I have an HO Genesis F7A into which I'd like to install a decoder to be used with sound. I'm reluctant to buy another powered F7A (with unpowered F7B) spending money for power and decoders I probably will not require....no long trains will be run. Can I get by with dummy A-B units, if I can find them and forego the extra expense? I plan to run A-B-A. If I have to buy an F7A/B powered set, can I mix Bowser-Stewart or Intermountain with Athearn, using mfgr-appropriate decoders?? I am DCC-challenged Thanks for any help.
I am guessing you are talkin' HO..... I don't know a whole lot about HO, since I got out of it many years ago. I am guessing that if you don't have too many cars to pull and not too steep of a grade, you can get by with "dummies"
Providing there is pick-up available from the dummy, or you can retrofit it, there shouldn't be a problem fitting stationary sound decoder to the dummy. To this end I would reckon an Athearn B unit as they have readily available parts to give you the track pick-ups if needed. Back in 2001, Bob Russell of Orange Belt Lines fame had a DCC PA-1/PB-1/PA-1 lash-up that had sound in the dummy B unit. The A's were powered Kato, the B dummy Life-Like. This was in N too. You will be able to mix different manufacturers locos, particularly with DCC as you can speed match them. I would think you could have more problems with the roilling qualities of the dummy engines than setting up powered units.
Thank you Gents for your input. I've thought it over and will probably buy the matching Athearn Genesis F7A powered & F7B unpowered units to keep things reasonably consistent and perhaps easier to deal with. I live in a very small town and am not in proximity to anyone DCC-qualified so I guess I'll have to read the instructions carefully. In fact, our town is so small, it was just last year that we were assigned the 5th digit for our zip code. Mac
