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Post by dlagrua on Feb 18, 2024 0:45:04 GMT
I run a fairly large layout completely conventional to this day . I basically set the ZW's to give the trains a good medium speed and everyone watches them run. Once the trains are running and the signals all work; if I had remote operation I would not even be able to use it. I am certainly not against technology but once the trains are running, what more is there to do? I can blow the whistle/horns, control the speed go forward, reverse can couple and uncouple but what am I missing beside sound effects?
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Post by Sir James on Feb 18, 2024 1:23:47 GMT
I like having the remote when we have visitors. I can watch the train and chat.
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Post by harborbelt70 on Feb 18, 2024 1:30:55 GMT
I am certainly not against technology but once the trains are running, what more is there to do? I can blow the whistle/horns, control the speed go forward, reverse can couple and uncouple but what am I missing beside sound effects?
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Post by david1 on Feb 18, 2024 1:33:48 GMT
I can run TMCC, Legacy, DCS,and conventional. I can run all or none. Now a days my layout is alot smaller than it used to be but I enjoy every minute.
Dave
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Post by rtraincollector on Feb 18, 2024 1:44:27 GMT
At present I'm just hooked up for conventional. I may add my Legacy lite system down the road, or may not lol
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Post by madockawando on Feb 18, 2024 1:50:05 GMT
Right now I run conventional until my Base 3 I order comes in. While I do have MTH locomotives, I will not get DCS and will continue to run them conventionally.
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Post by curtis on Feb 18, 2024 4:22:34 GMT
I run TMCC, Legacy, DCS and Conventional. I can cross over to any other loop controlled by another system without any worries with TMCC, Legacy and DCS. I can even run them on the same loop. Conventional is great but I can set routes for my DCS and Legacy via my DCS App and that really has a big entertainment value to just running in loops. I love watching a train make so many movements on a loop and suddenly switching loops and doing completely different things on that loop, all the while I am switching with another engine on other areas and even the loops being used. I can not imagine going back to running a train on a loop and being limited because I have a conventional train requiring a certain voltage to run. If I stop that train everything stops due to no voltage. Yet I still like reverting to running conventional sometimes. I really like all aspects and all systems.
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Post by Traindiesel! on Feb 18, 2024 8:07:09 GMT
I operate my trains with TMCC, Legacy, DCS and conventionally. With command control,
- I don’t have to be tethered to the transformer, I can walk around the layout with a train and be right there in case of derailment or uncoupling.
- I can run locomotives at a crawl and not have to slam into a freight car to couple to an engine. The remote coupler opens and gently couples to the car.
- I can program a locomotive to blow the horn or whistle, slow down and stop at a station, make station announcements, sound the horn, ring the bell and slowly pull out of the station without touching anything. Just sit back and watch.
- I can start, stop and operate sound features from another room if I want.
- I can operate layout accessories and switches with a push of a button on the remote from anywhere near the layout.
- With the remote or a WiFi device I can operate any O gauge locomotive and accessories from any manufacturer.
- I can lash up multiple locomotives to pull long trains running at the same speed.
- Smoke output and sound volume can be set however you like.
- Activate freight sounds or passenger station sounds with the push of a button.
- Prototypical engine sounds and ‘atmospheric’ sounds like the sounds of a steam engine opening its cylinder cocks as the engine is running.
- I can turn all sounds off with the push of a button and just listen to the train clicking over track joints.
And that’s just the things I like to do. Command control has raised my enjoyment of this hobby exponentially.
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Post by seayakbill on Feb 18, 2024 11:11:02 GMT
My layout has both TMCC and DCS for command control. Purchased both systems when first released many, many years ago. I have not jumped on the Legacy system even though I have a few Legacy locomotives that I operate with Lionel's TMCC or MTH DCS systems. I operate all my conventional locos, either Postwar or modern with the MTH DCS system. For Menards locomotives I control the track voltage with the MTH DCS system but use the Menards controller to operate the loco. The following video features various locomotives running on the S&Y RR. Bill youtu.be/as6eapQ35Hc |
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Post by ron045 on Feb 18, 2024 13:04:55 GMT
Each individual has to decide for themselves if a conventional layout suits their needs vs a remote-control system.
The first thing you need to ask yourself, Are you a loop runner or an operator? This question, it's not meant to be derogatory, it's about your preferences.
If you like to "set it and forget it" and watch trains go round, conventional may be for you.
If you like to start, stop, change tracks, change directions, turn features on/off, "operate a railroad" with a purpose of accomplishing tasks, then a remote system is probably better for you.
Next consider the size of your layout. How long and how wide is it? Do you like to view close up or from afar?
With a layout, that is 8 x 10 or so, you might be able to perch yourself above the action and have a great view of everything. My layout is a 15 x 33 around the room with a center island. There are areas of the layout I cannot physically see from my transformer. I also only have a few wired switches which are difficult to reach. The rest are all manual ground throws. So I have to be near the action.
