The days of needing a computer degree to operate a digital model railway have gone. We offer open source hardware and software to help you operate your railroad as prototypically as you like. Digitoys systems produced software called winlok for running and configuring dcc. The july 2019 issue of model railroader magazine features a buyers guide for digital command control dcc starter systems. Many of our diesel engines are dcc and sound equipped. During the development of the automatic dcc train operation of my layout, we are using the following software. Its also entirely independent, so you can build with almost any track. I maintain them, but not all locomotives can be converted to dcc. Before you submit your model railroading question please add some feedback, answers or comments to other postings on this model train blog. Whether you are a new hobbyist or experienced we have the knowledge and expertise to help you find products to suit your needs. A variety of options for both beginners and professional model railroaders in equal measure. Zugdcc software for lenz model railroader magazine model. Dcc system comparison digtrax nce model railway videos. Apr 09, 2015 i have been in n scale model railroading for 48 years.
What your needs and wants are may be completely different than what somebody elses needs and wants are. How to use model railway software to make operation of your dcc. Anyrail is probably the easiesttouse model railway design tool around. You can manage your locomotive rosters and easily program your decoders using. My house is small, so to do any significant scale distances would take up way too much room. The model railroad system is a software package that can help you run your railroad. Manufacturer id listing welcome to the nce information station. To learn more about dcc, check out this dcc resources page. The key benefits of traincontroller at a glance only by using a computer more diverse and secure operation of a model railroad is possible. The working group is made up of manufacturers and nmra members, who develop and extend the dcc standards. We want it to be usable to as many people as possible, so were building it in java to run anywhere, and were trying to make it independent of specific hardware systems. We have no limitations as to the size or scale of the dcc system installation. Learn about digital command control dcc open source dccwiki. All software is scale independent, internet enabled and supports all popular command stations.
Traincontroller is the worldclass software for controlling model railroads with a computer. Brake on dc allows you to control the lights while the train is in a dc block. This is a read only cv that has the manufacturers id number numbers are shown in decimal. Railroad x, or actually i use the german version eisenbahnx. 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. It now supports azatrax usbconnected model railroad detectors.
Our ho scale train engine collection feature models such as sd45, gp50, sd60, gp402, f7 and many, many more with road names like the southern pacific, pennsylvania railroad, santa fe and the union pacific. Xtrackcad is a cad program for designing model railroad layouts. We also started a new section for the new layout command control lcc standard from the nmra which can be used to enhance your layout with signalling, accessory control, and other features. Many modelers only go as far as changing the decoders default address from 3 to the cab number.
This page is provided to help those using dcc to find articles that have been published in model rail magazine that include information about dcc systems, resources, installation and advice. Its the best model railway simulator i know, although opinions always differ of course. An online model railroad bookstore featuring a curated selection of new and used books. Dcc working group national model railroad association. Dcc track control the standard dcc installation where dcc control of locomotives is required. Digital plus by lenz nmra dcc products unleashing the power of dcc. Catalog our product line, price list, and ordering information. Scarm means simple computer aided railway modeller software for easy and precise design of model train layouts and railroad track plans. This is a read only cv that has the manufacturers id. Part of the content in the september issue of model railroad hobbyist ezine. We explain why computer control can make operation of your dcc layout easier, highlighting bachmanns flagship dynamis ultima system and railcontroller. Model railway computer control centre mrccc is a windows software application created to provide a user interface and interlocking for the model railway that closely replicates real modern uk signalling practice. The nmra has trademarked the term dcc, so while the term digital command control is sometimes used to describe any digital model railway control system. Digital command control resources for model railroaders.
Dcc system comparison mrh dcc columnist bruce petrarca contrasts and compares digitrax dcc systems with north coast engineering dcc systems. Anyrail the easiest model railroad design software. Model railway software free download model railway top 4 download offers free software downloads for windows, mac, ios and android computers and mobile devices. By separating the functions of accepting and decoding dcc accessory commands from the function of doing the. Dcc decoder default resets national model railroad association. Control software an overview of our model railroad control software. How to rescue a faulty decoder tonys train exchange. If you have detected a short circuit in the track, check your wires again.
