Track cleaning train power?

[peteski]

Apparently, I'm the only one who doesn't own a milling machine.

Also, is the OP looking for new locos currently available from a dealer - and with a warranty, in case they quickly burn out on that 200’ long 2.2% grade - or is he willing to scour the secondary markets looking for (and taking a chance on) obsolete and/or used merchandise?

The initial post read:
I don’t care about prototype or era accuracy, just need a heavy loco or two powerful enough to drag the cleaning outfit around the layout. The loco(s) need to be DCC, or easily converted to DCC, powerful enough to pull the drag, and have adequate weight and electrical pickup to move through less than clean track (otherwise, why clean it?).
Oh yeah, and I don’t want to spend a fortune.

Nowhere is stated that it needs to be a new loco available from a dealer. Unless you are interpreting the "DCC, or easily converted to DCC" statement as implying that it needs to be a contemporary model.

Sharky:  TCS Z2 is not a motor-only decoder, and that blog also shows that the front headlight function is being utilized.  I have never yet encountered a motor-only DCC decoder.

[Point353]

Nowhere is stated that it needs to be a new loco available from a dealer.

Exactly - which is why my post was in the form of a question, in order to elicit further information from the OP.
What seems to be your objection to that method of inquiry?

[robert3985]

Not a good idea in any case. Not even mentioning coreless motors, even regular motors heat up in that mode. Besides, most of the current DCC systems no longer support analog-stretching DC operation on address 00.

Those DCC systems that support address 00 non-dcc operation simultaneously with DCC engines are: All Digitrax, All Lenz, All Easy DCC, Bachmann E-Z Command, MRC discontinued Command 2000 and Prodigy

Those DCC systems that do not support address 00 operations for analog engines are: All NCE, Bachmann E-Z Command Dynamis, and MRC systems more current than Command 2000 and Prodigy.

Those systems that say they'll run "DC and AC" engines but I didn't spend the time to wade completely through their instruction manuals are: ROCO and ESU systems, but may be referring to "digital" DC and AC engines...meaning analog engines that are converted to DC by plugging in a compatible decoder.

So, the statement that "most" current DCC systems no longer support address 00 analog running may be technically true, but the systems that DO allow it are not obscure, lower quality, obsolete systems...particularly Digitrax, Lenz and CVP Products Easy DCC.

I would however caution that running analog engines on address 00 may make them run hotter than the same engines running with DCC installed.  Having run many analog trains at shows (continuous running for hours) using my Digitrax's address 00 feature, I have never had an engine cook itself...or come close to it.  They stay cool when running, but start to overheat when parked on a live track...buzzing away.   My son, who runs his analog Kato GS-4's on the layout, parks his engines on the programming track, which can be turned completely off.  Also, I don't see any difference (other than the buzzing) between running quality of analog engines running on straight DC and running on address 00 in my layout. My conclusion is that if they run good on straight DC, they'll run good on address 00. 

The other N-scale club, who usually is set up just a few feet away from my layout, runs NCE, and their club members after purchasing non-DCC engines, often come over and run their new motive power on my layout along with a train.  I've never had any of their newly purchased engines overheat or not work on address 00.

Photo (1) - My son Ben running trains with his analog GS-4's parked on the programming track at the Evanston Roundhouse Festival a few years ago:


Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[peteski]

Bob, I'm extremely pleased that you did the research and came up with a thorough and complete research. You are to be commended for this.   If it was up to me, I would present you with a free gift of free 1-year membership to the Railwire luxury lounge (in Ed K's basement).  Did I mention that it was free? 

However, the bottom line still is that neither one of us would recommend the analog operation on DCC power.  Maybe when I retire, I'll do better job in researching my info before posting to the group. 

[MK]

And you didn't give him a +1 Peteski????   

[peteski]

And you didn't give him a +1 Peteski????   

Ah ok, what the heck - I'm a good sport. Bob is a great source of useful info!   And you get one too for being a wise-a$$! 

[MK]

Luv you Peteski!