Hi, I am 66 and have done some model railroading for about 60 years. It all started with a Lionel O-27 when I was 6. I did a lot of HO with my son when he was growing up (35 years ago). I've dabbled in N for the last 10 years or so. I've collected a Bachman HHP-8, an old Doodlebug (just converted it to dcc) and an old Bachman 4-4-0. I recently purchased a Digitrax Zephyr controller and constructed a simple double oval with on crossover and a couple of sidings, just to play around with dcc. I'm able to run all three engines at once with the Zephyr and one jump control. I expect to add a four output decoder to control the turnouts. Sometime later I hope to add a Digitrax computer interface to control everything from a laptop. I've started to play around with the JMRI software and it looks great. I'm thinking of creating a somewhat portable layout. Possible four 2x2 foot sections which I can easily store and bring to granddaughters and nephews when I visit. I would like to have a double main with a number of sidings and possibly a crossover. With help from a number of sites, I have the HHP pulling three Amtrak coaches on the level on 11 inch radius (and fairly well on 9.75 in radius). I'm still hoping to get them to run well enough to add my fourth coach. I found several articles on converting a Doodlebug to dcc. I finally went with a DZ143 and was able to get it to fit above the passenger interior, with seperate control of the headlamp and the interior lamp. It took some time and a lot of patience. I'm still trying to figure out how to upgrade HHP-8 and Amtrak coaches to MT couplers. I am undecided on the time period and what I want my first formal layout to look like. I intend to wire it to accomodate block detection in the future. All comments and suggestions will be appreciated.
Welcome to TrainBoard! For a portable layout, you might wish to look at T-Trak. We have a T-Trak Group here at TrainBoard. We also have a DCC & Electronics Forum available for those electrical questions.
Welcome aboard J1m! Sounds like you are already having some fun. Can't wait to see some pictures of your work so far.
