Gene- I'm not a DCC guy, but if you are switching the yard, you will need enough room in the district for the yard to hold a train on the switch lead for sorting the cars. At least that's the way we do it with the 1:1 "train sets". -Mike

Gene- I sent you an email. Not sure if it went through. Let me know.- Mike

Gene- If you're the steam C&O guy with the Grafton, VA, club, please contact me. I've found some drawings which might interest you.- Mike S.

Dave- I enjoy molding. I've been using tin bizmuth and getting some great results. If I had a master to make a mold from, I'd be happy to give yours a try. I've been making O scale trucks for a friend here in Richmond, Virginia, for a few years now. The one thing I'd suggest is that you find some small bronze bearing blocks to place over the axle ends. The tin bizmuth makes a plenty strong truck structurally, but the wear point for the axle tends to wear too quickly.- Mike

Virginian- That sounds interesting... and frankly, more like I was expecting to hear about high-end type sound units. Going back to my friend's sound-equipped Spectrum, do you think it sounds like he needs to make a few adjustments? Or is there that much difference in the Spectrum locomotives and your locos? Thanks- Mike

Thanks, guys. Those last few posts got down to answering my questions. I guess the bottom line is that I'll probably just stick with my DC non-sound engines. (The only possible exception which I might make would be the 2-10-2 model of #5044 which BLI is going to release inlate 2007. Since I have the bell from that engine, I might just have to find a way to get the model!) Thanks again- Mike S.

Ok, Nigel. Are you saying that the Bachmann locos have BEMF? Also, if they do, does that mean they should be synchronized correctly. I hate to sound so ignorant here; but I really am just try to find out if the Spectrum I saw had a problem... or if all of them are just synchronized poorly. The chuffs were nowhere near coordinated with the piston/rod movement. Thanks for your thoughts.- Mike

OK- For clarification for me... you're saying that all Bachmann factory sound equipped HO locomotives have synchronized sound...  Correct? And, if you're saying that, is the synchronization controlled by back emf or by a physical trigger?- Mike S.

That's what I thought, Gene. Since the locomotive I was watching was a new out-of-the-box Spectrum C&O DCC, I was surprised that it wasn't synchronized. Maybe the owner needs to contact repair?!- Mike S.

With the Spectrum locomotives  (and for that matter, for BLI or others) equipped with sound, is there any synchronization of the chuff rate with the movement of the train? I was watching a friend's C&O Spectrum DCC equipped locomotive last night, and it was not synchronized. However, he was running it on DC (the layout isn't finished yet.) I was wondering if the synchronization might be tied in with the DCC. I guess I would have to say that I was surprised that such a nice looking and running loco was so "out of synch". Any info would be appreciated.- Mike S

Make that last one
35.5 "  20 sections

That's what happens with "late night" postings!- MS

DC for me in N, HO, S, large, and some O (rest of O is AC). Plan to go with either Direct Block Control or Computerized Block Control for future HO layout.- Mike S.

Sounds good. Are we talking pulsed power or just variable DC? I've heard some for and some against pulse. I guess the main thing I want is good slow speed control. The hand held is also attractive. Electronically, I have no experience with actual design; but I have soldered together several kits that have always worked first time out. Do you have any favorite schematic/designs that you'd recommend? For what it's worth, I have lots of telephone style modular plugs, cable, and NIT boxes/strips and the related tools, so the hookup shouldn't be much of a problem. Thanks for your thoughts. - Mike

Sheldon, I really liked some of the thoughts expressed in the multi-throttle article you referenced here. As I've been checking out options, I have been looking at the MRC power packs. Do you know what the differences are between the older (I assume) 2800 Dualpower to which the article refers and the newer (also assumed) Tech 4 Dual Power 280? I've only been able to get technical specs on the 280. Also, do you have any other sugestions for a "standardized" power source for multi-throttle operation? I'd appreciate your thoughts.- Mike S.