Dyserth Road is operated by DCC (Digital Command Control) using Equipment by Lenz . The easiest way to think of Digital is to think of it as a full scale electrified railway. On an electrified railway the power is constantly 'on' and the various drivers start and stop their own trains using control equipment on board the train. The Digital decoder that is fitted to locos working on Digital is the 'control equipment' on board the train and instead of the driver actually being on board he is sending signals along the rails to the loco, so instead of driving the track as with conventional DC control you are in fact driving the trains with DCC.

I became interested in DCC after seeing it demonstrated at various exhibitions around the country. To add to that several fellow modellers have taken the plunge into DCC using Lenz equipment. I finally took my first steps into DCC and purchased a Lenz Compact this is a complete digital system for only £75. I set about installing decoders and the odd lighting kit and played about with a small test track learning all the features associated with DCC.

In January 2003 I decided to convert 'Dyserth Road' to DCC running this was a simple task involving setting all isolating switches to 'on' and adding a few extra feeds so all the track was permanently live. This allowed locomotives with lighting kits fitted to have lights on when stabled in the sidings. I set about fitting more lighting kits to represent prototypical operation which allow my locomotive fleet the following options of, no lights (all functions Off), marker lights only, marker lights plus tail lights, marker lights plus headlights and marker lights plus headlights plus tail lights. The lighting kits and much more are available from Express Models. Having converted 'Dyserth Road to DCC and decided all my future projects would be DCC I invested in a new system the Lenz Set-90 (pictured below). The Set-90 supports 31 XpressNet handhelds, 4 digit addressing, all forms of programming including  advanced one step address programming and operations mode programming, layout control feedback, advanced consisting, control of 256 locomotives and 999 turnouts, and 10 NMRA DCC functions (F1-F8 plus F0 forward and F0 reverse).

The Lenz Set90 Set-90 includes an LH90 Engineer's throttle, an LZV100 Command/Power Station.

In addition to the Set 90 I got a Lenz LH100 throttle which features 4 digit addressing, all forms of programming, layout control feedback, advanced consisting, control of 256 locomotives and 1024 turnouts, and all 14 NMRA DCC functions F1-F12 plus F0 forward and F0 reverse (see below).

The LH100 keypad based dispatchers throttle is a universal input device for all Digital plus system and is compatible with all XpressNET based systems. You can control your motive power, program  locomotive and accessory decoders, throw turnouts activate uncoupling ramps or set signals, determine and program the system properties, or check the status of feedback encoders and accessory decoders with feedback  An easy to read LCD display provides an easy to read indication of both the locomotive you are operating as well as the current speed and function status.

Some acquaintances with sites worth visiting for similar DCC content include:

John Humphries  features both DCC and computer control on his 'Norton Road' layout.

Steve Jones  User of DCC (Digital Command Control) for over 6 years.

Nigel Burkin  Informative guides on wiring and lighting for DCC.

For advice and discussion on DCC try the DCC UK Yahoo! group and the Digital Plus By Lenz Yahoo! group.

If you arrived directly to this page,
click here to load the site as intended.