Earl,
Most of our running is continious for the simple ease of it. However,
it's not unusual to have a couple of trains running on the same loop.
We can run from one loop to the other. We have passing sidings that get
used, and we have three yards, two of which do get switched and a wye
with multiple choice of routes.
Our DCC setup consists of a Digitrax DCS and a booster. Each unit
controls a mainline, hence two wires to each main. As long as the bus
wires follow the track above we're doing okay. This electronic part is
contained in a wooden box I built that sort of resembles a medicine
cabinet. I drop it in position, run power cables, run LocoNet cables to
remote locations and then we have trains running via radio throttles.
In the past we had 8 wires giving more opportunities for wires to get
mixed up so to help with quick and trouble free setup the 4 wire setup
works.. Any local control issues for sidings and multi-track yards are
still handled from those two wires, gaps and drop wires. In the past,
with DC, pulling a train into a siding for a passing was almost
impossible without some 0-5-0 action. Now they can run past each other
with just a little care. My home layout is that way also, at some of my
open houses we've run trains in opposite directions-- sometimes very
successfully!
Bob Werre
Bob, you mentioned only four wires, two for each track. Do you simply
run the trains in two loops or do you operate multiple trains on a
loop? I am envisioning being able to use sidings so that trains can
meet or pass each other. Or branches where one loco can be switching
while another loco or consist is operating on the main.
- Earl Henry, Nashville
In a message dated 2/5/2013 2:48:51 P.M. Central Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:
Ah, yee of little faith!
As far as our group is concerned, we have been able to get things
running quiet well since moving to DCC and even since we went half
that way for a couple of years. Our biggest scare was always
using our two crossovers--haven't had any problems in a long time.
When we were straight DC, it seems that we normally started out
with dead shorts. Worse yet we couldn't find a reason for them!
We generally solved the problem by disconnecting one set of those
connector plugs and then things worked--so we just wiped our heads
in relief!. We had made some black boxes with rotaries to route
power to cabs--I'm not certain if they ever worked. After the
'really old guys' refused to crawl under the layout, I sort of
took over--we tossed the 'cab boxes', we got rid of the 'control
lines' that paralleled the power lines. Now we have just four
wires, two for each track so the chances of cross wiring is
reduced in those early morning coffee-less setups. Now Peter
Vanvliet has added some electronics for our Y modules that
replaced many dpdt switches, allowing generally smooth running
trains. Fingers are now crossed for our setup in a couple of weeks.
Bob Werre
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