DC operators
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Mike, that sounds like the setup I had on my old layout in Mobile, AL. I controlled mine with an old Hammond and MOrgan 3 AMP power station with 4 MRC Cab Control model 76's. I also had a MRC Tech II cab control system, that had to have an AC power source to work. I also used 6 7layer rotary switches to select the cabs. Talk about a wiring nightmare!
I pretty much feel the same way, as I am a classical music fan as well, (Aaron Copeland being my favorite composer at the present time). But sound systems also give me a headache after about 30 mins of use. I do have sound installed in 1 loco for my Grandson, but that engine gets muted when he's not here.
Nothing wrong with the number of locomotives. It was the "No steam" that made me say ouch.
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I run DC and am perfectly happy with it, thank you very much. My layout is about 9'x17', and I'm a lone wolf operator. I hate electroncs in general and am not interested in either the effort or expense of converting my loco fleet, especially on my virtually non-existent hobby budget. It's designed so that I have the option of railfannining two trans in continuous running - power is supplied by a ControlMaster (bought used, of course) and an old gold-box MRC Throttlepack, which has been in use since I was introduced to model trains as a kid back in the '70's.
As for sound, it seems a bit gimmicky to me. It's interesting for a while, but after a while the constant diesel drone or steam chuff-chuff (maybe "chiff-chiff" is a more accurate description given the small speakers) gets a little grating.
Sorry if I sound like a grumpy stick-in-the-mud, but as far as I'm concerned these more advanced features simply add layers of cost that drive the hobby farther from the means of average Joes (and Jims).
Jim
As for sound, it seems a bit gimmicky to me. It's interesting for a while, but after a while the constant diesel drone or steam chuff-chuff (maybe "chiff-chiff" is a more accurate description given the small speakers) gets a little grating.
Sorry if I sound like a grumpy stick-in-the-mud, but as far as I'm concerned these more advanced features simply add layers of cost that drive the hobby farther from the means of average Joes (and Jims).
Jim
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I also have always run on DC and will not be changing for pretty much the same reasons Oh5oh Jim points out. I do have a brass Sunset 0-8-0 that I installed a Modeltronics steam sound module in, and a Tenshodo F7A & B pair that has the Modeltronics diesel sound added. Both were installed around 1983. With DC block and cab control wiring any cab can run an engine on the 2 mains or in the engine yard or industrial sidings. Main power source is an MRC gold Throttlepak that powers the mainline throttles and provides AC for my cap disch switch machine unit. Yard and siding hand held throttles are run from less powerful DC packs. I also have a couple of train set type N scale packs that I only tap off for AC or full DC for building lights, etc.
I do enjoy hearing all the sounds when visiting a club or someplace but it doesn't make me want to run right out and do it for my RR. And all that huffing and whining and whistling interferes with whatever music I am listening to at the time. A Nathan 5 chime solo doesn't fit very well into Mozart's Piano Concerto in C.
I do enjoy hearing all the sounds when visiting a club or someplace but it doesn't make me want to run right out and do it for my RR. And all that huffing and whining and whistling interferes with whatever music I am listening to at the time. A Nathan 5 chime solo doesn't fit very well into Mozart's Piano Concerto in C.
Cjcrescent
Master Mechanic
Mike, that sounds like the setup I had on my old layout in Mobile, AL. I controlled mine with an old Hammond and MOrgan 3 AMP power station with 4 MRC Cab Control model 76's. I also had a MRC Tech II cab control system, that had to have an AC power source to work. I also used 6 7layer rotary switches to select the cabs. Talk about a wiring nightmare!
I do enjoy hearing all the sounds when visiting a club or someplace but it doesn't make me want to run right out and do it for my RR. And all that huffing and whining and whistling interferes with whatever music I am listening to at the time. A Nathan 5 chime solo doesn't fit very well into Mozart's Piano Concerto in C.
I pretty much feel the same way, as I am a classical music fan as well, (Aaron Copeland being my favorite composer at the present time). But sound systems also give me a headache after about 30 mins of use. I do have sound installed in 1 loco for my Grandson, but that engine gets muted when he's not here.
