This is a great thread. Almost everyone has a space limitation, and 4X8 and 5X9 track plans may be the answer. At issue is the idea of a 4X8 plan. It's stuck in the mind of many people and fits with the space they have. My thought is that development of this size plan and encouragement is paramount to getting new blood into the hobby. There are as many desires as there are people in the hobby and the main one is usually more room or more money. By creating space and budget friendly designs, we can help people who might not get into the hobby to join and have fun. That means more in the Hobby, and more people wanting (X) so more reason for manufacturers to make it. Not to get political but it's like Patriotism, what is good for the country may not be good for you, but supporting it makes a stronger country. The same is true, What is good for the Hobby ( a small layout) may not be good for you but may be good for the Hobby as a whole."

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm14/PanelDeland/e73f138c-b4fc-4b92-a089-696c3813e1f7.png

I think the two dots are where I need to isolate the rails and use an auto-reverser connected to either side and the isolated area. Am I right.

[ihttp://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm14/PanelDeland/e73f138c-b4fc-4b92-a089-696c3813e1f7.png][/i] I "think" I may have this figured out but I wanted to run it by those on here who really know. I'm thinking I need to address a "reverse Loop" situation where the black dots are. I'm assuming I can isolate at the dots and put an auto rverser from one of the tracks to that isolated section and it should run. Am I right?

They have the software set to only allow pics from those sites. It makes it unwieldy for those of us who don't use them or for those of us who have trouble getting them to work.

Terry, sounds like you've hooked another to the Hobby!!! Well done!!

 Thanks jward!! seems like you always have the answer and take the time to give it to me. I surely appreciate that. I knew the track was all required to work together but wasn't sure about the joiners.

 I've got a couple of Peco turn outs on the way. I have a lot of EZ. I'm thinking I'll do roadbed for the Peco out of foam to match the EZ and trim for the tabs to lay under. I'm wondering how to mate the actual Track short of soldering since I want to try a couple of different track plans before deciding. Anyone got any pics of how they did this or suggestions? I'm kind of disappointed in Bman  for not making better turn outs. They have been in the business a day or two and you would think they could build decent turn outs but I'm not seeing it. I guess I should clarify and say Rail are what I'm wondering about mating.

 So this little Mogul showed up in my mailbox yesterday. I only had a few minutes to program and run it last night. This afternoon I had a bit more time to play with it. I'm pleasantly surprised at it's ability, considering the price. I found a deal for $130 which considering it's DCC/Sound equipped is a pretty fair deal. It isn't a highly detailed model but does look OK from that viewpoint. The coal load does look fake and there's few extras on it. It runs well starting at 1 on the speed setting of my Powercab. It's still a bit noisy but hasn't had enough run time to be broken in. It will climb my grade which is a 2ft 2% to a 6ft 3% to a total height of about 3-3 1/4 in. I also had 4 boxcars (40 ft) on it and it climbed it, so I slowed it down some. I kept slowing it down, at 3 it would still pull the 4 cars up and over the grades, although it did gradually slow, it never stalled. I didn't have the time to play with it much longer but I'm guessing I could probably pull 6-7 cars at medium speeds. For the price point I felt like it was a good deal. The sound is probably not prototypical but does add to the experience and does match speed fairly. So
Price point 9/10 for the options and shipping was free.
Power 7/10 may revise after broken in and used a bit more and I do think it will improve. It does only have 6 driven wheels.
Looks 5/10 Not a high end so I didn't expect it to be highly detailed
noise 4/10 not broken in
Sound 6/10 it was factory and works well just not sure of prototypical.

Overall I'm very satisfied with it at this price. I don't have any reference for long term on it yet but judging from other Bachmanns, I expect it to smooth out and quieten down some. I also have done absolutely no tuning on this loco just took it out of the box, checked it against the coupler on a box car, programmed the Long Address and started running it.

Quote from: jbrock27 on July 07, 2016, 07:06:48 PM
De, is it my imagination, or did your prior post on this thread (just ahead of Flare's) get deleted?  Quite the surprise...

I may very well have been the one who warned you about them .  I know I have read about the awful number of problems posted about them and have commented on it.  And I do recall one of my friends, who posted here, had awful trouble with his Bmann Crossover.

Only if we have parallel imaginations.

 SOOOoooooo today a #5 Bachmann NS turnout separated at the point where the slide bar holds the "point". I'm guessing that will probably happen with the others I have. A thin piece of plastic in a semi-wear area? Really, that's the best design? I don't know how the top of the tab broke. The turnout has run for about 10-12 passes over it with a couple of derails, and I'm guessing one of them damaged it though I doubt it was very secure if so. I was actually looking for a derail fault with the loco since three others ran across it fine and this one didn't. The second time it derailed, I found the disconnect. I was hoping to use the Bachmann long enough to get a track plan finalized and figure out what ops I most wanted. I was warned Bachmann turnouts were less than desirable but I had quite a bit of the track and thought they would be OK for this and really thought the TO's might not be as bad as stated. (I think jbrock27)is one of the people who warned me against them. Crow really is that bad.

 Well I found the 51816 for $130 w/ sound/DCC so I ordered it. I'm just wanting to add steam for the FZC and QOV so it should be OK. My grades are just temp for now while I determine whether that's the way I want to run or if a different layout suits my style better.

 I'm just looking to add steam to my roster. The FZC (Family Zoning Committee, AKA The QOV {Queen of Visa} AKA The Wife) likes the idea of a steamer. This looks like a good deal for sound/DCC in steam and wont run a ton or be needed to pull many cars. My vision is "The town time forgot", revitalized by a more modern business coming in. I'll probably use it as a local with a light mixed consist, probably a freight car, maybe a livestock car and a combine. maybe one or two others at most on occasion. my layout will be fairly small and will most likely have a continuous run with a short line attached.

 I'm looking to acquire a mid priced steam Loco. I like the looks of the 2-6-0 Mogul 51816 and the features. Does anyone have one or know of a review? I do have some grades but they are 2% leading to a short 3% and I'm thinking pulling power might be a bit weak but passable for a short consist.

 I'm starting a small 5 X 9 layout. I'll be using 22, 26 and 28 in curves #5 turnouts. I'm looking to expand my roster and wanted opinions on 6 axle diesels and also Steam that will run well on those radii. I'm thinking overall length will be the issue to run correctly and not look terrible. I'm also wondering if a 6 wheel steamer is the max or are there 8 -10 wheel ones I can run?

 The too early comment really doesn't make much sense to me. Most roads I'm familiar with ran cars as long as they were cheaper to keep up than replace with many running decades before replacement. I'm sure there were exceptions but I'm speaking in general terms.