You don't need DCC to have fun with trains.
Screen shot of the video on my buddy's layout
(https://i.imgur.com/yWjdrU9.png)
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku1lcOpM5Ew (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku1lcOpM5Ew)
Pretty neat video.
Those are all powered Bachmann pancakes. With the exception of the lead unit, the rest have had their traction tires replaced with solid metal wheels to minimize fighting between them, even though they are pretty evenly matched.
I had the group up to 6 locomotives, which was truly awesome - it was incredible how well they ran as a unit, and they also had incredible pulling power. They drew very little amps, no more than what you might see with a couple of Athearns running together, maybe less.
As you can imagine though, that string of locomotives was pretty long, approaching the length of the consist itself - so I pared the group back down to four units, with the other two on standby - just for a better look.
Model railroading is fun! ;D