First train running

[p14shooter]

Well after tinkering a little I have the first train running. Anyone who has read previous posts know that I am just in the learning stages. Once I have this temp track completed and run for a bit it will be torn up and another put down to see what I like. I did wind up buying another engine as the old Bachmann just would not stop spinning no matter what I did, and it could pull no more than 1 car. This new atlas is like the difference between driving a chev or a Ford .this is 3x6
I have learned.
Atlas track planning software is right on. If you pay attention.
Contrary to what I have read, this has one power feed and negligible power drop anywhere on the rail
Even temp track needs to be placed with care.
That is a 7.5in radius curve. The cars handle it ok, the engine does not like it.
I started updating couplers with short shank but if I am going to have tight corners, I guess they should be longer
Read all you want. There is no substitute for hands on learning
Rail joiners really hurt.
I am really 4 months ahead of where i thought I would be right now. I guess I was excited to get started again

 

[migalyto]

Congratulations, always feels great to get your first train running.

Also necessary to keep you motivated to move forward.

 

[RhB Michael]

The locomotive doesn't like the curve radius because the wheel flanges are dragging on the inside of the rail. In some situations, and with poor track laying, locomotives have been known to climb out of the gauge because the radius was too tight.

 

[Bruette]

Once I have this temp track completed and run for a bit it will be torn up and another put down to see what I like.

Smart move! Our wants can change as we progress.

Keep up the excellent work and thanks for sharing it with us!

 

[NorthBrit]

That is a 7.5in radius curve. The cars handle it ok, the engine does not like it.

On my layout all my locomotives and rolling stock would go around a certain curve. All that is except one. Thomas the Tank and his 0.6.0 wheels would not have it. The grandchildren were getting disheartened.

I had to install a larger radius curve 'to please'. Now all is well.

 

[Iron Horseman]

Rail joiners really hurt.

Ha. I've been out of N-scale for many years, but now that you mention it, I remember that. Can't count how many holes those joiners poked in my fingers.

 

[bnsf971]

Ha. I've been out of N-scale for many years, but now that you mention it, I remember that. Can't count how many holes those joiners poked in my fingers.

Raid your wife's sewing kit and steal liberate her thimble. It works well for pushing those joiners on the rails without skewering your finger.

 

[NorthBrit]

Raid your wife's sewing kit and steal liberate her thimble. It works well for pushing those joiners on the rails without skewering your finger.

Yes. Dawn doesn't know her thimble 'has disappeared' (yet).

 

[p14shooter]

Update. So in a frenzy before wifey gets home from work I finished laying the track and just put the couple buildings and odd items on it from the box from 40 years ago for no reason other than to have something on it other than just track. The one power feed does the whole track with less than a volt drop on one of the yard tracks. So I am not going to bother suppling power to it from underneath. I am just going to run it from a bumper. But I am going to wire up those turnouts. The turnouts themselves seem to work (I applied power to them directly from the controller) but the switches do not seem to have conductivity. They could just be corroded from being in a box for 40 years. I'll clean them up and try them later. I'm learning lots as i go. Although I have no idea at this point what my permanent layout will be like, I know that I will want lots of switching. So I guess my next item up will be finding a good switching program. Initial search shows simple to complex. Maybe I'll just make my own. We did something long ago, but we were kids. What was most enjoyable so far was planning the work, then working the plan and having the 2 match up(well mostly). My plan is probably to play with this for 6 months or so. Tear it up, and start again. A winter project

 

[p14shooter]

I have more coupler upgrades in the mail so just running a simple switch list right now. I don't care where the cars start but just using a random generator to tell me where they are going. I have to wire up those switches though. Maybe that will be a vacation project