[Tankersley Curve]

I have a large dc layout controlled by a Gaugemaster Model Q 4 track controller. Everything works fine. I decided to venture into locos with sound and have bought new a Bachman Class 37 with sound card installed. The loco lights come on, the engine starts then the loco moves off very slowly but will not go any faster than a crawl with the Gaugemaster model Q.
I had a very old single Bachman 5 controller which I acquired in a train set years ago so I coupled this in and the loco performs much better.
Is the Gaugemaster Q output not high enough?
What 4 track controller would be recommended to power sound card locos on 4 tracks?

 

[34C]

It's the DC output of the controller that's the fundamental problem. DCC decoder fitted locos will operate on DC supply to some extent (provided they are set 'DC enabled') but not necessarily that well, as you have seen. I couldn't recommend a DC system to get the best out of decoder fitted locos: a simple resistance controller works best, but it's very much second best compared to:

What you really need, which is a DCC system: that will run multiple locos as required, up to the specified current output of the system. And if that's ever exceeded, a booster can be added to supply additional current. What's more it will enable the performance characteristics of each decoder and mechanism combination to be set up exactly as you require. With a DC system you have no way to find out how the decoder is set up, or any means of changing that set up.

If you are prepared to spend on sound decoders, the one off purchase of a DCC system is a single spend to get the best from them. Look for a system that can address 28 functions, sound projects are becoming ever more ambitious in the number of selectable sound effects provided, and plenty of function outputs will be what you want.

 

[Graham Plowman]

I have a large dc layout controlled by a Gaugemaster Model Q 4 track controller. Everything works fine. I decided to venture into locos with sound and have bought new a Bachman Class 37 with sound card installed. The loco lights come on, the engine starts then the loco moves off very slowly but will not go any faster than a crawl with the Gaugemaster model Q.
I had a very old single Bachman 5 controller which I acquired in a train set years ago so I coupled this in and the loco performs much better.
Is the Gaugemaster Q output not high enough?
What 4 track controller would be recommended to power sound card locos on 4 tracks?

The simple answer to this question is that there is no such thing as a 'recommended' DC controller for controlling DCC sound locos for the simple reason that DC controllers were never designed for and have no way of controlling any of the functionality of a sound decoder. A DC controller does nothing more than 'liven up' the rails with voltage varying from 0V to 12V.

Without appearing to poor cold water on this, my suggestion would be that if you are venturing into DCC sound, forget DC control. Get yourself a proper DCC system. That way, you can see and hear DCC/Sound at its very best and enjoy all of its capabilities to the max. Trying to hobble a DCC sound loco to work on DC control is only going to result in disappointment because you won't experience most of its capabilities and that which you do, operate (in a very limited fashion) very differently to the way they do on DCC.

Save your time and money: stop investing in DC control and invest in a proper DCC system. Maybe connect it to one or two of your existing DC circuits. When you've seen what it has to offer, you'll be kicking yourself and asking why you didn't change to DCC 15-20 years ago like everyone else did!