Railrunner130
Well-Known Member
I'm just getting back into model railroading after many years. I'm going to take baby steps. I think some of the features are really neat, especially the lighting. But I'm not sure it's worth the expense and (my luck) hassle. If I do get into it, I definately won't be doing all the sounds. I'm trying to conserve my hearing and that's not worth it to me.
Sweet-Chuck
Member
Well, I can see pros and cons of each system set up.
I got into dcc as a dealer had a recently returned digitrax system and sold it to me for $50. Later, I bought a proto 2000 with sound from him for $50. Have been very pleased, but certainly wouldn't even think about paying more than that for it.
Now that I do run dcc, it is fun to have a couple locos running at the same time with only two wires.....you can't beat it. AS for the sound...it can be obtrusive, but you can turn it WAY down, or even off so it doesn't matter that much....
sc
I got into dcc as a dealer had a recently returned digitrax system and sold it to me for $50. Later, I bought a proto 2000 with sound from him for $50. Have been very pleased, but certainly wouldn't even think about paying more than that for it.
Now that I do run dcc, it is fun to have a couple locos running at the same time with only two wires.....you can't beat it. AS for the sound...it can be obtrusive, but you can turn it WAY down, or even off so it doesn't matter that much....
sc
trailrider
Well-Known Member
Well, sorta... When I built my most recent layout (and probably my last), I intended to go strictly with DC, as I have about 50 diesel and steam locomotives in HO, which are all DC. But my bride of 45 years bought me a Proto2000 F7AB set which happened to have DCC and sound. While it will run on DC, I liked the idea of hearing the horn blowing. So I picked up an MRC Tech 6, 6.0, which will handle both DC locos and DCC with sound. However, I have some diesels that look just like the Proto2000 units (C.B.&Q. freight), and I didn't want to chance messing up a DC motor with the AC. So I acquired an MRC Tech IV 206, and wired a DPDT switch on my control panel so I keep the Tech 6 on DCC and use the Tech IV for DC locos. Since I am a one-man operation, and my layout fills a 14' x 14' room with a folded dogbone, peninsula arangement in a reverse 'G'. with a real spagetti bowl track layout, I can park the DCC trains and run a DC or visa versa. I have and will probably acquire a few more DCC with sound (Athearn is set to bring out an F3A,B painted in "Q" passenger scheme for the California Zephyr), there is no way I will convert most of my DC equipment. Too much money, and would take too much time. And, yes, the DC equipment runs quietly, and smoothly (especially my kitbashed Mantua steamers with Canon coreless motors, gear boxes, etc.). Of course, when friends come over (especially kids) they like to hear the sound...
D&J RailRoad
Professor of HO
The previous D&J Railroad started out as DC but along the way I installed the AristoCraft radio control system, which was still block control DC but at least I could follow the trains around the layout rather than observe from a distance from the power pack. I built a catnip tethered control and experimentrd with an infrared remote control that required a direct line of site with the receiver. I'm not quite sure when I converted to DCC but I had installed rotory switches around the layout for cab control and just added DCC as one of the selections. Sometime after that, I removed the DC system along with the royory switches and ran it as straight DCC. I built about 15 decoders from kits along the way and have installed sound systems in quite a few of my locos.
Now, the new D&J Railroad will start out as DCC with all the boosters, power blocks, breakers and Command stations in their optimal locations with easy access.
Now, the new D&J Railroad will start out as DCC with all the boosters, power blocks, breakers and Command stations in their optimal locations with easy access.
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Old 97
Hogger
Larry
Long Winded Old Fart
I to, only run DC & will always be DC until trains go to battery only. The only sound system I have is a MRC seperate sound system w/2 speakers. My layout is 24 by 36ft. w/2 mainlines. I can w/a little help run 2 long trains on each mainline. I have 55 diesels & no steam. I run an MRC CM20 walkaround throttle on one main & an off-brand walkaround on the other main. I like a lot of lighting & use only LED's & use LED's in all my engines for lighting.
I like the sounds on some engines when I go to shows, but, not in mine. I'm very satisfied w/DC. I can usually buy 3 engines for what it cost the other guy for 1 in DCC.
I like the sounds on some engines when I go to shows, but, not in mine. I'm very satisfied w/DC. I can usually buy 3 engines for what it cost the other guy for 1 in DCC.
