In short, can DCC have, say 3 trains on 3 seperate loops/ovals running at the same time? Or must an engine be still when switching to another unit? I aks because I’m new to DCC, & LOVE having as many trains as possible running at once (love the sound). I love to have trains on loop when I’m working in a switching yard.
Thanks all
Lee
an engine will continue running at the same speed (assuming level track) until issued another command , in short … yes
DCC allows for completely independent movement of engines’ speed and direction. It doesn’t matter what direction, how fast, or how many.
Lee,
I know what you mean. There’s just something very soothing about a train running the loop around the layout.
To answer your question - yes, you can run 3 locomotives on 3 separate loops or even the SAME loop simultaneously. Pretty cool, huh? [tup] Once I read about DCC, there was no way I was going to go down the DC route. It was a no-brainer decision for me.
Tom
Ditto for me.
And me.
You can have as many locos running at one time as you can keep track of. I have had four at a time with my two knob throttle and three at a time with three throttles. They work just fine, it is always me that makes the mistake. Doing three trains with three throttles and three operators is easy, if you don’t count crashes.
I’m planning a reverse loop on my layout. I understand that a reverse loop module will automatically change the polarity to keep the train running in the same direction. I guess it’s the track polarity that gets changed (say A to B and vice versa).
What happens in the case where there is a 2nd train on the same loop - how is it affected?
Same thing when the train is reentering the main line - are the other trains affected & how?
If there are two trains in the loop when it changes polarity, there will be no problem as long as all engines and all metal wheels (including all pickups on cars like lighted passenger equipment) are completely IN the reverse section when the first metal axle crosses the gaps between the reverse and normal sections.
Remember, DCC is not DC – rail polarity has no meaning as far as engine direction is concerned. That’s all done by the decoder. The problem is when the two rails are connected, even briefly.
Try searching the forums for “reverse loop” – you’ll find a whole passel of threads with all sorts of advice, diagrams, and suggestions.