New Toys

I know, I know... model trains are MODELS not TOYS.  But anything new and cool that I own is a toy to me.

So I finally cashed in some of my gift certificates and got a couple of new things.  First is a Digitrax DS64.  It will be a little while before I get around to hooking that up, but I will likely play with that once I get my LocoBuffer USB and can see inputs and outputs from it.  In the mean time, I got a deal on the second item...

I bought the Bachmann Acela n Scale set.  I had seen it this summer as low as $250.  Well, it was down to $180, so I snapped that up with a $200 gift certificate from my lovely wife.  It comes with a bunch of Bachmann E-Z track, basically enough for a big circle, and which I probably won't use except as a testing ground.

More importantly, it is DCC on board (has the decoders built in) and has two engines (non-powered), powered cafe car, a first class car, and a business class car, both with lighted interiors. I'll be using this on my layout as the express train, mostly running out and back on the center set of tracks.  I'll probably set up the oval and hook up the Zephyr command unit I have to see how it works.  Reviews were fairly good on this model - Bachmann doesn't have the best reputation, but they did a reasonable job on this set.  Time will tell.

So hoping that I at least get a LocoBuffer USB for Christmas and then I can start doing some real live testing in preparation for laying down the main layout.

TTFN