Finely getting started,  received my train set and a few other support items I had ordered, my Digitrax DCC system will be here on Tuesday baring any delays.  Have a temporary track set up and started breaking the Locomotive in, (running it for 30 min. each direction).  Also need to get one more piece of track for the siding, it's just a little to short to be able to back in and hook up the cars (couplers not aligning up).  I need to come up with a cab # for the EMD GP40 since it doesn't have one, I would like to use all cab # marked on the Loco's with the new DCC system,  Bad memory on keeping track of whats what.     

Pdlethbridge: Thanks for the information, on the DS-64 I plan on getting one or two of them if needed.  I think you misunderstood the question I was asking, what I would like to know is will the track loose be any noticeable amount of power with the 8 Amp. Booster that I'm getting with the Digitrax super Chief, I'm only going to be running one or two trains at the most along with the operating of the switches, it's many going to be a one operator operation.   

Lexon: I have inherited a few Dremel's in the past, one with the flex shaft, thanks for the tip on getting a diamond cutoff wheel.

Thanks
Les

Just got conformation, the set should be here Wednesday by UPS, the other items  I ordered have been shipped by USPS and should hopefully be here around the same time.  The Digitrax will be ordered today, this should be everything I wanted, to get started. I haven't built the bench work yet, but it's going to be on wheels so I can pull it out to work on all sides. Still rearranging the garage for the size I want to use 10X5 or 6. 

Nigel:

You shop at one of my favorite toy store (Harbor Fright),  I  have most of the Items you mentioned already except the rail cutters.  I think I'll also pick up the Digital Caliper, the one I have is an old dial version.  I work as a Electronics Technician for a Gaming Company so my tool case has most of the hand tool I should need, also I do my own Mechanics, Carpentry, Welding, Electrical, Pluming, you name it.  You could say a Jack of all trades and a master at none. 

Doneldon:

Thanks for the tips, my Forum reading has kinda drilled the Lubricant usage in to my head.  I took your advice have been going through the older topics.  I think I'll stick with the 8 Amp., I've all ways tried to get the best that I can afford at the time.  Still would like to know about the DCC turnouts and if it would take away from the track power even with the 8 Amp. booster.

Pdlethbridge:

Understand, I been reading quit a few post concerning Lubricant use and the ones I got are from Aero-car.  I'll also check the new Locomotive for extra Lubrication before it gets used.

Jonathan:

I have a nice X-acto set that gets used on a regular basis, should go ahead and get a new razor saw, it's also been well used.

Thanks guys, any and all advice and comments are most welcome. 

Les

Will after all the reading and questions I finely went out and ordered my first starter set,  it's the Bachmenn Digital Commander (BAC00503 Union Pacific), also ordered the scale ruler, NMRA standards gauge, coupler gauge, lubricants and a book on DCC projects and applications.  Can anyone recommend anything else that I might need for my first layout.

Friday I'm ordering the Digitrax Super Chief xtra 8 Amp., was going to just get the 5 Amp. But the 8 Amp. Is only $10.00 more, so it will be worth the extra money now for the additional amperage which will be more then enough for what I have planed.

With the extra amperage, will I now be able to use DCC turnout's with out loosing power to the rails.

Thanks 
Les       

Quote from: Nigel on January 31, 2010, 02:49:50 PM
I am going to assume you mean 26" (inches) and not 26' (feet).  All of us would love to have space for an HO layout where the minimum radius was 18 feet.

That said, the 90 foot turntable is more than enough for 2-8-0/2-8-2 locomotives, especially anything that will not look absolutely horrible on 18" radius.

Actually I didn't specify Feet or inche's, the marks are apostrophe's for the S's

Dose that include the tender connected or is that just the engine.

EDITED: added apostrophe (could not remember the name earlier)

Thanks 
Les

I really want to add a turntable to my layout, my layout is going to mainly consist of a Maintenance facility's  and a yard setting.  I have already up-ed the size for the layout to 10' X ether 4' or 5' feet or wider to accommodate the turntable and buildings, still deciding.

