DCC programmed routes, the Pro and con's.....

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

Hi from Belgium,

Yesterday I have the chance to participate at an operating session of a big well know Belgian layout.

I was a steam enginer of what we name a steam peddler.

The layout is Lenz DCC controlled and because I use the same system I had no problem to use it.

It was a very nice evening but I was a little bit disapointed about my enginer work because all the turnouts were already throw fo me by a programming DCC control. Even if I need to myself throw some spur and yard turnout the rest was just to run my steam engine along the layout.

So, if I am convinced that some of mainline turnout need to be already throw to avoid collision, I am not enthousiast about just running a train along the mainline.

As say in before post I am in the way to expand my layout in a walk away design whith a lot of “drive” for my enginers directed by view and a good signal system. In many case they will throw themselves the turnout.

That’s give more fun to operate the layout rather than a ready full planned travel.

It’s my opinion and you; whath do you think about?

Marc

2

I have had the opportunity to operate on at least two model railroads, one medium size and one large. In both cases there are tower operators who throw the mainline switches, not the engineers. The engineers are responsible for controlling the train and watching the signals.

When there are local areas to be switched, then the engineer, or conductor/brakeman if there is one, “gets off the train” to throw the switch.

I believe that this is the way that the prototype does it, unless it is a lightly traveled branch where trains have to meet and there is not a local tower. Even in this case, I think that the switches are normally left in one position such that an approaching train can just pass through if it does not need to stop.