Here’s a sight that probably hasn’t been seen for thirty years or more: Zion freight and passenger yards completely empty! In preparation for our conversion to DCC, we’ve removed nearly all of the locomotives and cars from the railroad. Cars will be cleaned and re-inspected, and locomotives will be updated to DCC.
First, thanks for visiting PMRRC.org. How do you like our new website? Spiffy, right?
This is the beginning of a new era for the Sierra Pacific Lines — and not just because of our spiffy new web site. We are beginning our conversion to Digital Command Control, or DCC. It’s a huge undertaking that we expect to take several months.
Why are we converting now? Our fifty-plus-year-old control system is probably one of the most complex analog systems of its type. It has served us very well, but it’s maintenance intensive and requires a high degree of specialized skill to repair. Converting to DCC will allow us to use standardized components that are easier to maintain and replace.
But it also means a massive amount of work. Much of the layout will be rewired, and our operating procedures will have to change. In some ways, we’ll have to learn to operate our layout all over again. The work is daunting, but we’re excited about the prospects for operating the Sierra Pacific Lines under DCC.
Follow along in this blog and we’ll keep you updated on all the changes. Now if you’ll excuse us, we have some wiring to do…