Quote from: trainman203 on June 12, 2024, 06:45:05 AMExcept.  Why the rear most derailed cars turned outward?  Maybe this was the rear of the train and the derailed locomotives were pushers.

That is one really sharp curve for the prototype, looks like on a layout almost.  What are all those horizontal things on the ground that look like another track? Welded rail laying on the ground?

This is a classic stringline derailment.The train tried to straighten itself out on the S curve. Like Terry said, empty cars in the front with a heavy train behind it. The weight of the train pulled the empty flat off the rails. This caused a chain reaction that derailed other cars. Notice the derailment happened on the inside of BOTH curves.

Had this been a case where the helper locomotive caused the derailment it would have looked much different. Instead of the train trying to run a straight line when it left the rails, it would have piled up due to the compression forces in the train ahead of the helpers. You would have had twice as many cars on the ground and they would have went everywhere, over the hill, on top of each other, etc. It would have been a jumbled mess instead of the relatively orderly derailment seen here.


Stringline derailments have become more common in recent years with the railroads obsession with running ever longer trains with fewer locomotives.

Quote from: Terry Toenges on June 09, 2024, 01:24:13 PMI didn't think about doing it on the side that way.

I'll be honest. I didn't think about this plan the way you did either. That's what makes these forums great. Everybody has a different perspective and we can all learn from each other.

I assumed he was talking about an up and over design like this.

The NCE Bach-Dsl decoder is designed to be a drop in replacement for the Bachmann PC board used in the DC versions. It should fit the GP30, GP35, GP38-2; GP40 and GP50. I am not sure about other locomotives in the line. Installation is as simple as desoldering the old PC board and resoldering the wires to the decoder. You will have to replace the headlights with the LEDs supplied with the decoder. WOrk slowly, replace one wire at a time, and check your work with an ohmmeter as you go and you should have no trouble.

The track is compatible, but you may run into problems using the piers. As shown on the box they result in a grade of over 5 1/2%, which is extremely steep and beyond the limits I use when designing my own layouts. WHat this means to you is that your locomotives, particularly steam locomotives, will not pull much on the upgrade section. I have a significantly less steep 4% grade on my personal layout, and the USRA 0-6-0 found in many Bachmann train sets will only pull 3 cars uphill. The diesels fare a bit better on the grade. Using the pier set in the up and over means your locomotives will pull even less on the uphill section.

As an alternative to the pier set, you could use Woodland Scenics inclines under the track to lessen the grade, OR use two Bachmann pier sets, with shims under alternate piers to cut the grade in half. Either one will lessen the grade, and increase your locomotives pulling power on that section. But it comes at a cost. By cutting the slope percentage in half, you double the length of the upgrade section. If you have the room to do this, it will work much better for you.

Quote from: Ralph S on May 31, 2024, 02:28:43 PMWow!  I know I'm an amateur in train modeling knowing that even with a ball park amount, 50 or more locomotives is way beyond my thought patterns.   I'm lucky to have 18 DCC loco's with 6 not by Bachmann.  I have 15 DC locos where 11 are not Bachmann, that is, Life-like, Tyco, Mantua, although they still work, they are all discontinued.  They are on my museum DC powered track.
There are 7 DC Bachmann's I want to convert to DCC, where 3 are MOW's.  This is where I run into a conundrum of either purchasing the Dynamis or purchasing the DCC decoders for the locos. I want to do both, but which to purchase first is where I'm at today.

I'd get the Dynamis and learn how to use it before I started converting locomotives to DCC. On older locomotives like the ones you describe, you'll have to hardwire the decoders, and you may have to completely rewire the locomotive in the process. It sounds like they are all low quality train set locomotives that were marginal performers on DC, and adding DCC isn't going to help them perform better. Locomotives like this have a single power truck, and traction tires on some of the wheels. The diesels will pick up power on only 4 wheels, two for each rail. DCC requires much better electrical contact to avoid problems, and these locomotives will not have it. Can they be converted? Sure. Just about anything can be converted to DCC. There are tutorials on the various DCC manufacturers website and you tube on how to convert almost anything to DCC. Will it be worth it? Only you can decide. To me, converting a Tyco using the existing drive has too many drawbacks. But me being a huge fan of the Alco locomotives I grew up around, I am currently in the process of rebuilding a Tyco C630 with DCC and a Hobbytown chassis. To me, after considering all my options, this seemed to be the one most likely to result in the locomotive I want.

When I first went DCC I did a cost/benefit analysis of existing systems at the time (2004.) EZ Command at the time came with a locomotive and was around $100, half the cost of the Digitrax Zephyr I ended up purchasing. It has since gone up in price to be only slightly cheaper than a new Zephyr. Dynamis seemed to me to be significantly more expensive than the other systems, which is why I didn't get one. At the time, I bought a DCC OnBOard locomotive for my son to run. I was impressed enough with it to take a second look at the rest of Bachmann's offerings. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they were at least as good as the Athearns I already had, and much easier to convert to DCC. While I don't have an exact number, I now own approximately 50 Bachmann locomotives.

