fans of sound would be happy with that stuff.
Yes, the need or desire to operate without concern for electrical or signal blocks is obviously the first motivation to develope any command control system, and there were a lot of them before DCC.
I have in fact said many times on this forum in the last 11 plus years that DCC is most valueable on medium sized layouts where the operation of separate trains in closer proximity to each other can make electrical blocks impractical.
Fact is there are lots of different approaches to ops, and a lot of different prototype ops schemes to choose from.
I like big time east coast CTC in the 50's.
The prototype goes to great length to prevent two trains from occupying the same space at the same time.
Yet a great number of model railroaders who consider themselves serious about ops, seem to have no interest in signaling, the basic means by which most prototype trains are controlled.
I'm not anti DCC, I have suggested it is the best choice for most.
I could layer DCC over my Advanced Cab Control and only use the signal, CTC and turnout control aspects, but very little would be gained in my case.
For me CTC and signaling is more important than independent control.
And I should mention here that I am not just interested CTC/signaling from an ops point of view, but also a scenic point of view. My signals look like CTC even with no dispatcher on duty or with the trains in display mode.
As for "ops based layouts", well I like a more "well rounded" approach to layout design and purpose. Narrow shelves only modeling the right of way do not satisfy my modeling goals.
Yet my track plan is very "ops based", staging 30 trains and providing continous action for 8-10 operators.
All these conversations prove my point. There is no one way to do this hobby, and no one perfect choice in control or operational approaches.
Another example, I want no parts of a CTC panel on a computer screen, or a throttle on a smart phone.
Sheldon,I've actually used a PFM sound system on a DC layout, and it was suprisingly good. I especially liked the whistle control as each tape had up to 5 chimes, and you could pick hi, low, or off for each one, meaning you had 242 different whistle sounds you could make per tape. And the spring loaded whistle control lever worked real well for "whistle talk". DCC still hasn't surpassed it, though Digitrax has come closest with their pressure sensitive whistle button.DCC is valuable on any layout where there is more than one engine or train parked on it at one time. I love being able to park my locos in an engine terminal wherever they fit and not where the blocks happen to be. At my old DC club, having to park 44-tonners in the blocks made for Big Boys was annoying.I think the main reason why so many serious operators don't consider signals vital is due to the expense and labor involved plus the fact that they just aren't needed. Our trains can stop so quickly that signals are a "nice to have" part of the hobby vs. wireless throttles, switch lists/car cards, etc., for the operator-type layout. Oh, and that most layouts are single-operator types. Not much point to having signals if the layout only runs one train at a time. At my club, we also run 30+ trains per session: 15 pass., 12 freight, 8 peddlars, plus a couple terminal switching operators in a 2 hour session with up to 24 people (and as few as 7). We currently only have two working signals; one at each end of a 60' long single track between passing sidings. I've got each one wired into a DCC decoder's headlight functions and programmed to the same address (one signal is always red, the other always green; they cannot be both green or both red). I control the signals using a DCC throttle from the dispatcher's tower; the direction of decoder controls the signals. It's a stop gap measure until we actually do real signals.I know you don't want to be the engineer, but I find myself gravitating towards it. The ProtoThrottle is very interesting to me (I've tried it). I've actually had throttle time on an S-4, S-6, SW9, and a B23-7 plus cab rides on an FL9, GP28, F40PH-2C, B40-8W and a U23B. Recreating those experiences is fun to me...I just have to decide if the ProtoThrottle is worth the price tag.
Paul,
Gotta agree about PFM...the whistle was great!! I also liked the small ported speaker sound. I have used a couple in DCC sound installs and they sound pretty good when compared to modern DCC speakers .... There were several in our group that mourned the loss of their PFM systems to DCC...Mostly O scale guys..
Sheldon I think that mainline running with signals sounds pretty cool as an ops plan - not sure whey we don't see more of that. I see more signals at clubs maybe due to the longer mainline runs available.
I have currently six operating signals on the layout but they are either turnout position/route indicators or eye candy. I animate a couple with signal animators from Logic Rail. Searchlight signals in the valley scream SP to me. Gotta have em'
Paul3DCC is valuable on any layout where there is more than one engine or train parked on it at one time.
Paul, I once said DCC wasn't needed on a small ISL.. Today I think DCC is a big plus on any size ISL due to CV settings that improves prototyical operation of a locomotive and especially if sound is being used.
That Proto Throttle is a honey of a controller but, I like emulating the job I did as a brakeman.
