marknewton wrote: El Capitan wrote: Why are DCC-users so threatened by the idea that someone might not want to use DCC? If you're going to reduce this thread to sweeping generalisations - probably for the same reasons DC users are threatened by DCC.
El Capitan wrote: Why are DCC-users so threatened by the idea that someone might not want to use DCC?
Why are DCC-users so threatened by the idea that someone might not want to use DCC?
Those of us who happily use DC don't care either way who else does or doesn't; but DCCers seem to care a whole lot that we acknowledge the Greatness That Is DCC.
I don't know why this is.
Took a few days away from forum land...
Yes, to my way of thinking (read: opinion) hidden staging tracks are a bad design. I have two left hands, both of which are all thumbs, so I opt to minimize the risk of something bad happening where I can't see it, so I don't put things where I can't see them. I have a "hidden" staging yard in that it is below the scenicked portion of the layout, but the yard ladders and 75% of the track are easily seen from the aisle through gaps I cut in the fascia. I can get away with this since I work in N scale, which is a lot more forgiving of space constraints than HO or O.
Once that yard is fully operational, I plan to stage particular trains on particular tracks, with particular lash-ups powering them. In the event that something gets shuffled, I have a pack of sticky notes that I can apply to the track assigments... significantly cheaper than 9 million toggle switches, 4 power packs, and several miles of wire...
Operational bottlenecks that are intended to spice up operations are not necessarily bad, unless they are created as an unintended consequence to a design element that wasn't thought out very well. Either way, I can't see how DCC can't address any operational situation. At the HO club I operate with, We have several such choke points, one being a fairly complex wye at the main yard. Sometimes we have to wait in the aisle for the track to clear, which can take 10 minutes or more.
When the yardmaster is ready to receive the train, the road crew pulls it in to an A/D track. At that point, the ET Hostler dials up the locomotive address and takes the power back to the shop for fueling etc, and the Yardmaster takes the train apart using the switchers. This dismemberment takes place on the same length of track, with two different operators working each end of the train. At no point does a toggle switch get thrown, or power get turned off to the track. I think I can say with confidence that this procedure cannot be done in DC without gaps cut somewhere, two (or more) power supplies, and a bunch of toggles getting handled to make a fairly complex wiring set up work.
My yard at home consists of 1 staging track, 3 A/D tracks, 6 classification tracks, an engine terminal with a 5 stall roundhouse, turntable, several shop and servicing tracks etc. etc. etc.
At any given moment there is a train coming in with 2-3 units, a train getting ready to go out with 2-3 units, two yard switchers, and about 20 locomotives between the roundhouse, shops and ready track. While this is going on, there are two trains out on the main line, and a mill switcher drilling the paper mill. There is constant power to every inch of rail, yet the only locomotives that move are the ones I tell to move.
There's a black wire on the right rail, a white one on the left, and the only insulator is on the wye track that leads to the yard. I currently run that on a micro switch to reverse polarity, but once I spend about $20, I can install an automatic reverser, making it hands free.
There isn't a DC set up in the world that can run my layout that simply. When I think of the control panels I've seen just to run a roundhouse in DC, I know I've made the right choice for me...
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
El Capitan wrote:Why are DCC-users so threatened by the idea that someone might not want to use DCC?
el-capitan wrote: I must have missed the humorous part. Seems like a flame to me.And I didn't think my post was offensive but if it was I appologize.
I must have missed the humorous part. Seems like a flame to me.
And I didn't think my post was offensive but if it was I appologize.
I am the idiot you're talking about. Your layout offends me too. It looks nicer than mine. I like the way the track flows. Do you have any recent pics of the layout? I'd like to see it. Mine is just an around the wall shelf unit and has gotten boring rather quickly. I am in the process of adding some staging tracks though.
Old layout pic....
Vail and Southwestern RR wrote: I'm a DCCite, but I also have doubts about sound. I am concerned about how having four or five trains with sound running in a 12x14 area is going to sound. I'm thinking that in the real world, I can hear one, or sometimes two (when I'm lucky) trains at a time. And the location of the sound makes sense. In a layout that surrounds me I'm wondering if the effect will be lost. Then again, I'm in N-scale, and on a buget, so maybe this is all just sour grapes!
