Case Studies, Examples, Layouts & Track Plans

I have a 4x8 H0 scale layout.  I'm 13 years old and REALLY thinking about switching to DCC, I need to know really fast because I want to ask my parents to get it for Christmas.You wouldn't know by looking at those who edit the Tech Support Depot, but there actually was a time when we too were thirteen, and just starting out in model railroading.  In many ways, we still are thirteen years old; we just can't move as fast.  Consider this photograph from our youth: This little bit of ancient model railroad history dates back to the 1950's, ...

At first glance, the typical switching railroad would not seem to be a good candidate for DCC operations. Yes, there may be only one locomotive on many of these railroads, but that locomotive can still benefit from DCC. By adjusting the starting, mid-range and maximum speed values of this locomotive, you get very good slow speed control, perfect for the switching railroad. And, of course, if you add a second locomotive, then DCC becomes the clear choice because you are not longer having to throw toggle switches just to move around the yard. The DCC environment also gives you turnout ...

This H0-scale railroad track plan first appeared in the Atlas Model Railroad Company's book "Six Railroads You Can Build", written by John Armstrong and illustrated by Tad Stepek. This book was first published in 1958 and has been reprinted several times. A classic bowl of spaghetti, the Transbay Interwoven has two reversing loops and a turntable. DC Control For DC operation, Atlas specified three Atlas Controllers (for the reverse loops and the turntable), two Atlas Selectors (to control eight track segments) and ten controllers for the railroad's turnouts. DCC Makes Things Simple With DCC, the wiring of this railroad is ...

This Atlas Snap-Track layout appears in the Atlas Model Railroad Company's book "Beginner's Guide to HO Model Railroading". It includes a reversing section which can be controlled with a Digitrax AR1. DC Control For DC operation, Atlas specified an Atlas Controller (for the reverse loop), two Atlas Selectors (to control eight track segments) and seven controllers for the railroad's turnouts. DCC Makes Things Simple With DCC, the wiring of this railroad is considerably simpler. Because each locomotive has a unique address, the section insulated gaps and the two Selectors are not necessary. Likewise, the Controller is replaced with the AR1 ...

In response to a request, here is a semi-official track plan of the Texas & Southwestern: The railroad uses Kato Unitrack: 249mm radius curves 282mm radius curves Seven #4 Right turnouts, configured to be "non current routing" Five #4 Left turnouts, configured to be "non current routing" Two 90° crossings A variety of straight tracks, including the 20-091 Short Track Assortment Three 20-050 Adjustment Tracks Several 24-818 Terminal joiners to supply power to the railroad and to connect the AR1 to the reversing segment Insulated Unijoiners were used to define the reversing segment. Alert readers will note that the tracks ...

  My layout is in N scale, with an 85 foot double track main, a 12 track storage area, small yard, and engine facility. The layout measures 10 X 14 with two helices. There are a total of 34 engines, many of which are with their trains in the storage area. All of the already made-up trains (11) have two or three engines on them, ready to be brought up via a helix to run on the railroad. Currently, the road is divided into six parallel blocks (DC); 12 blocks in all. In the future, I plan on adding a ...

I am a 'newbie' to model railroading.  I have a 10' x 10' room put aside for my layout which will be basically a U or horseshoe shape going around three of the walls.  I am using Atlas code 55 in N scale. Since I'm starting from scratch, I want to do it RIGHT and that is why I've decided to buy DCC straight away. I want to run a maximum of 4 trains at once. I would like the capability of having two users (drivers) operating at the same time, but I want to manually set turnouts. I will ...

We have designed a layout at my place with double main line with reverse loop at each end. Plus there is a branch line with two reverse loops that in one loop is connected to the main line. The main lines stay double track even at the split. The branch stays single with only one connection with the main. My plans where to use the AR1 for all my reverse loops and the PM42 for my power control. What if any problems do you see with all these loops? Nothing, if you can guarantee that at any given time only ...

