What kind of power pack do you guys use on your shelf layouts?
Why would you ask - is there a reason? What is your scale? How big a shelf layout are you talking about? What do you want to do on the layout? DC or DCC? One operator or more?
Any power pack will do. There aren’t special ones made for such a layout.
Bob Boudreau
I was just wondering; I have a little Atlas pack and I was thinking about buy a Quantum Engineer when I buy a sound equipped loco. My Layout is an HO 1x12 Urrban switching layout. Is there a reason to convert to DCC for a shelf layout? I guess my question is that I don’t have the operation(just one Loco) to justify a prodigy or expensive pack, so I wondered what ones comparable sized layouts used.
I’d say that there is. DCC gives you more sound and lighting options, which are always far more noticable on a shelf layout. Having a smaller loco fleet also enables you to work over each loco thoroughly and add all the extras. I have an 8x1 and use DCC for precisely that reason - it also makes it a lot easier to operate more than one loco as I don’t need isolating sections now!
Sound and lighting, plus you can operate several locomotives without having to wire them. I have a 1x12 or so switching layout, currently running DC, but I can foresee a day when DCC would be nice. Until then I use an MRC controller–I forget the model number, but it is out of production anyhow–it has momentum and braking built in. The only thing I could really use is a handheld controller–the MRC cointroller only has about a three-foot reach which means I can’t really follow my trains the full length of the layout without having to jump back over to the controller whenever I want to change direction.
I use Peco “Insulfrog” switches for power routing–I have three tracks for locomotive storage, and use the turnout switches to control which locomotive is powered by the DC. While I have a few locos to power, I can see how it would be nice to have them all addressed separately–and of course it would make it easier to store more than one locomotive on each engine servicing track.
An advantage of a good-quality DC controller over an Atlas trainset powerpack is better slow-speed control, important on a switching layout.
I have Atlas switches and my track work is almost complete. So the next step is a power pack, I had planned on just one loco but I could see an expansion.
I leaning towards a Genesis MP15 with sound; but with all these new things having sound controllers with DC I figured that was the easy way to go.
However the E-Z command would cost about the same so…
I agree with the DCC boys. Thing is, more lights, more sounds and if you EVER decide to go with more locos, LESS work.
I use a walkaround throttle by MRC. It has a tethered throttle that allows me to run trains from either side of the layout. My Tortoise switch machines have their own power supplies–a pair of Bachmann train-set transformers work fine.
Unless you plan running more then one engine you have no real need for DCC. You see your current power pack and Quantum Engineer will work just as long as you use locomotives using QSI® Quantum System™ sound.This technology is included in all Atlas, Life-Like/Proto 2000 and Hobbycraft Canada sound-equipped locomotives. The more recent locomotive releases from Broadway Limited Imports (BLI) can also be operated; this includes the PRR K-4, EMD E-series passenger units, EMD SD40-2, C&O T-1, EMD switchers, etc. BLI locomotive releases previous to these, as well as the Lionel Challenger and Turbine will not operate with the Quantum Engineer…You will be able to use all the lights and sounds from your DCC/Sound equipped locos and will save you dollars in the long run.
BTW I use a MRC CM20 but,could get by with one of my older MRC1400s on my N Scale industrial switching layout.