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    Looking for maintenance info - Kato N scale engine trucks

    I have been looking for tutorials for cleaning the trucks on engines. Having three cats, they have picked up quite a bit of fuzz in the wheels / gears. I have (2) Kato P42 Amtrak engines and (1) Kato ALC42 engine [all N scale] that need their wheels cleaned. I have not been finding much in the...
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    Looking for North Carolina Piedmont coach cars

    I found an NC Piedmont EMD F59PHI engine with DCC and sound this past weekend. I am trying to see if there are any N scale of the coach cars they use on the Piedmont. I did some research and found that some of them are former "circus cars", but I have not found any models of them. Anybody who...
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    Power issue with track, engine problem or foreign debris?

    Let me clarify it a bit. I am asking which one is better to use? If anybody can share their own experience with them, I would be interested in the feedback. Last night, I set up a simple oval. I removed the two Feeder track and put one set of Unijoiners on the oval. The engines, overall...
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    Power issue with track, engine problem or foreign debris?

    I have a question about powering the track. Is there a difference between using the Kato Feeder track 20-041 as opposed to the Kato Unijoiner 24-818
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    Power issue with track, engine problem or foreign debris?

    I ordered the "Bachmann Industries Trains Track & Rail Cleaner (6 fl.oz)" and "Bachmann Industries Hand-Held Track Cleaner" yesterday and should be here today. I am going to give them a try. I will keep the Goo Gone in mind if Bachmann stuff doesn't do the job. Thanks!
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    Power issue with track, engine problem or foreign debris?

    Interesting you mention that. I have a Kato ALC-42 that has been giving me a lot of fits. I did the reset CV8 on it. I finally got it to respond. However, it runs a lot slower than my two P42s. I will give it a good cleaning now that it is playing nice with my Digitrax DCS52.
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    Power issue with track, engine problem or foreign debris?

    I hope I am in the correct forum for this issue. If not, please point me to the correct one. I have a Kato, N-scale, Amtrak P42 engine running it on an oval track (nothing fancy). As the engine travels the loop, the headlight flickers a fair amount while it stutters in its movement. Sometimes...
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    Kato Amtrak leads and cars - 45 degree issue

    Forgot to mention - this is all N scale.
  9. R

    Kato Amtrak leads and cars - 45 degree issue

    I have a couple of Kato Amtrak P42's and one Kato ALC-42 leads along with Viewliner 1, Viewliner 2 and Superliner cars. None of it will pass through a Kato EP150-45l / 20-240 turnout without at least one axle derailing. In addition, I have tried to use Kato R117-45 / 20-176 curves in my...
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    Powering Kato Turnout control switches

    Does the double crossover require a different controller? I connected a standard control to it, connected to the 9v battery, but it is not responding.
  11. R

    Setting up first engine with decoder and Digitrax DCS52

    And then I solder the Decoder to the engine contacts, and it quit working entirely. Looks like I have a ruined P42 now.
  12. R

    Setting up first engine with decoder and Digitrax DCS52

    The track did short with the Quarter test. I got a reply from Digitrax helpdesk today. They suggested I push down on the contacts to the decoder as those plastic retaining clips apparently don't work too good once pried up. I pushed my thumb down on it - and the little engine could! So, I am...
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    Setting up first engine with decoder and Digitrax DCS52

    Yes, Track Power is turned on.
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    Setting up first engine with decoder and Digitrax DCS52

    I have a N scale Amtrak P42 engine, DCS52 controller and DN163K0a decoder. My DCS52 is connected to a small oval. I confirmed the engine would run with its DC card in it on address 0000. I have installed a DN163K0a decoder in the P42. When I put it on the separate programming track, the DCS52...
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    Powering Kato Turnout control switches

    I found the PP3 connector and may go that route. I found the Kato 24-842 adapter as well. The question I have about it is what does that stripped end of the wire connect to? I have the Digitrax Zephyr Express controller, but I am am not sure if that 24-842 is supposed to connect to it.
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    Powering Kato Turnout control switches

    Just so I am getting the mental picture of that setup correct - I am using the Kato KAT24840 as mentioned before, so I would snap the four of them together. I think connect wires from the terminals on the battery to the terminals on one of the other controls? Since my original post, I did a bit...
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    Powering Kato Turnout control switches

    I did find this: https://www.amazon.com/Kato-USA-Inc-24-842-Converter/dp/B0003K2U6O If I use something like this, will I need to get a terminal power block and wire that adapter into it? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B091F9Y399/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_4?smid=A2OVMUS055KMW5&psc=1
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    Powering Kato Turnout control switches

    I have three or four Kato turnouts in my new layout with the Kato Turnout Control Switches (KAT24840). I understand the switches are DC powered and will not pull power from the Digitrax Zephyr DCC controller. I am not looking to getting into setting up decoders or converters - at least not yet...
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    Connecting Digitrax Zephyr Express to Kato Unitrack for first time

    I have one of them, so I will check that out. Any feedback on the steps I laid out regarding the 2nd coupler and connecting it to the block?
  20. R

    Connecting Digitrax Zephyr Express to Kato Unitrack for first time

    I have a Digitrax Zephyr Express with my first Kato Unitrack layout. I want to connect the Kato Unijoiner to the Digitrax. Would I be correct that I have snip the plastic coupler off first and then connect the wires to the Rail A and Rail B terminals on the back of the Digitrax? Further...




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