A question for "Old Timers"

[Don Gibson]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Paul3

... Attributes of DCC.

It allows a yardmaster to park engines anywhere there is room, not just where the block breaks are.
It allows helpers to be independantly controlled, and they can be added or removed on the fly.
It allows locos of completely different running speeds to be run together.
It allows for realistic lighting effects for headlights, etc.
It allows for total flexibility for yard work, letting mulitple crews work around each other without having to worry about who has what block.
And, it makes the refrain of "Who's got my train!?!?" rarely heard at the club these days, unlike back then. [:D]
... I would not go back to DC, except for really simple "one man" operations.
Paul A. Cutler III

I think Paul has very succinctly laid out advantages that overide costs of DCC - especially for clubs - with multiple Cabs, Operators, Engine mixes, and parking engines on the same track. Unfortunately not all clubs use DCC and the cry of "who's got my train!?" is all too familiar - like on every operating session at our club.

Unfortunately club's when built use a technology voted on by the membership, that becomes somewhat resistant to change. Improvement, yes!... (change no). Until a forced move requires a new layout.

I am not against DCC - quite the opposite. I have 3 engines to run on (someone elses) DCC layout. (How else can I learn?). I run Analog at home because of the investment I have in engines and turnouts, and I am familiar enough with the basics of electricity, to have satisfactory operation using blocks and X blocks... Even with two cabs I'm generally the sole operator. If I ever build my Steam engine fascility, I'll use 3 throttles.

My question was: Are newbies buying DCC for the bells and whistles or to avoid dealing with basic electricity? To me, DCC with Athearn Blue Box, Atlas 4 X 8's seems strange. Call me old fashioned.

[BRAKIE]

As far as that old cry "Who's got my train?" I can truthfully say we never hear that cry at the club I am a member of in the 16 years I been there..Reason? We have CTC block control with block signals on a signal track main with passing sidings.Should a inattentive main line engineer overshoot a red block his train will stop.[:D] You see the if the block ahead is occupied or set for the opposite direction then the CTC board will not allow movement into that block by a unassigned throttle.So there is NO train stealing.
Please don't ask how it works...We have 2 members are electricians and one that is a electrical contractor that did all of the electrical wizardry.As a dispatcher I do know I need to reset the block that the offending train is in to restore power to that block after the train is push back into the block it occupied before it preceded past the red block..
Now as far as more then one switch crew in the yard this we do on a routine bases at the Cincinnati yard.This yard has a hump crew and a puller crew..
Now our yardmasters does not park the inbound road units in the yard..The hostler can pick up the inbound engines from the train by using a rotary switch and by flipping a toggle switch to "INBOUND TRACKS" and move them into the engine terminal area.He/she can also add the locomotives to outbound trains by the same method except flipping a toggle switch to "OUTBOUND TRACKS".After the hostler removes the motive power then the Yardmaster is free to pickup and classify the inbound train.This also applies to the passenger terminal..The DS controls the power to the tracks when there is a inbound or outbound train..So its not uncommon to see a outbound train leaving as a inbound train is arriving.[:D]

[Don Gibson]

QUOTE: the train is push back into the block it occupied before it preceded past the red block

SOUNDS like the CTC boys power to the blocks. Instead of "Who's got my train" it's "will someone gimme a push".

Our club has block occupancy indicators and dispatchers, who like real dispatchers throw switches, and give instructions, however if a cab operator overshoots his gap into the next occupied block, he loses control. There is no auto-stop - unless it's a short circuit. This is eliminated with DCC

I think more clubs operate this way.

[johncolley]

Hello, I'm 66, so I guess I qualify. I have had several layouts and some club modules that were all analog. I am very fortunate to have a friend that is allowing me to help him work up operations, switcher jobs, etc. His 3 level layout is all DCC and I love it. Consisting, helpers, and running several trains and switcher jobs at the same time is fantastic. I am biased and my new project is all DCC for sure. I love NCE's Radio Pro-Cab and that's the way I will be going.

[BRAKIE]

Don,There is no need for the cry of " Somebody gimme a push".Why should there be when we use walk around throttles? Your club's CTC board sounds like ours..We are also like real dispatchers we need to plan meets,throw switches and commutate with all 3 yardmasters plus both passenger terminal operators..
We even have a bottle neck at West Dayton where the Newark Sub joins the main line.This makes a very interesting night.

[Anonymous]

With the advancement of DCC, changes happen. The new Bachmann system is very inexpensive, and I think will make a good entry level system. $78 gets you the system with a decoder equipped loco. That is sooooooo inexpensive, I can't imagine NOT trying DCC. Fot that price, if you aren't happy, you aren't out much at all.
Like a lot of others, I have many other priorities, so I don't have the unlimited model rr budget. My computer is a Pentium III 750, and I have a 36" regular, plain, ordinary? non-hi-def tv. These both work well, do their jobs, and are fine for ME. I don't need to impress someone else. The rewards of the high dollar, high tech, latest and greatest aren't worth the cost, to me. For example, hi def tv costs a fortune to buy, programming is limited, and programming costs more than regular tv. I don't see much of a difference in picture quality (at least not enough to justify the extreme expense) to warrant a change, for ME. DCC, on the other hand, is becoming more and more economical to buy. I am in the process of building my first large layout, so I will try DCC.
The only thing I can say to others is, do what makes YOU happy. Don't worry about what others think. You are in the hobby for you, not for everyone else.
Tim