I am now constructing an N-Scale layout with Digitrax DCC system. I know SE8C and two-heads signal mast supplied by your company are applicable for a entry signal mast for the both of main and siding (branch) lines. However, I don't know how the signal mast is used in the case of "more than two" siding lines. For example, the next picture was taken in Powder River Basin (Converse Jct.) in Wyoming State. TS, Japan In this picture, some two-heads signal (mast) can be seen. In every signal mast, the top signal head will be for a main line. But, ...

I am putting the finishing touches on my 10 x 20 foot H0 railroad. It is a copy of the Cajon Pass, Salt Lake & Santa Fe RR by John Armstrong (#86 in the 101 Track Plans by Linn Westcott) [Kalmbach Publishing, ISBN 0-89024-512-6; still in print]. I have decided to go with DCC and my local hobby store recommended Digitrax. The layout is in my basement, I will be the only operator, the plan has 54 track switches (34 NJ International twin coils and 20 Tortoise turnout motors). Can you give me an idea as to what equipment I ...

I have multiple reversing districts, do I have to buy a separate booster for each one?You can run more than one reversing district off a single booster, but there is the potential problem that might arise is if you have more than one set of wheels crossing more than one set of gaps at the same time. In this case, the booster will detect a short and shut down (unless the polarities just happen to be matched up in which case you won't see a problem). We recommend that you use the AR1 Auto-Reversing unit or the auto-reversing capability of the ...

I want the top of the line Digitrax Set. Which one should I buy?Super Chief Extra with Duplex Radio.  

I want to sit back & watch my railroad run. Can you do that with Digitrax?The Digitrax Command Control System is designed for prototypical operation. The objective is to provide realistic operation so that the models run like the real thing. To do this you need an engineer in control of each locomotive. The starter sets are not designed for automated train control when used by themselves. To set up automated operation, you can set up the layout with detection and or transponding and use a computer to handle the automated operations.

We are a LARGE club layout. We have several reversing districts, 25 operators and run 30 trains at a time. We want computer control, turnout control, signaling. You name it, we've got it. What equipment do we need to run this layout?You probably need the Super Chief Xtra Set with additional throttles, boosters, mobile & stationary decoders & detectors.A typical HO layout of this size would need approximately 5 boosters & power supplies to provide enough power to run 30 engines. The DCS100 command station/booster will be one of these boosters so; you would need 4 additional DB150 series boosters. You will ...

I have a medium/large sized layout with a reversing district. I want to operate 6-10 trains with several operators. I am interested in turnout control, prototypical consist operations and signaling to be added later. I might want a computer added later, too. Which components do I need?You will need a Super Empire Builder Xtra or Super Chief Xtra with additional throttles for the operators and an additional DB150 booster or PM42 for the reversing district. You will also need at least one additional DB150 to provide enough power to run 6-10 trains in N or HO. You can choose and Digitrax ...

The Kelana Jaya Rail Line model layout uses WinLok 2.1 running on a PC under Windows 98 to operate the trains, turnouts, signals and to use the feedback from the block detectors for train control. This equipment was configured and programmed to PUTRA's specifications by Dr. Hans R. Tanner of DigiToys Systems. PUTRA specified the following capabilities for the control system used for the simulation: 1. Run eight trains at once in any combination of automated or manual control. 2. Define specific routings and be able to assign automatically or manually any route to any train at the time the ...

The layout uses twenty-eight turnouts on the mainline and an additional eleven turnouts in the yard. Each turnout is powered by a Tortoise slow motion turnout motor. Each of the twenty-eight mainline turnouts has three dwarf signals associated with it. The aspects of the signals are shown below. The indications of the signals are: Green = Proceed Yellow = Proceed with caution Red = Stop Each signal has one head with two LEDs. There are also thirty-eight mainline block signals (red/green) that are controlled by heavy duty single pole double throw relays. This makes a total of 122 signals. Since ...