I'm a DCCite, but I also have doubts about sound. I am concerned about how having four or five trains with sound running in a 12x14 area is going to sound. I'm thinking that in the real world, I can hear one, or sometimes two (when I'm lucky) trains at a time. And the location of the sound makes sense. In a layout that surrounds me I'm wondering if the effect will be lost. Then again, I'm in N-scale, and on a buget, so maybe this is all just sour grapes!
You are correct there about having too much sound. My layout is an 11X7 HO shelf pike and I can only handle one maybe two sound engines at a time. I still like running non-sound units too and listening to the click clack of the wheels over the track.
I will still buy sound locomotives because there is just no substitute, but I also like being able to turn off the sound when it gets to be too much. So you'll see 4 or 5 sound units on my layout, but I'll only have one at a time usually.
Midnight Railroader wrote: Driline wrote:the liberal DC zealots I see lurking here. What about the conservative DC zealots?
Driline wrote:the liberal DC zealots I see lurking here.
Dangit you're right. How unpolitically correct of me. My apologies to all you conservative DC zealots
Safety Valve wrote: BRAKIE wrote: Antonio,You are bound to get me hung yet by my fellow club members if they happen to read this." border="0" width="15" height="15" />" border="0" width="15" height="15" /> Well with the grinding,whining,growling etc we suspect the volume would to turn up to drown out the other noise and if you recall how noisy club operations was years ago you get my drift about the volume being crank up instead of down.I fully agree had updated models the volume could easily be turn down.I will tell you this..Sound will come up again as more DC sound equipped locos comes available and as a club we will need to work out a compromise.I already have a happy suggestion for this problem that will benefit everybody. As to date nobody has a sound equipped loco..It was brought up by a question by a younger member discuss and voted on by the membership.Maybe someone should travel there and make a demonstration with a sound equippted engine.
BRAKIE wrote: Antonio,You are bound to get me hung yet by my fellow club members if they happen to read this." border="0" width="15" height="15" />" border="0" width="15" height="15" /> Well with the grinding,whining,growling etc we suspect the volume would to turn up to drown out the other noise and if you recall how noisy club operations was years ago you get my drift about the volume being crank up instead of down.I fully agree had updated models the volume could easily be turn down.I will tell you this..Sound will come up again as more DC sound equipped locos comes available and as a club we will need to work out a compromise.I already have a happy suggestion for this problem that will benefit everybody. As to date nobody has a sound equipped loco..It was brought up by a question by a younger member discuss and voted on by the membership.
Antonio,You are bound to get me hung yet by my fellow club members if they happen to read this." border="0" width="15" height="15" />" border="0" width="15" height="15" />
Well with the grinding,whining,growling etc we suspect the volume would to turn up to drown out the other noise and if you recall how noisy club operations was years ago you get my drift about the volume being crank up instead of down.
I fully agree had updated models the volume could easily be turn down.
I will tell you this..Sound will come up again as more DC sound equipped locos comes available and as a club we will need to work out a compromise.I already have a happy suggestion for this problem that will benefit everybody.
As to date nobody has a sound equipped loco..It was brought up by a question by a younger member discuss and voted on by the membership.
Maybe someone should travel there and make a demonstration with a sound equippted engine.
Actually every member is aware of sound equipped locomotives and the majority has heard them...We are not cavemen ya know nor are we a bunch of old geezers.Recall I had DCC/Sound..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
O.K, I understand Brakie.
Just made me wonder a bit. I'm assuming that the majority of your club's members (or the leadership) are in the "over 40" category. Onboard sound for HO was one of those "dreams" that so many of us (me too) had back in the 70s and 80s. Now that it's here I had assumed that many of the baby-boomer generation modelers would be "gung-ho" about onboard sound inspite of some of its limitations. Especially now that they can enjoy sounds that are either extinct or very rare such as: Fairbanks Morse, Baldwin, Alco, GG1 electrics, EMD 567 diesels as well as a variety of steamers. That is what a number of the more senior members at the club I was at were enjoying about onboard sound.
At my LHS sound units have been selling pretty well for the past three years. A number of "boomers" have been making the purchases. One gentlemen that I know purchsed six BLI GG1s!
But it does appear that sound units will eventually roll on your club's rails.
