I just went to Atlas forum and saw people are showing off their loco roster. I am a newbie so I feel overwhelmed by the astonish number of locos some people have (one person has more than 300 locos). It will take me hundreds of years to get that many locos… It was amazing…
Now I have a question. Since most people are converting their layouts to DCC nowadays, I am wondering if they still get DC locos. If yes, why? Some DC locos look beautiful and the price is much less than a DCC one. This is probably the only reason I can think of. Also, if someone has both DC and DCC locos, what is the ratio between DC and DCC? I am just curious.
My ratio DC:DCC was like 10:1 when I (re) started this hobby 18 months ago… it has now moved to like 5:12… once you get the nack of converting them, it is kinda fun. For example, I just got a GE44 (unlettered) Bachmann Spectrum on Tuesday. Yesterday, I added a NCE very TINY decoder and BAM on new DCC engine. BUT, when I started, it was a week long (if not two) project… Seriously, buy what you want. Sometimes I buy loco’s with DCC, sometimes without (especially if it a bargain!). After a while, converting become part of the challenge…a though I did spend 3 months trying to get a Rivarossi Heisler to work in DCC, only to find a short that was the COMPANIES fault… but I digress… Beer anyone?
Thanks, Brian. To convert a DC loco to a DCC loco, besides the decoder, do you need other things? DCC ready loco provides a easier way to convert, but I guess that you mean a DC loco, not a DCC ready loco, to convert.
First, the roster: Steam, diesel-hydraulic and heavy electric locomotives, electric and diesel MU cars - several of each category, in two different track gauges.
Second, the ratio: Analog DC 100%, DCC nada - and no intention to change. My layout incorporates a number of semi-automatic operation circuits that are totally incompatible with DCC, and most of my powered rolling stock dates from the 1960’s and would be a (insert perjorative word/phrase of choice) to convert.
I truly believe the old mechanic’s axiom, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” My analog DC system ain’t broke. (I also believe in KISS - “Keep it simple, xxxxxx.”)
Might I change my mind in the future? If I do, it will probably be about the time that humanity’s first starship returns from Alpha Centauri…[alien]
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September 1964, with 1964 control technology)
I just recently picked up 3 newer locomotives because “the price was right”: A Proto 2000 NYC & Erie 0-8-0 switcher ($90 & $80, respectively) and a Proto 2000 NS GP38-2 ($68).
The NYC 0-8-0 was originally DC, but I had a Digitrax DH163L0 decoder installed into it so that I could run it on my DCC layout. The Erie 0-8-0 and NS GP38-2 are still DC. For now, I will probably keep the latter DC because that will give me opportunity to run them on other DC layouts.
At present, I have 7 DCC and 3 DC locomotives. By the end of the year I’ll have a total of 9 DCC and 4 DC locomotives.
All DC, none DCC. Probably will stay that way because of funds. One of my locos have the ability to switch between DC and DCC. Since sound is now available in DC, and I have a small layout, I see no need for me to switch.
My locomotive roster:
2 1980’s Atlas locomotives–still running like a champ!
1 silver series Atlas
1 Kato–my favorite!
3 life like proto 2000–one has a bad gear, I have to fix that one.
Don’t be overwhelmed. We all started off with one locomotive. Since I’ve gone with DCC every locomotive I have purchased since comes with the decoder and sound installed. If I found something I wanted in DC only I would buy it and convert it. I have 47 locomotives. 34 of them are DCC, 12 with sound. The others have plugs, I just haven’t installed decoders yet. I’ve been focused on building the layout and less on motive power and rolling stock right now. In 6 months that will be changing. The bulk of the layout will be done (or done enough).
Simple answer “no”. More real world answer “maybe”. When you convert a locomotive you have to look at ensuring the decoder has an output voltage which matches the lighting in your locomotive. For instance you don’t want a decoder that puts out 12V for lighting to power 1.5V bulbs. The second item is on older locomotives you need to ensure that the motor power leads are isolated from the frame, otherwise a short can occur and fry the decoder. Lastly, you need to make sure it will fit. Most decoders are small enough that this isn’t an issue but you should still check. I recommend going with the decoder manufacturer’s recommendation on which decoder works in which locomotive. Second, ask questions here and on other forums. Generally someone has already installed a decoder in a locomotive you are looking to add one. Sometimes the simplest things like “How do I get the shell off” are the most perplexing and not the decoder installation.