The Kelana Jaya Rail Line model is a DCC intense layout, using many Digitrax command control components to achieve the goal of training operators of the actual rail line. The railroad was built in the 1990's and many of the Digitrax devices used for the Kelana Jaya Rail Line model have been superseded with improved units. Components used for the Kelana Jaya layout: 28 Mainline turnouts 11 Yard turnouts 39 Tortoise switch machines 84 Dwarf signals (yellow/green, red/green, red/yellow) 38 Mainline block signals 38 Heavy duty SPDT switch relays Digitrax Components Used for the Kelana Jaya layout: 1 DCS 100 ...

The track plan of the model Kelana Jaya Rail Line is shown below: Included in the model is the double track mainline with crossovers, two elevated stations with center platforms, one at-grade station with outside platforms and two underground stations, also with center platforms. The storage yard, maintenance yard and reversing loop at one end of the system and the four track stub terminal at the other end of the system are also modeled. The yard, station tracks, crossing loops and distances between stations are all scaled to hold trains no larger than three cars. The layout is designed to ...

The prototype operation that gains the most from DCC is one of those least frequently modeled today: Rapid transit. Rapid transit consists of streetcars, interurban, subway, elevated or commuter rail track and equipment. The trains are usually very short and intervals between trains are relatively brief. Lots of trains run each hour and many trains are running at the same time. All of this operation is very much like a typical model railroad. Any photograph of a major downtown in the streetcar era will have from two to ten streetcars visible with some only feet apart. Simulating this type of ...

The Nemo Junction module has a total of seven color light signals that regulate the flow of train traffic through this interlocking plant. Controlling the Signals with SE8C The SE8C is the signal driver, sending current to the various LED's of the color light signals. Each signal is operated via switch commands from the Zephyr. The SE8C has eight Driver Sockets, identified as DRV1 - DRV8. : A Signal Driver Cable (a 10-conductor ribbon cable) is plugged into a SE8C Driver Socket to control as many as four signal heads per Driver Socket. Each signal head can display 4 lighting ...

My layout is the Apex & Hypotenuse design, from the Atlas design. I was wondering where would you suggest I wire the AR1. We remember this layout design, if for no other reason than its ingenious complexity. This railroad initially appeared in the Custom Line King Size Plan Book - H0 Railroads You Can Build, originally published by Atlas Tool in 1966. This book was yet another collaboration between the late John Armstrong and illustrator Thaddeus (Tad) Stepek. This railroad must have required a certain level of dexterity by the operator since the reversing segment is actually two different return ...

One special feature on the Texas & Southwestern is a built-in programming track. The programming track is located in a short section of track in the small engine terminal of the T&SW. This track has both rails insulated from the rest of the railroad. It uses a Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT) toggle switch to select what purpose this section of track is used for. When the toggle switch is set in one direction, the track has DCC power on it. When the toggle switch is aligned in the other direction, the track is now connected to the programming terminals ...

A model railroad continues to be interesting if there are opportunities for growth and for operation. Extra detail can be added, scenery can be enhanced, but in the end, if the railroad is interesting to operate, it will continue to be a source of enjoyment for its owner for many years. The Texas & Southwestern has many opportunities for interesting train operations. The Texas & Southwestern is both a passenger railroad and a freight railroad. Passenger Point to Point Our trusty RDC (rail diesel car) allows for one train to operate in a point to point fashion. In fact, all ...

From the start, the Texas & Southwestern was built with DCC in mind. The T&SW was built from the ground up by an individual with considerable model railroad experience, but an issue arose that defied explanation. The T&SW was meant to be operated with a DCS50 Zephyr, and the layout support structure was enlarged slightly to fit the Zephyr into one corner of the railroad. As it turned out, the cozy corner space for the Zephyr turned out later to be a bit too cozy. The bottom of the Zephyr has ventilating slots to help cool the unit’s electronics. As ...

