I'm a single operator of another rather large layout that I'm constructing in an isolated area with few successful hobby shops (in fact, the new local Hobbytown store is the only new store to go dark and empty out within 4 months). I have maybe 20 locomotives, 10 cabeese, and 430 cars for variety, for use on a basically point-to-point switching layout to serve freight industry. No continuous loops. About 75 feet of mainline, a 12 ft long 9 track yard, and various industrial leads and a branch to more industry in another room. Although I may like to have up to 5 trains on the layout parked or staged here and there, I have no desire to move more than 2 at the same time (who honestly can, or wants to, switch out an industrial plant in one corner, while watching a mainline freight through the junction 24 ft away at the other corner? You'd have to have another set of eyes on the back of your head, and at least another arm.)
So, given my situation, I don't see the benefit of spending a grand or more and hours to convert my system to DCC. It's just simply not worth it, especially when the money could go to lots of other good causes.
On past layouts, I have always electrically blocked my sidings and mains into sections, each of which can be independently switched to one of three options:
1) "off" no power,
2) Power pack A (MRC Tech II Railpower 2500)
3) Power pack B (MRC Throttle Master)
It worked great because it allowed flexible control of (2) trains at the same time (more than enough for a single operator), other trains could be held in the siding or yard, and it was relatively simple to wire in most cases. However, the drawback was walking all over the basement to the train, and back to the throttle, for every movement and often I had to "squint and sprint" across 25 feet in less than a second. I was so busy trying to do so much at once, within a matter of seconds, that I never even realized I was actually missing the whole point of a relaxing operating session. Even though I was already training with NHL hockey players, it helped keep me in shape !
This operation has since come to seem rather silly, and obviously not how most advanced modelers run their miniature railroad.
Well duh !!! The obvious to an outsider is that I've always needed Walkaround control, so I can follow my train, and manually throw switches, and uncouple cars, and not walk 20 ft away from the train to adjust a throttle over there, as my train crawls the opposite direction while my back is turned.
Problem is, the only walkaround control I've found for standard DC is the MRC Control Master 20. In over 20 years of reading & subscribing magazines, I've never read of how to do this anywhere. The "build your own throttle" articles for CTC-16e or DCC systems are not anything I will ever want to do.
How does a walkaround cab system work with a block controlled layout ? Is it possible to connect a stationary throttle for the yard, perhaps another for the industrial plants, and use the walkaround for mainline travel with block selector switches positioned at several strategic locations ? How does a Control Master 20 with walkaround wire up to operate with another power pack using block control ?
So, given my situation, I don't see the benefit of spending a grand or more and hours to convert my system to DCC. It's just simply not worth it, especially when the money could go to lots of other good causes.
On past layouts, I have always electrically blocked my sidings and mains into sections, each of which can be independently switched to one of three options:
1) "off" no power,
2) Power pack A (MRC Tech II Railpower 2500)
3) Power pack B (MRC Throttle Master)
It worked great because it allowed flexible control of (2) trains at the same time (more than enough for a single operator), other trains could be held in the siding or yard, and it was relatively simple to wire in most cases. However, the drawback was walking all over the basement to the train, and back to the throttle, for every movement and often I had to "squint and sprint" across 25 feet in less than a second. I was so busy trying to do so much at once, within a matter of seconds, that I never even realized I was actually missing the whole point of a relaxing operating session. Even though I was already training with NHL hockey players, it helped keep me in shape !
This operation has since come to seem rather silly, and obviously not how most advanced modelers run their miniature railroad.Well duh !!! The obvious to an outsider is that I've always needed Walkaround control, so I can follow my train, and manually throw switches, and uncouple cars, and not walk 20 ft away from the train to adjust a throttle over there, as my train crawls the opposite direction while my back is turned.
Problem is, the only walkaround control I've found for standard DC is the MRC Control Master 20. In over 20 years of reading & subscribing magazines, I've never read of how to do this anywhere. The "build your own throttle" articles for CTC-16e or DCC systems are not anything I will ever want to do.
How does a walkaround cab system work with a block controlled layout ? Is it possible to connect a stationary throttle for the yard, perhaps another for the industrial plants, and use the walkaround for mainline travel with block selector switches positioned at several strategic locations ? How does a Control Master 20 with walkaround wire up to operate with another power pack using block control ?