The question I have pertain to which one to get for the engines I'll be running, It will primarily be Diesel with a few Steam Loco's 2-8-0 and or 2-8-2 sizes.  They should handle the curves alright, which will be 26's and 22's for the main line and the smallest my be 18's for inside the yard area.

Also the turntables come with code 83 track and I'll be using the Bachmann EZ-Track NS, can the track be changed on the turntable or will I need the Walters transition track (948-897).  And how would this be worked into the EZ-Track layout with out making it look bad.

Thanks 
Les

Mine is a Photo I took of a Union Pacific # 2370, EMD SD60M Loco., out by the cement plant in Apex.  It also had a UP EMD SD70m connected to it, the engine was running on the SD60, is that normal for them to let it idle with no one around.

Les

Been there done that, learned lesson, don't do it any more. 

Les

Thanks everyone

I haven't had time it get to them all, but there in my favorites for further reference. 

Les

Can anyone suggest a few good reference sites for looking up Locomotive history by the ID #, I found one site Railpicture.net but it's more for pictures then history.  Took some pictures of two UP loco's # 3933 EMD SD70M and #2370 EMD SD60M, I found out what type they are but would like a little more back ground on them. 

Thanks 
Les     

I'm still trying to figure all this out and would like to have a steam engine by / in the engine house, what was the last steam that was used by Union Pacific before switching to diesel's.

Thanks 
Les

Thanks Jim

I think I'm going to try to go to the Super Chief Xtra model, I like the Idea of the DCS 100 having the Computer interface built in and being able to run everything from a computer.  And I get the hand-held throttle which is what I wanted originally and will need if I start going to operating sessions.   

Plus I have an expert that knows the Digitrax inside and out, So I'll be asking questions.    

Thanks
Les

Thanks all. 

I stoped by the only local train shop today and meet one of the local train enthusiast and he was telling me about there set-up, so I asked what DCC system they are using and the only system that everyone use is the Digitrax, so it looks like I should go with a Zephyr to match the local boys.

Quote from: pdlethbridge on January 21, 2010, 06:51:30 PM
   The DS64 use a wall wort for power but still get the DCC signal from the rails so when you issue a command with the Power Cab the switches will move. The DS 64's can be used either for snap action Atlas or Bachmann turnouts or, if you upgrade later, can be switched over for use with slow motion machines like switch masters or tortoise. Snap action and tortoise types can't be mixed on a ds 64 but if you have 2 ds 64's one could be snap action and the other tortoise.

That's for signal purposes only,  It doesn't take any power away from the track . I'm I correct on my thinking.

Jim

Thanks for explaining it so well.  So if I wanted to use the more advanced throttle, I could plug it into the Zephyr and use it instead of the Zephyr controls.

Thanks Les

Thanks all for all your inputs.

Quote from: pdlethbridge on January 20, 2010, 06:22:52 AM
I use the NCE Power Cab, it's a wired hand held that controls everything I need on the layout. With a 6' cable I can reach any spot on the layout to operate the train. It also controls all my atlas switches that are wired to self powered DS64's from digitrax. They can control up to 8 switches each and because they use a capacitor discharge system, the turnouts  always work. It's nice to be able to control them from my hand held.

I think I'm sold on the Power Cab and using the Digitrax self powered DS64's.

Do the EZ-track switches using the same type switching as the Atlas, I like the idea of controlling them from the hand held with out using the track power.

Thanks again
Les

Can the Dynamis be hardwired instead of using the wireless, I'm not to fond of wireless data exchange.

Les

I'm getting my first HO set and it's coming with the EZ-Command controller, But after all the informative reading I've been doing here on the forum. I want to get a more advanced DCC system. 

I would like to get your guys input, from your past experience's with the more advanced systems.

Thanks
Les