High Greens
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
BRAKIE wrote: Antonio,I may get ream for this if its read by a club member..Anyway..There is a lot of older locomotives on the layout that whines(Tenshodo),growls,(Hobbytown and older steam locomotives including Varney,Penn-Line and of course brass steamers.We believe that is enough racket for our ears to endure but,would never ever complain to the owners of those locomotives after all they have their rights as club members and the majority of us older guys doesn't mind after all we are use to those locomotives having coming up through the hobby in those years..We have also thought of the rights of those members that wanted sound so,like all things sound was put to the vote and was defeated by a 37-10 vote.I suspect as more DC locomotives come with sound we will need to reopen the matter of sound and like always the members will have their say and vote.
Antonio,I may get ream for this if its read by a club member..Anyway..There is a lot of older locomotives on the layout that whines(Tenshodo),growls,(Hobbytown and older steam locomotives including Varney,Penn-Line and of course brass steamers.
We believe that is enough racket for our ears to endure but,would never ever complain to the owners of those locomotives after all they have their rights as club members and the majority of us older guys doesn't mind after all we are use to those locomotives having coming up through the hobby in those years..
We have also thought of the rights of those members that wanted sound so,like all things sound was put to the vote and was defeated by a 37-10 vote.I suspect as more DC locomotives come with sound we will need to reopen the matter of sound and like always the members will have their say and vote.
Guys, Midnight Railroader. come on. Why do we want to turn this into a silly flame war? We're all modelers in a discussion, not an argument. NOT ALL DCC users try to ram the technology down DC users throats. NOT ALL DC users are "anti-DCC". There are always a few "extremists" in both groups. Why let them poison the mood?
O.K, back to the discussion................
Brakie,
I see your point, however, I have to disagree with the issue regarding sound. As you stated a number of members own older units that are noisy; fair enough. However, the sound-equipped DC locomotives on the market offer "Volume Control". A typical BLI unit with the sound turned down to a very low setting is still quieter than untweaked, older Athearn BB units and import brass locomotives. ( Remember the brass U50 from the 1970s? So noisy it was nicknamed "Rock Crusher")
So even with volume control available, if a member wishes to run his new BLI steamer or E-unit, the sound must be turned off? No disrespect to your club, but "WoW!" that seems pretty stern. When this was brought up, did your club leadership "experiment" and allow members with sound units run them to see how if it negatively impacted the session? Or was it just voted "flat out" without checking it out first?
Just makes me wonder because the common rule of thumb for sound equipped locos in a club is basically: Sound equipped units at a low volume should be barely audible at approximately 15ft. linear distance. The horn or whistle should sound "faint" and distant.
With prototype locomotives, once they pass you at a grade crossing, the diesel engine or steam chuffs quickly fade into the distance. The above method allows you to simulate that in a "non-annoying" manner.
Peace
selector wrote: To address the question of DCC and sound, I have said numerous times in other threads that the decision to include a mute function (F8) was at the very least clever. I let my QSI decoders drift into a self-imposed quietude by disuse if I don't bother to use F8 with them. The QSI's pout, for want of a better word, and I believe the Tsunami's do as well. If you power the layout and do not engage that decoder before power-down, the decoder goes to a corner and sulks, quietly, until you call it by name/number in a subsequent session. I happen to like that feature because it means only three or four engines are making sounds at any one time. When an entire layout is abuzz, it is a real cacophony, and I don't think very pleasant.Also, I would advise all would-be sound users to consider reducing the master volume on their systems, somewhere by near 50%. As stated a few posts earlier, no locomotive should be heard above others closer, and the further away they are, the less obtrusive the must be, otherwise all you have is a racket. So, sound is a double-edged sword; great if you got 'em, but not great when they're all sounding off.
To address the question of DCC and sound, I have said numerous times in other threads that the decision to include a mute function (F8) was at the very least clever. I let my QSI decoders drift into a self-imposed quietude by disuse if I don't bother to use F8 with them. The QSI's pout, for want of a better word, and I believe the Tsunami's do as well. If you power the layout and do not engage that decoder before power-down, the decoder goes to a corner and sulks, quietly, until you call it by name/number in a subsequent session. I happen to like that feature because it means only three or four engines are making sounds at any one time. When an entire layout is abuzz, it is a real cacophony, and I don't think very pleasant.
Also, I would advise all would-be sound users to consider reducing the master volume on their systems, somewhere by near 50%. As stated a few posts earlier, no locomotive should be heard above others closer, and the further away they are, the less obtrusive the must be, otherwise all you have is a racket. So, sound is a double-edged sword; great if you got 'em, but not great when they're all sounding off.
