DCC conversion for Thomas engines?

[Greatgoat]

Wondering if anyone has tried to convert any of the Thomas series to DCC.  I'm trying to convert the engines to DCC so my son can run them at our club layout.  Any help or input would be great.   I need some idea how to wire and maybe which scale decoders might fit into the engines.  Might possibly want to put sound if there is enough room.  I currently have Thomas and Gordon engines. 
Thank You,

[JVene]

I'm asking the same question, but I found an article (sorry, link escapes me, my 6 year old keeps telling me I should be more organized) that discussed a conversion project.

They said the DH123 (some standard, small decoder) fit well. I don't find it, but I think a DZ123 is about the same. It's a simple motor control with 2 effects, a couple have 4. They're about $20 or less, shipped.

It appears there's room inside Thomas.

I'd love to hear about your Gordon when it gets done.

My son, for some reason, wants Percy to join Thomas, which is why I'm moving into DCC.

[michael4449]

I've come across these two but do not presently have any for other Thomas stuff:
http://www.trainbuddy.com/Reference/Decoding%20Engines/thomas.htm
http://www.tcsdcc.com/decoderpics/Henrygordon/HenryGordon.htm

Which you could have found at 'my' Yahoo! Group on Thomas, Great_1 (see below the message for the URL).

Mike Nickerson
Tracy, California USA

[Michael]

Is DCC worth it?  Cause I always wanted to have it, but I don't want to mess up my engines...

[willb]

dcc is definitely worth it.  i have converted several of my locomotives to dcc.  my bachman shay and another locomotive also have sound too.

[michael4449]

In the original Ffarqhar layout that the Rev Awdry made, the station came off the inside of a 4' x 6' oval.  A few sidings, but only one 'passing loop' to use the UK term for it. 

With the amount of work to be done at Ffarqhar in the morning, I expect much shuffling back and forth with engines close by each other.  It would be more fun to do this without having to power up / power down track sections to get the cars and trains in position.

Below my signature I have re-posted a story (that I write for my Yahoo! Group) that might give a better idea of what I mean.

Mike Nickerson
Tracy, California USA

Just after dawn, Ffarquhar

One of the more active goods plaftorm in Sodor was at
Ffarquhar, the terminous of Thomas' Branch. Adjacent to
a active cattle dock, there were three "spots" at the goods
platform. The "deepest" spot being the most desired by the
firms loading or unloading their goods because they could
work uninterrupted.

If a wagon in the shallow spot was not finished when it
was time for a different wagon to be moved into or out of
a deeper spot, the labourers had to secure the doors and
wait until their wagon returned. The wait usually was
fifteen to twenty minutes. Foremen tended to rush their
labourers more (Must not Delay!) at the shallower spots,
and lose their temper more readily there, too.

Thomas would watch this specticle every morning. He'd
be at the platform with Annie and Clarabell, awaiting for
time to become the first commuter train of the day to
Knapford.

Thomas would stay coupled so they could be moved on a
moment's notice. This meant Thomas was mostly
waiting when there was much shunting to be about.
By appearance only, this is inefficient, but the platform
was part of the only loop ("across-the-pond" folk call them
a runaround track) for miles. Should a complication arise,
the platform track could be cleared in about two minutes.
Such "constipations" (as Percy called it) was typically
when a shunter was found to be on the wrong end of
a wagon and thus its "way out" was blocked.
Therefore, Thomas stayed with his cars. Must not Delay!

Most of the grocers had their labourers unloading box vans
and refrigerator vans full of fresh vegetables and
produce at the goods dock. Involved were Cohan's,
Hollingsworth & Hightower, Robarts, and
even the Refreshment Lady!. This happened almost every
morning. Duck would bring these box vans / ice vans from
the Junction and set them next to the goods platform at
Ffarqhar. There would be as many as three cars being
unloaded at any one time.

After depositing these cars at the platform, and clearing
Percy on his way to the water tank (why did he not take
care of that earlier, thought he) Duck would set wagons
in and out of the Coal Dock and Oil Dock. There was a
spot, too, where loading and unloading of tank wagons
occurred. There was a tangle of pipes that connected to
Caustic Chemical, Sun Flower Oil Co., and Octopus Ink.
All the hose connections were of different shapes and
were painted a variety of colors, so no mixup of chemi-
cals to the various customers ever happened.

Until today...

[innes]

I really do plan on getting thomas engines but I have to ask, how many owners of them here have DCC installed on them ? Also, I  was watching a video on youtube...

hxxp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_L8ofAFJUw

And from watching the whole video, can anyone tell me if this person has a DCC system installed into the engines?

[michael4449]

Looks like it.

Operating in such close proximity was formerly done by blocks. (Block: an area of track needing to be electrically independent.)

• planning where the block boundaries are, then,
• putting insulation or gaps between the blocks
• putting a separate electrical feed to each block
• selectively energizing a block through an electical switch -- often set so you choose which power pack the block is connected to.

With DCC, it would be easier.

Mikke Nickerson
Tracy, California 

[Michael]

Yes.  DCC sounds good.  I have a small 4X6 and it has 4 blocks! 
Blocks are:
-mainline 1
-mainline 2
-Yard and 1 shed stall
-a "dead" shed stall