HO owners : Do you run a dc or dcc layout

[relucas]

As to the replies i received to my question ,do you dc or dcc ,I was wondering how many railroaders operated in DC and how many used DCC.

[cacole]

You need a third choice: BOTH. Some people no doubt can run their trains either way. I have some older locomotives that still operate on DC because they are not worth the cost of trying to put a decoder into them, so are used to push a track cleaning car around. Then again, there are some locomotives that are too small for even the smallest decoder, such as a Bachmann 4-4-0 with the motor in the tender.

[CP5415]

I'm running DC only. I have way too many locomotives to convert to DCC & don't need the expense of decoders.

Gordon

[Anonymous]

May take me longer to get to HO heaven but I concur with Gordon(DC).

For any newbie just staring out, I think DCC is worth considering/evaluating.

[Nieuweboer]

I also stick to DC, first because I have too many locomotives to convert them to DCC . secondly because Ithink it is not worthwhile to change to DCC if one has a medium sized layout that moreover is electrically segmented with each segment separetely controlled. I can run a freight on the mainline and do yard
wotk at the same time and that suits me fine.

[Anonymous]

I have given DCC a try and fell for it hook line and sinker. I am now converting my layout over to DCC using the Digitrax System

[cp1057]

I fall in the same category as Gord, Chuck and Nieuweboer, have enough locomotives too make conversion very expensive. Besides I run using a home-made pulse throttle that cost about $20 in parts and gives good low speed operation. My layout is small enough and equipped with power routing turnouts to make DC operation fairly simple.

Charles
Hillsburgh Ontario

[Hawks05]

will be using DC when i get going finally. i know DCC would be better because i'm just starting but i don't want to have to install DCC stuff into locomotives. i know the new stuff has everything for DCC in them but i will most likely be buying used.

[Jetrock]

My layout really isn't large enough for multiple-cab operation, so right now I'm running DC. I know there's more to DCC than cab control but at this point it isn't worth the investment. In the future as I expand my layout it might be more worth it, but at this point it would be overkill.

[eastcoast]

DC for ME. I have a 4 power pack central cab panel to run 3 mainlines and
industrial spurs on a nicely done block system. All in a bedroom sized area.

[Anonymous]

I have close to 100 locos and I LOVE DCC. Its the best thing since Model trains were thought of. I hate controlling the track, although it would save me money now and then from the head ons I have had since I installed it, but what the heck its as real as it gets. :)

Nothing beats Digitrax

Ross Waters
Spokane, WA

[Anonymous]

With a small layout which I will be running 1 passenger and 1 freight consist I am building my layout using 2 MRC DC units and a control panel. I use LEDs on the control panel, yellow and green to indicate which cab has control of a block and red LEDs to show which way a turnout is set. As electronic projects is my other hobby, I have made a printed curcuit board so my return loops turnouts automatically switch using infrared detectors and latching relays.

[GerFust]

While the new (switching) layout could conceivably have two locos on it at once, I will probably hold off with DCC due to expense. It would be nice to run trains with my son and/or daughter, so I'll probably put in cab control for two throttles. The third person, if there, can build trains on the "off-stage" cassette.

Also, all my locos are older, so adding DCC is a bit more involved. Some not very good quality. Putting DCC in them would be a waste of cash.

-Jer

[BentnoseWillie]

I have DCC, and love it.

[Anonymous]

I'm fairly new, could someone explain. I know the basics of it, you can control a single loco at a time on the same track, for example you can run x amount of trains on one line and they are all controlled seperately am i correct? Also what are some other features?

[preceng]

DC. I started a ffew years ago, and pondered the two. I decided I wanted to learn how they did it before computer app.s first. I am having so much fun with the complexities and challanges of block design and control, I will not make the switch soon.

[Anonymous]

Price is the issue for me. When I have the money (not if, but when) I will definatly go DCC.

[AggroJones]

Even if I did have the cash for DCC, I doubt I would convert. It would be too much work to turn all of my Athearns to DCC and keep my rails sparkling. Plus I would rather spend that money on other stuff. I have a long wish list.

[Anonymous]

DC here, though I HATE IT. I can't wait to go DCC.

[willy6]

i stick to cab control,converting to DCC would not be in my current financial interests............just ask my wife,she'll tell ya.

[Anonymous]

I am building a waterfront /industrial layout and have taken the plunge into DCC. It allows us to run two or even three switchers in just 30 inches by six feet. This would not be possible with DC. The control and realism is wonderful.

Plus, I have scraped up the loose change for months, combined Christmas and birthday gifts,prayed, and pleaded special psychological need in order to finance the purchase of two Sound Trax decoders. They are now installed in my 0-8-0 and 0-6-0 switchers. The addition of sound to the railroad is so dramatic that these are now the only locos that I run.

Despite the expense(I am retired and living on a fixed income), despite the learning curve, I am sold on DCC. It changes the model railroading experience.

[santfenobby]

I converted to DCC over four years ago and its totally changed the way I model. even my son is now intrested, yes I had a lot of locos to convert and wiring the layout was so easy. All I can say is, for any one thinking of going DCC try it if you can, even in its simplest form it great fun!

[ClinchValleySD40]

DCC - NCE. Once you try it, you'll never go back. And I do have 150 locos, convert not all at once. So if you have a lot of locos, don't let that stop you. Do a few at a time.

[jpmorrison]

i went to dcc back in 1995 and i think it is great. i was able to put a decoder in a old athearn gp 40
and it runs great but the other athearn engines i will give to youth in model railroading

[Anonymous]

I have a primary DC layout and also have many Locos. I have found that I only seem to run a few of my favorite, or best (least trouble free) Locos and am starting to convert over to DCC. I absolutely love DCC, the things one can do with it is only up to one's imagination (imagineering) :-). If I upgrade a little at a time, the cost is negible and of course a lot of fun.

Wow, trouble shooting and operation is now a breeze!!

Ron

[Texas Zepher]

Your poll is invalid because you didn't include the option of BOTH. Both as in multiple layouts with multiple command systems. I am also certain there are still a considerable number of people out there still running one of the older command systems such as CTC-80, LYNX, and probably mostly Railcommand.

[jrbernier]

I have been using DCC since 1994. What I found was that I converted the engines that I used to 'operate' my layout. I too have a lot of engines, but for the most part, some are never run, and do not run as good as they look. I have 16 engines 'on the layout' and really could operate the railroad with maybe 6-10 engines.
One thing that I have noticed is that I have replaced a lot of engines since 1992. At that time I had a nice fleet of detailed/painted Athearn GP9's & SD7's. Since then, I have purchased P2K GP9's, SD7's and have picked up BLI/Spectrum steamers. All of this new stuff is basically DCC ready or quite simple to convert. With all of the new engines available(and somebody must be buying them), I suspect DCC ready engines will slowly start tilting the poll to DCC over the next few years.

Jim Bernier

[Anonymous]

Easy DCC wireless. Never looking back....

Guy

[KenK]

If I were starting from scratch, I would go with DCC. BUT, since my layout is only 5x8 with
a sigle track mainline, my existing DC equipment does everything I need it to do.

[PennsyHoosier]

I voted DC, but I'm going to make the transition to DCC sometime soon.

It looks like I might be able to expand my layout. I think that will be the time to make the switch.