I agree, things would sound alot better if everyone lowered the volumes on their gear a bit. I think it also depends on the layout size and such, we have a really large club layout so having a few sound locos on the tracks isn't that bad since everyone is usually spaced pretty far apart. We do also have a large exahust fan near the layout that gets kinda loud and really dampens the noise so a little higher volume is needed when the fan is on, overall i find the experience enjoyable though.
It really is too bad that we can't all be in the same room, around the same table, and have this conversation. I think that we would probably be somewhat more restrained in our hubris and barbed comments....and that goes for both sides of this issue. Seems like a few of us are flying off the proverbial handle and jumping to conclusions. Still, I like the tone so far, and I must say that I am happy no one has gone to sharply into the personal attacks...it is so easily done on this forum.
And, not to sound disingenuous, I tip my hat at all you DC guys who stick to it. You know what works, you have built it yourself, and you get pleasure out of what you have. What else can this hobby or its membership encourage every modeler to do? Besides, the new BLI DC line is coming with sound on board, so much of this topic will be mute....er, moot.
There is room for everone, luddite, dilettante, master, designer, artiste, operator, craftsman, learner, historian, zealot,..aach, what's in a name, anyway!
My apologies to the forum for feeding the troll. Inflammatory, ill-defined adjectives used repeatedly - I should have been smarter.
Fred W
el-capitan wrote: tstage wrote: Can we move on...?!? No, we need to wait until somebody's head pops up.
tstage wrote: Can we move on...?!?
Can we move on...?!?
No, we need to wait until somebody's head pops up.
Actually, if you look at the picture, BOTH heads are popped up because nobody is the winner in this discussion...
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Check out the Deming Sub by clicking on the pics:
fwright wrote: SunsetLimited wrote: In my opinion there are only two real good excuses to not switch and they are a lack of money to upgrade and the other is the decoder install issues and that can be over come by doing a dual dc and dcc layout.Since those are the only 2 reasons you can think of to not use DCC, I assume that by "cheesy" DC systems, you really mean the owners are "cheap" or "lazy". IMHO, "cheesy" is a poorly defined adjective with pretty negative connotations. If you don't care which system the others use, then why describe their choice negatively (twice)?
SunsetLimited wrote: In my opinion there are only two real good excuses to not switch and they are a lack of money to upgrade and the other is the decoder install issues and that can be over come by doing a dual dc and dcc layout.
In my opinion there are only two real good excuses to not switch and they are a lack of money to upgrade and the other is the decoder install issues and that can be over come by doing a dual dc and dcc layout.
Since those are the only 2 reasons you can think of to not use DCC, I assume that by "cheesy" DC systems, you really mean the owners are "cheap" or "lazy". IMHO, "cheesy" is a poorly defined adjective with pretty negative connotations. If you don't care which system the others use, then why describe their choice negatively (twice)?
I never said i couldn't think of other ones people have used, i said to me there were only 2 good ones. Why don't you re-read what i said, a lack of money is so not even the same thing as being cheap im not even sure how you got that out of that comment, cheap people usually refers to someone that has some money, i don't care the amount, but is very tight with it, a lack of money is usually due to some other outstanding financial obligations that makes justifying DCC tough. I also never said or implied that not wanting to install tons of decoders makes one lazy, it means some people hate to solder or deal with electronics, trust me, i know, i hate soldering.
As far as cheesy goes, you can interpret its meaning however you wish, im still going to use it when describing my opinion of operations with DC. Again, i really could careless what system YOU use to make your trains run, when i use the words i do about DC is from my own experience with it, feel free to describe it however you wish also.
SunsetLimited wrote: Midnight Railroader wrote: dave 1194 wrote:" I normally run straight DC because it's what I grew up with and I am comfortable. " okay... following that logic, why do you have (or use at a library or work, or whatever) a computer and obtain access to the internet? chances are that if you grew up without DCC you grew up without the internet, so why such a luddite when it comes to enhancing your model railroad experience? worrying about throwing switches and all that nonsense for electrical "blocks" simply detracts from the fine art of yard switching. how can you think five or six moves ahead of time when you're worried about your engine losing power in the next block?? just my two cents, and i hope this doesnt seem like a nastygram... After reading all the fine posts such as this one enumerating the reasons why I simply must switch to DCC (as if the posters would ever know, given the fact they've never been in my basement), I just wanted you to know that I would use DCC, except for one important reason:I don't want to.Thanks for all your forceful input, though. Good, stick with your cheeseball DC, makes one less person buying decoders so there is more for us in the computer age to use in our gear. Plus while both your hands are busy flipping toggles, my free hand is kicking back with a cold beer.
