US Walthers locomotive DCC help

[HSTfan]

Hello, 

 

I’m new so not very clued up on how DCC works, etc... so please be patient. 

 

I’m planning on buy a BNSF SD70ACe locomotive by Walthers in HO gauge.

I’m also planning to buy a ‘Trainline Railtech Digital Trainset’ by Walthers to run the DCC.

 

Ridiculous question but what is the piece of rail called that is connected to the output cord of the digital controller? As you can imagine, when I try to search for it on eBay,etc... it’s very overwhelming when there are hundreds of results. 

I was using this tutorial and it’s at 1:35 which has the piece of track called rerailer but when I type into eBay, I get loads of results and not sure which it is. 

 

 

Thanks in advance 

Edited April 21, 2020 by HSTfan

[Oldddudders]

It's just a proprietary piece of track that accepts a clip from the matching DCC Command Centre.They happen to have combined it with a rerailing function, designed to make it easy to put multi-wheel locos on the track. If you use their track system it's useful. If not, and you use, say, Peco track, it has no use. 

[HSTfan]

Thanks for your reply. What is the track called though that accepts the clip from the command centre? I’m not sure what to type in to google or eBay to find that specific track piece. Rookie question I’m sure but thanks for your help. 

Edited April 21, 2020 by HSTfan

[Nigelcliffe]

Further comment - various track makers include "power clips", but they're far from necessary - many people will solder the wires to the rail, or solder wires to the "fishplates" (the metal connectors between rails). 

 

One comment is - if you are in UK/Europe, what is the specification of the power supply ?   It is almost certainly American pins, but what voltages/frequencies can it cope with ?    

Quite a lot of modern power supplies are 110v to 240v, 50 or 60Hz, so work anywhere, but there are plenty which are for only one voltage. 

And you are aware that the maker of the "Trainline" control system, Digitrax, regard it as a "retired" product, meaning its not in production, and hasn't been in production for some time. 

 

 

- Nigel

 

 

[HSTfan]

Thanks for your reply Nigel. Which control systems would you recommend? 
 

So I don’t need a specific rail to connect the output pins. I can just solder it on is what I’m understanding from your post.

[John ks]

To me that track looks like Bachmann Ez track

If you really want the power connector track then look for Bachmann terminal rerailer, they come in straight & curved pieces

 

If you are going to use the track in the video & want to solder directly to the rails then be careful as the heat from the soldering iron can damage the plastic sleepers & or ballast

If I were to use Ez track I would remove a rail joiner & solder to the bottom of the joiner*

 

John

 

*The only Ez track I have is in a showcase & he rail joiners look to be crimped to the rail & removing them could be very destructive

 

 

 

 

[Nigelcliffe]

11 hours ago, HSTfan said:

Thanks for your reply Nigel. Which control systems would you recommend? 
 

So I don’t need a specific rail to connect the output pins. I can just solder it on is what I’m understanding from your post.

 

Control system recommendations -  read this forum (there are lots of threads), decide your budget, decide your long term aims, decide if there is a retailer who you'd use in normal times to offer support.   Control systems range in price from about £20 (DIY electronics) to £1500+.       

 

Yes, soldering wires to rails (or fishplates) works fine.  Assumes you can solder tidily/neatly without melting plastic track base around the area.   Its not difficult with appropriate tools and materials. 

 

 

[roundhouse]

11 hours ago, HSTfan said:

Thanks for your reply Nigel. Which control systems would you recommend? 
 

So I don’t need a specific rail to connect the output pins. I can just solder it on is what I’m understanding from your post.

I am not sure of your location but  Digitrains have a shop in Lincoln with various systems that you can try although in the current lockdown that wont be much use at present. However you could try giving them a call. As Nigel says though there are numerous systems mentioned on this forum  but might require quite a bit of time trawling through the DCC section.

[HSTfan]

Thanks for all your help

[HSTfan]

7 hours ago, John ks said:

To me that track looks like Bachmann Ez track

If you really want the power connector track then look for Bachmann terminal rerailer, they come in straight & curved pieces

That’s the one, thanks!