Anyone with DC still?

[MidlandPacific]

Still DC: might someday change, but that will come with a larger layout and the time to work on it. I separated my layout into 23 independent blocks and wired it for dual control: took me a weekend to accomplish, but it worked on the first try and it satisfies all of my immediate needs. I may someday replace one of my two cabs with DCC and use it to control some of my newer models, but we'll see.

[nbrodar]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainboyH16-44

Simple? Simple??? I just looked under the layout, and that is simple???

Yes, I did say simple.

Four mainline blocks, x double track main = 8 blocks.
Branchline has 3 blocks
11 blocks = 11 wires.
Plus the main needed blocks for signalling anyway.
And with DCC, you still need to drop the same number of feeders.

The way I operate (one main runs clockwise, the other counter clockwise and a local switching on the branch), I can't see spending the $$ for DCC.

Nick

[Cthetrains]

nbrodar..are you sure you didn't pick up my old club's layout by mistake?..that's exactly what we ran..branch line has to reverse-loop blocks, with the 3rd being the operating line...the rest is identical..scary concept, hey?

[oleirish]

When DE-CODERS prices come down and can be had at the LHS I'll go to DCC,I have 20+ engines and only two de-coders to convert means a lot of $$$$$
JIM

[ac4400fan]

YeSSSS D.C for me also ,But in the future i will get into DCC. just a cost thing right now ,with all the locos i have.And i need to read more about it .i hear its the way to go now ,But,Also herd theres some disadvantages with it ,that DC doesnt have.

Carl.

[AntonioFP45]

I had considered staying with DC however as I was initially very skeptical. After seeng many demos, personally there are too many benefits to overlook DCC.

1. It's neat to see a powered locomotive sitting with it's lights on while another locomotive, moving independently, comes up and couples with it.

2. Watch locomotives leave their lights on while you turn the Mars or Gyra LIghts on or off, just like the prototypes.

3. Decoder equipped passenger cars with lighting kits. Lights can be turned on or off at will, especially for night running.

4. ( Modern-era modelers) Turning on your ditch lights as your train approaches grade crossings.

5. Be able to take locomotives from Atlas, Stewart, Athearn, and Proto---run them in a mult-unit consist at low speed without surging or jerking! ( How Sweet that is! [dinner] )

6. Not have to think about flipping cab control switches to set up routes. You're free to run your locomotives on any track, anytime!

7. The fun challenge of having to avoid collisions. ( At a train show during a demo I accidentally rammed a BLI GG1 into an Athearn diesel! )

As for size? My layout will be around the wall and only 2 feet wide. I'll likely have two trains running at the most simultaneously..........yet at the engine service facililty I want to have 4 or 5 sound equipped units standing by with diesels idling.

As for the costs, I don't make a lot of money myself. I must be fortunate to have been raised by a mother who taught me to use "Lay Away" and to budget and save.

But I'm amazed at how many people complain about DCC's costs. Initially the control system is the biggest investment. For a small or medium sized layout a Digitrax Zephyr is cheaper than a new BLI locomotive! Decoders go for as little as $15 a piece.
Boosters, if needed, can be bought one at a time. I just don't see all the "Hub -Ub" about DCCs high costs.

But if a modeler is happy with DC, then that's great too. The point of this hobby is too "HAVE FUN".

High Greens[:D][8D]

[Anonymous]

I will have DCC on my layout that will come soon. Hopefully.

[cwclark]

I'm DC and plan on staying that way..the reason is that i'm scared to put in DCC because I have a lot of electronic devices on my layout like train detection circuits and low voltage lighting stuff...don't want the big headache of changing over and nothing electronically working anymore...chuck

[trainfan1221]

I think that there is nothing wrong with DC, as long as you have good equipment. I have neither a large enough layout or the resources to bother with DCC. Maybe someday in the future, but I don't consider it any priority.

[Train 284]

I just got into DCC a few months ago with the Bachmann E-Z Command DCC system and I absolutly love it! So much better than DC!

[Darth Santa Fe]

I use DC.[:D] Someday I might go to a mix, with DCC operating one track and DC on the other.[:D]

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CWClark - ...........I'm scared to put in DCC because I have a lot of electronic devices on my layout like train detection circuits............

A quick note. DCC works by sending signals to the decoders inside of the locomotives. It won't interfere with your other accessories. In fact you can actually set up DCC to control your accessories functions as well, if desired.

High Greens!

[railroadyoshi]

I currently use DC, but I really want to start DCC. I find it useful on layouts of all sizes because it vastly reduces wire complexity and quantity for large layouts and makes switching much easier on small layouts with locos close together.

[MidlandPacific]

QUOTE: yet at the engine service facililty I want to have 4 or 5 sound equipped units standing by with diesels idling.

I think you're onto something there - one of the most impressive sights I've ever seen was Howard Zane's Piermont Division. Howard was kind enough to show it to me on an unusual day, so when we went downstairs and he flipped on the power, the whole thing came to life - right down to the locomotives exhaling on the ready tracks. That, to my mind, was the most attractive portion of it.

I get the impression that doubleheading is much, much easier with diesels than steamers - the published power curves and all that. So once you add up the negatives, particularly time and expense involved in installing decoders and speakers in brass engines, then developing and programming the power curves for consisting - you realize that it's a substantial project.

But as a Colorado Midland fan, I have to say that I would love to see a long train of ore cars roll out of the yard with the helpers spaced ten cars apart.

[jfugate]

I went command control back in 1990 and then DCC in 1993 and haven't looked back.

DCC is great, but it's still in its upspiral as near as I can tell. Most people are still DC. My guess is we're somewhere around 25 - 35% DCC penetration at this point. But we're also only about 10 years into the widescale availablility of DCC.

