Hi, after briefly getting back into the hobby last year, my wife and I ended up moving. Before the move I got to run a train around our Christmas tree and to build a table before packing everything up. Eight months later we're in our new house and I'm starting to think out what kind of layout I'd want to create.
I have a Lionel Super Chief LionChief set that I've added track and swapped out the included DC transformer with a GW-180. There's one more LionChief on pre-order (44 Tonner 2234100) and I purchased two steam locomotives (Williams Blue Goose 40301 and a MTH Dreyfus 30-1616-1) that should be arriving soon.
My questions pick up where my experience is lacking.
- Unless I was to upgrade the Williams to use either ProtoSound or TMCC, will it always be limited to conventional or is there other options? Setting aside issues of availability, upgrade paths for the it would be either ProtoSound (kit from MTH) or TMCC (kit from ERR)?
- Until I add a control system for the MTH it would also be limited to conventional. The available support for DCC seems more of an upgrade path for people who already have those systems. As I don't have one there would be no advantage for me to select DCC over DCS correct?
- Using the single GW-180 I know I can run at least two LionChief engines independently. I expect it would be impractical to run one LionChief and one conventional at the same time. Is this right, because lowering the voltage to stop a conventional engine would likely cause a LionChief engine to stop as well?
- I'm not completely sure how to describe my next question. Other to say if I had two main lines, each with their own transformer. I could run each line in either conventional or in controlled (DCS, Legacy, TMCC, LionChief) independent of what the other line is running under. My question is how would a crossing be set up to allow trains to move between them Would it be as simple as the track between the switches is set up as one or more blocks with SPDT switches? Allowing the block to either be unpowered, powered by the first transformer, or the second?
I know the layout will start with the single GW-180 with one main line and four isolated spurs or sidings. Allowing all four engines on the layout at the same time. And maybe include a yard or second loop to have both LionChief engines simultaneously.
And then "practical" upgrade paths after that I see…
Option one: Adding a second transformer powering a second track
Two independent lines, each with their own transformer, and some number of isolated sidings. This would allow me to run a single engine on each line simultaneously regardless if its LionChief or conventional. And when running a LionChief I could have both running on that line.
Option two: Adding DCS
This would allow me to power the line with the existing GW-180 and run any combination of the two Lionel and one MTH simultaneously, or running just the Williams in conventional. With the added benefit of having a control system that could handle other TMCC or Legacy engines.
Option three: Adding a second transformer and DCS
Two independent lines, each with their own transformer, and some number of isolated sidings. Each line could run either the Williams, now the lone conventional engine, or any combination of the LionChief or DCS engines.
The trade offs between being able to run any of the controlled trains on the same line versus running two of them (conventional or controlled) one two different lines stand out when comparing the options.
Other than the costs, anything else I might want to consider?