Bigwall, you mentioned a modeler that had 300 locos. Don’t think that impossible for you! I have about 125+, but I’ve been collecting them since the early '60’s! (HO) In time, we all seem to collect a lot of locos - especiaslly (SPELL CHECK BERGIE!!!) if you never sell/trade/or discard any. The majority of mine are Athern BB, but I have Atlas, Bachmann, IHC, AHM, ConCor, Tyco, and a few other brands, many of them still with price tags on them under $15 - and these are hobby shop price tags!!
About 2 or 3 years ago I bought the Lionel Veranda Turbine - then the Challenger - that made me get DCC. I use a dpdt switch so I can still run DC locos, but hardly do any more. I’ve since gotten 3 Atlas diesels - 2 sound & 1 silent - I’m sorry I got the silent one! My future purchases will all be sound DCC - and I hope to convert many of my DC units to sound as well.[{(-_-)}]
I probably have about 30 locos (note to self, learn from recent loco theft thread and inventory what you have). About half are DCC. The other half are essentially unused. Some of these will get converted to DCC, but that is not my priority right now. Others never will due to technical issues. Some of those are in-expensive, not particularly good locos from my childhood 35 years ago. I keep them for sentimental value more than anything else.
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I have 32 Atlas duel mode decoder equipped locomotives and one Bachmann DC equipped GE 70 Tonner…I have 47 Athearn,3 Walthers(GP15) and 4 Kato DC equipped locomotives…
I liked the comment about making an inventory - I should do that, if not just for kicks then for insurance purposes. Good project for today. I’ve followed the train theft story as well and it’s scary.
In any case, I must have somewhere in the area of 100 locos that I campaign depending on whether I’m running CP or CN, and which era / paint scheme - 100% DC. That excludes all the Rivarossi, Fleischman and other Euro stuff I inherited from my Dad which is at least that many again. The more recent purchases are mostly Kato, Atlas, and Proto, with a Dash (pun intended) of Athearn and Spectrum - I believe that most of these recently purchased ones are DCC-ready.
I don’t know if or when I’ll ever convert them… the benefits of DCC strike me as pretty cool, especially with the sound features and speed matching for lash-ups. My wiring is pretty robust, so I figure I could abandon the block system pretty easily, but man, thinking about the time and cost of converting all those locos strikes fear in my heart. In the meantime, I rationalize my decision to stay with DC with the notion that turning blocks on and off keeps me more involved.
If the price of retrofitting DCC ever gets down to - I dunno - $10 a pop (parts), I’d probably take the plunge. I’ve never done one, but have the sense that adding DCC is a pretty finicky process - I’d probably farm it out to someone else.
I’m wondering to myself if at some point, manufacturers will tire of offering both DC and DCC versions, and force-convert us to buying DCC-equipped power whether we use it or not.
I suspect that if one looked at the actual parts and manufacturing cost difference between the circuit board in a modern DC loco and the factory installed decoder in a DCC equipped loco that there would not be much difference. I would expect that the cost associated with designing 2 different boards and the manufacturing hassle of 2 different products would lead manufacturers to start producing a single electronic package that can run on either DC or DCC. The new BLI Blue Line range is heading in that direction. One drive and control package, if you want DCC plug in the decoder of your choice. With so many people still running DC only, I really can’t see the loco makers abandoning that important market segment any time soon. Even if we assumed that 100% of all new layouts under construction were to be DCC from now on, there would still be decades before DC faded away. If anything, recent initiatives by manufacturers show a re-focus on the DC market.
I’ve got 70 - 80 locos going back to the 70’s. I’m still DC and may never go DCC. Undecided. I just don’t want the expense of retrofitting. It may happen if I decide to keep my actual running roster small and the rest will be display models on my shelves. My layout is small ( 16x12) and one man op’s. I have some sound installed under the layout etc, but being 100% deaf in the left ear and 50% in the right (service connected injuries) sound doesn’t hold alot of fun for me. I can’t hear most of the sounds.
From my previous layout I have dozens of DC locos, mostly Athearn BB diesels and Rivarossi steam. Most of these are not worth converting to DCC although that was my original intent. My active fleet is now all DCC, a majority which came with factory equipped decoders and sound. Others were DCC ready and got plug in decoders. I have yet to retrofit one with sound or install a decoder into an old DC loco that was not DCC ready. There are just a few of my old fleet that I think rate a conversion. I did recently purchase a P2K Berkshire that I think has outstanding detail but was an earlier model and does not have factory decoders or sound. It was on clearance at too good a price to pass up. It is getting my first Tsunami with a speaker.