Great, guys, exactly what I thought. I just ordered a deeply discounted DC Piko ICE 3 train set. So what I plan to do is either run my layout on DC, only DC locos, all my new Bachmann DCC locos wouldn't heat up, right ? or run it on Dynamis, only DCC locos. The point is just separately switching between a DC power pack and DCC Dynamis. I want to see different locos running because I have 6 mainlines. I'm so excited about trying DC, as there are some great deals on European stuff, down here in Nicaragua they don't even know what a train is, I miss trains, man.   

How many DC HO locos will a standard DC starter set power pack run ? Any experience ? Like 2-3 or more ? Any damage can occur to the motors depending on the number of engines run at the same time ? I think my DCC Bachmann EZ track turnouts and crossovers and remote #6 turnouts, in this to-be DC case all operated only manually, not to screw thngs up, are electrically insulated, no polarity or short issue, right ? 

Quote from: Hunt on November 09, 2011, 10:16:25 PM

When using DCC

Never connect more than one DCC Command Station to a layout.

Never simultaneously connect a DCC Command Station and a DC power pack to the same track.

Never let a DC locomotive idle on track connected to DCC.

Best Not to run a locomotive without a decoder installed using a DCC system. Not all DCC systems have the capability to run a locomotive without a decoder properly installed in it.

wow, I read this loud and clear, I think I'll have to run a completely separate DC track layout on my second level of the DCC layout because I desperately can get some dirty cheap European DC models, including a Czechoslovakian loco, and also Mehano high speed trains DC I crave are much cheaper to get as well, you know, a tight budget, my deadly Sixth Gospel saga E books don't sell that much on the internet, no lol, 6 would buy me a Mehano speed train, lol. Sorry for my HO scale feast-driven rants !!!

so let's say, independently, first I'll use the Piko DC ICE3 starter set, the track and two curved switches included, are code 83, so I'll have to use transition joiners, right ? , I still have a lot of Bachmann EZ track to use, Atlas code 83-100 transition joiners, do they work very well ? and then I'll run only DC engines on that separate minilayout, just for the beholder's eye, I've got it !


Also I could use the unused Acela DCC speed controller, its accessories part, as a separate DC power pack for my Bachmann turntable, right ? , the instruction sheet  says operating in DC mode requires two separate power packs, one to the turntable, one to the track, which I wouldn't use because of my Dynamis, so there's no risk of a short, right ? Thank you all very much. Please just confirm my "suspicions".

you mean, for the DC engines only, I could only use the standard DC power speed controller, for example, from this PIKO #57194 DB ICE III STARTER SET, and my Bachmann DCC locos would go up in flames, if run at the same time, because of the speed controller ?

Guys, I've been using Bachmann Dynamis DCC system, but I also have a speed controller from the 2010 DCC Acela set. All my locos are Bachmann DCC. Now I've seen on Ebay a number of smashing Mehano Speed Trains for $ 200, Thalys, ICE3, Ave, and TGV, they are DC, I suppose. Could I run the speed trains only on my massive layout if I use a standard power pack instead of my DCC system, will they all run only in the same direction, will my Bachmann DCC locos run at the same time without any problem, overheating, etc. ? Could the 2010 DCC Acela set speed controller be used as the standard DC power pack, what's the difference, isn't it the same, the voltage to the track ? Could I run standard DC locos on such a layout without overheating, or do I have to use Dynamis for my Bachmann DCC locos only, and for my DC Piko and Mehano locos I plan to order only the standard DC power pack ? Thank you for any clarification !

I got both Atlas and Walthers Roundhouses and they work very well with the turntable.

got 24, all Bachmann DCC, no other brand yet, super cool

Quote from: Doneldon on October 24, 2011, 06:07:03 PM

Quote from: czechwizard on October 23, 2011, 11:13:05 PM
Yes, only fillins, no rare curves.

cz wiz-

Okay. I'll try to dig something up this week and send it to you. Please send me your address in a PM.

PM sent, thank you very much Doneldon                                                                                                 -- D

Quote from: jward on October 24, 2011, 10:26:10 AM
what i was saying was that you can bend any standard piece of track if you cut the plastic between the ties. this has nothing to do with roadbed, flip a piece of atlas track over and you'll see the little plastic web that holds the ties together. remove this on only one side, and you have flexible track.

Aha! ? But I've broken a couple, so it hasn't worked out for me, I'm not very skillful.

Quote from: jward on October 23, 2011, 07:53:08 PM
did you know that is you snip the webbing underneath the rails of a piece of standard track, between the ties, you can bend it like flex track?

I will slip Woodland Scenic O track bed below the fillins once I get them to fill up the gaps, or otherwise I didn't understand what you were saying, sorry.

Yes, only fillins, no rare curves.

Yeah, unfortunately I need a flex track because  my 5 45 degree crossings and 3 60 degree crossings won't fit the EZ track anywhere. I would appreciate if anyone bought one or two Atlas Super flex NS code 100 tracks, cut it neatly in three parts to fit a large letter envelope to ship it to Nicaragua. Of course I will pay you in advance ! Thanks for the sympathy but Bachmann should have figured the crossing issue years ago. On Ebay no one wants to even bother. So I wish, I wish, I wish...

Wow, nobody's got anything. So could anyone passing by a LHS please buy one for me and ship it to me, cutting it neatly in three pieces, charge me your work as well, to fit a large envelope to send it cheap as a letter ? How much is it ? I pay you by PayPal. On Ebay nobody sells only one piece of track !

Hi at it again,

guys, doesn't anyone please have some spare Atlas NS Flex track pieces ? What size ? Any size ? Its condition ? I need a few fillers between EZ track 45, 60, and 90 degree crossings. I would pay you by PayPal for the track and the shipping so that you can send it cheap as a letter to Nicaragua, you know, the real end of the model train world.  Please and thank you !

Quote from: jward on October 05, 2011, 10:37:52 PM
for a 180 degree turn you'd need 5 26"r and 4 22"r. alternate them with a 26 on each end of the curve, to provide an easement. your curve shoudl look like this:
26-22-26-22-26-22-26-22-26......

I have just tried it, it works well, my SD 40-2s and DD40AX don't derail, so
I have another, this time 24" radius, loop using my spare track, thanks a lot.