Howdy I hope this question/concept doesn't sound dumb but it is something I was thinking about and if it is doable.
I currently have a large DCC Track Run that covers the majority of a 10 ft x 12 ft bench and goes upward to a upper level a bit smaller in size.
I also have on this bench a smaller run of train that I run my regular old timey DC or I guess analog is the same thing type trains.
My large DCC run is a Bachman set up with Flex Track and 2 DCC Controlled switches at this time.
My question is what if I wanted to be able to connect the DC and dcc lines together. Where I would want to run my old timey engines on the DCC track. I Know the engines won't work with the Bachmann DCC Controler and I must use the regular transformers for theolder engines to control speed and direction.........also that I cannot run my DCC engines on the regular DC track which I don't plan on trying anyway.
Would it be possible to wire both the DCC Controller as well as the regular Transformer both to the DCC Run. Using switches to turn the power off and on as desired for each control unit. Could I have a section of track that connect both the DCC Track run and the DC run but would be insulated from each section. I would run the DC engine onto this section using the DC Transformer and when it was there turn off the DCC unit to the DCC section and turn on the DC switch from the DC Transformer to this DCC track run. Then i would continue to run the DC older engine on to the DCC TRack run and when finished doing that reverse the situation to get it back over to the regular DC Track section.
I hope I have made this clear and you get my drift as to what I would like to try if possible.........has anyone else combined running of both DC and DCC engines on the same line. I know the DCC switches will not work when the DCC unit is off and am using the DC power from the old transformer to power the engines on the run. In this case I may remove the DCC switches and use regular Bachmann switches as they will work with either DCC or DC engines to my understanding........the difference being I will have to use a switch control by hand rather than the DCC style of switching.
Larry in St. Louis
I currently have a large DCC Track Run that covers the majority of a 10 ft x 12 ft bench and goes upward to a upper level a bit smaller in size.
I also have on this bench a smaller run of train that I run my regular old timey DC or I guess analog is the same thing type trains.
My large DCC run is a Bachman set up with Flex Track and 2 DCC Controlled switches at this time.
My question is what if I wanted to be able to connect the DC and dcc lines together. Where I would want to run my old timey engines on the DCC track. I Know the engines won't work with the Bachmann DCC Controler and I must use the regular transformers for theolder engines to control speed and direction.........also that I cannot run my DCC engines on the regular DC track which I don't plan on trying anyway.
Would it be possible to wire both the DCC Controller as well as the regular Transformer both to the DCC Run. Using switches to turn the power off and on as desired for each control unit. Could I have a section of track that connect both the DCC Track run and the DC run but would be insulated from each section. I would run the DC engine onto this section using the DC Transformer and when it was there turn off the DCC unit to the DCC section and turn on the DC switch from the DC Transformer to this DCC track run. Then i would continue to run the DC older engine on to the DCC TRack run and when finished doing that reverse the situation to get it back over to the regular DC Track section.
I hope I have made this clear and you get my drift as to what I would like to try if possible.........has anyone else combined running of both DC and DCC engines on the same line. I know the DCC switches will not work when the DCC unit is off and am using the DC power from the old transformer to power the engines on the run. In this case I may remove the DCC switches and use regular Bachmann switches as they will work with either DCC or DC engines to my understanding........the difference being I will have to use a switch control by hand rather than the DCC style of switching.
Larry in St. Louis