I posted this in the Atlas forum in the N scale area and it generated some interest. This is for the newbie. It is often thought that DCC is for the large layout, and that certainly is true. But a small layout can definitely benefit, and in more ways often than a large layout. My son and I have a small layout in N 2 by 8 1/2 ft with fourteen blocks. We bought the Digitrax Chief in preparation for the larger layout we are in the process of building. Blocks tend to be much shorter in a small layout for obvious reasons. This means that when you are running a train by yourself or with a friend, you are forever playing the "change the block" game. This gets old real fast - and isn't prototypical. So to take a consist around a layout a spot a couple of cars may mean blocks, blocks, and more blocks. With DCC this eternal block changing in gone. On Friday evenings we go to a friends home to run his HO layout in his basement. He uses blocks, but the run of an average block is much longer so in reality you are throwing less blocks in a given time. So, small layouts definitely benefit from DCC. A couple in the Atlas Forum said they had small layouts and were happy to end the block throwing time when they made the big switch over to digital command control. You just might be too!
I, too, have a small layout (5x10 in HO) and have benefitted enormously from DCC. I, too, have some 5 blocks on my 25' main line and was very frustrated switching switches to run more than one train -- I often only ran one train because I didn't want to pay that much attention. Now, with DCC, I (with my children) usually run two or three trains (with only occasional "cornfield meets"). It is so much more fun to just drive the trains -- and with a TTX automatic reverser/circuit breaker, i don't even have to flip a reverse switch. Next -- automating turnouts!!
My first experience with DCC was a 2foot by 6foot layout with 3 engines running at the same time. The guy had a computer interface and it ran two of the trains, he had to keep his out of their way. It was fun to try it, and just as much fun to watch someone else avoid a 'cornfield... Plus he had Sound in all his locos and it was a GAS! It really sold me on DCC.
