I use Stainless and with battery and capasitor backup so track connectivity is not an issue for my railroad.

Why do I use Stainless?

Perhaps the difference between my layout and TOCs layout is how it is constructed.

Dave has a very nice layout that is raised.  My layout is on the ground.  My operators walk on the layout and I do run wheelbarrows over the track.

I do have brass and alluminum code 250 for guard rails but this track is way to fragle for my uses.  I can bend the aluminum and small brass rail by hand. Stainless on the other hand retains it shape unless bent with a very strong rail bender.

For my uses I will stay with Stainless.

Since I use a DCC Hybrid approach it does not matter to me between Aluminum, Brass, or Stainless.  All work equally well.

However, if you want to use DC, DCC, or Direct Radio using track power with no auxilary on board power. then Stainless is a much better choise for a track material as you simply wipe it down to get the dirt off the rails.  The other materials do need cleaning for pure track power applications.

Hope that helps.

Stan Ames

For those going to Detroit for the NMRA National next week, I will be providing a clinic on Hybrid Drive and DCC Direct Monday and Tuesday evenings which may be of interest to the Large Scale community.

Hybrid Drive places an auxiliary power source on board the locomotives and allows the locomotive to operate and be controlled on both clean and dirty track.

DCC Direct separates the DCC signal from the power and allows one to use DCC with both track power and battery power with the signal coming from either the track or via radio.  For example you can run the same locomotive on DC track power, DCC track power (with or without auxiliary power on-board), DCC track signal with on-board batteries, radio signal with track power or radio signal with on-board batteries. Only DC power and DCC without on board auxiliary power remove the requirement for clean track. 

These technologies allow locomotive manufacturers to use the latest in electronics within their locomotives and the user to select whatever control method they desire for their railroad.  By basing the concept on the use of the world wide DCC standard packet format, we have a standard interface point that any any all manufacturers can design to. 

After the Clinic I will post the power point slides on the tttrains WWW site

http:www.tttrains.com/dcc/hybriddrive

Stan Ames

I have been folowing this thread at a distance.  I can program the address using the EZ command with no problems as can all others I know of so clearly there is a unique problem here that needs to be solved.

The mention of a booster is for systems with a very low current seperate programming track. The Bachmann EZ Command programs at full track voltage/current unless you install a seperate resistor for programing.  Therefore no booster is needed.

Have you sucessfully programmed the address of other decoders on your EZ Command system?

I only ask in order to try to determine if it is a system or decoder issue.

I am curious so send me an email off list and I will call and walk you through it to determine what the issue is.

Stan Ames
stanames@comcast.net

On the bottom of front of the smokebox on the new LS Porter there is a round plastic part that extends down about 1/2 inch.  Does anyone know what this is for or is is simply left over from a previous locomotive that should be cut off.  To me it looks like it was origionally intended as a post for attaching a screw and should not be there.

Any ideas?

Stan Ames

Simple answer Yes.  Bachmann locomotives are designed for outdoor use.

I live in MA and we get lots of snow.  If you leave any brand of cars outdoors for an extended period the paint will fade but the cars will still run.  Locomotives of any brand should not be left out for extended periods in the snow and rain as most contain electronics and I believe it is best not to leave them outdoors for extended periods.  Many years ago I had an LGB sound system that corroded after I left a locomotive outdoors all season.

I do operate my railroad in all weather all year round.

Bachmann track is not intended for outdoor use.

Hope that helps.

Stan Ames

My Railroad has both.  The percentage of brass gets less each year.  Why?  Because I love stainless.  All new track is stainless and each time I work on a section the brass gets replaces with stainless.

Some considerations.  If you want very tight curves (R1 or even R2) go with Brass.  The locomotive wheels push hard against the rails on tight curves and some have reported excess wheel wear on the locomotives wheels using these very tight curves.

If you walk on your track use stainless.  Over the years I have has some problems with verticle curves on Brass caused by heavy traffic over the track.  Never a problem in this regard with Stainless.

Hope that helps.

Stan

Quote
Is that the Roman numeral 2 or eye-eye m scale? and what does the "m" stand for?

Roman numeral 2.

I scale is 1:32
II scale is 1:22.5

m refers to meter guage

Standard guage II has a much larger distance between the rails then IIm does because II used 4'81/2 as the distance between the rails.

