I am getting back into the hobby after 40 years away.   I am currently running DC because I have no motive power that is DCC compatible but plan on converting as soon as the budget will allow.  I am working to get my old rolling stock back in operating condition and among the survivors from that era are three Ulrich all metal cars:  a gondola, a flat and a hopper.  I have noticed that when any of these three cars derail they cause a short.  Are all metal cars really compatible with DCC?

I would like to create a small diorama, a la shelf layout, whereupon multiple trollies operate. I want operation to be 100% automatic, and figured between track sensors and DCC control, this is very do-able. 

One of the things I really like to do with my diesel-era DCC layout is make my diesel lashups into double-ended consists. I'll start out with what it is, and then maybe later on we'll talk about how to set it up on the various systems.

The idea is simple - I like to make my diesel lashups so the end you dial up is the front. For instance, if I have a lashup of three SD9's (the arrow > represents the direction the cab is facing) ...

<4408 - <4322 - 4333>

I have an HO scale layout running Digitrax DCC.  It's a fair size layout with 10 hidden staging tracks underneath.

I own both a DB150 (5 amps) command station and a Zephyr Extra DCS 51 command station (3 amps).  I'm not sure which one to make the main command station and which to make a booster?

In addition I have two PM42 breakout boards that will allow me to subdivide the layout into 8 power districts for short circuit management (staging, yard, engine terminal, main line, paper mill yard etc)