As originally conceived, the Texas & Southwestern was set up with a very simple DCC system. The railroad uses a DCS50 Zephyr as its command station and booster. The Zephyr is connected to a central power bus, and all tracks, stationary turnout decoders and the automated reverse loop unit are connected to it. Likewise, the LocoNet connections are a series of simple cable connections starting at the Zephyr and ending at the last Universal Panel. The T&SW works well with this arrangement, but there are additional devices that will enhance the operation of this railroad. Digitrax PM42 Power Management System ...

The Texas & Southwestern has a reversing loop, and DCC insures reliable and simple operation of trains in the reverse loop. This reverse loop is handled with a Digitrax AR1 Auto Reversing Controller. The automated features of the AR-1 make for seamless train movements, but an issue quickly arose. Because a reverse loop in a traditional DC-powered model railroad environment required manual operation, the track insulating gaps for the loop were usually located for the convenience of the operators. So the track gaps of the original track plan were situated to keep this inconvenience to a minimum. Note also all ...

This section discusses the installation of the physical wiring of the Texas & Southwestern. Underneath the completed Texas & Southwestern are various wires and cables which allow you to operate your railroad. Initially, seeing all these wires can be intimidating, but as you will note, they have been grouped and bundled so that identifying the individual wires is easy. There are two groups of wires under the railroad; one group, the power bus, delivers power to the tracks and to the stationary decoders that operate the track switches. The other group of wires is the black cable for LocoNet and ...

Good DCC practice means good planning for the electrical needs of the railroad. Here, we talk about the power needs of the Texas & Southwestern. Anticipating Power Consumption The core of the Texas & Southwestern's DCC control system will be the DCS50 Zephyr, which is very appropriate for a small railroad. Zephyr has 10 "slots", memory locations in the command station each holding an active decoder address. Rated at 2.5 Amps, the Zephyr should also be enough to handle the power needs of the railroad, but if more power is needed, then T&SW can easily be expanded with an additional booster ...

Background The world is filled with places like Nemo Junction, a crossing between two railroads which is protected by a signal interlocking plant that also serves as an interchange point between these railroads. Cars destined for places to and from another railroad are exchanged at places like these. The interchange has been described as being the ideal model railroad industry because any type of car can be found there, heading toward places that are not on the model railroad itself. Nemo Junction is based upon a real place, a location in Illinois identified on the timetable of the Santa Fe ...

With this section, we will talk about the practical realities of building a model railroad with DCC. We chose Dallas, Texas as our locale, in part because so many great model railroaders came from Dallas, names that may not be familiar to you but people who helped make the hobby into what it is today. Texas is big; any Texan will tell you so. But even when allowing for Texan pride, the ordinary outsider develops an appreciation for Texas size. From the piney woods of Lufkin in the east to the rough mountains of Big Bend, from the high plains ...

Although this is a simple railroad, it will have some advanced features. When the railroad's sectional modules are first assembled, the electrical connections are simple. The railroad will be controlled with a DCS50 Zephyr, using a PM42 Power Manager for short circuit protection. One section of the PM42 will control the inner oval of track, a second section of the PM42 will control the outer segment. This is done so that if a train derails on one loop, the train operation on the other loop will not be affected. Because the DCS50 is rated at 2.5 amps, the PM42 must ...

  I have a 14x24 foot room with a shelf layout on two levels. 1st level is about 24 inches with two main lines and some industries, a moderate freight yard, moderate intermodal facility and passenger station. The second level is 18 inches and will contain one and two main lines with mostly industries. This would qualify as a "medium to large" model railroad. I would like to have 1-5 operators with 2-10 trains running at one time as permitting. At least four Universal Panels would give all operators full access to LocoNet as necessary. At least one UP each ...

  I have an "M" shaped 250 square foot layout with 500 feet of track and twelve locomotives. What Digitrax equipment would I need? You don't say what scale this railroad will be modeled in, which is important since the locomotives in smaller scales draw less current than larger decoders. However, for purposes of estimation: Twelve Locomotives. Each locomotive is going to draw, at the very least, 5 MA for the decoder. If it has LED lights, then it will typically draw 15 MA more; conventional light bulbs will draw 50 MA. A typical H0 locomotive will draw 600 MA ...

