Karl’s been in touch, he’s got an issue with his control panel – NCE DCC model trains:
“Al,
I sure appreciate the blogs every morning. I have my coffee and my poodle dog on my lap sound asleep enjoying the commentaries, the photo’s, video’s and all the use full tips.
Last September I turned 88 and I decided to start a model railroad.
I had one, a Marklin, 50 years ago when I was still living in Holland. In 1974 I migrated to the US.
I have built a table of 107” x 70” as per your “Beginner’s Guide. Used regular DC.
Trying to run 3 locos in 4 separate sections in the track.
After visiting a model railroad show in Puyallup Washington, I decided to go DCC.
I got a NCE control and programmed my 3 locos, who were DCC equipped.
No problem there. However running more than 1 loco at the same time, the speed considerably goes down.
Please ask our members what I can do about it. Is there something like a booster or what.
I would appreciate any help in this.
Many thanks in advance
Karl
Issaquah, Washington”
Now on to Bill. he’s been in touch again – his last post is here.
“Hi all !
It’s been awhile so here’s a bunch of pics of Gerskiville. The towns shaping up and and some tracks layed. Waiting on turnouts now been backordered, Rats.
I’m just getting ready to pave the streets and pour the sidewalks.
Well that’s about it for now. I’ll be checking in again.
Bill”
“Hi Al,
just loaded this video showing a tour around my layout… and I am saying that its now completed?
… well you know me by now… also a picture of a loco I have acquired from e bay… the Deltic Prototype which I am having a larger em2 speaker fitted, hopefully this can be shown on my next video, the sound should blow the socks off as they say…
Regards
Dave”
That’s all for today folks, a big thanks to Bill and Dave. And who can help Karl with his NCE DCC model trains issue?
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
PPS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.
Well done with fence Dave, everyone home safe is the watchword, even if their little feet are glued to the floor! As an old occasional canal boatie can I just point out there isn’t the width in your basin to turn those boats, you need a “winding hole”, more work…
Rod
Love the dirt track!
Well done Dave. I particularly like the long sweeping curves brings a lot of realism to the layout. I appreciate you do have a fair amount of space but even so it would have been easy to do as your old layout design and have tight corners at each end. You have laid the track to really give a sense of space. Well done
Colin Scotland
Hi Karl, in regards to your problem of running multiple engines at the same time.
1 I run an NCE Powercab and have no problem running 3 engine at the same time.
2 Do you have multiple power feeds going to the track and soldered track joiners to evenly distribute the power around the layout.
3 The Powercab is limited to 2 amps output is it possible that the engines you are running are inefficient and have maxed out the power supply. Are you running any accessories off the track power that could be using up the 2 amps.
4 NCE makes a 5 amp booster that you could add to the system. But check everything else prior to going that route. Regards, Paul
Karl,
NCE makes a 5amp “smart booster” to help with the power drop off.
You can piggy back as many of them as needed to power you’re layout.
Also make sure that you drop feeders to the main bus line every 36” this is definitely needed as the power will drop off as you go around a larger layout.
Love to see updates as you go!
Happy Model Railroading!!
Excellent work, great planning, Enjoy your layout, from Daytona Beach, Florida !
Dave, your new layout is looking very good. I like the new sweeping curves. Well done. Brian the HOn3 guy in Knysna RSA 🇿🇦
Karl
I have a small 4′ x 8′ HO logging layout in my garage. I have also been working on a 20′ x 30′ layout for several years at a friend’s home. We run multiple engines and do not have any power problems. We do have a 5 amp booster on the layout and a separate power supply for the turnouts and lights. We also have a power bus wired to the two main lines every 6′.
Al Allison
Lacey Washington
Wow, Dave. You’ve managed to increase the naturalistic dimension of your layout at least10 times. The new gentle curves take the layout far away from the more toy train look of your old layout, as fabulous at that layout was. Your use of the new backdrops is terrific. It also increases the convincing look of your layout. My two friends and I have been working on an HO layout for 5 years now, and it still hasn’t gotten to the point that yours has, Your work ethic is truly amazing. Thank you.–Tom
Note to Karl: The Wattage rating on your power supply is to low. If you try to draw
more amperage, the voltage goes down because the ‘ load ” (locomotives) is
trying to exceed the wattage limit. The voltage limit on HO locomotives is about
eighteen volts but the wattage, on power supplies, is unlimited. Given any voltage, as the wattage
increases, the amperage will also increase . You will know if you have exceeded
your layout amperage limit if anything ( track,wires, connections, etc.) gets warm.
I used to run a seven unit consist on a fifty amp supply and the rails got hot! Good
luck and enjoyment to you! RJL (retired industrial electrician)
Bill, I started looking really closely at your layout Bill and figureing out where all the picture compare too the track lay out, nice, very nice. The house on the hill, gray home on the far right with blue columns. Now I have your attention, now look below the far right blue column, is that what I think it is. If so Lol that is the first time seeing what I will be putting on my lay out. To funny. Great lay out.
Dave, that is a beautiful diesel engine, can’t wait to hear her purrr like a diesel should sound. Love your video, so now comes, what are you going to do with all that room, hump station, train yard, homes, gardens, hills with open tunnels???
Great work guys, like I say it most of the time, keep on railing & keep them on the rails.
SDG St.Petersburg FL USA
Great submissions by everyone! I must say Bill, looks like you have had a full winter judging by the photos
Great work everyone, please keep them coming!
Hi Karl. I was also born in Holland ,didn’t get into model trains till age 40. Immigrated to Canada and later came to th U S A. We do train shows in Monroe and Lynden Wash. I’m now 80 and hope to keep this up till past 100. My G Scale on a golf course keeps me plenty busy. Good luck Sir
Dirt track was awesome,we’ll pretend it was Eldora Speedway!!