Powering your layoutThis page is intended to be a general page on different power options. DCThere are several controllers, but start out with the tried and true Railpower 1300.Below is a stock unit: but you would do best to get the modified one, that has a limit built in to stop at approximately 10 volts, you can buy it from z scale hobo, it was sold by Micro-Trains as MTL-995 DCC Proprietary systemsRokuhan e-Train controllerI'm noting this here because it's an unusual system, some great features some strange ones.The unit powers the track and can power it as either DC or DCC, kind of nice for people who don't have any DCC or not all converted to DCC.The unit is a small box, and you need to use a mobile device to control, either an iOS 8.0 or above or Android 5.0 and above.Strangely, the default mode is a cable between your mobile (now immobile!) device and the controller, and it is plugged into your audio jack. The application sends tones over an audio link to the controller.You can go wireless by purchasing a 3rd party Bluetooth to audio adapter, so in this case the app sends the audio over bluetooth, and then the bluetooth adapter converts this back to audio and it outputs into the audio jack in the controller.The app also sends audio of the locomotive to the controller, but at this time, only a steam loco ro a commuter car. There is an audio output jack if you don't want to use the internal speaker on the controller.In DC mode you can set acceleration curves, and apparently there are 3 speed curves to select from. Nice additions for DC running. In DCC, you can set the loco address, and the CV's 2,3,4,5 easily along with the CV29 direction bit. There are settings to control lights.You can set long addresses, a name for the loco and upload a picture. Nice.Strangely, there is no consisting support.The Rokuhan turntable is supported in this application, and eventually switch machine control.Note if your mobile device sleeps, you are disconnected from the system, so you need a keep alive program on your mobile device.
Searails motive power Searails makes some interesting stuff. It's all limited production, so you need to buy it when it is available.Of particular interest is the very small power unit, called the PowerMax: Pretty impressive power unit, and this year, I hope to get a Docksider from Searails: It will run on my ultra-small layout, which fits on a G scale flat car:
MT Smoothside Streamliners (remember: links to sub-pages at the bottom of this page)click to jump to the bottom have the baggage, coach, domes and sleeper, need at least a diner and observation Sub-PagesClick the links below to go "deeper" into details
Club & show considerationsDon't lose your rolling stock!The idea of coloring the bolster pins has been around for a while.There's only one "official" reference so far, unless we want to "secede from the union": See: http://www.ztrack.com/resources/Bolster_Pin_ID_Colors.pdf In addition, until I coerce Rob into adding colors: Don Fedjur has both pins lime/flourescent green David Lancaster has both pins glow in the dark (sort of whitesh green)NCE wireless cabs:I'd suggest assigning numbers to people. In addition, there are some considerations:00 - cannot use 01 - not possible for wireless 02 - PowerCab only works on this address. 03 - do not use, standard address for NCE USB interface 04 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 08 - 09 - 10 - 11 - 49 - don't use for Cab04 or Cab05 throttles 63 - last possible address