The hornby dcc system ensures that the hornby control units that are available are simple to understand and very straightforward to operate. Digital model railway control systems are often connected with an external computer where special software for controlling the train layout is running. In this case, too, operation can be fully computercontrolled. Unfollow dcc model railroad to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Model railroad computer control with traincontroller. 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. Cti computer control model railroader magazine model. Atrack provides full facilities for the programming of all types of locomotive and stationary turnout dcc decoders, and to store complete details of all these decoders, with all of their configuration parameters.
Anyrail makes model railroad design so easy, its fun. Higher currents heavier power wiring, and overload protection must work. Model railroader is the worlds largest magazine on model trains and model railroad layouts. Third party software cti model railroad computer control. 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. Comparison of dcc systems model railroader magazine. Keep reading to find out the benefits, and what youll need to do and get to have a successful conversion to dcc. This is a single car model loosely based on a double car incline that operated at port stanley, ontario. His system is integrated with digitrax dcc control, but the train brain also works well with analog control. Shop our online store, a leading source of model trains, miniature railroad sets, layouts, railroad models etc. Beginners guide to command control and dcc national. Welcome to dcc train automation the first stop on your journey to model railway digital control solutions. Digitoys systems produced software called winlok for running and configuring dcc systems.
A short circuit can occur any time one rail or wire touches the opposite rail or wire. This has been a great success and has made a great deal of affordable command control systems available to the model railroad community. Model railroad software free download model railroad top. Evidence of swift recapture of fta and team member. Worldwide first model railroad control software with own handheld. Mar 17, 2019 unlike a conventional model locomotive, a locomotive intended for dcc contains a decoder unit which performs two functions. Dcc support integrated support for nmra standard digital command control.
Model railway optical block detector hook up and demo. The technical jargon, the confusing instructions and the complex operating requirements have also gone. They have manufactured dcc products for a number of fine model railroad companies including roco, lgb, concor and atlas. The dcc guide, second edition model railroader books. Troubleshooting and fixing model trains that wont run. The jmri project is building tools for model railroad computer control. We are happy to install dcc systems to small table top train set style layouts, or very complex model railways. Buy products related to dcc train controller products and see what customers say about dcc train controller products on free delivery possible on eligible purchases. Railroad automation rra is a command and control software package, for dcc digital command control model railroads, specifically designed to work with the loconet network bus. Basically with the cti scheme your present manually. I added white paper strips to the bottom of the wagon and. The decoder picks up and rectifies the alternating voltage applied to the track and makes it available as a direct voltage which can be applied to the locomotive motor. If you have more than one set of power leads, make sure they arent crossed. Dcc decoder default resets national model railroad.
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. Tcs train control systems dcc decoders n scale model trains. Practical benefits of operation your layout with dcc. Mrcs is your home for open source electronics for model railroad operations. Download the model railroad system now and operate your layout, from running trains to working your signals and switches. Enjoy designing your layout anyrail ensures everything fits. Layout design, track plans, scenery and structure building, wiring, dcc, tinplate, toy trains, price guides and more. If you want to convert your model railroad to dcc without buying a complete dcc set, there are some changes that you will have to make to your existing equipment, along with purchasing some new components. I chose zscale because it is the smallest model railway scale.
Dec 18, 2014 what to do when decoders are not working. Lenz elektronik gmbh, the worlds leader for digital command control, is celebrating their 26th year in business. Digital command control dcc is a standard for a system to operate model railways digitally. Bachmanns spectrum line of finely detailed locomotives and rolling stock brings you highquality products at affordable prices. This video shows a test track installation n gauge of infra red optical feedback detectors. Just download the setup package, install it and start editing your first track plan. Digital command control for your model railroad model railroader books strang, lionel on. How to convert your model railroad setup from dc to. We have been asked several questions about dcc bus wiring many times, so have produced this page which we hope will answer many questions that you may have about installing a basic dcc bus to your model railway layout.
It has now been fully converted to run under any version of windows from xp upwards. Every dcc decoder has an id code that tells you who made it. Model railway electrics digital command control dcc. Choosing a decoder for model trains and accessories.
