DCCar system
Well, it's finally come that far. It's now possible to build a working road traffic system in HO where you can control each vehicle with DCC: http://www.modelleisenbahn-claus.de/DC_CARFragen/DC-CARtutorial.htm The roads need a guide wire installed, like with the Faller Car-System. "Switches" need to be installed in the road wherever routes divide, and magnets in the road control stopping and starting. All this has been around for a while; the trick has been how to get realistic starting and stopping and keeping the vehicles from running into each other. Now you can buy decoders with infrared receivers which can be controlled from emitters connected to a standard DCC system. These allow you to run the vehicle like a locomotive, with 28 speed steps. You can also control headlights and turn signals, as well as flashers on police and fire vehicles. There is also automatic equipment installed to prevent vehicles from running into the one in front; when a car gets too close, it slows down; if the one in front stops, the second one stops too. Naturally, when a vehicle slows down, its brake lights light up. They will also stop at traffic lights and wait for the green. And it can all be tied into a computer so it all runs by itself. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Jurgen