Everything on model trains, model railroads, model railways, locomotives, model train layouts, scenery, wiring, DCC and more. Enjoy the world's best hobby... model railroading!
DCC vs DC
George wants to hear from others in the hobby about their thoughts on DC verses DCC:
“If I initiate a layout for DCC can I still run older (non DCC) trains on the same layout with the same DCC controller … in this case the NCE system. Thanks.”
Add your feedback using the green comments link.
4 Responses to DCC vs DC
Leave a Reply
SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION
Download Your Free Catalog
Use Tiny Railroad Micro Controllers
Model Train Help Ebook
You will not be able to run a typical, older DC locomotive on a DCC layout unless you install a decoder in the older locomotive. The website http://www.dccwiki.com/Main_Page has a lot of good information on understanding DCC and what you need to do make sure it works (I don’t know if the NEC system has some special capability that makes this possible however, but it seems highly unlikely).
No, you typically cannot run standard (i.e. plain old-fashioned) DC locomotives on a DCC system unless you install or convert that locomotive to work in a DCC environment with a decoder. There is a lot of good detail on this at the DCC wiki site, check it out!
http://www.dccwiki.com/Main_Page
I have a Digitraxx Super Chief (not necessarily recommending it) and am able to run DC (or analog) engines on it. The analog address is 00 (zero zero). The hum, don’t go as fast as decoder equipped engines, and they all travel in the same direction, but they run.
I have a Digitraxx Super Chief (not necessarily recommending Digitraxx) and can run a DC (also referred to as analog) engine on it. It will run, the engine number on the throttle is 00 (zero zero), it will make noise, all DC/analog engines will run the same direction based on engine and track polarity, they won’t run as fast as DCC engines, but they will run.