my father and i are running dc and want to know how non-dcc locomotives run on dcc? like if they can run as power but as a second or third engine in the consist or even as yard swichers. cause we have good models that are non-dcc and would like to use them. all the help is welcome thanks
On a DCC layout only one engine of all the engines on the layout can be analog (DC) the rest have to be decodered. So if you have three engines running, one can be DC. If you have one hundred engines running, one can be DC.
So when you buy your first DCC system and if money is tight and you can only afford one decoder after you buy your Digitrax or Lenz, then you can run two engines - one DCC and the other DC.
Rick is correct that DCC can control just one loco. If you have decoders in some loco’s you can add one analog to a consist. How well this works depends on how well they are speed matched. With the low cost of modern decoders you might think about converting at least some of you loco’s to DCC. If they run well on DC they will run just as well on DCC but with all the benefits.
Ken