My main reason for DCC was to get absolutely the best slow speed control and better sound than what I had with DC. I got both.
In addition:
-The layout got bigger. With the slow speeds, every engine just smoothy crawls around the layout. What use to be a 6 minute run now took 8. Also, with my DC block system, my storage areas and engine tracks were as long as the longest train or engine. If something shorter was on that section, the extra space had to stay vacant since you couldn't have two locos in the same block. With DCC, you can pack in as much as the track will hold. i.e. My longest storage track can now hold one 18 car thru freight or two wayfreights. The leads to the turntable can hold 2 of my largest engines or three smaller ones.
-I don't need as much wire and toggles.
-With the DCC wireless handheld, I can be anywhere in the room and run things , as opposed to having to be at the control board with the block selectors. I had wireless remotes with DC but still had to deal with the toggles.
-I can double or even triple head steam locos. It can be tricky, but even alot harder with DC.
Like I said in my first post, there were {are} alot of exaggered facts floating around about DCC. Maybe some left over when DCC was new and decoders were not as safe as the ones today. I found that:
-You can use HO decoders in O scale if you have the right can motors. Most of mine are Pittmans or Canons. All of my Atlas, Overland, Westside and Sunset are running on factory motors. Had to remotor an older US Hobbies. Plus the HO ones are smaller and will fit almost anywhere.
-You don't need heavy gauge wire everywhere. I am not suggesting cutting corners, but my old layout was built for DC and I had a mixture of stuff under there, and some near 50' runs to blocks, some places maybe even 18 gauge. I installed the NCE unit figuring I'd have to pull alot of wire but everything worked fine. I have never lost a signal. New layout is wired better.
-A short circuit doesn't ruin anything. I use the same quick acting circuit protectors mentioned above. If I have a short on a steam engine or passenegr trcuk, I just let the power stay on and prod around the equipment til I find what is rubbing. The breaker will keep tripping and resetting.
-A stalled engine doesn't burn out a decoder. I have had connecting rod issues a couple times that stopped an engine dead while the motor was still trying to turn and my 1.8 amp decoders didn't fry.
I think trains are great with 2 rails or 3, DCC or DC but just wanted to share my observations.