Based upon a layout designed by the late, great John Armstrong which appears in the classic book, 101 Trackplans for Model Railroads [Kalmbach Publishing, 400-12012, still in print], this railroad combines different elements to offer varied model railroad operations. At the center right of the railroad is the Union Passenger Station. From this station, trains can operate out & back, which is to say that a passenger train leaves the station, goes out onto the circular main line and eventually comes back into the station after passing through the reverse loop. Another passenger train can operate point to point, meaning ...

Case Study - Texas & Southwestern The Texas & Southwestern is a small N-Scale model railroad that features a Zephyr. Here are a variety of short articles which detail the various facets of the construction and operation of this railroad. Background-Part 2 The idea behind the railroad. The Railroad-Part 3 Planning the railroad Track Plan- Part 4 Powering the Railroad-Part 5 Zephyr makes things easy. Wiring the Railroad-Part 6 Hooking things up for reliable operation. Reverse Loop-Part 7 AR1 makes things easy, but a little change in thinking is sometimes necessary. Programming Track- Part 8 A convenient feature. Zephyr Heat Problem- ...

I have a small switching layout, I am interested in low-end speed control and want to control turnouts from the hand held. What components do I need?All Digitrax command staions offer excellent low-end speed control as long as you are using decoders capable of 28/128 speed step operation.  Low speed performance will also be affected by how you set up the CVs in the decoder to define how the specific locomotive will respond to system commands.  Remember that installing a DCC deocder will not automatically improve the operation of your locos, you will need to first make sure they run ...

Is it possible to add a pair of PM42 Power Management Modules between the command station Rail A/Rail B outputs and run the resulting output from the PM42's on as many as 8 sets of Rail A/Rail B Wires to 8 isolated power Zones? These isolated power zones could have their Common Zone (Rail A) Wires running through RX1 transponding receivers connected to an RX4 ribbon cable running to the BDL168 for the purpose of interfacing with the SurroundTraxx Multi-Train Sound System. If this is possible, it would only require 5-6 of the DS lines on the BDL168 to be ...

I have a 4x8 layout, I want to run 2 or 3 trains. I will operate the layout by myself or with possibly one other operator. It's a really basic operation. Which Digitrax set is best for me?The Zephyr Xtra Set will probably do what you want. You will need the Zephyr Set and mobile decoders for the locomotives. You can connect up to 20 throttles to your Zephyr Xtra Set so that adding another operator is as simple as plugging in another throttle. You can also use one or two smooth DC power packs as throttles for additional operators to run trains ...

Do I need an additional booster if I run isolated sections through a PM42 or can I use one Zephyr?  This is a small layout design (5X9) and looking to make it as simple and safe as possible.This is really a question of how much power your railroad requires.  You don't state what scale you are operating in, so a 5x9 in H0 might only have three or four locomotives, while a 5x9 in N-Scale might have fifteen or twenty locomotives.Initially, you will be making an estimation based upon your power requirements and the output power of the 2.5 Amp ...

I've recently purchased a DCS50 system to run my HO trains. Since I'm new to the hobby I'm throughly confused on what parts I need to wire my 4 x 8 foot track to my control box. How many feeder lines do I need and what size do you recommend, and how do I hook these up to my control box? What size does bus wire do I need and how do I connect all this to my system? So far, all the articles just make recommendations general terms without specifics. I have purchased 2 terminal clips but have yet ...

Will Digitrax work in an outdoor setting to control LGB, Bachmann, and Aristocraft engines on a small layout, possibly in a 20 x 20 area? What starter set would you recommend to run in the area stated? I would like wireless operation. Digitrax will work in that environment, with the same warnings that are associated with all other electrically powered devices and outdoor model railroads that use track power. The command systems must be protected from moisture, the track must be clean and the stationary decoders are not weatherproof. Wireless operation can be either infrared or radio, with radio being ...