Interesting DCC SIG Survey Results

These survey results are used with permission of the person who conducted the survey. We are presenting the results here as a way of sharing club experiences with installation of DCC.

Recently a member of the DCC SIG asked other members to send answers to a survey. He planned to use the info to help persuade his club to go DCC. Following is the tabulation of the 12 responses he received. Even though the survey is somewhat unscientific, the responses are interesting and may be helpful to you if your club is trying to decide whether DCC is for you or not.

How big is your layout in square feet?
Range from 324 sq ft to 2000 sq ft. Average 971.83 sq ft

How many members?
Range 1-50 Average 22

Do you operate your layout?
11 Yes 1 No 50% Heavy Waybill Operation

Cab Control or Walkaround?
100% Walkaround, all cabs dismantled after DCC

How long have you been using the system?
Range 6 to 60 months Average 19.83 months

Are you using common rail with opto-isolated boosters?
No 100%

Layouts were either rewired for direct home wiring or started from scratch Did you convert to home wiring?
Yes 50%

Did you maintain DC controls?
Yes 5 No 7

If you maintain DC is it used very often?
1 person answered 75% of the time, 1 person answered 50% of the time, 8 people answered "DC is dead let it rest" How long did it take to make the change?
Range 3 days to 6 months. This seemed to depend largely on the size of the club.

One final note, almost everyone said they would do it again if they had to in a heart beat!