Controller for beginner's first N gauge layout

[potatan]

That will do anything you'll want, unless Chester Cathedral is in your thoughts.

Honestly, cathedral bothering is one of my hobbies and part of the decision for going with N gauge was that I could get a decent cathedral in a scene somewhere without it taking up half my room. I just need to learn how to scratch build 12th century ecclesiastical buildings...

But power to the tracks is a slightly more pressing need right now

[Flashbang]

<Snip>
Will this allow me to control my two trains, as well as 9 sets of points? Do I need anything else, other than cabling supplies for wiring under the baaseboard?

Thanks!

As stated, Yes it will power the locos. For point operation via the PowerCab you will need to obtain Accessory Decoders. They are the interface between the DCC Bus pair (or the rails if no Bus pair used) and the actual point motor. You will need to obtain the correct type of Accessory Decoder depending on the motors type. Decoders are sold for Solenoid motors which provide a momentary pulse. e.g. use with Peco, Hornby. Gaugemaster Seeps etc. (Some solenoid motors have a decoder built in such as the Gaugemaster GMC-PM10D). While Stall style motors e.g. DCC Concepts Cobalt or the Tortoise are just two makers (again some of these can have decoders built in) but non DCC versions will need a constant output accessory decoder.

BTW The PowerCab is one of many DCC systems and is highly recommended, though a little under powered in the Amps to tack department compared to some other DCC systems. But it should do all you need.

You don't have to operate the points via DCC they can be conventionally operated if wished. But that is a different subject and if you go down that route you need to post about that.

[Bigmet]

...cathedral bothering is one of my hobbies and part of the decision for going with N gauge was that I could get a decent cathedral in a scene somewhere without it taking up half my room...

You are then probably aware that if you go for the full monty with cloisters, chapter house and 'other stuff' you may need a square metre, even in N. Let's not even consider the full enclosure...

Having a friend who was an architect, back in the day well before the present sophisticated computer modelling, I was occasionally co-opted to model proposed building alterations, and one such was a modest parish church. It turned out that one of the wardens was an O gauge modeller, and had always fancied a model of his home church on the layout. I pointed out how large it would be, even at the specified 1:50 scale. Even thus significantly underscale it proved to loom large on the layout, and he decided it was 'too much'. It was the height as much as anything else, that 'shrank' the other scenic treatment on the layout.