Putting in the last of the track of a new layout. Have not used DCC before but will be installing a Digitrax system. Because I am anxious to see a train run I simply would like to know if I can take one of my analog engines and operate it on a DCC system? I will be installing decoders but my 4 year old grandson and I just want to see that first engine make the 8x12 loop.

tony

-- tony mazurek (tmaz@rrmail.com), May 09, 2004

Answers

Yes. Just select address 0 on your throttle. Some engines suffer motor damage when operated on address 0 for extended periods of time. I would get that smile on your grandson's face and after he leaves, put a decoder in the locomotive.

Another option if you are in a rush to see trains run is to buy a new locomotive with a decoder already installed. Here is the perfect excuse to buy that new locomotive!

Many of the new locomotives that don't come with a decoder already installed at least come ready to plug a new decoder into it. You can be up in running in a matter of minutes. When buying one of these locomotives, be sure to ask what you have to do to put a decoder into it. Some locomitves are more ready than others. The simplest ones just plug into a socket.

-- Allan Gartner (wire4dcc_admin@comcast.net), May 09, 2004.

All the analog engines I've tried on DCC makes a terrible noice. Almost destroyed the pleasure of running them, for me.

-- Jan Frelin (jan.frelin@lnctv.com), May 11, 2004.