Having long since converted some loco's to EM, I had been finding the running qualities on DC/DC PWM and DC feedback very poor in comparison to my Dublo loco's on Dublingham. I had begun to wonder why I spent so much time on the EM wagons as it could be a complete waste of time.
Conversations with the EMGS electrical expert revealed that the older iron core motors are particularly suited to DC feedback, but the latest smaller motors are not. In particular the Ruston on Feedback actually jerked along, due apparently to the small size of the motor.
So what to do? I can't have a shunting layout in EM that has worse running qualities than my Dublo layout?
In desperation, my last chance was to try DCC. I dug out my old DCC++ install, upgraded it to DCC-EX and after I had worked out that new decoders use 3 as their default address was off.
It has transformed the Ruston, I can't believe it. It now runs as good as my Dublo stock. It has a Dapol decoder, which it seems cannot have a stay alive fitted, but maybe one day I'll swap chips around and fit one. Either way I think the project does at least have viability now.
Tony