JST

Just as a bit of follow up I can report that my old Wrenn "Dorchester" has now been converted. It was done by Scalespeed in Hampshire who I can really recommend (I have no other connection to them). The loco was overhauled with the armature re-wound, the magnet re-magnetised and the DCC conversion done using a Hornby decoder. I have to say that the result is way beyond my expectations. I had the loco done mainly for sentimental reasons but I have to say it'd performance is now staggering! I did not expect such an old loco to run so sweetly on DCC and the slow speed control is superb. I have also now converted a couple of old Mainline split chassis locos with good results. I used Digitrax decoders in them as they do not take up much space and have a 1.5amp rating and all is well - very pleased.

I like the Minehead idea as I am doing something similar for a branch line off my main layout. The current Minehead station has a loco run around on the "bay" platform. If you have room for this I think it greatly would increase the operational value of the layout. To put the platform lengths in perspective, the main platform at Minehead will take 15 coaches to accommodate the through summer holiday specials that used to run. This means Castles or Halls would have been seen there :-)

Like you I have started building a DCC layout and have taken the advice of this forum and have put droppers on every single piece of track and points. Sometimes it is a bit of a faff when you have some bits of track that are only a few centimetres long but you reap what you sow. It is the way to go for long term reliability. I have also used radial bus wires with filters at the end - belt and braces!

Separate LS 150s it is then! Thanks for the input.

I guess you are right Traction. However, the LS 150 works extremely well with just one Peco motor at a time so I will just have not to be lazy!

Hi Trevora, thanks for the suggestions. I tried programming the individual outputs giving two the same address but only one pair of points worked when the signal was sent. Connecting two pairs of points produced a better result but a bit hit and miss. Sometimes both pairs of points changed but occasionally just one. Maybe it is too much for load the decoder trying to change two pairs at the same time.

Am still new to DCC and finding my way. So far all is good and I have my points changing to command. However, being a tad lazy I am wondering if it is possible to get two pairs of points (those that always need to be changed in pairs) to change on one command and if so how do I do it? Eventually I intend to go touch screen changing but at the moment I am using a Hornby Elite with Lenz LS 150/LS100 decoders with a Lenz TR100 transformer. The points motors are Peco PL10E. The reason for my laziness in this instant is that I have four mainline loops with six sets of two points providing crossings, so if for some reason I want a train to go from the outside track to the inner and back again it amounts to twelve points operations! I have another twenty pairs of points to keep me busy. I went DCC on points changing because with over 30 pairs of points up to 30 feet apart it would have amounts to a lot of wiring and switches to do it manually with a central control panel. Any thoughts welcome.

Just to let you know that I could not bring myself to sell Dorchester and have discovered that a firm called "Scalespeed" do a conversion (including an armature rewind and re-magnetisation). They will also do my old Hornby locos.

I have now carried out an "audit" of what seems to be worth converting and what will stay in the display case. The most disappointing result was this one: - [/url]">http://http://smg.photobucket.com/user/John_T/media/IMG_1191_zpspypkgmca.jpg.html'> Not an old Hornby but an old Wren "Dorchester". It has been in it's original box for the last 30 years and as far as I can see the only way of converting it would be to drill out the motor block for the "live chassis" brush and fit an insulator. A lot of work and it would change the loco for ever so I am minded to sell it and buy a DCC ready West Country or Merchant Navy. I see a few Wren Dorchesters listed on eBay for silly money (up to £265) but does anyone have any idea what a sensible price would be for it? Thanks John

I take your point. I have no interest in the financial value - the memories are worth more. It would just have been nice to see them trundling around the layout occasionally. However, I will concentrate on the locos that may be convertable. To this end I will dig out my multitester and rig up a test bed to see what readings I can elicit on the stall test. Cheers John

Hmm... a lot to think about. Thank you for your valued input. I fear I will be making a display cabinet! I have the original boxes for most of the locos and the point about destroying value is taken.

Hi, Only my second post a a newbie getting back into the hobby so rate my DCC knowledge as nil! I am fairly handy with a soldering iron and have taken the decision to go totally DCC with my new layout (currently in the planning stage). The snag is most of my locos ( I have about 40) are over 30 years old and a mix of Hornby, Bachmann, Wills Finecast etc.etc. One of my Locos is at least 60 years old being a Hornby 0-6-2 Tank which I had second hand when I was 4 years old in 1953. As a model it is a non entity but it has sentimental value. I also have a number of old Hornby locos (including my much loved Castle) which were originally Hornby 3 Rail subsequently converted to 2 Rail. My mother used to work for Roland Hornby (Frank's lad) and Roland gave these locos to me personally after he had been on a factory visit - hence a lot of the sentimental value as opposed to modelling accuracy. The question is, am I going to be able to convert these locos to DCC given their age and history or are they doomed to sit in a display cabinet for ever? Any views much appreciated. John