New to the hobby, started with my old Burlington switcher and a few old cars, and it seems to be getting bigger from there.
I would appreciate some help on a couple things:
1. Will any DCC locomotive run on a DC layout? Specifically a Spectrum?
2. Want a steam locomotive someday. My layout has both 22" and 18" curves, but no 15". What size limitations do I have so as to avoid derailments and any other operating troubles?
Spectrum locos with Bachmann decoders will work on DC. So will BLI. Others I'm not sure about. I believe Tsunami will work on DC, but I'm not sure about other Soundtraxx decoders.
For appearance sake, the largest steam with 18" radii should be no larger than a 2-8-2. There are many which are made to negotiate 18" (the Rivarossi 2-6-6-6 C&O H-8 being one example), but they look awful there. For Bachmann, I'd suggest the 4-4-0, 4-6-0, 2-8-0, 2-10-0, the Chinese 2-8-2 if you can find it. In IHC, I'd go for a NEW 2-8-0, 2-8-2, or 4-6-2. Model Power Mantua, the 2-8-2 or the 4-6-2. BLI, the USRA light 2-8-2.
Gene
Good advice.
Welcome to the hobby Peter.
Bob
If you have a DC layout and it is going to be a long time before going to DCC, then why pay for a decoder that you will not be using. As long as the locomotive is DCC ready, than you can always add a decoder.
Been away for awhile, but thanks for the advise, SteamGene, on the locomotives. I have been buying a few locomotives, DCC plug w/o decoder.
Thanks Again.
Welcome back.
Gene