@Mark Holmgren 110217 posted:With all the talk of conventional control in this thread, I'm curious how many people actually use that. I wouldn't be in this hobby but for DCS. It would be interesting to do a poll and ask command control vs. conventional and also asking peoples' ages.
I only ever use conventional. I have not owned a remote-train in my life, and given how bad I am at losing remotes for other things... It wouldn't be very pretty imo. 
My dad and grandfather have been "toy train enthusiasts" since my grandfather's childhood (a few years ago, when he was downsizing, we inherited my grandfather's pre-war Lionel Pennsylvania engine (238E) (with the E-Unit stuck in "neutral"...we think), and an AF 0-4-0 O-gauge. Neither my dad nor myself have ever owned anything with a remote. I think my grandfather has a G-Gauge remote-controlled, battery-powered engine, but that only ran when the track power was finicky beyond frustration. (Squirrels loved to chew on the PVC-coated wires for unknown reasons.)
My first engine was a K-Line S-2. I recall being so excited that Christmas because I got an engine at long last.
So, my aversion to remotes is because I don't trust myself to not lose them. I think most of the remote-controlled engines out there (even the reasonably-priced ones) can be run on conventional, in case the remote fails.
I have yet to misplace the transformer while the layout is up. Meanwhile I've misplaced my phone more often than I care to recall.
