To answer your question Andy, no I did not start a thread about the replacement. In the DCC section I did a simple post there. I made the change so I could have better control for automated running of trains. RailCom allows for more precise location tracking and also is a bidirectional communication with the command station/throttles. It also gets away from the dreaded slots stuff and every locomotive I have can be stored and recalled anytime I want. They are auto detected the moment they hit live track. The crazy part of all of this was that I thought I had to pull all my my non-Railcom decoders and replace them. Then I found out ESU had a RailCom transmitter that could be added as a second decoder on the locomotives and also in cabooses or other rail cars for the end of train location. All in all it turned out to be a lot easier to get the location and control I was looking for. So I hope this brief description transfers enough information. Perhaps I will do a full on post once the conversion and automation is complete. All I can say, is that the ESU CabControl unit is 100 times better than anything Digitrax has put out. It is a little more expensive but you get a whole lot more for the money.
Just received the Micro-trains Mopac 5 car heavyweight 'runner pack'. Micro-trains keeps changing their packaging methods for these heavyweight models. I am not a fan of the method used for this release. They are in a cardboard box with foam cradle... no protective plastic box and nest. Price for this item is $50 more than the previous Illinois Central release. Not liking the way this is going... inferior packaging to protect the models and much higher price is dissuading my future purchases.
My Air Eraser arrived from China today!!! Now I can smooth out shapeways shells and other 3D printed shells.
A few more items arrived including the CSX hopper which is the last of the CSX family line series offered by MT. This is the complete series altogether.
Which boosters did you go with? I'd be interested to see a followup especially with regards to voltage matching and such. I've got a couple 50012 boosters for my cab control but still need to get the ecoslink terminal as the cab control only has a single outlet.
David, thanks for the additional (and very helpful) information. I'd also be interested in the accessory bus (e.g. Loconet) replacement (if you are replacing it), how you do signaling, switch control, etc. and how that changes as you migrate from Digitrax to ESU.
I went with the 50012 boosters, I measured and set all the boosters to the same level. I also picked up a few EcosLink's as well to make sure I could power my whole layout.
Previously I converted all the signalling etc to LCC. And none of that had to change. That was all controlled by Panel Pro, and there was no need to replace anything, just move a few wires. Most the switches are using Tortoise Machines with DCC Specialties Hare II decoders with auto-throw enabled in the event there is a communication issue. So there was not much Digitrax in play other than powering the rails.
Wrong Railcom... What's worse, there are (at least) two different products/standards/etc. with one 'm'. Motorola has a 1:1 radio system by the same name. Try this link... https://dccwiki.com/Term:RailCom
That's what I get for trying to read...type...talking on the phone and loading programs on my new laptop all at the same time..
Been looking forward to this delivery all weekend: North American Railcar Corp rolling stock including 6 4275 CF covered hoppers, 2 Pullman Standard box cars and 4 sultran sulfur/coal gondolas. As always very nice details. No one else that I am aware produces this type of covered hopper. The brake detail on both ends is top notch. B end detail Pic not that great but lots of stuff going on here. A end detail
Well I could not stop my self. I picked up a pair of SP 4-8-4's from the latest release. I needed more locomotives like I need an IRS audit. But big steam is wonderful. Kato N 1260308-DCC GS-4 4-8-4 Steam Locomotive, Southern Pacific #4433 Kato N 1260309-DCC GS-4 4-8-4 Steam Locomotive, Southern Pacific #4435 I also picked up several packages of the ESU RailCom transmitters to put in a few older locomotives and about a dozen cabooses.
Just arrived today a Bachmann Spectrum 4-8-2 Light Mountain, due to get a ATSF style boiler, cab and tender.
Well received two locomotives today from the Bay of E. A Marklin 2-6-0 that ran perfectly and will get lettered up for the Mississippi River & Bonne Terre Ry. a short line that served lead mines in Missouri. The second is a fine looking Kato /ConCor D51 2-8-2 that sounds like the gearbox has come loose! Will not run, just makes a bunch of noise. Contacted the seller to see if they want me to open it up and see if it can be fixed or just return it. Rats! PS, heard from the seller, opened it up, found what was loose and it now runs great.
Well, as if I need another project what with all of my present projects, BUT I could not resist. This just came in today via USPS: A very excellent 3D print designed to fit a KATO chassis. I have an ESU LokPilot 5 micro to put under the hood. I have the Tru-color paint, CP Rail Modern Red and CSX Y2K GRAY along with the decals. This should not take too long IF I do not try to get fancy with lights. Should I do a build thread ?