In over my head with a DCC HO model train?

[Pushrod]

I'm no model train afficionado, and really don't plan on becoming one. I wanted to simply get a train to set up around our christmas tree once a year for when my son is born in May. Things sure have changed with model trains since I was a kid.

I wanted an old steam locomotive type engine and started looking online for one, which lead me to discover a line of Shay engines like the ones at Cass Scenic Railroad near where I was raised and still have a small farm. I had riden the Cass trains many times and enjoyed them. Well the Shay's in HO were pretty damn expensive compared to what I wanted to spend, but I REALLY wanted the Shay once I saw them.

Then I say one advertised that had the Cass logo and I was hooked and had to have it. So I spent an awful lot of money for this 3 truck Cass Shay which happened to be DCC equiped. It's a Bachmann Spectrum engine.

I had no idea what DCC was but am finding out much to my dismay. I couldn't just by a regular track set-up on the cheap to run this engine, I had to buy a DCC system which consists of a Throttle control, Command Station and booster. I went with a Digitrax Zephyr because it was an all in one, of course this was super-expensive also.

Now comes the track, seems you have to have high-conductivity track (nickle-silver) and that was another furtune. I ended up getting a Bachmann EZ track nickel-silver track kit.

I haven't received everything from the guys in the brown suits yet, but any day now things should be arriving. I am hoping that everything fits together and interacts with out any headaches and that I made half way decent choices to get this set up running. This has cost me around $500.00 for a set up I will run once a year... ugh!!

For you train modelers out there, is there anything I am missing here? Any forseeable problems with what I purchased? Any tips on set up. I really feel like a lamb in the woods here.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Pushrod

I'm no model train afficionado, and really don't plan on becoming one. I wanted to simply get a train to set up around our christmas tree once a year for when my son is born in May. .

Get a toy set he can wreak havoc on for the next several years. When he's 4 or 5, old enough to know what is going on AND remember all this, go get trains together!

[huntr1]

Have you been to Sidetrack in L'town yet?

[Pushrod]

Originally Posted by huntr1

Have you been to Sidetrack in L'town yet?

I stopped there yesterday and they had little to no HO scale stuff and the owner wasn't real familier with DCC setups.

[Pushrod]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

Get a toy set he can wreak havoc on for the next several years. When he's 4 or 5, old enough to know what is going on AND remember all this, go get trains together!

He'll be confined to a playpen until he's at least 8 years old while this baby is set up. If I let him run loose while the train is there, it would be like Godzilla in Tokyo!

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Pushrod

He'll be confined to a playpen until he's at least 8 years old while this baby is set up. If I let him run loose while the train is there, it would be like Godzilla in Tokyo!

My point exactly. Let him play Godzilla with a toy train. He'll have all the fun, none of the time behind bars and you will enjoy every second including getting into model trains together when he is big enough!

[Aa3rt]

Pushrod-As a lifelong railway enthusiast (over 50 years) and a casual model railroader, I'm afraid I don't have a lot of experience with DCC. However, as you may have already surmised, DCC (Digital Command Control) is mainly aimed at those serious model railroaders who either want to run more than one locomotive in a train or run multiple trains on one layout. The decoder on board the locomotive "reads" signals sent specifically to that locomotive. The main advantage to this is that it greatly simplifies the wiring required for a model railroad layout.

Since you're mainly interested in running a train around the Christmas tree, the set up should not be too difficult. Once everything arrives, take the time to read the instructions and ensure that the decoder is properly configured.

Here's a link to the National Model Railroad Association website regarding DCC. There are additional links at the site so that you can further research your questions.

NMRA DCC site

You may try checking out the G Scale Train Station on Route 925 in Waldorf (There's a lot more there than G scale trains.), they may have some books in stock on DCC basics.

As a last resort, PM me with your email address and I'll see if I can find someone in the Southern Maryland Model Railroad Group that is much more knowledgeable on the topic than me who can help you. I know you stated that you're really not interested in becoming a model railroader but the SMMRG meets once a month, usually at the La Plata Train Station Museum, next meeting is tonight (Jan. 27th).

[Pushrod]

Originally Posted by Aa3rt

Pushrod-As a lifelong railway enthusiast (over 50 years) and a casual model railroader, I'm afraid I don't have a lot of experience with DCC. However, as you may have already surmised, DCC (Digital Command Control) is mainly aimed at those serious model railroaders who either want to run more than one locomotive in a train or run multiple trains on one layout. The decoder on board the locomotive "reads" signals sent specifically to that locomotive. The main advantage to this is that it greatly simplifies the wiring required for a model railroad layout.

Since you're mainly interested in running a train around the Christmas tree, the set up should not be too difficult. Once everything arrives, take the time to read the instructions and ensure that the decoder is properly configured.

Here's a link to the National Model Railroad Association website regarding DCC. There are additional links at the site so that you can further research your questions.

NMRA DCC site

You may try checking out the G Scale Train Station on Route 925 in Waldorf (There's a lot more there than G scale trains.), they may have some books in stock on DCC basics.

As a last resort, PM me with your email address and I'll see if I can find someone in the Southern Maryland Model Railroad Group that is much more knowledgeable on the topic than me who can help you. I know you stated that you're really not interested in becoming a model railroader but the SMMRG meets once a month, usually at the La Plata Train Station Museum, next meeting is tonight (Jan. 27th).

Thanks Aa3rt.
I wont be at the meeting due to time and distance. Lets see if I have any questions when I get everything in and together. I appreciate the link!

[Pushrod]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

My point exactly. Let him play Godzilla with a toy train. He'll have all the fun, none of the time behind bars and you will enjoy every second including getting into model trains together when he is big enough!

Yeah, your correct (again)! I will have to get one of those toy plastic sets to go around the tree for the forseable future (I will still set this one up from time to time to enjoy it myself until he gets old enough to understand it also).

[zigg72md]

Hi there... I am sorry to say but I believe you have been given less then correct information. First I would also suggest talking to the owner of G-scale trains in Waldorf. I would also suggest asking your questions on one of the many train specific messages boards that exist. I personaly use:

Trains.com - Model Railroader - Online Community - Electronics and DCC

I have found them very knowledable and helpful. A warning however they can be very nasty to those they feel are being lazy so chose your words wisely, while being as specific as possible.

My personal knowledge of DCC is outdated due to my switching to a different gauge/scale. However I believe for what you want you don't need a whole DCC system. But I could be wrong so please ask before you open any boxes.

On a side note: While with your knowledge of the real trains you may know. Just in case you don't and for others, Shay's typically run very slow compared to other locomotives. The type of train you have bought might have been "geared down" so that it performs "prototipically". Which means you might be spending even more money to get it to go faster then a snails place.