Quote from: trainman203 on May 24, 2024, 09:52:57 AMPutting the iron through a plastic shell was basically a joke.

But. Fill me in.  I've not been very aware of availability of separate DCC only Decoders without sound, and a separate sound only decoder. If that's the case, can one piggyback a sound only decoder onto an existing Silent DCC Decoder.  Please elaborate on this for my enlightenment.

WHile I was specifically referring to the added complexity of adding a speaker and the associated hassle of finding a location, which may require a complete disassembly of the locomotive and milling of the chassis in some cases, yes there are separate add on "decoders" which can add sound to a non sound decoder. Digitrax calls them Sound Bugs, and they can be added to any decoder that is set up to accommodate them.

WHile I agree with Trainman to about having sound professionally installed, or better yet factory installed, i need to ask who leaves a plastic shell laying around near a hot soldering iron? That defies common sense. I have no problems installing DCC in a locomotive. Most are now plug n play anyway, and adding DCC is as simple as plugging in a decoder. DCC with SOUND is a whole other level of complexity. That's a distinction that needs to be made in any discussion about DCC.

You asked for thoughts and comments.

I for one would like to see EZ COmmand evolve into something of a junior DYnamis, fully capable of being integrated into the main system if desired. As it stands you can't do this now. I feel it could be modified to provide much more functionality without sacrificing its simplicity. Other DCC manufacturers have done this, years ago. How much different would it be if acquiring a locomotive evolved from  "push a button 1 to 10" to "Push Loco key, and enter locomotive number, then LOCO again?" Because that is the difference between EZ COmmand and Digitrax Zephyr. EZ command has 10 possible addresses, Zephyr has almost 10k. I am using Zephyr for comparison because it is the system I am most familiar with. Others on the market are undoubtedly similar.

EZ COmmand vs Dynamis should not be an either/or decision. Rather Dynamis should be an upgrade of an existing EZ COmmand, or rather the two systems should be made compatable so that EZ Command could function as a throttle and/or booster in a Dynamis system. This is what others do. And the others are EZ Command's competition, not DYnamis.

Is this one of the older Spectrums with the split frame similar to an N scale locomotive?

Quote from: Ralph S on May 10, 2024, 04:26:42 PMLet me get this straight, consisting involves two or more locomotives on the same train with many train cars.  Consisting two or more locomotives on the same train with the locomotives placed in different locations of the train is also considered "consisting".   That is, one locomotive at the front, then another locomotive could be located in the middle, or at the back end of the train.  This is also considered consisting.  Is that correct, cause Wikipedia doesn't distinguish the locomotives.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Train#Terminology

Then when I run my dummy locomotives behind my powered locomotives, the dummy locomotives are called DIC (dead in consist)?

This would depend on the configuration of the locomotives. If the ones in the middle are remote controlled by the engineer at the front of the train they are part of the consist. This is the equivalent of a DCC consist. If, as was historically far more common, the ones in the middle or on the rear of the train had their own crew they are helper locomotives and not part of the consist. This is the DCC equivalent of having both locomotives contolled seperately. And yes, those dummies are DIC.
 

This set appears to date from 1981-1982, in the era of low quality train sets. The locomotives were underpowered and not very durable. This is the stuff you see at train shows with locomotives going for around $10 and cars under $5.  Personally, I avoid stuff like this, as the trains Bachmann made from the late 1990s to present day are much better quality.

Not really. The info given in the example was standard given to the dispatcher. The consist part referred specifically to the locomotives on the head end. If they were not running, they were "dead in consist" as opposed to "dead in train" which referred to a locomotive being moved in the train, but not on the head end The difference was crucial. DIC locomotives could conceivably be restarted if the need for more power arose, and controlled from the leader. DIT locomotives were pretty much useless, and were just along for the ride. Other than their extreme weight, DIT locomotives were just another car in the train. There were also union agreements where engineers were paid by the total weight of the locomotive. I'm pretty sure that included all locomotives MUed together, regardless of whether they were running or not, since they could be restarted if necessary. Perhaps the longer term power consist should be used, which was another term I heard often.

Quote from: Ralph S on May 03, 2024, 08:32:18 PMThis brings up a question.  The Bachmann (Model 36508) EZ Command Dynamis Wireless DCC System can handle multiple addresses?  That is, be programmed with long addresses?  Also the Dynamis also can program/control the multiple CV's like other manufacturers.

Inquiring minds would like to know are there any Dynamis users out there?

I believe the answer is yes to both questions.