Digital Command Control

Operations with Digital Command Control
on
NTRAK Layouts

Judging from the DCC Internet Mailing Lists, Club Newsletters and the model railroad press, most model railroad clubs have adopted Digital Command Control (DCC) or are seriously evaluating doing so. Two events almost 10 years ago in 1998 appear to give the boost DCC needed. The first was the introduction of easy-to-install decoders (Plug 'n Play decoders) and the availability of some locomotives with decoders already installed. The second event was the availability of radio-controlled throttles. With an RC DCC throttle you really do control your train, and not the track!

The North Raleigh Model Railroad Club has been successfully using DCC on pur layouts at Train Shows for over ten years, many times the entire layout. Our layouts are designed with regard to placement of passing sidings so that trains could be run in opposite directions using the siding for meets. With the radio-controlled throttles it is easy to follow the trains and make smooth meets and passes.

These rules have been revised and expanded based on experience at a number of train Shows, and moved to their own web page. Click here to go to the Rules page.

"Wiring for DCC" by Alan Gartner. A very comprehensive web-site that should answer virtually any question about wiring a layout for DCC. Also contains many valuable hints and tips. http://www.WiringForDCC.com