Just got this LL E8 Demonstrator to add to my others. Really like the demo units and have about 18 of them now with a couple on pre-order from Scale Trains.
I am at the end of my locomotives with the exception of 1 more E 8/9 B unit that will be painted to pair with the E 8/9 of the black Amtrak unit that is on it's way now. I have a larger task of decoder installations to do on all my non-DCC locomotives. I hope to be DC locomotive free by the end of the year. cbg - that is one cool looking E8 demonstrator! I may need to find one.........
Well it looks like I will also be purchasing a whole lot of decoders. It seems that almost every one of my locomotives with a Digitrax decoder has stopped working. So far that is up to 68 bad decoders from every decoder from F3 to SD90MAC. All the Zimo, ESU and Lenz Silver mini are still running like champs. I have also had several TCS failures as well. The DCC gods must not like me!
Big Jake, The decoders are random to some extent. The Lenz Silver Mini's are the oldest decoders I have and that was around 2004. Most of the Digitrax are from the time after that. TCS was not really in the game. Though they did have a bad run where the code was unstable in the decoders, I lost 40 decoders to that. The year escapes me at this time. So I mostly did Digitrax and they just have not held up. When Fox Valley came out the locomotives, they used the 651 interface and that got me to switch to Zimo and I could never see using Digitrax again. I switched now to ESU or Zimo, but as the Digitrax decoders fail, they will be replaced with either ESU or TCS. I have dumped my Digitrax systems and moved to the ESU Cab Control. I have switched everything to use Railcom decoders and converted my layout to railcom. It took awhile to make the change, and there were a few hiccups to start. But once it was done, there were no slots to worry about, and I had no limitations on the turnouts like Digitrax and it seems the trains ran a lot smoother too.
The ESU CS may do something similar to TCS' CS, and drop the refresh speed cmd rate once it confirms the cmd was received & implemented by the loco via RailCom. This allows the CS to send new speed cmds to any loco more promptly.
Mike, cannot even imagine trying to scratch build this with my clumsy fingers. The HO version is small enough for me. Sorry, but have to ask. When doing the scratch build was it done all at once or completed in STAGES?
Supposed to arrive tomorrow, another of the Kato ALC-42 Charger with full DCC and sound. Do not know why when it comes to Amtrak that I can not stop buying the locomotives. This unit will come with a DCC sound decoder all pre programmed with marker light and ditch lights etc.
My mom had that set for her Christmas village when I was a kid. I was so mesmerized by it that I'm sure it led to Santa giving me my first train set... and the rest is history.
I have a set, plus a couple extra cars, in HO scale. When I have time, I may post them on that auction site.
USPS is late, possibly due to the snow storms in the East where the package was shipped. Looks more like Friday now. Now Aghh!