IIm and Fn3 both are narrow guage scales which happen to share the same track guage.  As you might expect 1:22.5 on 45mm track is very popular in Europe because it represents an accurate scale/guage combination for meter guage which is common in Europe.  Likewise Fn3 is gaining in popularity in the US because we have 3 foot guage railroads.

The size difference the two scales is greater then the scale difference might infer in part because US prototypes tend to be wider then European prototypes.
Stan Ames

Its always an interesting topic when scales and guages are discussed.

Just to correct some minor problems above.  1:22.5 is actually II scale.  IIm is 1:22.5 meter guage railroads and happens to run on 45mm track.

So Fn3 is 36" between the rails which are 45mm apart and IIm is 39" between the rails which are 45 mm apart. 

Several years back the manufacturers of large Scale met and decided to use the term G to refer to large scale models intended to work together on the same track with larger flanges and loop and hook couplers. 

Stan
Former chair of the NMRA Large Scale working Group

Quote
  Could you try and get together with Jon Dekeles and get this seminar taped and put on LSOL? This would allow those of us that unfortunately can't make the ECLSTS to also partake! I don't know about anybody else but I would be extremely interested in that seminar and I'd hate to miss it!

Steve

I have posted the power point slides from the seminar on the hybrid drive web site.

http://www.tttrains.com/dcc/hybriddrive/

There are now a variety of options.

DCC signal and power via track (traditional DCC)

DCC signal and power via track with on board backup power

low power DCC signal via track with on board power

DCC serial signal via radio with track power or on board power.

Stan Ames
Proud member of perhaps a different battery mafia

Lately there have been a lot of discussions on this forum on the use of DCC in Large Scale.

For those going to the ECLSTS this weekend in York PA, I will be presenting a seminar on Hybrid Drive to include operating a DCC locomotive with back up battery power:  using track power, using track signal or using Direct Radio Control.  The seminar will be from 6PM to 7PM on Friday evening.

A lot of the large scale manufacturers will be in attendance at the show including Bachmann.

I believe The Bachmann will also be there for the show.

Stan Ames

Over the past month it seems that the Direct Radio Control fans and the DCC fans seem to be working against each other.  Some see these two different methods as being very different.  Actually  they are not so far apart.

Manufacturers are increasingly integrating DCC within their locomotives.  This can be a real advantage to both the users and the manufacturers.  Unfortunately the Direct Radio Control folks have often faced the need to rip and replace.

It does not need to be this way.

I have written a proposal for the DCC working group on how to merge or accommodate both approaches.  This will allow any Direct Radio Control manufacturer to build products that can integrate with the decoders which will preserve the investments of all.

The proposal is linked from my Large Scale site and will be updated as we move forward with more details as necessary.

http://www.tttrains.com/largescale/

Stan Ames

Does the headlight blink?  This is one sign of over voltage.

You might want to try a much smalller power supply designed for HO scale if you have one.  If the smaller supply works then it is likely that your BridgeWorks power supply is putting out move voltage then your Shay likes.

If the smaller lower voltage supply also does not work then you likely have a defective unit.

Stan

Dennis

Sounds like something happened inside the loco.  Like a wire breaking off or the electronics failing.

But before jumping to that conclusion can you provide the following information on your power supply

Make
Model
Output Voltage
Amperage

That would help us understand what the problem might be.


Stan Ames

Over the past few weeks I have been putting together a site on Fn3 that includes the Bachmann new 1:20.3 cars.  Thanks to all who have helped contribute to the prototype info on the cars.

http://www.tttrains.com/largescale/

This is a work in progress and I intend to add more information as time permits.  One might imagine from the site that I really like the new Bachmann 1:20 cars and clearly hope more are to come.  Now if only the snow would stop, the crews could get more trains out to service the industries on the railroad.

Suggestions for what additional information should be included or other corrections are greatly appreciated.

Stan Ames

Tim

Quote
Just don't run it on a pwm type controller.

A pwm signal may "confuse" the decoder such that it can lose all programming, and in worst case situations actually damage the decoder.

The above information is not correct.  I have never seen any DC  PWM power source cause the type of decoder produced by Bachmann loose its programming.

So long as the max voltage of the supply is less then 24 volts DC the decoder will be fine.  If you find the DC pulses confuse the decoder, simply insert a capasitor across the DC outputs.

In general this is not a problem as the decoder is designed to work in DC mode.

Stan Ames