Author Topic: Are these old control systems still useful?  (Read 927 times)

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Maletrain

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Re: Are these old control systems still useful?
« Reply #15 on: April 18, 2024, 02:19:32 PM »
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Peteski, I looked at the TT scale locos and rolling stock, and they are American.  There are 2 working GP-9s and one smaller switcher that looks a bit European, but has "Kenosha [something]" printed on its side and knuckle couplers, even though its instructions come in German as well as English.  There are also many shells and parts intended to make E unit passenger engines and a large number of Christoph boxes that seem to have unbuilt kits for rolling stock.  The 3 working locos tested out as DC, not either of these other control systems and not DCC.

There are many code 70 turnouts (curved, straight, left, right and double-slips) but only one piece of straight track barely as long as the GP-9s I tested. So, if the club is to make a demo TT layout, we are going to need some flex track.

Maletrain

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Re: Are these old control systems still useful?
« Reply #16 on: April 18, 2024, 02:31:12 PM »
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Regarding the two unusual control systems in the donations, it appears that the 5 pieces of the CTI "Train Brain" do not a complete system make.  But, it is a currently available product, so the club can probably sell the parts.  I suspect these parts are what is left after an actual system was installed on the previous owner's layout.  I did an op session there, once, but don't remember if he even had signals (I switched a port all day).

The now-defunct "On Board" products look like they are probably enough parts to make 2 control systems, but lack speakers and I think sound generators to make locos sound whistles/horns and ring bells.  That pre-DCC system sent a set of specific analog frequencies over the rails to indicate which loco and what function to perform (speed, direction, sound horn/whistle or ring bell), and required what they called  "throttles" and we would call "decoders" to interpret those signals in each loco.  There a lots of controllers and what appear to be the in-loco devices, but without any sort of speakers.  I have no interest in figuring out how to even test all of this stuff.  I am wondering if there is anybody left with any interest in it.

peteski

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Re: Are these old control systems still useful?
« Reply #17 on: April 18, 2024, 02:35:09 PM »
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That sounds like a good use for the TT stuff. It will sure be informational as the TT scale is pretty much nonresistant in this country.
My first ever train set was TT gauge (because that was what my mother found available  at the government ran boy scout supply store (which also sold models).  There wasn't much selection - you bought what was available.  She bought that  set few years before I was even old enough to play with it.  She just knew that since I was a baby I liked the 1:1 trains, so she a bought it with that in mind.

Much later (as an adult) I found out that it wasn't even TT scale set - it was a narrow gauge (meter gauge)  H0 set which ran on TT gauge (12mm) track.  Neither mom or I knew that or cared. I loved it.
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