Ran my first train in 15+ years!

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ddavidv

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Oct 21, 2003
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www.mongrelmotorsports.homestead.com
I've been slowly collecting the pieces to start an N gauge layout, having abandoned model RRing in HO years ago. Yesterday, my Tec II from Ebay showed up, and a mad dash was made to the local train shop for terminal connectors. I have 2 Lifelike BL-2's that also came from Ebay (new) and one pathetic hopper car. Yet I was still amused for an hour running them around the track on my plain wood door. :p
So now it's time to get serious.
My trackplan is a lightly modified copy of the MR Carolina Central:
Link to trackplan
I'm now trying to figure out what industries I want the sidings to serve. It's great being King, but also hard work. :) After a lot of chin scratching, I decided to model the Western Maryland; it just seemed like a neat road and is geographically similiar to where I live in PA (and did, in fact, serve an area close to me). I'm not modelling a particular town, just an area that would be representative of the region. If anyone is knowledgable on the WM, I'd love to hear from you.
One thing I need to get done first is find folding legs for the hollow core door. My local Lowes didn't carry them.
Item: there was a discussion a few days ago about switches. I used all Atlas turnouts and only have problems with one, nothing a little time with a file can't fix. So out of 6 I have 1 that has 'issues'. FWIW.
One suggestion I'd make to other newbies is, if you borrow a track plan from a layout, don't rope yourself into duplicating it exactly. I've been fighting with trying to fit a bridge into a place it doesn't make sense, and I'm much better now for having closed the book and used a fresh approach.
Sorry for the ramble, but it feels good to be back holding a throttle again. :D
 
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MagicMan_841

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May 10, 2003
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I like the trackplan, it's simple and has some operational possibilites, or you can just sit back and watch the train go 'round if you feel like it. Good choice on the engines, the LL units are good buys! Also, you can't go wrong with a Tech II powepack.

You could model one big industry using all three sidings, like a paper mill or a sawmill... or a mine on the left 2 sidings and something like a grain elevator on the right. You could also extend the two left sidings a bit.
 
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ddavidv

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Oct 21, 2003
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Originally posted by MagicMan_841
You could model one big industry using all three sidings, like a paper mill or a sawmill... or a mine on the left 2 sidings and something like a grain elevator on the right. You could also extend the two left sidings a bit.
Click to expand...

I actually have extended the two sidings on the left. :D
I'm still having trouble getting used to N scale. I used Walthers catalog measurements for some of the structures I was thinking of using and I can't believe what little real estate they use up. :eek: I'm rethinking the whole 'scene' yet again. I don't want to limit myself to one or two industries. I'm putting one factory type thing in there so I can make it whatever I want. The WM was big on coal, have thought about adding some type of loading structure or maybe just a truck dump. I don't really want to run trains of just coal cars though, kinda dull and that's a lot of hoppers to buy. :rolleyes:

I grabbed onto that trackplan because it just has a lot of the elements I was looking for, and I really like the idea of the train disappearing behind the scenery and re-emerging on the other side. I'm planning a tunnel entrance on one end and a deep cut on the other. The tunnel will be 'fake', just an entrance so I can still access all the track for servicing.

One Q: Can someone tell me the formula to figure grades? And what is the biggest % I'd want? I can probably 'fake' a lot of grade by creative foam trimming, but want to plan ahead.
 
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Tyson Rayles

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Sep 25, 2001
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Hi and welcome to the Gauge! 1" in 100" equals a 1% grade, so if you rise 1 and a half inches in 50" you would have a 3% grade. Hope that helps you. Most recommend not exceeding 2.5% but due to space restrictions alot of people go up to 4%, some even higher. But just as you want curves as broad as possible, you should keep grades as gradual as possible also.
 
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MasonJar

It's not rocket surgery
Oct 31, 2002
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Tyson gave a good explanation of grades, but I would add that a grade on a curve is effectively a steeper grade - it is much harder for an engine to pull a consist up a curved grade than a straight one. (Ask me how I know... ;))

Andrew
 
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Hoss

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Nov 10, 2003
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Originally posted by MasonJar
Tyson gave a good explanation of grades, but I would add that a grade on a curve is effectively a steeper grade - it is much harder for an engine to pull a consist up a curved grade than a straight one. (Ask me how I know... ;))

Andrew
Click to expand...

I'll bite.....how do you know??
 
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MasonJar

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Oct 31, 2002
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Originally posted by Hoss


I'll bite.....how do you know??
Click to expand...

;)

My entire layout (all 4x8 of it) consists of curves with grades. The nature of the 4x8 is such that they are all pretty much a variation on the good ol' oval if you want continuous running. I decided a little elevation would be good for scenic variety, but it has proven to be a challenge to balance a change in elevation with being able to run the trains - and it seems more of an exponential increase in power is required (versus a linear one) when you get to those curving grades with a full consist...

ddavidv - if you want to use those tables, try getting eye level closer to the layout (so to speak), instead of the layout closer to eye level -- Have a seat! ;)


Andrew
 
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MasonJar

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Oct 31, 2002
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Originally posted by Hoss
I see. Would two or three Kato SD70MAC's have trouble pulling a 25 car loaded coal train up a 2% grade with a 15" radius?
Click to expand...

Sorry Hoss, I couldn't tell you. All my (limited) experience is with steam power... non-Kato... ;)

Andrew
 
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Lighthorseman

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Jul 24, 2002
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Originally posted by Hoss
I see. Would two or three Kato SD70MAC's have trouble pulling a 25 car loaded coal train up a 2% grade with a 15" radius?
Click to expand...

Whoa, Hoss! SD 70s...on a 15 inch radius?? :eek:
Eyecrazy.gif
:eek:Will they even make the curve? ...Or is this a leg-pull? :D
 
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SD90

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May 23, 2003
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Originally posted by Hoss
I see. Would two or three Kato SD70MAC's have trouble pulling a 25 car loaded coal train up a 2% grade with a 15" radius?
Click to expand...

I know 3 will pull a 30 car coal trainup a 2.2% grade on my layout with 34" radius curves, so I don't think the tighter curve would make that much of a difference.

Mike.
 
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