MTL Announces an SW1500 for delivery in Spring 2014

[peteski]

Certificate of "1st guy Merit" in the mail.   

Thanks Bryan - you're such a swell guy!  Especially since you were the one trying to put the idea down. 

[wazzou]

Thanks Bryan - you're such a swell guy!  Especially since you were the one trying to put the idea down. 

Peteski,
I encourage you to go through this or any other thread about the SW-1500 release and point to where I spoke of DCC, either for or against.

I'll wait.

[peteski]

Peteski,
I encourage you to go through this or any other thread about the SW-1500 release and point to where I spoke of DCC, either for or against.

I'll wait.

You're right - it wasn't you. It was wcfn100 I was thinking of (in this thread).  You were just sarcastic.

[DKS]

[peteski]

[peteski]

Actually, I suspect that at this stage of the development (with the loco due in early 2014), the chassis is already designed. So the pleas for DCC compatibility won't do any good. 

[RockGp40]

How about some Rock Island units in one of the releases? They had them in red/yellow and blue/white. The blue/white, if released, would cause me some pain.

[Denver Road Doug]

Actually, I suspect that at this stage of the development (with the loco due in early 2014), the chassis is already designed. So the pleas for DCC compatibility won't do any good. 

Yeah, that's kinda what I was thinking.   I originally posted about DCC almost as a lark, and the response I got was pretty surprising.   I mean, it's not like you're reinventing the wheel here...the blueprint has been laid out already, and the technology used to get there is not bank-breaking stuff.   Anyway, like I said it's not a locomotive that is a "must have" for me so I'll likely pass.   But if that's really the case--with no DCC capability out of the box--I think it's a huge mistake.   For a loco that small it makes a decoder install a little more tricky for John Q. Public.   (And here I was thinking the days were numbered for the term "decoder install" period.)

But it leaves the door open for Atlas I guess, which will be a good thing for those who want to see IHB before they retire to Florida.   

[bbussey]

Actually, I suspect that at this stage of the development (with the loco due in early 2014), the chassis is already designed. So the pleas for DCC compatibility won't do any good. 

As with the Arnold U25C, we should wait until the MTL model is released  — or at the least, until further details are released by the manufacturer as the project progresses — instead of making assumptions that it will not be acceptable.

[Rossford Yard]

One of the good things about MT doing a switcher is it is less likely to have to MU with other brands.  Even in DCC, I wonder how many of us take the time to fiddle with the CV's.  I know I don't, and I know my IHB orders will be a little less likely if putting a decoder in is very hard.

I hope they are doing DCC, or at least that some of those split decoders make the job easy enough for the mass market to install.

If they make it easy enough, this product SHOULD BE a huge success for MT, a quantity of prototypes and paint schemes out there and a well needed loco.

[bc6]

I can say this for sure, If this switcher doesn't have DCC its no sale for me.

[Catt]

If I were to purchase this loco it would be for use on a small switching layout and it would not get DCCed anyway so it does not matter to me.First they actually have to produce the thing.

[Rossford Yard]

I must have missed something on MT....what it is that makes a few of you seem to question whether or not this model will ever make it to market? I don't recall any vaporware from MT in my 20 plus years as an N modeler......

[Dave V]

We are going to be talking to the DCC Mfgs to see what we can use in this application.  not much room for much of anything.

Joe

How much different are the dimensions of the MP15DC?  I have an Atlas one with a decoder.  I'm thinking the SW1500 might be a little shorter, but I would guess the hood length is the same.

I would echo the chorus of DCC plug and play being the standard.

[pogopod]

All the talk about size of the unit is fascinating. I saw a DCC equipped SW1 on the Modutrak layout in Milwaukee. It not only looked great, it operated flawlessly.