It also depends on what your loco is built for. Some won't go below 35" radius while at least one of the Big Boy models offer will take 18" radius although it will look absolutely ridiculous while doing it. I have a 4-6-2 that's allergic to any curve curve tighter than 24" radius while my Mehano 2-10-2 is right at home running on 18" radius.

I use a Digitrax Zephyr DCC system to run my trains. I use an old AT type computer power supply to power the structure lights. On my last layout it was pulling 98 lights without a problem. On my current layout it's pulling only half that number, but I still have a number of structures to put lights in.

Keep in mind that back in those days they didn't have the hyper accurate geographical maps that we have now. Nor did they have the aid of GPS. Now when two crews line up to dig out a tunnel from both ends they check their position with GPS then lock in the position they want to be at when they reach the rendezvous point with the other team, align their directional lasers and off they go. Even with all that they can still be off by more than 6 inches.

It's common in newer units as well. I've had this problem with newer Athearn and Bachmann locos as well as a couple of 1970's vintage Atlas GP40's. The problem can usually be solved by inserting thin nylon thrust washers on the worm shaft so it can't move back and forth in it's housing.

My layout was originally wired for DC operation and is broken up into 16 blocks. When I switched to DCC I simply connected the Bachmann EZ-Command to the wires that originally connected to the DC power supply and ran it like that for 2 years. All the track is powered by the DCC system. I can use the old block switches to turn parts of the track on and off as needed. The only thing that's changed is I've upgraded to a Digitrax system. The layout wiring is largely the same as when I was running DC only. And as for running a DCC loco on DC, yes you can. Most DCC locos have what are called 'dual-mode' decoders. As long as the decoder is set to allow 'analog' operation (default setting on many decoders) it will run on both DC and DCC.

As far as I know the EZ-Track manual turnouts can't be fitted with remote switch machines.

My current layout started out as a mix of steel and nickel-silver EZ-Track because I couldn't afford all ns at the start. Over time I replaced all the steel track with nickel-silver when I could afford it.

I use acetone-free nail polish remover to remove such decals. Be careful though or it will remove the paint as well.

I generally limit the # of cars to 12 for one loco. If you look at prototype practice it's usually the same. You have to consider the long term wear and tear that pulling a long cut of cars is going to put on the loco. A loco pulling 24 cars looks real good going around the layout but what's happening on grades, on curves and through turnouts. Going up a grade or around a curve slows the cars down as does going through a turnout. This increases the amount of weight the loco is pulling and puts additional stress on the drive train. I've seen locos that have sheared the ends off the drive shafts because of too much weight. What does the modeler do? Puts in a heavier shaft of course. Next to go is the motor or the decoder. Here's the way I handle it. 1 loco = 12 cars, 2 locos = 24 cars, 3 locos = 36 cars, etc. While 3 locos can pull more than 36 cars I err on the side of safety rather than high maintenance.

I have my Bachmann EZ-Track on white styrofoam on top of plywood and it's very quiet. When the track was on the plywood it was quiet loud.

Question. I've looked under the shell of the Bachmann GP40. There's almost zero space there. Where are you gonna put the speaker?

Red=Right rail pickup.
Black=Left rail pickup.
Gray=Motor -.
Orange=Motor +.
White=Front light -.
Yellow=Rear light -.
Blue=Common + for all lights.

That's a Spectrum Series Baby Trainmaster, not a standard line GP40. I have a standard line GP40 and it doesn;t have flywheels nor was the motor grounded to the frame.

I've had good luck using the Digitrax DZ125 decoder. It's Z Scale but can handle HO equipment and owing to it's small size can fit almost anywhere.

Quote from: Rangerover on December 18, 2008, 01:12:09 PM
Those that say steel track rust's, well all I can say is I tried rusting a few pieces for use on my layout for an abandoned small freight yard. To make a long story short after 6 months of being in the rain and weather outdoors, LOL, it never rusted.

The steel track didn't rust because it has a coating of zinc on it. Over time this coating wears off and the fun really begins.