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Now that the foam base for the Family Train Layout is in place, David shows how to expand the basic train set oval of track and connect the wires required to power the trains. Would you like to learn more about how to get started in the great hobby of model railroading? Sign up for the Model Railroader Basic Training Email Series.
Robert Vaughan Sr., the Family Layout is powered by the direct-current power pack that came with the Thomas the Tank Engine train set. But there's nothing about the wiring to prevent it from being hooked up to a Digital Command Control system. In fact, DCC layout wiring is typically simpler than old-fashioned DC block wiring. As for us making a small DCC layout, we do that almost every year with our project layouts! This year's Rice Harbor layout, 2012's Virginian, 2010's Salt Lake Route, 2009's Beer Line — even next year's N scale Red Oak project run on DCC. Seek out those back issues, or wait for the January 2015 issue for the Red Oak articles.
Could this layout run DCC control locos. Do you think MR will make a small DCC layout so we could learn how to use the techniques to make a larger layout?
Thanks for the tip, Mike. I haven't seen enough Thomas episodes for that to sink in. While it's too late for this video series (we've shot all the footage already), I'll keep it in mind for my next Thomas layout!
Merry Christmas!
David
Dave: An experience I had at a train show. While running Thomas and the coaches, a little girl told me I had the cars in the wrong order. "Annie always goes first," she said. Oops. I turned them around and she went away with a smile. 🙂