Tonight I hooked my Lenz DCC up to my tiny office bookshelf (literally) layout and programmed new addresses into both my locomotives. I know, sounds boring, but I’m excited. Electricity and I are not friends, but we may have reached a temporary truce.
I also built myself a programming track with some old Bachmann EZ-Track on a 2x4 with a couple of drywall screws as track-end bumpers, just in case. I used a router to make channels for the wire and screwed an eye into one end so I can hang it out of the way when not in use. It is nice that the Lenz comes with a removable plug that I attached to the wires so its just plug-and-play now.
That’s it - just tooting my own horn (a Nathan five-chime, of course).
Want to know what is better than drywall screws for a bumper stop? Take a small piece of cork roadbed that has had its edges trimmed nice and square with a hobby knife, and drive a longish drywall screw through that into the subroadbed. The cork will catch the trip pin or coupler first, and it won’t mar the paint like a drywall screw might.
Mine has a couple of Kadee coupler gauges at the ends. I was going to screw them in but CA does a nice job too. Since they are the old metal ones I gapped one rail near the end to prevent shorts - and CA’d that rail to the ties too, since an inch long section of rail just wants to slide right out. So my test track does multiple duty - loco programming, couple height check, and, as soon as I get around to putting the marks on the board, a weight reference. Rather than mark inches from the end, I’m goign to mark the weights in ounces, so I can push a car to the end and read off how much it should weigh, then plop it on my scale and see if it checks.
That’s a good idea, Crandell. The screws are sort of temporary until I find some old EZ-track bumper posts I think I have, but if i don’t find them by the next programming session I’m going your way. But Randy’s coupler gauge idea has some merit, too, if I had spares.
Michael - yeah, I am definitely having fun learning the things I can play with even in this simple set-up.
For me, DCC is worth it just to have the ability to have multiple locos on the same track, and be able to switch between them without the interference of the “5 fingered crane” or complicated wiring to create dead tracks.
Congrats on your Dcc hookup. I am building a new layout ( my 6th not counting those done for customers) based on the East St. Louis area in the 1950’s to 1970’s. There were 20 differant railroads in the area at the time! I have dozens of DC locos & 20 DCC ones. So I wired the RR for both DC & DCC. This can be risky so I have to be careful when switching to either system! I plan to faze out my DC fleet & convert those I can to silent decoders (to keep down the expence). Atlas and Kato locos can be easily converted. I do have a few sound locos and any new ones will be with sound. Don’t be afraid of electricity. DCC is amateur friendly. You can get a very mild electric shock if you lean on the rail with a sweaty arm. Yours, The Ferroequinologist
Congrats on your journey into the DCC world of fun and exploration. I can’t wait until I have mine up and running. Wiring is almost finished learning alot on a 12 x 16 layout. Good luck
I’ve had a Lenz system for 6 years now, and I’m very happy with it. Which Lenz throttle did you get, the digital System 100 one or the System 90 with the big wheel? I’ve found that the System 90 throttle is kind of awkward to use once you get beyond very elementary things.
I bought the 100. We have both types at my club, so I had a chance to use them in various situations before I shelled out the cash. There were certain things I liked about each one, but since I figured I would only have one for a long, long time, I went with the “bigger” one.
If i get time this weekend (beautiful end of summer weather, so not really likely) I’m going play around with it and screw up some CVs.
Ha - so true. I already put my old stuff on Craigslist and I guy here in town responded last night. Hopefully it will be gone and cash in pocket by the end of the weekend.
Ah, but all I have done there is run some trains. I tried to program an engine by myself on the club programming track the other night and it kept blowing the circuit. Worked great at home, though!
Be at peace, Grasshopper. You have done well. You have chosen wisely. The path before you is straight, and fertile, and exciting. Steam and diesels wait at your command. There is no challenge too great, no grade too steep. Still, take care not to leave your behind uncovered. Get a caboose.
