Tom wondered:
"It might be hard enough to fit the DCC in there. I have zero experience in this area though."
DCC is far less bulky than Mike's ponderous DCS modules.
In the video below, this is my HO scale Kato NW2. (Maybe 5" long?) It is equipped with a full featured (like 40 or so horns/etc) Soundtraxx Tsunami 2 decoder, a speaker, and a "keep alive" circuit... all contained within the tiny (by S scale standards) inside compartment within a Kato HO scale NW2.
I was shocked at how MTH was having problems miniaturizing their DCS system so the modules could fit inside an S scale F unit locomotive. Ridiculous. Must have been a really poor design, or an example as to how it complicates circuit board circuitry in the attempt to retain proprietary content and yet be compatible with the competition's proprietary content. Such a deplorable state O scale is in with two separate systems that were constantly at war with one another. (And MTH tried to bring that same mentality into the HO and S scale segment.)
DCC was/is the biggest leap forward to come along for model trains since my involvement in model railroading. It is wonderful to be able to replicate prototype moves without regards to the old toggle/rotary constraints as well as purchase engines equipped with decoders of various mfg'ers and yet my NCE DCC system can communicate with all of them. (They can even be MU consisted together!)
We 2-rail model railroaders never had it so good.
Andre