Midnight Railroader wrote: dave 1194 wrote:" I normally run straight DC because it's what I grew up with and I am comfortable. " okay... following that logic, why do you have (or use at a library or work, or whatever) a computer and obtain access to the internet? chances are that if you grew up without DCC you grew up without the internet, so why such a luddite when it comes to enhancing your model railroad experience? worrying about throwing switches and all that nonsense for electrical "blocks" simply detracts from the fine art of yard switching. how can you think five or six moves ahead of time when you're worried about your engine losing power in the next block?? just my two cents, and i hope this doesnt seem like a nastygram... After reading all the fine posts such as this one enumerating the reasons why I simply must switch to DCC (as if the posters would ever know, given the fact they've never been in my basement), I just wanted you to know that I would use DCC, except for one important reason:I don't want to.Thanks for all your forceful input, though.
dave 1194 wrote:" I normally run straight DC because it's what I grew up with and I am comfortable. " okay... following that logic, why do you have (or use at a library or work, or whatever) a computer and obtain access to the internet? chances are that if you grew up without DCC you grew up without the internet, so why such a luddite when it comes to enhancing your model railroad experience? worrying about throwing switches and all that nonsense for electrical "blocks" simply detracts from the fine art of yard switching. how can you think five or six moves ahead of time when you're worried about your engine losing power in the next block?? just my two cents, and i hope this doesnt seem like a nastygram...
" I normally run straight DC because it's what I grew up with and I am comfortable. "
okay... following that logic, why do you have (or use at a library or work, or whatever) a computer and obtain access to the internet? chances are that if you grew up without DCC you grew up without the internet, so why such a luddite when it comes to enhancing your model railroad experience? worrying about throwing switches and all that nonsense for electrical "blocks" simply detracts from the fine art of yard switching. how can you think five or six moves ahead of time when you're worried about your engine losing power in the next block?? just my two cents, and i hope this doesnt seem like a nastygram...
Thanks for all your forceful input, though.
Good, stick with your cheeseball DC, makes one less person buying decoders so there is more for us in the computer age to use in our gear. Plus while both your hands are busy flipping toggles, my free hand is kicking back with a cold beer.
\Now lets see..DC'ers can't drink beer while operating..
Geesh! DC'ers been doing that for years..Where do you think the idea came from?
BTW..Your unlearned childish comments is not winning you any points in fact they show your ignorance on how DC can work.
FWIW, my reasons for not using DCC for the present include decoder install issues in tiny 19th century engines in HO and HOn3, but also include that
1) my layout assumes solo operations
2) in the event that there is another operator, the layout design has very limited sharing of trackage in close time proximity. Each operator is normally working his particular area and section of the layout without intefering with the other.
3) I have a thorough understanding of DC (and DCC) wiring, and can easily make my DC system fit my operational needs.
Given the above environment, DCC's strengths will seldom be realized in my situation. At present, I simply have better things to do with my hobby time and money than to convert to a system that offers little advantage over what I already have.
If I rebuild to incorporate a Free-mo module or two, then I will have to change to DCC (or at least dual mode).
yours in informed choice
SunsetLimited wrote: el-capitan wrote: SunsetLimited wrote: Good, stick with your cheeseball DC, makes one less person buying decoders so there is more for us in the computer age to use in our gear. Plus while both your hands are busy flipping toggles, my free hand is kicking back with a cold beer.Please, at least come over to my house and operate my layout before you call my operating system cheesball. You are welcome at any time. From my experience people who make ignorant posts like this one have little or no experience, skills or talent and only come on here to criticize others. Also, if you are so far into the computer age, please post a link to your website or photo site so we can view your model railroad.Cap, i never called your layout itself cheesy at all, i was calling DC cheesy and thats my opinion, just like the opinion of the original poster was that he wasn't impressed with DCC, thats his opinion.I also never said anyone had to use DC, i actually said the opposite, i could careless what you use. People who want to stay with DC thats fine, no problems with that, i used it for a very long time also, i just saw that i would never fully get the potential out of my layout with DC and switched. In my opinion there are only two real good excuses to not switch and they are a lack of money to upgrade and the other is the decoder install issues and that can be over come by doing a dual dc and dcc layout.
el-capitan wrote: SunsetLimited wrote: Good, stick with your cheeseball DC, makes one less person buying decoders so there is more for us in the computer age to use in our gear. Plus while both your hands are busy flipping toggles, my free hand is kicking back with a cold beer.Please, at least come over to my house and operate my layout before you call my operating system cheesball. You are welcome at any time. From my experience people who make ignorant posts like this one have little or no experience, skills or talent and only come on here to criticize others. Also, if you are so far into the computer age, please post a link to your website or photo site so we can view your model railroad.
