My 2-rail layout can run with straight DC or with the flip of a toggle switch run on 18v AC. I have electrically isolated sidings to store and separate DC (Brass Locomotives, etc.) and ProtoSound 2/TMCC engines. I purchased quite a bit of AtlasO 2-rail TMCC engines when they were available, also have several MTH P2 steam and diesel engines. My question is this: How do the new Gold series F-units operate. I'm under the impression they run on DC and can have sounds if a Quantum Engineer unit is used between the DC power pack and the track. Is this correct? Any help would be greatly appreciated. The Lackawanna diesels look beautiful. Thanks

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I'm under the impression they run on DC and can have sounds if a Quantum Engineer unit is used between the DC power pack and the track. Is this correct?

Yes, that is correct. You can also blow the whislte and bell, etc by using the direction button on a DC power pack in a certain way. Unfortunately, I do not recall how to do it.

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The Lackawanna diesels look beautiful.

Check out the thread on these diesels.

http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3181048701/m/9661020374

Jack, I just posted videos on my thread of the F3's in operation under DCC. I have not run these engines under straight DC, but I have run other gold units under DC and while you can use the sounds the slow speed performance is not as good.

I have run both the "Gold" MP15s and the F units under straight DC. The MP15 with horizontal drive runs great, especially at slow speeds. The F units with the dual truck mounted drive is a bit jerky at slow speeds but they ramp up smoothly and run very nicely at road speed.

Without the Quantum Engineer it is tricky to get the bell and horn to blow. You have to flip the polarity switch slowly or rapidly while the loco is moving. Plus, the horn blows a long time when you just reverse the polarity without reducing voltage first. You could also use MRC's "Black Box" to access all the DCC functions while running on DC.

I didn't find the momentum effect on the MP15 a problem but for some reason the F units are harder to control, probably due to the dual motors. The momentum can be turned off.

The other thing to note is that these locos won't budge until you have about 8.5 volts DC on the rails. That makes them tough to MU with non-dual-mode units.

Joe G.
OST Magazine