Old 97
Hogger
Larry
Long Winded Old Fart
Old 97
Hogger
Nothing wrong with the number of locomotives. It was the "No steam" that made me say ouch.
I started on DC, and my layout is a 7 X 13 ft L shape, The blocks are all controlled by rotary switches with the first notch as an off and 5 power packs (3 MRC and 2 handheld). The blocks are all small enough that I never get 2 trains in a block and I can run 5 trains by myself.......so there really is no advantage for me to convert, since I couldn't run any more trains anyway, and the thought of converting 100+ locos doesn't appeal to me. If I ever do a new layout, I would have to do some heavy thinking.......the added cost of converting my locos and the higher priced DCC system vs the higher cost of wire and controls
On sound, I have a bunch of background sounds on an old laptop I can turn on for background sound, plus I have BNSF and MRL trains within 250 ft of my layout 3 or 4 times an hour.........close enough to FEEEEEL the trains. I like steam sound better than diesel, but have no intent to convert any of my locos.
On sound, I have a bunch of background sounds on an old laptop I can turn on for background sound, plus I have BNSF and MRL trains within 250 ft of my layout 3 or 4 times an hour.........close enough to FEEEEEL the trains. I like steam sound better than diesel, but have no intent to convert any of my locos.
Iron Horseman
Well-Known Member
Ditto, but in another way good for you. I'm guessing you choose a specific time and place to model and have stuck to it. Unlike me who has 1870 to 2007 era locomotives and from just about every roadname in the North American continent.OUCH!
Iron Horseman
Well-Known Member
My last DC layout also had 5 cabs. It was a smallish N-scale double track. For the next upgrade layout I had planned (Trinidad CO & Raton Pass), I added up the cost of just the rotary selectors for 8 cabs w/walk around control where the blocks could be selected from the CTC position or from right next to the block itself. It got complicated and expensive really quick. I was so happy that CTC-16 came along.
I have a table layout against the wall that is 3.5 x 14 ft. And an eye level around the room track that is 14ft x 14ft. both Dc only. Using my old MRC control master 20 to power both. This thing is 5.5 amp and will run 5 engines at once or 3 with sound. I can run an upper level and lower level train at the same time. I also have around 300-350 steam and Diesel engines. Not going to switch to DCC very soon.
I also have the Blueline and Qsi sound control boxes to run sound in DC. So far have had no problems running on DC only.
Bob
I also have the Blueline and Qsi sound control boxes to run sound in DC. So far have had no problems running on DC only.
Bob
I have a 12'x18', E-shaped, point-to-point, branchline-type, layout for which I am the only operator and am perfectly happy to use DC forever. DCC would offer absolutely no advantages for me as I run only one train at a time. I have absolutely no future plans to change.
The layout operates like D&J's cited up stream, using an Aristo single channel radio throttle in conjunction with an MRC pack allowing for excellent untethered walk around operation. Incidentally, I do attend regular operating sessions on a friend's basement-sized DCC HO layout and from seeing all the intermittent problems encountered with his DCC set-up it has turned me off from DCC forever.
As for sound, I usually regard it as much too toy-like, reminding me of kids playing with Lionels and Flyer tinplate. About 90% of what I've seen is operated far too loudly and together with smoke does not share any of the realistic effects one would encounter with the operation of prototype trains, making the whole situation appear rather silly and highly unrealistic to me. I do own one sound loco, but only bring it out when the grandkids come over, as they find the sound entertaining.
NYW&B
The layout operates like D&J's cited up stream, using an Aristo single channel radio throttle in conjunction with an MRC pack allowing for excellent untethered walk around operation. Incidentally, I do attend regular operating sessions on a friend's basement-sized DCC HO layout and from seeing all the intermittent problems encountered with his DCC set-up it has turned me off from DCC forever.
As for sound, I usually regard it as much too toy-like, reminding me of kids playing with Lionels and Flyer tinplate. About 90% of what I've seen is operated far too loudly and together with smoke does not share any of the realistic effects one would encounter with the operation of prototype trains, making the whole situation appear rather silly and highly unrealistic to me. I do own one sound loco, but only bring it out when the grandkids come over, as they find the sound entertaining.
NYW&B
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