As a head brakeman I rode in many cabs and have throttle time on three GP9s and IIRC 60 loaded hoppers on a mine branch.. Of course the engineer was instructing me. Top speed was a blistering 15 mph due to track conditions
The rules we broke that day would have gotten us fired on the spot.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIE Paul3 DCC is valuable on any layout where there is more than one engine or train parked on it at one time. Paul, I once said DCC wasn't needed on a small ISL.. Today I think DCC is a big plus on any size ISL due to CV settings that improves prototyical operation of a locomotive and especially if sound is being used. That Proto Throttle is a honey of a controller but, I like emulating the job I did as a brakeman. As a head brakeman I rode in many cabs and have throttle time on three GP9s and IIRC 60 loaded hoppers on a mine branch.. Of course the engineer was instructing me. Top speed was a blistering 15 mph due to track conditions The rules we broke that day would have gotten us fired on the spot.
Paul3 DCC is valuable on any layout where there is more than one engine or train parked on it at one time.
I have always said that DCC, or any form of independent control (direct radio, etc), is more important on small and medium sized layouts.
Guy, Paul, and anyone interested,
In my opinion, and in the opinion of several great modelers from the past, the mistake too many modelers make about signaling is they get too caught up in block signals and the details of obscure signal aspects when they should just focus on interlocking or "control point" signals.
Our distances, even on large club layouts, generally do not justify intermediate block signals.
If we just model the interlocking signals, and even skip a few less important signal aspects for our purposes, we are left with something easier to build, that is actually useful to the operators and easy to understand.
And, it will be prototypical enough to give a good visual effect.
And it will be easy for operators to learn and understand.
Another proublem I have discovered with DCC is if shorted, some decoders go though start up again, yet others don't. Don't think this can be fixed in CV's ?
rrebellAnother proublem I have discovered with DCC is if shorted, some decoders go though start up again, yet others don't. Don't think this can be fixed in CV's ?
if there's a track short, the voltage drops to zero and a decoder without power, like most electronic devices will restart.
however, if the decoder has a keep alive and the short is corrected before the keep alive power runs out the decoder won't restart.
Sheldon,We had the same problem ("Oh, it's too complicated!") when we talked about signals at my club until our Electrical Chairman said, "There's only two kinds of signals: Stop and Not Stop." As long as the operators knew that any signal that was all red meant stop and any signal that showed any color that wasn't red meant proceed, then it's pretty simple to understand.Now, we will have yellows on our layout, mainly due to blind spots for tunnels, corners, etc. When we're running during shows, that extra level of protection is important as rear-end collisions are our most common accident type. Running at 60mph, it only take 15 seconds to run through our 15' long mainline blocks. With yellows, at least it gives the operator 30 seconds of warning that something's ahead.
gregc rrebell Another proublem I have discovered with DCC is if shorted, some decoders go though start up again, yet others don't. Don't think this can be fixed in CV's ? if there's a track short, the voltage drops to zero and a decoder without power, like most electronic devices will restart. however, if the decoder has a keep alive and the short is corrected before the keep alive power runs out the decoder won't restart.
rrebell Another proublem I have discovered with DCC is if shorted, some decoders go though start up again, yet others don't. Don't think this can be fixed in CV's ?
Paul3 Sheldon,We had the same problem ("Oh, it's too complicated!") when we talked about signals at my club until our Electrical Chairman said, "There's only two kinds of signals: Stop and Not Stop." As long as the operators knew that any signal that was all red meant stop and any signal that showed any color that wasn't red meant proceed, then it's pretty simple to understand.Now, we will have yellows on our layout, mainly due to blind spots for tunnels, corners, etc. When we're running during shows, that extra level of protection is important as rear-end collisions are our most common accident type. Running at 60mph, it only take 15 seconds to run through our 15' long mainline blocks. With yellows, at least it gives the operator 30 seconds of warning that something's ahead.
Me too, I have yellows, only on restricted speed diverging routes, and approach signals. I do not "Yelow" one block away because that is the next interlocking at there is a yellow approach signal half way thru the block protecting a red at the next interlocking.
It's simple, its close to correct, it provides the needed info, and it is easy to wire, even with relays.....
I prefer DCC since I like the onboard sound and different lighting effects. I build layouts to capture the entire scenes, trains running through scenery and switching industries. Its a railfan point of view. Watching switching requires slow speed smoothness and variations of engine rpms. Crossing streets require sound, and in many cases alternating flashing ditchlights. DCC is pretty essential to get to that level of realism.
I'm not an engineer, a yardmaster, or a dispatcher per se; but I plan operations to build a train in the order it takes to make it easier to switch out cars along the line.
Prior to sound and lighting interests, I ran DC with the Train Engineer since it had the best slow speed motor control and was wireless, which are two things essential to me for any layout.
- Douglas