Middle Earth Model Railway

It is possible that eventually the entire system will change from using isolating track sections for locomotive control to DCC (Digital Command Control). This will require the fitting of a small circuit board in each of the locomotives to receive digital information from a central control unit, which will instruct the engine how to move. This will allow two engines to move independently of each other on the same track (e.g. in different directions and at different speeds).

The introduction of DCC will make the operation of the railway much easier by removing the need to turn on power to many sections of track to move a train (essentially, all track sections will be permanently switched on), and give greater flexibility to train movements. However, the cost of changing over to the new system is potentially prohibitive as each digital decoder fitted to an engine costs from £15 for a basic unit with minimal functions. To convert over 70 engines would cost over £1000. Fortunately it is possible to build them from kits and from scratch, significantly reducing the cost.

The flexibility of DCC would also allow a long term option of the introduction of computer control, again simplifying the control of the network.