Digital command control resources for model railroaders. A simple introduction to using a computer to control a model railway that uses digital command control. Download the model railroad system now and operate your layout, from running trains to working your signals and switches. Just connect the hornby dcc elite controller via the usb port to a pc or laptop and the.
I am no authority on the subject so i forwarded his query to our club resident electronics guru, john houghton. Theres never a better time to get started with dcc digital command control and the nce power cab is a great place to begin. If youre interested in dcc decoders for locomotives and model trains, youve come to the right place. Learn what is needed to convert a dc analog layout to dcc.
At tonys trains we carry some of the top products from the top brands on the market for digital command controllers. We explain why computer control can make operation of your dcc layout easier, highlighting bachmanns flagship dynamis ultima system and railcontroller. Modular model railroads model train inventory software. This overview of digital command control is a good primer for beginners. Free winlok mrr computer software model railroader. Introduced in the late 1980s, kato digital is katos electronic control system for h0 scale model trains that is conceptually similar to digital command control dcc. Bert lenz first started designing and producing dcc components in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In this case, too, operation can be fully computercontrolled. The hornby dcc system ensures that the hornby control units that are available are simple to understand and very straightforward to operate.
The engine is a backmann spectrum with dcc and dc operation. Model railroader is the worlds largest magazine on model trains and model railroad layouts. Build trains from your roster and print train manifests that detail the work your train crews will perform soundpro a set of tools for using audio with jmri cool uses people have used jmri to do some great things for the model railroad community. An introduction to dcc and overview of model railway control we hope that you find this information useful. Introducing an opportunity to leave a model railroading legacy that may be enjoyed for generations. Digital model railway control systems are often connected with an external computer where special software for controlling the train layout is running. Train tools software has been producing professional model railroad software since 1991. Using the loconet network and the many devices that work together. Model railroad digital control devices for sale ebay.
Kam industries has licensed this software and integrated it into their patented train server software interface for use with model railroads. As you may have already discovered, controlling a model train is a rather simple matter. Higher currents heavier power wiring, and overload protection must work. Search it for railway layouts and railroad track plans by scale, size, tracks and other criteria. Dcctrain offers ideas and information for dcc trains. Bluerail has updated our app to support control of dcc trains, and partnered with established dcc experts in the industry to develop hardware, software and firmware to bring intuitive control to the industry standard. The july 2019 issue of model railroader magazine features a buyers guide for digital command control dcc starter systems. The three most popular model railroad control software products today are railroad. The following is a survey of model train inventory software. All this using existing infrastructure found in every home or club setting. Nov 03, 2008 model railroader is the worlds largest magazine on model trains and model railroad layouts.
Jmri, the java model railroad interface is a collaborative, opensource effort to develop a javabased suite of tools for model railroad computer control. Installation of decoders, services, dealer lenz digital plus, zimo, atlas, soundtraxx, marklin. You can use the jmri toolset as the starting point for developing your open model railroad control applications, or use their higher level applications suite idrectly. The digitrax complete train control system is our answer for model railroaders who want to enjoy the excitement of the. It hosts arduino libraries and sketches all in a single source code repository and downloadable file and is a place where people can contribute their own model railroad sketches and libraries.
It can help avoid buying duplicates, keeps an accurate want list, forms the basis for insurance valuations, keeps track of where your items are at and their condition. Some of your greatest pleasures, most precious treasures, most meaningful memories, have come from model train. An easily upgradable, fullyfeatured dcc system, in the palm of your hand. If you prefer to control your motive power using digital command control, ctis software provides full support for the systems from all major manufacturers of pccontrollable dcc equipment. Cti electronics this software will control dcc trains. Locofi wifi model train control wifi sound decoders. Digital command control in 1994, the nmra began an effort to establish a uniform standard for command control that would allow many manufacturers to build dcc equipment that would interoperate with each other. Basically with the cti scheme your present manually. Digital command control dcc is now the most common control method for earnest model railroaders, allowing multiple trains to be controlled simultaneously anywhere on the track. While the romantic age of the railway will always be in our minds, hornby is fully in the 21st century when it comes to its model railway design and control software. Dcc planning software model railroader magazine trains.
Connecting a computer to your digital command control layout provides many benefits. This software package has support for a network of bruce chubb cmri usic, susic, andor smini nodes andor a network of lenzs xpressnet. Control software an overview of our model railroad control software. During the development of the automatic dcc train operation of my layout, we are using the following software. Digital command control dcc is a standard for a system to operate model railways digitally. The jmri project is building tools for model railroad computer control. Buy products such as bachmann trains ho scale thoroughbred ready to run electric train set at walmart and save. It is well suited for users who are looking for an easy to use program that covers reliably the standard tasks of model railroad control, such as switchboard operation, routes, block securing, hidden yard control or.
Apr 02, 2020 dcctrain offers ideas and information for dcc trains. Catalog our product line, price list, and ordering information. Get the best deals on model railroad digital control devices when you shop the largest online. Cti electronics of baltimore, md is a developer of model train computer control software not free and associated interface hardware that will permit your dcc model train layout to run your trains and associated model railroad accessories using an ibm compatible personal computer pc. Third party software cti model railroad computer control. With dcc becoming a standard today, most new locomotives come prewired with a plug for easily decoder installation.
