not so fast. atlas code 80 insulated joiners are too FAT to fit under the plastic ends of bachmann ez track.
use atlas code 55 insulated joiners instead. those work well.

you might want to consider buying another train set, like the empire builder. its pricey but the 4-8-4 engine is georgous and it looks awesome running.

i jumped in a short time ago wtih 3 train sets to get started. the explorer, the empire builder and the thunder valley. thats an inexpensive way to get alot of ez track, 3 terminal curve sections, 3 POWER PACKS, and 2 sets of signs and telephone poles. i purchased 4 turnouts and a couple of track packs.
i have alot of ez track now. the train sets are an economical way to build up stock. 3 engines and 20 stcok cars.

anyways, do get a bachmann mdt plymouth 0-6-0 diesel yard engine. those are a hoot and fun to run.
i am running cab control to start with as very small engines cant have DCC. the track is wired with 2 cab control for now and converting it to DCC is a snap as you just leave most of the track in one cab mode. you use the other cab control to power the yard engines, or any engine that you cannot get DCC boards mounted into.

i think one feeder every 36 inches is a good rule. you can use atlas code 80 metal rail joiners and solder wires directly to the underside of them. they do fit on bachman ez track. that will save you the expense of buying all those feeder/rerailers. dont forget to provide the common rail every 36 inches also.

you can get atlas spade lug terminals and use terminal strips or the atlas selector pieces to screw the lugs into. check out the train shop for electrical stuff. they sell terminal strips there also.

i am suggesting atlas products because bachmann doesnt make this stuff, altho the bachmann ez track is easy to use and it works very well. the power routing turnouts are especially nice since the whole frog is powered and power routing is a nice safety feature to keep you from running into the turnout from the wrong switch position.

atlas book introduction to n scale model railroading is perfect for you. has 9 layouts all of which are under your 36inch by 72inch size plan. it also has details on how to build each layout, including all wiring.

also, go to the atlas site and download the right track software. its freeware and all 9 layouts are already loaded in it. you can create layouts of any size with it.

now to make bachmann ez track layouts, download and run anytrack 4. its free for all layouts under 50 track pieces. it has the bachmann libraries in it. i use it for my bachmann ez track layouts. i use the right track for atlas layouts that are way more complicated.

well i did some more work on it and i found all of the answers.
first of all, atlas code 80 metal rail joiners do work, as others have said here.

but for insulated joiners, the atlas code 80 insulated joiners are too fat in the body to slip under the plastic lip thats under the edge of the track end that has the fastening clip on it. of course this is not a problem with atlas code 80 track as there is nothing under the metal track on each end.

however, the atlas code 65 true track insulated rail joiners DO FIT on ez track as the body is flatter on those. so guys you can use atlas code 65 true track insulated joiners for bachmann ez track. they look good too btw since they are clear.

seems strange that bachmann asks you to rely on atlas products for rail joiners of both types.

hmm strange. now i did get some atlas code 80 rail joiners and i was wrong. THEY DO WORK. however, the insulated ones i have dont. i purchased ALL 3 sizes of atlas insulated rail joiners, code 55, 65 and 80. none are even close to fitting. hmm.

however the metal rail joiner problem is solved. thanks guys.

hmm ok, i will take a look at it again. the insulated ones dont fit, thats for sure.

code 80

yes i cant wait for the new bachmann couplers. but until then i need something to work.

atlas doesnt work. the flange is too thick on the ez track.

does bachmann sell regular metal rail joiners for their ez track system? i need to apply power to certain rail sections without the plug terminal stuff they offer. also, what happens when a rail joiner breaks on a piece of track. do they sell them?

not gonna do me much good for the next 6 months. i want to do trains like now.

ok i am jumping in here first with cab control. one of the reasons i purchased 3 train sets was to get the cabs and such, plus track, engines and rolling stock. anyways later i will go with DCC, altho the mtd plymouth wont ever get DCC, so i am planning dual cab control, one for DCC and the other for some yard switchers. well, i have a nice assortment of ez track now and it seem you guys dont sell INSULATED RAIL JOINERS. oops. now i tried all 3 sizes of the atlas insulated joiners and none will fit as the bottom flange on the bachmann track is wider than the atlas track.

what can i do to insulate track sections? use glue and shim spacers?

btw, HINT, HINT, bachmann, would you mind terribly making and selling insulated rail joiners for your ez track system?

hello all. i recently came back to n scale railroading and purchased 3 bachmann train sets, the explorer, the empire builder and the thunder valley. i also purchased some other stuff and i purchased a mtd plymouth diesel. the key thing here is all of this was purchased LAST WEEK. new stuff.

my problem is those pesky, annoying dummy knuckle couplers on all the rolling stock and the locos in the sets. i want to replace them with mchenry or mtl or accumate. ANY GOOD KNUCKLER. now the mtd plymouth came with those beautiful mchenry couplers on them. GOOD MOVE BACHMANN. the problem with mchenry is that they only seem to ship one standard type of n scale mchenry and it supposedly will fit in an accumate or mtl draft gear box.

how can i get mchenrys on the bachmann rolling stock with the dummy knucklers on them?
i will take accumate or mtl instead. HOW DO I DO THIS? what parts are needed to modify the rolling stock?

there are no useable drawings anywhere that i can find for this. i have done alot of research on this and have found ways to get mtl onto my locos, the northern 484 tender, the f7 a and b and the emd gp40, so i am not totally clueless. but i do have like 20 plus rolling stock.

while i am on the subject, the drawings that came with the locos are OUT OF DATE. they show square couplers, not rapido, WITH SQUARE COUPLER PART NUMBERS 9722 series, and are mounted with those stupid dummy knuckers.

now i dont mind converting the rolling stock in the train sets, BUT I DO PLAN ON BUYING ALOT ALOT ALOT MORE ROLLING STOCK AND ENGINES from bachmann. i would like to see the coupler problem SOLVED before i jump in with the megabucks.

one last thing bachmann, PLEASE TELL US THE COUPLERS ON ALL OF YOUR N SCALE PRODUCTS on your website. ok? you have a big future customer here.

can anyone help me here?