Any Model Railroaders Out There?

[cokebottle10]

You may want to look into a N trak club. I belong to one here Hedersonville NC. It is fun to connect a 100 car train with three engines heading it up.

Also you my want to look at DCC. It cost more but it is a far better way to control the trains because each train has a diffrent control. In other words you can pul up one train and couple it to another and take off with both. DCC controls each engine not the track power. You do not need block control.

"Kato" is the best running trains with "Atlas" close behind. "Miro Trains" is the high end of the rolling stock. Most people now use the "Miro Trains" couplers and trucks even if the rolling stck is made by others.

Sound is now moving into N scale. I have a Florida East Coast E8A and E8B that have sound and are made by Broadway Limited". I mostly have SAL, SCL, Faimly Lines. and L&N.

Have fun.

[Jason and Amanda]

You may want to look into a N trak club. I belong to one here Hedersonville NC. It is fun to connect a 100 car train with three engines heading it up.

I was an active member of an N scale club while living in Asheville. They met in the basement of a hobby shop that moved to a building out of the Smiley flea market. I don't remember the name or anythign, this was in the early 90's. I was an active club member of Gateway Ntrack in St. Louis, I am still a passive member though I have moved to Colorado. I haven't found a club in Colorado yet, though I know at least one exists locally.

Also you my want to look at DCC. It cost more but it is a far better way to control the trains because each train has a diffrent control. In other words you can pul up one train and couple it to another and take off with both. DCC controls each engine not the track power. You do not need block control.

I am looking into DCC as a matter of fact, it's brand new territory for me though. I have been looking at the MRC Prodigy setup, though I know most folks go with Digitrax.

"Kato" is the best running trains with "Atlas" close behind. "Miro Trains" is the high end of the rolling stock. Most people now use the "Miro Trains" couplers and trucks even if the rolling stck is made by others.

Sound is now moving into N scale. I have a Florida East Coast E8A and E8B that have sound and are made by Broadway Limited". I mostly have SAL, SCL, Faimly Lines. and L&N.

Have fun.

Ya I own mostly Kato and Atlas loco's. I have a couple Arnolds and a Bachman or two. Nearly all of my rolling stock is MT or Atlas, I have a quality selection of rolling stock.

This layout will most likely be Peco code 55, so I will probably consign a fair bit of my loco's in exchange for 3 or so quality ones with decoders with sound. I really do not want to swap trucks on older locos that ought to be replaced anyhow. The vast majority if my rolling stock "should" roll on Peco code 55 without issues.

The layout design has changed significantly, here's the latest.

NOTE: The colors represent elevation change, not scenery. The purplish color is a tunnel.

Basically the tracks up front are even. On the right, the inside drops 1" and the outside rises 1". This makes 2" of clearance at the crossing. Then on the left, then inside drops back down 1" and the outside rises 1" to meet even at the front again.

[cokebottle10]

I like it. It looks like you can expand it off to the left if want. What time frame are going for?