This pick should give a rough idea of the differences in track sizes. Third from the left is HO, fifth from left is O:



Len

Since New Have was so Alco heavy in the early diesel years, PRR farmed out repair of their early Alco diesels to New Haven until they got their own shops up to speed. Could make for some interesting traffic for both PRR and New Haven modelers of that time period.

Len

Just a point of reference for 'under the tree' trains. The center rail of O36 O-gauge plastic roadbed track is the same diameter as the center-to-center diameter of a circle of 18" radius HO track, with or without roadbed. The main difference is the O-gauge track roadbed is wider.

Len

Since you are doing this for a museum, you might want to also consider the liability risk involved with making repairs to what is consider a 'not user repairable' device. Such repairs could potentially void, or at least complicate, any insurance payouts in the event of a fire. Even if the power pack is not directly involved. Also, as the one doing the repairs, you could also be considered personally liable in the event the power pack is involved. Even if the museum has to hold a bake sale fund raiser, better to replace tthe bad power packs than mess with their insides.

Len

This fellow has been modeling the Philly area for quite awhile. You might get some ideas hitting the links on his site:

http://www.prrnortheastcorridor.com/model_railroad_photos.html

Len

Most power packs, including the ones you have, are not considered user repairable devices and parts are generally not available. If under warranty, they'll usually be swapped for a working unit. If not under warranty, the MRC AA370 Railpower 1370 is roughly equivelant, in fact in has a higher VA rating, and can be found online for a reasonable price.

Len

One way around the 50 piece layout limitation is to do two half layouts. Print to the same scale and tape them together.

Len

These Cal Scale horns may work:
https://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/csc/csc3059.htm

Len

The DCC and regular turnouts have the same dimensions. This will give you the angle of the diverging track and the curve needed to create a parallel track with EZ-Track turnouts. The squares are 12"on a side:



Len

With Shapeway gears I measure the axle diameter with a micrometer, then ream the gear hole with a drill bit one or two thousandth of an inch smaller than the axle. I put a drop of blue Loc-Tite on the axle as i press the gear on to keep it from slipping. So far I haven't had any gears split.

Len

Happy New Year everyone! And may this be the year the #6 crossover comes with jumpers to make it easy to use with DC only layouts.



Len

Wiring diagrams of Bachmann locos are notoriously hard to come by. If you have the standard DCC version of the loco the markings on the PCB connections relative to the front of the loco are:

R:    Right Rail
L:    Left Rail
M+: Motor Brush Connected to Right Rail
M-:  Motor Brush Connected to Left Rail
L+:  Light Positive
L-:   Light Negative

So the wires from the right side of the power trucks should connect to the 'R's on the board, those from the left side side to the 'L's. If a dummy plog is installed, instead of a decoder, the motor leads should connect to M+/M- so the loco moves forward when the right rail is positive. A mulitmeter is handy for determining this.

Len

Quote from: Tenwheeler01 on December 28, 2023, 12:37:38 PMNow I am thinking about install my older decoders in them so I can control the lights.  But this will eat up loco slots fast. 

If you set the decoders in the lighted passenger cars in a train to the same address, you should be able to control the lights just using one address slot per passenger train.

Len

If you use switches at both ends, you'll be creating two reverse loops requiring rail gaps and special wiring. That's in addition to whatever switch control is needed. Much simpler to create "dogbones" at each end, with parallel tracks in between. Something like this (drawn with LGB track):



Len

A quick search of the web shows there are a number of back-and-forth autoreverse modules available for HO and N DC powered trains and trolleys. One I've used, and been happy with, for display layouts is the JLK48. There are several others available that work just as well. Most can be used with the your existing Bachmann autoreverse track, just connect power through the new module instead of the power track.

Len