Hello
Could you please tell me if Rivarossi make an HO steam loco that is DCC?
Also who makes a great Digital control . I want something that will work with a variety of scales and manufacturers . who make the most reliable track And last when I was doing some back post reading I saw a lot of questions regarding whether or not you could run a DCC loco on Dc but what about the opposite Will a DC loco run normal on a DCC layout. IT might be a silly Question but I like to know as much about a hobby as I can before getting into it .
Thanks for any help you can give .
Some answers…
I don’t know about Rivarossi making engines with DCC decoders installed. I would assume that their recent offerings are at least DCC ready, but I do not know for sure.
Digitrax is my preference for DCC systems. I have a Zephyr for use at home, and the local modular club uses a variety of Digitrax systems and components to run the layout at weekend setups. Digitrax systems can be used for N and HO. You should check their website for more info (www.digitrax.com).
The “standard” in track is Atlas - sectional and flex, although there are a lot of other (some say better) options - Peco, MicroEngineering, Walthers/Shinohara, etc, etc.
You can run a DCC loco on DC, provided that the appropriate CV (configuration variable) is set correctly. Soundtraxx sound decoders CANNOT be run on DC.
Some DCC systems will allow you to run DC locos. The Digitrax Zephyr is one. It will allow the operation of one DC loco on address “00”. However, this is not recommended for long periods of time, and creates a highfrequency buzzing in the DC loco.
There are no silly questions - just those you don’t ask!
Andrew
Rivarossi’s last steam offerings in HO before they went under were a Heisler, a 2-6-6-6 Allegheny and a 4-8-4 Union Pacific FEF-3. I think they also did a few 4-8-8-4 Big Boys with built in DCC decoders. To my knowledge they are all DCC ready.
A good DCC system to start out with would be the Digitrax Zephyr. It’s about $150.00 and has everything you need to get started in DCC. Yes, you can run a DCC loco on DC. To run a DC locomotive on DC is a bit harder though. I’d go with Digitrax for all of your DCC stuff. They make good decoders that will convert your DCC ready locomotives to DCC.
For track I would go with Atlas HO Flex track. You can shape it anyway you want and it looks great.
Hope this helps. Welcome to the hobby!
Hi bmurphy, welcome to the forum.
Rivarossi did not make any DCC equipped steam. The Rivarossi line is now owned by Hornby from the UK. They are soon to introduce updated versions of some of the steamers with DCC sockets so that DCC can be added. http://www.hornby.com/hornbyinternational/Products_US.aspx
There are several DCC control makers. Digitrax, NCE, Lenz, MRC etc. All make a decent system. There are many threads about them on the forum. I have Digitrax and am very happy with it.
Atlas makes very good value track. I prefer to use Peco switches/Turnouts as I think they are better made, but they cost more.
Some DCC systems will allow you to run DC locos, but not all of them. Digitrax will allow this. I use it on occasion, but it is not a good idea to run DC locos for an extended period on DCC layouts.
Ask away, this is a great place to get answers.
Merry Christmas