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General Discussion / Re: running RailPro on club layouts
« Last post by CPRail on Today at 09:21:24 AM »
I'll echo Bill's comments.

The only issue I've seen is if you make a temporary adjustment that isn't saved, like say an increase in Master Volume, and there is a short in the system that is longer than your Keep-Alives can cover, your temporary setting will reset.

Otherwise as long as you got juice, you can run.

Just like Bill, I also have no experience with DCC mode.
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General Discussion / Re: running RailPro on club layouts
« Last post by William Brillinger on Today at 06:33:43 AM »
I've run my railpro units on other layouts with no issues. As long as there is voltage on the rails, you're good to go. Keep-Alive's are a real benefit if there are trackwork issues. If you want to add your units to existing club consists you'd need to use DCC Mode. I've never used DCC Mode so I can't speak to that.
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General Discussion / Re: running RailPro on club layouts
« Last post by G8B4Life on June 18, 2026, 11:55:40 PM »
No particular experience from me, I've not run RP on a club layout but I did run some back and forth as a test on a small exhibition layout once as a test. They were using an NCE powercab I believe.

What the club your thinking of joining uses, whether NCE or Digitrax or even another NMRA compliant DCC system matters not, you can plonk your RP equipped loco's down and control them as per normal using your HC (it has to be an NMRA compliant system - it's to do with the voltage levels on the track).

If you want to run your loco's in DCC mode using the clubs controllers then you can do that to, you just have to enable DCC mode in the LM and set it up.

There are a couple here who have run their RP stuff on club layouts quite a bit, one, who sadly no longer uses RP and no longer visits here used to use it on Free-mo setups (which are DigiTrax) without operational issue and another, member KPack, who has also done so (but from memory, probably faulty, never said what system the club used) without operational issue.

The only thing to be aware of is in DCC mode there is a few things that just don't work as well, for instance you can't consist using NCE.

The only other thing I can think of is you might need to explain RP to them if they've not heard about it before before you can put your loco's on the rails.

- Tim


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General Discussion / running RailPro on club layouts
« Last post by cws on June 18, 2026, 08:49:59 PM »
Greetings from Central Florida... 

it's hot down here and time to stay inside and work on my favorite hobby...

I'm considering joining an established club but I'm really only interested if I can bring in my RailPro equipped locos...  I'm not sure if they are an NCE or DigiTrax shop...

thought I would reach out and see if anyone can share any thoughts/issues/concerns I need to consider.  Does anyone have experience they can share?

thanks! 

Carl.
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i think many RailPro users (including myself) use #12 wire for the bus cable from the power supply(ies).  when i wired my layout, i found that 12AWG Romex was the cheapest way to go.  i stripped off the covering and used the black and white conductors--plus i have a supply of bare copper #12 wire that comes in handy for lots of things.  when i wanted to tap power from the #12 to the rail i stripped about 1" of insulation off the bus wires, wrapped the feeder wires around it a few times, and soldered the joint.  it has worked fine for me.

Ken
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Jeff - the longest bus run I have is probably 12 -14 feet from the PWR-56 to the track. That's to my helix which is the furthest away section of blocked/isolated trackage. I'm having no operational problems with that.
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Thanks for the response Paul.  I saw the 15 number on the website.  What about the length of the buss run?  Is there a noticeable power drop off the further away from the module the run goes?  Does that 15 locos drop down to a much lesser number if running numerous locos out in the "boonies" as it were, and thus drawing down the power on the entire circuit for that module due to the distance from the power source?  Jeff
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Good to know Espeelark, Mine will be 3 levels, 3 should be more than enough for me. Say if 3 triple loco consists get into 1 power district(9 locos)
Should be good still even if old units ?

First level is a 15 track stage yard, so maybe two consists (6 engines) moving at once, +helix up/dn.

Level 2 is for running and switching, worst case maybe 3 consists running (9 engines ?)(3 engine consists - more or less) +helix up/dn

Level 3 Mostly continuous running  - same a level 2 (9 at most) - will have engine terminal/roundhouse, may use level 3 to power helix ?

Doubt 1 person could handle all that, not even half on a good day, but when grandkids start coming into the picture - etc...?

15 modern locos = maybe 8 older blue box/atlas yellow box/ P2ks locos (Which I have alot of)...

Maybe 4 would be better ? My room is 14 x 18.

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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: LM-3S
« Last post by Mrpicks on June 15, 2026, 06:55:43 PM »
Quick update, there was a short circuit in the module and Ring will repair at no cost.
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New Users Start Here / Re: Introduce Yourself...
« Last post by Espeelark on June 13, 2026, 06:15:40 PM »
Welcome aboard Jeff!
I copy/pasted your question into a new post under "RailPro Specific Help & Discussion" and gave you some info about my layout that you can compare/contrast against.

Mod Edit: direct link to post: https://rpug.pdc.ca/index.php/topic,1812.0.html - Tim
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