In the end it's all about personal preference and how much money and time you are willing to spend on your system. Add in some of the difficulties with obsolescence, production delays and some of the technical complications that can occur with the remote systems and that could add to your frustrations.
I was an MTH guy when I started. My children and I ran an 8 x 12 with a transformer. When my son and I started rebuilding the existing layout about 12 years ago, we went DCS. He later added Legacy.
The layout can still run DCS and Legacy, but I have moved on away from those systems to others. But that story is for a different thread.
Have Fun!
Ron
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Post by curtis on Feb 18, 2024 13:34:17 GMT
I operate my trains with TMCC, Legacy, DCS and conventionally. With command control,
- I don’t have to be tethered to the transformer, I can walk around the layout with a train and be right there in case of derailment or uncoupling.
- I can run locomotives at a crawl and not have to slam into a freight car to couple to an engine. The remote coupler opens and gently couples to the car.
- I can program a locomotive to blow the horn or whistle, slow down and stop at a station, make station announcements, sound the horn, ring the bell and slowly pull out of the station without touching anything. Just sit back and watch.
- I can start, stop and operate sound features from another room if I want.
- I can operate layout accessories and switches with a push of a button on the remote from anywhere near the layout.
- With the remote or a WiFi device I can operate any O gauge locomotive and accessories from any manufacturer.
- I can lash up multiple locomotives to pull long trains running at the same speed.
- Smoke output and sound volume can be set however you like.
- Activate freight sounds or passenger station sounds with the push of a button.
- Prototypical engine sounds and ‘atmospheric’ sounds like the sounds of a steam engine opening its cylinder cocks as the engine is running.
- I can turn all sounds off with the push of a button and just listen to the train clicking over track joints.
And that’s just the things I like to do. Command control has raised my enjoyment of this hobby exponentially.
Don't forget running them thru rain falls and under puddles or did you get your roof fixed finally? Hey wait a minute. You hadn't even laid down track so how are you running anything. Come on Brian stop telling stories. LOL
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Post by curtis on Feb 18, 2024 13:39:07 GMT
Each individual has to decide for themselves if a conventional layout suits their needs vs a remote-control system. The first thing you need to ask yourself, Are you a loop runner or an operator? This question, it's not meant to be derogatory, it's about your preferences. If you like to "set it and forget it" and watch trains go round, conventional may be for you. If you like to start, stop, change tracks, change directions, turn features on/off, "operate a railroad" with a purpose of accomplishing tasks, then a remote system is probably better for you. Next consider the size of your layout. How long and how wide is it? Do you like to view close up or from afar? With a layout, that is 8 x 10 or so, you might be able to perch yourself above the action and have a great view of everything. My layout is a 15 x 33 around the room with a center island. There are areas of the layout I cannot physically see from my transformer. I also only have a few wired switches which are difficult to reach. The rest are all manual ground throws. So I have to be near the action. In the end it's all about personal preference and how much money and time you are willing to spend on your system. Add in some of the difficulties with obsolescence, production delays and some of the technical complications that can occur with the remote systems and that could add to your frustrations. I was an MTH guy when I started. My children and I ran an 8 x 12 with a transformer. When my son and I started rebuilding the existing layout about 12 years ago, we went DCS. He later added Legacy. The layout can still run DCS and Legacy, but I have moved on away from those systems to others. But that story is for a different thread. Have Fun! Ron I love a guy with knowledge but having elegance with wording is amazing. My college UHK did not teach that. Obviously yours did. Well put Ron and yes I am one of those that loves different scenarios. Hence why I love command control. Oh, almost forgot. UHK is University of Hard Knocks.
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Post by Adam on Feb 18, 2024 15:59:22 GMT
In a perfect world there would be one command control standard for O Gauge. DCC is close for other gauges and I guess it can be used in O.
Similar to the computer world. There are standards for many thing an and each manufacturer implements them, some better than others.
Ok, off my soapbox.
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Post by trainman9 on Feb 18, 2024 16:00:57 GMT
I have a small 5x10 layout with two loops and amusement park themed using five Lemax amusements. I use a ZW-L for power and have both Legacy CAB2 and CAB1-L systems. The ZW-L has four built in PowerMasters and is programmed in command mode. I can address it using my remotes.
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Post by dlagrua on Feb 18, 2024 19:34:47 GMT
I appreciate all the comments here about remote control operation and I'm certainly not against something that is so popular. Its just that if I had it, the features would not be used. Having had the opportunity to see some of the great layouts of our time; the former Roadside America, the Choo Choo Barn, the Museum of Science and Industry (CHI), The Station at Citigroup Center, Pennsylvania Railroaders Memorial Museum,the Carnegie Science Center they all used simple operation. They turned the trains on in the morning and they ran around the layout all day until closing time. I figured if those great layouts used conventional operation as a scenic presentation, mine could also.
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