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The Evolution Of Model Railroading
Model railroading has evolved from clockwork mechanisms or steam power through to battery operation and now electrics and digital control. The last few decades has seen real improvements in the quality of model trains (detail, materials, and control). This biggest change in recent years came with the invention of digital command control (DCC).
With DCC you can control and operate each locomotive individually, and you can choose to have it operate on its own, or you can operate it in concert with other locos. By comparison; using conventional DC control, you control “blocks of track”, so any locomotive on the track will respond the same way. With DCC the wiring can be less complex – with more operational flexibility and possibilities. That’s not to say DC can’t be a huge amount of fun – it is!
Why do you prefer DC or DCC? Add your comment.
14 Responses to The Evolution Of Model Railroading
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Although I don’t currently have an operating layout in HO and plan to build one when I retire soon, I would like to comment that the DCC system offers extensive flexibility in operation once it is installed. I agree that it simplifies the old DC system without the need for isolated electrical districts and does offer more fluidity in operation.
What I am finding is the the affordability of DCC decoders is awfully expensive.
If one were to manufacture your own decoder it would cost you $5.00 at the most to make. The circuit is very simple. For someone now paying $20-45 dollars for one decoder it may be even more may be discouraging to convert for most potential and existent modelers regardless of gauge cost wise.
The industry needs to produce more affordable decoders if we are to take fully advantage of DCC.
Respectufully submitted,
P.S. I will go DCC but will I be able to afford to run my 30+ diesel and steam engines I have requiring conversion from DC to DCC based on current decoder costs.
Walter (Canada)
DCC and radio as well, way by far the best for operation so you can follow your train all around the layout!
DCC is surely a learning curve. My friend got me started by giving me a EZ Command set. Slowly I started the conversion and the more I did thje more I wanted. I have since converted to Digitrax and have progressed to programing decoders. I am now looking forward to converting my switch machine motors to DCC controal. Beyond that I will most likely convert most ligting for buildings and of course my light house to DCC.
One must be carefull due to the investment. Go slow and enjoy each little advancement. Stretch your funds.
I operate O scale 3-rail at a model railroad club. We currently use two proprietary systems — TMCC and DCS to operate trains (plus conventional AC via throttles).
That said, though, my recent locomotive purchases from MTH Electric Trains are capable of operating on 2-rail track and can operate on DC, AC, DCS (MTH Properitary Command Control System) or DCC. I will be purchasing a DCC system soon for home layout use.
Hi. When I put my trains away in 1988 it was an analog world. When I got my trains out last year everything had changed. My 12 year old son is a train fanatic.We were both ready to build a new HO layout. The DCC is the best thing to happen to model trains since electricity was introduced. The smoothness of operation blows DC away.I am sure there are folks who love old time DC and thats ok. I believe DCC is fantastic
In the last year I got back into model trains. I started years ago with HO and ran a layout with blocks. It was a fun layout to both build and operate. This time I chose N scale and DCC with sound. I am running a steam BIG BOY from Athearn with sound. It is great. With DCC it is so much easier to have full control without having to wire blocks and when I run two trains at once the difference between DCC and block system really shows up. I started with Bachmann EZ command and am still using it with a second throttle.This system is reasonable in cost and very effective. I
highly recommend EZ Command to anyone thinking of starting up and I really like my N scale size.
DCC… definitely. Even doing N scale, it’s worth it. I remember the pain of block switching with my dad’s layout 40 years ago, I never want to do that again. Having a young son, he wants to see trains (plural) moving on the track, and I want to run the trains and not the board. The perfect solution was the DigiTrax Zephyr with the “Jump Ports” that take straight DC throttles… I made up a pair of simple throttles for he and his friend to use, I run the main throttle and can let them switch trains back and forth (and do an emergency “kill” to avoid cornfield meets) very simply. Best railroading decision I ever made…
DC My layout is set in 1900. We didn’t have DCC then, we don’t need it now. The same way I
don’t have motorized vehicles. Horse drawn, yes– cars and trucks no. No paved roads, no car
dealerships, no parking meters, no asphalt, nothing to get in the way of the trains or take away
from them. I have 4 wiring blocks and run trains in each of them.My layout is 7 x 14, only one operator. I do have sound for the trains,and all buildings are lighted. As a joke I have forklifts at
the sawmill! No diesels- I think steam is prettier and the engines are not all look alikes
I don’t need to spend $100 on each of my 35 engines to enjoy my trains All are 4-4-0 or
4-6-0…
I would not use DCC if I only had one or two locos on a small layout. However, DCC really becomes a helpful tool if you are one of the following modelers:
A modeler with a large layout, not necessarily multiple tracks.
A modeler who likes shunting and owns a layout longer than about 12 feet.
A modeler who has many locomotives
A modeler who enjoys sound systems or fancy functions
A modeler who is in a club or belongs to an organization that uses DCC.
My N scale railroad features a large passenger terminal and three engine terminals. I have 40+ locomotives collected over a 30-year period.
I use regular DC and have no plans to go to DCC. DC is easy to understand and troubleshoot. There is nothing unseen going on in the circuitry, nothing to program. When a track or loco is shut off, there is no power in the circuit. Retro-fitting my locomotives with decoders and buying DCC control equipment would be prohibitively expensive for me, and I don’t think I would be gaining much for the expense.
I have a double-track main line. All switches are power-operated. It is a simple matter to set up a route by selecting blocks and turnouts.
Maybe sound would be OK if you run one train at a time. I watched a video of a layout with sound-equipped locos running several trains at once, and it sounded to me like a room full of typewriters.
Neither realistic nor pleasant.
Any new locomotive I buy is ready to use without further expense or modification. My old locomotives serve just fine alongside my newest ones.
Like everyone else, I have a limited amount of money to spend on this hobby. I can spend it on DCC control systems, or use it to purchase additional locomotives, cars, and scenery items for the railroad. I would rather spend the money on models.
Les
I’ll have to stick with DC because of the budget. However, once I get the grandson hooked on the model trains, maybe he’ll want to convert to DCC as he loves operating. We go to train shows and he has operated several layouts at those shows.
Bonny aka Grannytoot
While it looks great for HO or where it comes built into the engine, for retrofitting N gauge I have found no space for any reasonable solution.
Unlike most model layouts, I run both DC and DCC. My collection of engines is well over 100, and about half are DC. I also repair and maintain many locomotives of all types for re-sale, so my layout is a test track, and I have to be able to test everything I service. My layout is divided into blocks because for either DC or DCC, it is easier to isolate problems. I love operating with sound, even my DC locomotives have sound via a PBL(much like PFM) sound/control system. The PBL system, and NCE DCC system I use are not compatible with each other. I have to clear the tracks of any DC/PBL loco before running DCC, or the internal speaker will be damaged. I have a complex selector system setup on my layout for all this. Eventually I hope to run only DCC for simplicity and realism. Once you run with sound, you will never go back, you will be spoiled!
I started into dc railroading in 1976 put it down untill last year found out about the “new dcc ” systems invested into a Nce power cab and got rid of all my dc engines since that time have aquired 8 engines all but 2 now have sound that I’ve installed. 2 are steam locos I’ve installed wow decoders in and absolutely love them! If you haven’t tried this decoder you don`t know what your missing,checkthem out.