Tempted to Convert to DCC/Sound?

[RobertInOntario]

[/quote]You got it! I avoided sound because I knew I wouldn't want just one sound locomotive. Then I was in to Arnies Trains in Westminster and they had a Premier edition 2-10-2 on the "deal table." They had installed a Tsunami decoder with sound in it for the demonstration layout in the store and then it fell off the bench work onto the floor and broke part of the rear overhang off the cab. The total value of the locomotive with sound and dcc was within a few cents of $290.00, and they had it marked down to $80.00 + (don't remember the exact price). I bought it and then wrote a letter to IHC to see if I could get a replacement cab. I told them I had dropped the locomotive and did not expect them to provide the replacement free, but would pay for it if it was available. They wrote on the bottom of my letter $25.00 and sent the letter back. I enclosed a check for $25.00 and sent the same letter back to them, now I'm hooked![/quote]

Thanks, Russ!

I'm still going back & forth regarding this DCC and sound thing. My latest idea is to consider sound but not necessarily DCC.

I have 3 small layouts and the layout that I'm mostly using now is only 3x5' in size -- it would seem that DCC is not necessary on such a small layout. At least, this was the feedback someone gave me yesterday at another LHS. I could run sound on a DC layout but not get the full range of sound -- at least I'd hear some chuffs and whistles.

While it seems that DCC may not be a complicated as I thought, the cost (even if done gradually) is still a concern. This hobby is already expensive enough as it is!

At any rate, I'm still looking into this & don't need to decide right away.

Thanks for the warnings, though, that sound is addictive -- it's probably hard to stop at just one loco!

Rob