Traincontroller bronze offers a costeffective entry into model railroad computer control. Introduction layout control for windows, macos and linux. When equipped with digital command control, locomotives on the same electrical section of track can be independently controlled. This project is about model railroading with arduinos. Ryan is a national expert on model trains who has contributed 2 articles for the spruce. Jmri is an interface program that works with most brands of dcc and is very popular because it simplifies dcc programming, signaling, control, and many other aspects. Dcc decoders for model trains for sale online tonys trains. How to convert your model railroad setup from dc to digital.
Run your trains on dc or dcc track power or even battery. Using a computer equipped with proprietary sound decoder programming software and interfaced with the dcc controller, users. Dcc gives you unprecedented control over the operation of your layout, and adds a level of realism that would have astounded the early creators of this great hobby. Choosing a decoder for model trains and accessories. Adding sound to models adds a whole new dimension to your layout. Everything on model trains, model railroads, model railways, locomotives, model train layouts, scenery, wiring, dcc and more. One of the easier model railroad software programs to master that doesnt cost much its free, is the track planning software available for download from the website as freeware and works fairly well for simple layout designs. Home model railroading train controls dcc systems we didnt become one of the leaders in dcc with off the shelf thinking. Beginners guide to command control and dcc national. How to use model railway software to make operation of your dcc. Aug 03, 2019 itrain automated model trains layout control software with dcc system. Dcctrain for dcc digital command control dcc trains lenz. Dcc wiring clinic 25 summary dcc wiring is different from dc blocks and cab control in consideration of wiring methods, but many of the same basic rules for electrical gaps etc. Youll pay a little more, but the results can be well worth it on a finished model.
From decoder management to automation and operations software, the addition of a computer. The digitrax complete train control system brings fun and realism to model railroading. See more ideas about model trains, model train layouts and train. Inventory software is a great idea for several reasons. It has now been fully converted to run under any version of windows from xp upwards. At the very basic level, all that is needed is two wires run to the track. The standard way model trains use to run was by varying voltage and polarity on the rails to create different speeds and directions of the trains. Maker of analog lighting and authorized dealer of many dcc systems and supplies albion software designers of ship it. Discover the world of digital model railroad control with easy to use starter systems from a range of trusted dcc manufacturers. All instructions are stage written so that by following the step by step instructions the trains can be running in next to no time. He served as president of the conrail historical society. All components british supplier of model railroad electronics including electronic boards, electronic components, power controls, wire, tools, and more.
We have been a pioneer in providing dcc components since mr. It is well suited for users who are looking for an easy to use program that covers reliably the standard tasks of model railroad control, such as switchboard operation, routes, block securing, hidden yard control or shuttle trains. Tonys trains carries a variety of dcc boosters, decoders, starters, accessories and more available for purchase online. This software package has support for a network of bruce chubb cmri usic, susic, andor smini nodes andor a network of lenzs xpressnet dcc nodes. I would like to know what will be the best dcc controller to start out with.
Atrack is a program originally developed for the aged but venerable atari xlxe range of computers which implements the digital command control dcc system for the operation of model railroads. It now supports azatrax usbconnected model railroad detectors. The reasons for choosing dcc for your layout are clear. The dcc protocol is defined by the digital command control working group of the national model railroad association nmra. For example, automatic block control avoids collisions and you control which train is driving manually or fully automatically according. Winner of the 2020 model railroader readers choice awards theres never a better time to get started with dcc digital command control and the nce power cab is a great place to begin. No boosters, command stations, additional wiring, computers, proprietary throttles or any cv programming required. Dcc is short for digital command control and is a modern method of controlling a model train setup. This is a victory for jmri and opensource software in general. Digitoys systems produced software called winlok for running and configuring dcc systems.
The big bear rail controller is an easy to use pc based controller. By controlling model trains by voltage, the higher the voltage the faster the locomotives moves and the lower the voltage the slower. Software to create switch lists for freight car forwarding and creating. After your computer is connected to your layout, you will need some dcc software. Apr 02, 2020 dcctrain llc offers products and services that will bring dcc digital command control to your layout. For instance, our units are the only high tech systems so elegantly designed that instructions for basic operations are printed on handheld. Oct 08, 2012 a simple introduction to using a computer to control a model railway that uses digital command control. Model railroad computer control with traincontroller. To learn more about dcc, check out this dcc resources page.
Railmaster is a totally new way to control a model railway. Railmaster is designed to run on your pc and using elink digital control and suitable dcc locomotives will allow fully independent control. All software is scale independent, internet enabled and supports all popular command stations. Actually a fullfeatured suite of software tools, kams software programs provide for all aspects of manual control, layout automation, and dispatching. Nce manufacturer of dcc electronics for model railroading. The system utilizes digital computer technology to control model trains. When i try to run the engine it is either to fast or stopped. Dcc combined with computer control model train advisors. The first and perhaps fastest noticeable benefit is programming of decoders. The first time we ran a digital command control system we knew we couldnt live without one but, we couldnt afford it either. Dcc support integrated support for nmra standard digital command control. Beginners guide to command control and dcc national model.