Does Anyone Run Conventional?

Conventional only. As Lee said, my railroad...my rules.

I do occasionally run conventional on the club layout as the secondary mainline is set up to support conventional operation. Haven't run conventional at the club for over a year, but have run some of my Proto-1 engines at home.

 

When the club members aren't around, I secretly break out some 2-rail track and run my little Sunset 44-tonner. I also run my scale-wheeled engines on DC from time to time just for laughs and giggles. Don't tell anyone -- they're threatening an intervention.

I have DCS on my layout but in the last year have found some great deals on PS1 equipment so I run both.

 

I really enjoy running a PS1 loco and a PS2 loco on the same track one in conventional and the other in command...you have to constantly monitor the track voltage and the speed of the DCS loco.

I have both command (TMCC and DCS)- and conventional-equipped engines (Postwar, MPC and up).  So I run in both modes, using either the DCS or CAB1 remote for command, and the DCS remote for conventional (use the Z-4000 remote base that the DCS remote talks to ramp up the transformer voltage and the variable channels on the TIU to vary the track voltage.  Works like a charm.

I run conventional only. I have a number of command locos but that's because I wanted them and had to accept the added cost of them (from having command capability) to get them.

 

One can have a great time running conventional (starter sets included) at a fraction of the cost of command. I am an old postwar guy, so I suppose that fact colors how I feel about it, but I enjoy running my cheap trains every bit as much as my expensive ones. In fact, all the bells and whistles (and other sounds) prove to be annoying after awhile.

 

I have a small (4x8') table layout because that's all I have room for in a small extra bedroom, and with that size layout, command is really unnecessary anyway.

 

 

I have TMCC and some TMCC equipped locos, but I operate almost exclusively conventional.

 

Jeff Davis

I run my Standard Gauge tinplate conventionally, except for the Lionel Hiawatha which has TMCC. I collect ETS 0 gauge tinplate, which is all conventional. I have a few postwar and PWC engines, also conventional. The rest is all DCS, TMCC, and Legacy. The vast majority of my train running is with the modern remote systems, to the point where I don't even bother to test a new engine in conventional mode unless it's conventional-only. 

Just under the Christmas tree

 

Legacy in the basement

My layout like my others here is set-up not only with Legacy/TMCC and DCS but I can run any like conventionally also. My elevated rail was built so I can run early tinplate. My portable layouts are set to run conventionally also. Just depends on what I want and my mood.

   Conventional only. I have owned DCS & TMCC systems but still prefer handles.

 

 

My club is conventional only. It has to be rewired to run DCS. Starting to wire it for DCS a bit at a time. Over the last 30 years it has had a lot of changes and additions. The wiring is a mass of different gauges and busses done over years by different people. 

If the Mighty Sound of Steam could be considered conventional, that's the majority on my displays. Sometimes I think my cheesy symphony of trains are offensive to both the conventional  and command operators. But it's music to my ears. Bring your ear plugs when you stop by.

I maintain a roster of conventional WbB engines to run specifically on our club modular layout. Great pullers, cheap, and tough as nails. All of the brass and hi-end engines stay at home, except for just a couple of venues.

 

Honestly, at the Fair when people can't tell the difference between a WbB and a Lionel VL or MTH Premier, why bother? I did run my MTH Premier ES44AC N&W Heritage engine with the beer train briefly last week. Guy walks up and says " yeah, I had one of those cheap Lionel pieces of junk back in the 60s. Stopped running and my mother threw it away".

 

Sure you had a scale ES44AC in the 60s.... I just smiled.

 

Gilly

Yes • Still Run Conventional

 

The problem is that all four main lines are set to full power. I have a yard for conventional, with a toggle switch to turn the power on & off. If an error takes place, I have big time chaos, with run away engines.

A little of spending $350 to $1900 only to have it quit a few months later would go a long way with me.

Conventional only. My layout is 118 sq. feet, 174 ft. of Gargraves, 13 Ross switches.

Me to I have gargraves manual and some atlas switchs.Never wanted remote control stuff.To many wires and before you know it.You will have a hardtime trying to remember which wire goes what and were.Me and my z4000 do just fine.And besides it like the real thing to go and flip that switch youself.

 

I run conventional only on 3 fastrack loops on 2 levels with Williams and modern Lionel engines. Trouble-free and always ready.

Most of my conventional equipment is Lionel Trains Inc. motive power, as well as some MPC, postwar and current Lionel. Oh yes, and some Williams.

 

I run them the conventional way now, but I do like the way MTH's DCS can control them...

Sure do, haven't been to Chestertown in ages tho but if it's like the rest of Maryland it's probably being developed all to H**l. The Eastern Shore has really changed alot especially in the last 10 years, it's kinda sad.

 

Jerry

Conventional via ZW 75%, TMCC Trainmaster (remote control for conventional engines) 25%, regular TMCC rarely. 

 

It just isn't as much fun if I don't have my hand on the throttle!

Legacy/TMCC is like an automatic transmission.  I'll only buy it when I cannot get the engine/car I want without it. 