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. If you do not know the manufacturer of your decoder, you can try reading cv8 on the program track. Atrack for windows atrack is a powerful free extension to complement the facilities of your nce corporation power cab or power pro digital command control system and to assist you in running your roster of locomotives on your model railroad atrack allows you to store full details of all of your locomotives and accessory turnout decoders, with all of their dcc configuration parameters. Software to create switch lists for freight car forwarding and creating. When equipped with digital command control, locomotives on the same electrical section of track can be independently controlled. Model railway software free download model railway top 4. The video runs over 20 minutes so this is an indepth comparison, not something cursory. Simple and effective operation with the latest windows interfaces. This is another type of model railroad software that you will almost certainly find useful for your train layout not so much for planning purposes, but more for creation of signs, decals, old classic advertisements for your buildings or billboards, simulation of brick or stone walls, stained glass, window treatments, wallpaper, etc.
An introduction to dcc and overview of model railway control we hope that you find this information useful. What makes it different for dc control is that with dcc the locos are controlled directly via an internal control chip instead of being controlled by the increasing and decreasing of current in the track. I have 108 locomotives in my roster, many of which are more than 45 years old. Pls dcc system installation professional model railway. With scarm you can easily create the layout of your dreams. My experience so far leads me to digitrax dcc for my own layout. 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. Model railroad software free download model railroad top 4 download offers free software downloads for windows, mac, ios and android computers and mobile devices. Model rail is britains brightest and most informative magazine for model railway fans.
Sep, 2009 the best dcc system is the one that best fits your needs, wants, and preferences. The drawings and photos below are for an operating incline railway that was built by the london model railroad group for its o scale model railway club located at london, ontario, canada. To explain what command control is, some historical background is needed. I remember reading articles about it many years ago and thinking, you need to be a computer programmer to do this. Dcc is an nmra standard, which means that locomotives that use decoders from different model train manufacturing companies can be used with any dcc system biggest mistake model train beginners make with dcc wiring is mixing dc and dcc can ruin your dcc electronics by potentially frying them. Dcc combined with computer control model train advisors. Since the factory reset is not in the nmra dcc standards or recommended practices, each manufacturer can do their own thing. The dcc protocol is defined by the digital command control working group of the national model railroad association nmra. The jmri software is a suite of programs and is a single download.
As we prepare to begin construction of a new layout for our new nottawasaga model railway in our newly renovated premises at bygone days in collingwood, ontario, our members are in the midst of discussions about everything from the the trackplan to scenery construction. 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. The ability to change a decoders cv settings gives an engine a multitude of customized features. Integrated wheelrail characterization through advanced. Train tools software has been producing professional model railroad software since 1991. This works ok for one train, but what if you want to control two or three. I am no authority on the subject so i forwarded his query to our club resident electronics guru, john houghton. Model railroad computer control used to be very complicated. Dccwiki is an encyclopedia for sharing information about digital command control dcc as defined by nmra used in railroad modelling. The railcon dcc control system is a unique approach to providing dcc control of model railway track and line side accessories. Discover the world of digital model railroad control with easy to use starter systems from a range of trusted dcc manufacturers. At the very basic level, all that is needed is two wires run to the track.
Ive been playing with zscale model rail off and on for a few years now. Our cpnode system is an updated, completely open, layout control system based on the popular and proven cmri system introduced by dr. Scarm the leading design software for model railroad layouts. Digital command is the fastest growing area of model railroading, and most spectrum locomotives are dccready, dccequipped, or dcc soundequipped to meet the demand. Atrack is a free windows software package to complement the nce power cab or power pro. The information here was that gained when i started with a dcc layout. For all dcc, selectrix and loconet compatible decoder and devices. Runs on all 32bit microsoft windows systems beginning with windows 98. All model train devices mentioned on this blog are listed here, with links to the corresponding articles. Bachmann, digitrax, cvp, lenz, mrc, nce, zimo, etc. Latest news easter break click for full details dear all, we will be closed over the easter newsletter april dear customer welcome to this months newsletter. Ive collected lots of bits and pieces, books, ideas and software. 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. As you may have already discovered, controlling a model train is a rather simple matter.