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Post by ron045 on Feb 6, 2024 2:32:54 GMT
If you have been in 3 rail O, chances are you run your trains these ways.
Conventional Transformer
MTH Digital Command System (DCS)
Lionel TMCC / Legacy
Lionel LionChief
Who has decided to break away from these staples and venture off to other control systems? There are dozens of them. Especially if you consider DC power over AC power.
My first break away was using BlueRail. BlueRail can run on AC, DC or Battery.
BlueRail morphed somewhat into Blunami. I like this system most. It can naturally do DC or battery. There have been some that added buck converters to utilize AC track power.
I also use RailPro. This is another neat system that runs on DC or battery also. It has a dedicated handheld controller and the user can make use the stock sounds from the company or create their own custom sound sets.
Who else has migrated away from the traditional control systems?
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Post by david1 on Feb 6, 2024 2:40:46 GMT
I have used conventional, dcs and TMCC and Legacy. No Lionchief yet. I actually prefer TMCC. I can use a cab1 to run anything, maybe a few things it will not activate but all the ones I'm interested in it does!!.
If I were younger I would give Blunami a try, sounds interesting.
Dave
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Post by Adam on Feb 6, 2024 16:04:20 GMT
I looked into some DCC solutions early on but didn't see anything that made sense from a cost/benefit perspective. The work required and cost didn't align for me at the time, so it made more sense to go with something like MTH or Lionels system (ended up with MTH). Bluerail also looked interesting but didn't pass mustard for the same reasons.
Very interesting timing on this thread. An idea in my mind has slowly been growing. That idea is to shift to all conventional. The cost of modern trains that include all the fancy electronics is starting (OK, well past starting) to get ridiculous. Never mind buying new, eventually things will fail, and I will need to try to find replacement parts or get a professional repair done. I'm starting to think I should get out of the command control world while the gettin's good.
I still run convention about half the time and there is plenty of post war, NPC, Williams, early MTH, K-Line out there for reasonable prices. Easy to maintain and repair too. I think I had more fun when the trains were similar. Don't get me wrong, I really like some of my MTH trains and I would keep some of them and run them conventionally. But reducing complexity and cost for the hobby (and life) is very appealing.
I' not quite there yet, but I am seeing fewer and fewer reasons to stay on the expensive side of the hobby.
Anyone else thinking like this?
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Post by healey36 on Feb 6, 2024 16:28:59 GMT
That idea is to shift to all conventional. Come on over, Adam. Conventional rocks!
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Post by Adam on Feb 6, 2024 16:36:26 GMT
That idea is to shift to all conventional. Come on over, Adam. Conventional rocks! It’s tempting. |
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Post by superwarp1 on Feb 6, 2024 18:20:36 GMT
If you have been in 3 rail O, chances are you run your trains these ways. Conventional Transformer MTH Digital Command System (DCS) Lionel TMCC / Legacy Lionel LionChief Who has decided to break away from these staples and venture off to other control systems? There are dozens of them. Especially if you consider DC power over AC power. My first break away was using BlueRail. BlueRail can run on AC, DC or Battery. BlueRail morphed somewhat into Blunami. I like this system most. It can naturally do DC or battery. There have been some that added buck converters to utilize AC track power. I also use RailPro. This is another neat system that runs on DC or battery also. It has a dedicated handheld controller and the user can make use the stock sounds from the company or create their own custom sound sets. Who else has migrated away from the traditional control systems? Weren't we allowed to have polls on this forum at one time? This would of been a perfect thread for that. Anyway.
I've been watching the Blunami threads on other forums and on Youtube for many months now. While not there 100% with the features I want, the possibilities are there and I hope to try it one of these days but the prospect of running trains with my phone is not desirable.
I have Legacy/TMCC and DCS. I'm not a fan of DCS with steamers anyway as I've had all of them converted to Legacy. I do have DCS diesels on pre-order so I won't be ripping out the DCS anytime soon. I can't run conventional, mostly due to my PSX-AC short protection only runs in a command environment.
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Post by ron045 on Feb 6, 2024 22:16:31 GMT
If I have done something wrong... my apologies. I'm trying to find some others like me whom I can connect further with.
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Post by firewood on Feb 7, 2024 0:17:59 GMT
I have a 10’ x 13’ L-shaped layout (a recent build in progress) which is all block-control conventional. I keep up on battery dead-rail ideas (including Blunami) because that might be my future direction, but so far the cost per locomotive hasn’t appealed to me at all. My locomotive stable has some Williams, Lionel and MTH with the MTH having most of the bells and whistles I think. My thoughts are to have a gradual migration to dead rail if (when?) the original electronics start dying off. It’s all reluctance with me though 😉 - programming and electronics aren’t an area of hobby interest for me.
Dave
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Post by firewood on Feb 7, 2024 0:31:06 GMT
I think you can add a poll when you start a thread - there’s a button that shows up beside the ‘add attachment’ menu. I’ve never tried it myself. Dave
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Post by superwarp1 on Feb 7, 2024 0:35:54 GMT
If I have done something wrong... my apologies. I'm trying to find some others like me whom I can connect further with. No no, you did nothing wrong. I was just saying your thread would be great if we could vote on your questions. All is good
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Post by Country Joe on Feb 7, 2024 1:40:51 GMT
If I have done something wrong... my apologies. I'm trying to find some others like me whom I can connect further with. You haven’t done anything wrong, Ron. You could have added a poll when you started this thread. Only the person who starts a thread can add a poll.
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Post by david1 on Feb 7, 2024 2:24:33 GMT
If I was starting today I would seriously look into Blunami. From what I have seen you have many options for every locomotive you may have.
Adam, I still run conventional with some of the engines I have. Some are conventional like my semi scale GG1's, some MPC and others. Sometimes I like to run with no sounds at all except for the wheels on steel rails. Sometimes you Just need quiet!!
Also because of the inflation of pricing in our hobby I have decided there will be no more spending on items in my opinion that are way over priced. For now I will look at more reasonable conventional items. I will still run what tmcc, legacy that i have I have but nothing more. Also all upgrades I was planning will be not be done.
I will still be having fun and adding the occasional train items but it won't be what Lionel and MTH are selling today or in the past twenty years, I Dont have to spend alot of money to have fun.
I'm not telling anyone else to do what I'm doing, you have to make your own decision. A friend told me many years ago, if your not having fun, do something else. I have decided to have fun.
Dave
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Post by dennym57 on Feb 7, 2024 15:01:31 GMT
If I have done something wrong... my apologies. I'm trying to find some others like me whom I can connect further with. You've done absolutely nothing wrong.
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Post by dennym57 on Feb 7, 2024 15:08:22 GMT
I run Legacy, TMCC, LC+, Bluetooth and conventional. I have several conventional engines, two are postwar.
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Post by trainman9 on Feb 7, 2024 16:01:50 GMT
I run using Legacy CAB2 but also have the CAB1L system. I’m satisfied with these and really have no desire to invest in some of the other offerings. Using the ZW-L for power and protecting the circuits with TVS’s seems to have worked well.
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