I have a layout question.  There are three images below of the left side of my layout: one distant, two closer up, showing a locomotive storage area and a lumber operation.

I've laid the track for all except the lumber area.  I've done some research but would like to get your input on the track in this area.  I imagine logs coming in on flat cars from the right side of the layout from behind the locomotive building and being backed into lumber area.

Would there need to be separate areas for off-loading the timber and loading the processed lumber, chips, etc.? Or would the big gravel area be sufficient and let fork lifts and bob cats sort things out?  Or is this a bad plan from the jump?

By the way, the layout is on a one inch piece of foam board.  The lumber operation sits above the layout on another 1" piece of foam board.  The outer loop is a 3% incline to the mountain on the other half of the layout.  The incline begins in the bottom curve, rises one inch, then flattens enough for the turnout into the industry, then continues up the mountain to its 4.5" top. 

Thanks for any input you can offer!

What track are you using?

Losing power at random parts of the track sounds like an issue with loose rail joiners, not necessarily locomotive malfunction.

Use a voltmeter to check the consistency of current around the track.  If it's consistent, my guess is that it's likely the loco that's causing the problem

However, wait until more knowledgeable forum members have their say.

Thanks, Len, for the suggestion.  I had a RS Micronta around that I had forgotten about.  I checked the rails today and confirmed Hunt's statement above.

To summarize: if you're looking at one side of a terminal,

the right hand tab connects to the nearer rail
the left hand tab connects to the far rail.

Thanks for the help.

I'm sorry to hear that as well.

EZ Track should suit your purposes, then.

Since you'll apparently have long, straight stretches on your layout, I would suggest buying 3' straight sections for places where they would work in your layout.  A local hobby shop sells used ones of that length in NS at a good price.  Amazon offers some EZ track packs for a good price.  They have been opened, returned, inspected, and shipped out again.  I've never had problems with them.

Look for pictures in the forum of those layouts where ballasting of EZ Track has been done.

Pretty impressive.

Thanks, Jerry B.

I should have done my homework.

I graduated high school with Mr. Jones' daughter not long after he bought the railroad..

Here's a pic from Wikipedia:



That looks like the one.

Thanks.  Someone will probably ask me.

This is an old locomotive parked at the former station of the Pickens Doodle Railroad, an old spur of what is now a main NS line between Charlotte and Atlanta.  The 8 mile track has been changed into a hiking/walking/biking path. Its completion will be celebrated tomorrow. 

I was wondering what model of diesel this was.

Any help?

Now this is weathering!

Quote from: davidone on May 20, 2015, 11:44:25 PM
Nothing right now but my layout will be approx. 19x2 L shaped with enough room at both ends to use 18" and 22" radius curves.

I see what you mean now.  Are you planning a two-track layout?

Have you checked your personal messages for evaluation of EZ track?

Hey, davidone,

If you're wanting to put your trains running continually on loops, you'll have to have more than a 2 ft width on the ends.  18" radius curves take about 38" to turn. 

You probably will be happier if you allow for expanding into operations at a later date when continually running-looping trains begin to lose their visceral appeal.

Thanks< Hunt. That's useful information.

Maybe the station master will contribute to this thread.

Davidone,

There are pluses and minuses to EZ Track.

It depends on what your involvement is now and where you intend for your layout to go.

What do you have now?

Thanks Jerry and JWard!

Before I do this, I was wondering if there's a simpler way (a mark or something) to tell with connection is which on the terminal-re-railer piece.

Here's what I'm doing.  I have an NCE Power Cab coming in a few days.  It will replace the EZ Command Controller.  I plan to run 16 gauge stranded wire around the perimeter of my layout and drop feeders (18 gauge stranded) every x number of feet to the heavier wire. 

I have two EZ terminal pieces I'd like to tap into and use them as feeders, but I need to know which contact on the rerailer is linked to which rail (inside or outside) so that I can keep it consistent around the layout.  Surely Bachmann has a template so that the contact to the left is connected to, say, the nearer rail.

I am planning to add power feeds to my layout.

I have two EZ Track terminals/rerailers, which I'd like to use for two of these feeds.

The cable that connects the controller to the track can go into the terminal either way.  It doesn't matter with only one power feed, but with multiple ones, I need to know which piece connects to which side of the terminal rail--without having to take the piece apart.

See the image here:
http://www.amazon.com/Bachmann-Trains-Snap-Fit-Straight-Terminal/dp/B0006N7414/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432154241&sr=8-1&keywords=bachmann+terminal+ez+track

Thanks.

James, thanks.  I know what you mean.

I was concerned about that, too.  I wanted to get the full incline for the Woodland Scenics 3% set, but that takes 12 ft.  As a way to fit it in, I leveled off on the left hand side of the layout at 1" for the turn outs. 

I shimmed both sides of the 1" flat section and have run 4 different locomotives with different loads through them--both ways and then backed them through to make sure that the section would work.  Initially, there were some glitches--thus, the shims--but no more problems.  Still, if anything arises, I can adjust the incline to the section and away from it.

I appreciate your concern.  Thanks for replying.

Here's a shot of the big curve connecting the EZ track portions of the outer loop of my layout.  It's done with cork (painted gray) and flex so that I could better stretch out the straight section in the curve.

I took it just after finishing the connection.  I've done some work with it since.  I may post another shot later  if anyone is interested. 

The turnouts and the yard are yet to be completed.  I'm still trying to incorporate ideas that I've received in this post.



Thanks for the help.