DCC and "Seasoned" Brass Locomotives

[nachoman]

I kinda face the same problem - I have no intention of having more than one operator at a time, and my layout is small enough that DCC would not add much unless I wanted sound or fancy lighting functions. It's up to you to decide whether DCC is worth the trouble. People will suggest that you visit a layout that has DCC so you can try it out, and that is probably good advise.

That said, there really is no reason those old brass steamers cannot be converted to DCC. But, you are going to have to figure out how to do each one, as you will not be able to simply "plug in" a decoder. The most complicated step will be to isolate the motor from the frame. In some cases, that may require a new motor. I have heard, but have no personal experience, that the biggest problems with DCC on older brass steamers are:

1) Older open frame motors that don't respond well on DCC;
2) Poor electrical pickup, with the tender and locomotive picking up electricity from opposite rails, instead of the loco and tender picking up electricity from all wheels.
3) Minor short circuits between pilot and trailing trucks and the loco frame that only cause a tiny spark on DC, but will cause a DCC system to reset.

All of these problems are correctible, and if you have the patience and confidence in your troubleshooting abilities, the results could be worth it. But unless you want sound, special lighting effects, multiple operators, or have a large layout that would need many blocks and toggle switches, your money and time may be better spent on scenery, structures, or rolling stock details. That's just my opinion, though.