Digital Marklin demo layout

Do not expect updates so close to each other, but tonight I just finished the first part of entering data in JMRI, so I thought I would give you an update. Once I decided to start this project, I knew that it would have to be not too complex. My goal is to learn things about automatic running (specifically, but also about JMRI, Digitrax, and DCC in general) that could then be applied to David's layout, in a much more complex way with 30 scheduled trains making stops, terminating, going into yards (and dreaming of them being switched …. !!!!). But to get there I knew I needed to go with something smaller and much less complex, so 3 trains with a small schedule. That should be simple enough, right? I put pencil to paper (yes, I am old school), and drew a loop. Then added a siding and then another, and pretty soon I had a starting point. I counted the turnouts, and I had 8. I decided to have half the layout viewable, while the other half would be hidden (staging). Because of tha...

Hello all, been a member of this blogger for a long while, but had not been following it for a long while, as my focus had gone to my other hobby, the Cumberland West layout ( Cumberland West - 2017 Tour Video ). x But my interest has sort of shifted back to European trains (specific Italian) but also my old Marklin. When I say old, I mean very analog. Working on the CW taught me a lot about digital (DCC) and I am very comfortable  in setting it up, using it, etc. I also own a lot of Digitrax hardware, due to buy outs and friends. I recently discovered that Marklin sells upgrade kits to change AC motors to DC motors. And an idea came to me. What could prevent me to use my Digitrax system and hardware with my Marklin. All I would have to do is to change the motors to DC, add a Digitrax decoder and off I go. I can feel the stomach turning in many "Marklinisti".  Let me say right away, what I have is not for collectors (I do not own anything that would be "...