SunsetLimited wrote: Good, stick with your cheeseball DC, makes one less person buying decoders so there is more for us in the computer age to use in our gear. Plus while both your hands are busy flipping toggles, my free hand is kicking back with a cold beer.
Please, at least come over to my house and operate my layout before you call my operating system cheesball. You are welcome at any time.
From my experience people who make ignorant posts like this one have little or no experience, skills or talent and only come on here to criticize others.
Also, if you are so far into the computer age, please post a link to your website or photo site so we can view your model railroad.
Cap, i never called your layout itself cheesy at all, i was calling DC cheesy and thats my opinion, just like the opinion of the original poster was that he wasn't impressed with DCC, thats his opinion.I also never said anyone had to use DC, i actually said the opposite, i could careless what you use. People who want to stay with DC thats fine, no problems with that, i used it for a very long time also, i just saw that i would never fully get the potential out of my layout with DC and switched. In my opinion there are only two real good excuses to not switch and they are a lack of money to upgrade and the other is the decoder install issues and that can be over come by doing a dual dc and dcc layout.
If I were to make a wild generalization like "Stick with your cheesball PRR railroad, it leaves more ATSF stuff for me to buy" I would expect some PRR fans to be upset with this comment. Even if I wasn't talking about their layout specifically.
There are crappy DCC layouts and crappy DC layouts. There are good ones as well. Your post seemed to imply that all DC layouts are cheeseball. Which would be like saying all PRR layouts are cheeseball. It's sometimes true, but usually not. Im happy that you like DCC and that it works good for your situation. It does not work as good for my situation so I have not switched yet (I have a longer list that I will not get into now). Maybe in the future I will.
Regardless of what I like better, I just state what I prefer. When you call somebody elses equipment, railroad, benchwork, scenery, etc.. cheeseball, you have to expect some backlash.
Jeff But it's a dry heat!
Lighten up there a little El Capitan. It was a funny comment and I for one appreciate his humor. Unlike the liberal DC zealots I see lurking here.
Have a cheeseball on me
Midnight Railroader wrote:Why are DCC-users so threatened by the idea that someone might not want to use DCC?
Midnight,
I'm not threatened, nor do I want to push DCC down someone's throat. I personally like it because it makes MRRing more enjoyable for me.
Whichever system one chooses - DC or DCC - that's their choice and I can respect that. The problem lies when one starts criticizing another's choice or preference. It seems that we've sorta crossed that line.
Discussion and free dialogue are healthy and sometimes edifying. As others have said, let's keep this discussion civil and please stop making it such a personal one.
Tom
I agree with ShodowNix.. flame wars get nothing accomplished (except the locking and/or deletion of a thread)
I've seen DCC used really well (specifically on club layouts at trainshows), but DC does have its advantages (I don't have to do as much work to get an older loco to run).
I'm going to be using DC for the forseeable future - I can't afford a DCC system... yet. However, as soon as they arrive, I'm putting decoders into my fleet of locomotives. Partially because some of the members of the club I belong to have DCC layouts, and also so that I can prove to the other guys of the club (who are proposing - AFAIK - to wire our under construction layout as DC only) that DCC isn't really that hard to wire up. If it works the way I hope it will, the club layout will be DCC (using a Digitrax, or other system that can run DC on 00) and the club will provide one (1) simple decoder (eg the NCE D13SR) to each member who doesn't have any DCC-equipped locos so they can run on our layout. Or we'll just wire for both control schemes... Either way, I'm using my locos (and decoders) as the guinea pigs for the dual-mode running capability (Tom/tstage beat me to asking about them here).
Now, I don't hate DC (or DCC) - but I do like the advantages that DCC has over DC, especially with regard to being able to pick any loco and "assign" it as a helper to a struggling freight, or when weaving a locomotive through the servicing facility, without having to worry about whether or not I can cross this turnout here because that loco over there was just in the block I would be entering...
-Dan
Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site