 

Nathan

lower and middle loop is tmcc and dcs upper loop is conventional via the dcs remote. I have found my tmcc engines seem to respond better via the cab1 than they do with the dcs remote so I am still using both remotes.

Conventional and LionChief Plus.   Mostly running LionChief Plus now, but I will continue to run some conventional, though I may unload some of my low-end train-set quality locos.

We run all conventional on our "in progress" layout. Gargraves track, Ross switches, manual switch throws... old school...  :-)

John

I run both. My trains and I run them how I feel like at the time. Both ways are fun.

 

MIKE 

Only conventional on my railroad

 

I have many conventional engines in my Pennsy by Lionel collection.  They all get run, occassionally.  But the method of control is a Cab 1 or Cab 2.

All conventional here on 027 track and am quite happy and content. As others have said, on a small layout, command control is not necessary - but to each his own. I certainly could be tempted by one of the Lionel LionChief sets, but that's as far as I would ever go as far as "command" technology.

 

I can alternate between AC or DC current to the track, allowing me to run some of the smaller, less expensive Lionel engines. Not having circuit boards or reverse units in the locos, allows the room for extra weights to be added, so even these smaller cheaper locos can easily pull a train of 10-12 cars.

 

I have a couple of MRC sound stations with added amplification, so I have sounds for anything and everything. In the last year, I rebuilt my layout from a previous high rail approach, to a more simplified retro approach, with the intent of allowing me to move things around to have some continual variety on the layout - even in a small space.

 

Despite what can be read here, MPC engines pull more than just their shadow and the basic K-Line locos like the Alco FA, S-2 and MP-15 can and DO run SLOWLY with no modifications to the engines.

 

And I've been kitbashing and repainting ever since I re-entered the hobby, so I have a pretty unique collection you won't see elsewhere. Repainting 027 types of cars and engines allows me to use HO decals (for larger cars) with S or O scale data decals.

 

It sometimes seems like some are never happy with what they have and are always wanting something else. I'm quite content with what I have and if I needed more variety and prototypical realism, I would have gone to HO years ago, where the much larger market allows the manufactuers to justify far more variety in production.

I'm 100% conventional w/ ZWs, KWs & RWs  All postwar too. For what I do, I feel like conventional is just fine. When I had a larger layout & ran all scale stuff, I did have TMCC/DCS, but I always found the conventional fun too. 

 

 

Conventional ONLY here!!!!!

My real job was a Senior System Analyst. When I retired I wanted no more tech!

I have a 2005 Razor phone....too much tech for me but what do you do?!?!?!

My trains I want simple. No address issues, signal strength, none of that.

Turn on the power....trains run, turn off...they stop.

Back in my HO days I bought a DCC command system.....HATED getting locos addressed and then not remembering what it was! Worked OK....but I wanted to Relax.....

As these fancy electronics fail.....they may get replaced with a fifty cent bridge rectifier and a mini DPDT switch.  SIMPLE!

While I have the ability to run conventional on the PRR Panhandle mainline (yards are command control only), I have only done it once or twice.  On that layout, I run TMCC almost exclusively.  Switching using TMCC is terrific; can't imagine doing complicated switching under conventional control.

 

Under the Christmas tree, we only run conventional.

 

George

Conventional on a 22X24 layout.

 

Paul Edgar

Gilly@N&W,

 

Boy, do you have a point about public displays.  It really doesn't matter what you run, because a lot of folks can't tell the difference. So you might as well run something that is sturdy, conventional and hard to break.

 

The only exception for me at two recent displays has been the LionChief sets and the Lionchief steamers.

 

They are easy to run and the public really likes what they see.

 

Ed Boyle

I only run conventional on my (mostly) prewar layout.  I am building a second hi-rail layout and I might go TMCC on one loop.

 

Al

Currently I have a basement awaiting a deal on ceiling tiles.  Once that is done and the remainder is carpeted then I can truly begin on my 21 x 47 dream!  I have a Legacy I bought used and a few TMCC locomotives. I bought a Legacy CSX but it is scale so I will need to sell that.  I prefer traditional sized stuff.  At the last Open House I picked up a ZW-L to go with ZW I already have.  Apparently there is a way to use it and the Legacy system to control loops.  I love a bunch of trains running at once so if I can do that with Legacy I shall.  Otherwise I will stay with conventional.  

 

Polar Express's around the tree will remain conventional as will be the S gauge Polar Express that I pre-ordered from my LHS.

WOW Ed!  21 x 47, do you have to get a permit to operate one this BIG?  

I have a legacy engine and just ordered the legacy control. Can't wait to see it. Everyone keeps say how amazing it is

I run conventional

1. Less cost

2. Simpler to diagnose and repair

3. No upgrading required.

4. I like throttles rather than push buttons.

 

Conventional only, for me.

 

 

 

That's what I'm taking about...that is a nice layout.

 

Refreshing that there are so many conventional runners out there. 

 

-rog

In my earlier post in this thread, I said I thought you would be surprised at the number of conventional operators out there. Well, now I'm surprised, there are even more than I thought there would be.