From what I've seen it takes 20-25 years for a significant new technology to reach the point that it has saturated the market. That means we're looking at somewhere around 2015 - 2020 before DCC (or some derivative) will be *the way* you run trains.

I expect DCC in some form to be the normal way you run trains in the future just like radio control is the normal way you operate model airplanes today. There will always be DC holdouts, but they will at some point become an antiquated novelty -- at least that's my guess.

[Anonymous]

Call me crazy, but I just finished installing Atlas 1950's style controls on a 3 by 6 foot N scale layout, with 2 reverse loops, 4 mainline blocks, and 6 Atlas #6 switches. It took 4 days to do that "simple" wiring. My son and I found it pretty hard to keep 2 trains running without mistakes in power block assignments and switch track routing, but we'll get better. We had some good laughs at our derailments and accidental power control hand-offs! My grandson, who's 5, will not operate on this layout until we convert to DCC in the far off future. That way, he'll have to think only about the switch tracks. This DC layout is fun to operate with only one person and one train, though, because you don't have to throw block controls.

[AntonioFP45]

Big 10-4 on that Rripperger.

As a teen I visited SCL's Uceta Yard a number of times. Friendly crews there. My favorite sight was seeing groups of locomotives lined up and idling on the ready tracks - awaiting assignments after having been fueled and sanded. Even with a wind blowing you could smell diesel exhaust in the air and the sounds, to me, were that of horsepower! GE U-Boats especially with their, "chug-chug" exhaust.

Yard service crews moved locomotives in and out of the shop as mechanics performed their inspections and repairs. I remember them testing headlights, turning them on and off.

This is a memorable scenario that I look forward in recreating in HO. DCC easily makes it possble.

Roger that.

[Anonymous]

Still DC here. I can run 9 engines ( one at a time, but thats all I want)...., with Quantum Engineer, I can access all sound functions just like DCC, also lights, etc....Switching turnouts and keeping them straight is one of the 'fun' things to me. Have no plans to go DCC. Only thing I've found to be missing from DCC is the ability to run more than one train at a time, but with two main lines, seperated with different controller, I don't miss that at all.

My two cents worth....

OkieRRr

[MidlandPacific]

QUOTE: As a teen I visited SCL's Uceta Yard

Brunswick, MD for me, on the old B&O main line. That was the 1970s, so they still had a roundhouse and used it, too - it's gone, now, but in those days it still had the grimy, sooty look of a real railroad. They dumped a Geep in the turntable pit once and actually had to bring a real crane out to pull it out: what a sight that was!

Which reminds me that I REALLY need to get that roundhouse built.....

[AntonioFP45]

Joe,

Pretty interesting perspective. I think I understand. Sort of reminds me of the 80s when CDs were introduced. Cassette tapes ruled and guys like me had NO INTENTIONS of using anything else.........(o.k guys, stop laughing now)

Today, cassettes are still available, but most of us listen to music on CD or MP3 / IPOD type technology. The change was so gradual that I don't even think I noticed it until I bought a new stereo back in the mid 90s. I'm convinced that DCC will be in a similar spot in just a few years. Technology is advancing at a far faster rate than in years past.

[Anonymous]

I'm re-emerging into active modeling after a 25yr hiatus. However during that time I remained an armchair modeler so I am familiar with all the new advances. Recently (early) retired I'm beginning a small room sized layout. The advances in technology are so profound that to not embrace DCC would be ridiculous. My layout will be rather modest but will include all the latest gear. DCC is no longer the domain of the electronic whiz/hobbyist but rather for everyone. Its tremendously exciting! I sure don't want to miss all the fun!

[trainfreek92]

still dc for me[:(!] will be going DCC when i am a lot older! But for now dc. Tim

[Anonymous]

I'm glad to see that so many responded, and it's good to see so many who still have the craftsmanship ( or courage) to run DC and with such expansive layouts. Thanks to you all...I am not alone

[Janafam]

The voting shows there is still a lot of DC out there. Many people don't like to change, and going DCC adds costs. But if you make the change, the fun of running trains instead of focusing on blocks is great. Walk around with a train adds to the enjoyment. I was DC but now I am DCC and see no reason to ever go back.

[BRAKIE]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainboyH16-44

Simple? Simple??? I just looked under the layout, and that is simple??? With all the blocks, wires upon wires upon wires..cheaper, but not simple! And yes, comverting 40 locos, whether they are DCC plug equipped or not is a bit....yeah.

Lets see,DCC wiring calls for bus wire,feeders every 6-8 foot,reverse loop wiring,"power" blocks,programing track,boosters...

Nope so simple after all.[:D]

[BRAKIE]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainfreek92

still dc for me[:(!] will be going DCC when i am a lot older! But for now dc. Tim

Don't sweat it..By the time you can afford DCC there will be a new system invented for us to spend money on..[:0]

[nbrodar]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Cthetrains

nbrodar..are you sure you didn't pick up my old club's layout by mistake?..that's exactly what we ran..branch line has to reverse-loop blocks, with the 3rd being the operating line...the rest is identical..scary concept, hey?

Great minds think alike. [8D]

Nick

[espeefoamer]

On my simple layout,I only need DC.It works just fine. Also with over 80 locomotives,it cost far too much to convert everything over to DCC.

[Anonymous]

well I am still on DC for the simple reason I have too many locomotives to buy decoders for .I model Rock Island and have about 32 locos. The cost for that upgrade would be too much for me right now. Hmmm, now that I think about it the Rock Island suffered from a lack of cash also. hahaha

FAdkins
Route Rock

[Anonymous]

In 10 years DCC has gone from an unknown technology to about 1/4 of railroaders using it. Thats a pretty good statistic if you ask me. I saved up $150 for a digitrax zephyr 2 years ago and have never looked back. To me anyway the advantages of DCC far outweigh the extra cost.