NEB&W's Electrical SystemLast Update: 2007-11-15
"A system so good even Nehrich will use it"tm
The first three layouts were operated with fairly conventional electrical systems. The first layout actually used a motor-generator set for the power, in the era before solid state rectifers.
On the third layout, each town had a fixed control panel and a train was passed off from one town operator to the next.
The fourth layout (this one) was designed around "walk-around" control, where the train engineer followed his or her train, plugging and unplugging the throttle along the way. (While the train keeps moving, the engineer has no control while unplugged.)
At first, there was to be a series of four relays for each electrical block, which could assign any one of 7 throttles to that block. The signalling system was supposed to automatically advance a given throttle assignment along the mainline until it detected another train.
After seeing carrier controlled systems in use in such layouts as Chuck Hitchcock's, we decided to switch to Dynatrol, one of these pioneering systems.
Instead of varying the voltage to a particular block to change the train speed (thus affecting all engines in that block regardless) carrier control maintains a fixed voltage of about 12 to 14 volts. Each engine is equipped with a receiver tuned to a particular "channel". The rails act as the carrier for the signal that controls that specific loco without affecting any other engines.
Dynatrol proved unworkable for the size and complexity of this layout, and in desperation, the club switched to CTC-80. Finally, as it seemed CTC-80 was no longer in production, the club switched to DCC.
Previously, the systems were all proprietary, and one was totally incompatible with any other. Thus one was at the mercy and continuing good health of whatever system one had choosen, as switching to another was an enormous undertaking.
DCC (Digital Carrier Control) is a hobby-wide system that allows much of one manufacturer's devices to work with another's. After careful consideration and a desire to get the NEB&W to operate more reliably, the club decided to switch specifically to the Northcoast Engineering System 1. We are receiving advice and assistance from Tony's Train Exchange. Tony has been extremely helpful in providing the club with the information we needed in order to determine what is best for our layout.
For information on how to run a train under DCC, go to the NEB&W DCC Primer.