Model railway terms. What do NCE and DCC mean?

Question

Have learned (at 80 that digital trains co-exist with older analogue. Am real beginner and answer to suit a 10 year old would be appreciaed. Are there other terms relating to HO that I should know?

Answer 1

DCC is Digital Command Control: its a method for controlling the trains speed and direction where digital signals are sent to a decoder in the LOCOMOTIVE that determine speed, direction and other options. EACH locomotive has it's own decoder with a unique "address" which allows the operator(s) to run multiple trains (2-99) at the same time without the complex wiring on old DC systems. Here is a link to a "professional" explanation: http://www.ncedcc.com/whatisdcc.pdf

Model trains of Yore were DC: Direct Current... the track carried the power with NO signals, and if you wanted to run multiple trains, you had to wire the track into BLOCKS, with only one train on a block at a time.

NCE (North Coast Engineering) is a BRAND of DCC: http://www.ncedcc.com/

I built my layout with DCC two years ago and am just amazed and amused at the simplicity and the ease of realistic operations. I can run 4 trains on my mainlines, 4 helpers, and 3 yard engines... my only limitation is the SPACE.

GOOD LUCK with the HOBBY !!

Answer 2

If you're just starting out, you should check out the magazine Model Railroader. Also, the National Model Railroad Association might prove useful. Worldsgreatesthobby.com has got not only some interesting links and the locations of stores across the country, they've got a place where you can find other model railroaders in your area (clubs). A lot of train ppl are generally easy to talk to.

As far as DCC goes, it's really amazing; very realistic. You should see the guys my hunny hangs out with - they get so excited when they get a new engine *with* sound.. ^.^ It's cute.

http://www.trains.com/mrr/
http://www.nmra.org/
http://www.greatesthobby.com/wgh/

Answer 3

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Answer 4

I (we with my two boys) have started our adventure as of 6 months ago and they both count the days of the week waiting for the weekend to go and do “our” thing. Thanks to this site http://tinyurl.com/ModelTrainsBeginnersR , staff, site and books, I was able to quickly get up to speed on the latest technologies and techniques without spending days if not weeks on the web to look for it (and most likely not finding all that you have provided).

I was pleasantly surprised to find that this hobby is still so active since I have not touched my boxes of trains since packing up the layout my father did with me in 1975. I can only imagine the hours needed to keep up with all of what you are doing and I salute you in your mission.

My two boys are saved from the video game frenzy for now but its up to the parents and grandparents of this generation to help the next generation. This site help us do what we can do better and we all have fun and at the same time educate our children…