Evening all, I am near to starting a rebuild on my HO version of the CBAM&J RR. Space limitations led me to take down the bedroom location but I have since built much larger bench space in the garage. I am looking through track plans and getting my own worked out but can't decide on something. A local modeler passed away in the early 90's after 30-plus years as a model railroader. His wife held on to everything until about 2014 at which time it was all available. I was able to pick up a large amount of track and probably 150 freight and passenger cars and about 75 locos dating back to the late 50's in some cases. One is a beautiful Bowser that I am still trying to find some parts for. Anyway, I have always been a DC railroader and now that I have such a large collection of older DC locos I see no reason to abandon that. Is there a way to use the same track for both DC and some possible DCC additions? In other words if I want to use some of the older gear I can simply run DC but if I want to run some DCC can that control simply replace the DC for the operating session? Can I bounce back and forth to either type or do I have to lay separate track for both systems? As a separate question, one of the things I am considering is elevating a circle track and using it as a passenger line. No switching just going around in circles. I would like to do this with above ground power. I think it is called a cantenary or something close to that. Is there a passenger locomotive that can be powered this way commercially available? I can build a kit but am not interested in modifiying something from scratch. It can be DC or DCC. I haven't seen anything but I'm sure there is a lot out there I haven't found. Thanks for any information on these two questions. Rick H.
I am not a DCC pro, so don't take this as expertise, but depending on the complexity of your layout, DCC and DC power can be interchangeable. If you run multiple DC locomotives, you would need a block system, but for DCC, that would need to be disabled. As far as your passenger loop, the catenary is the overhead line system, so you were not wrong; the pantograph is the arm on the top of the locomotive. I have an old Mehano/AHM GG1 that can be wired
(Accidentally hit post) alternately to run from an overhead line, and I'm pretty sure the Bachmann Acela equipment can too. I have the HHP-8, but I am not certain. Even if that does not work, you could always set up a dummy system that is not actually powered, just run the locomotives like normal. If you do have a live catenary, both of the track rails have to be the same polarity. I would recommend having the catenary the positive and the two rails the ground. Hope this helps.
