Hello from Clearwater, FL, USA

[Brian Boyer]

Good luck attempting track power Brian. I do not give up easy and there are very few things in life that I have given up on. Please keep us posted as to your progress.

I'll definately keep everyone updated. Considering opening a new thread just for the work in progress, since I can literally do it from the planning stages. I'm just not sure what forum it would best be posted in...

 

[TTaannggss]

Yes feel free to open a new thread. I just opened a new one. In General Forums. Railroading in Winter in Canada

 

[TTaannggss]

So Brian anything new with your G scale? Today I gave my caboose a spray coat of black. I am waiting for my pricy with postage knuckle. I cut a plow out of an aluminum ( I love to hear the Brits say that word) sheet. I plan on spraying it CN Orange. Put 2 small side plows orange as well is the plan

 

[Brian Boyer]

So Brian anything new with your G scale?

Actually, tomorrow I start rough laying out track to mark my track plan area. With any luck I'll be scraping sod and laying first layer of weed guard... I know lofty plans. I hope to remember to take photos as I progress.

 

[TTaannggss]

Ok so you want to lay the track in the earth? That weed killer may be toxic cancer causing stuff so be carefully. I just layed my track on the ground. The concrete smothered any grass or weeds. We missed all that lake effect snow as we always do. But 5 miles out of Sarnia is where lake effect snow can start. Happy thanks giving. We have ours beginning of October.

 

[Brian Boyer]

Ok so you want to lay the track in the earth? That weed killer may be toxic cancer causing stuff so be carefully. I just layed my track on the ground. The concrete smothered any grass or weeds. We missed all that lake effect snow as we always do. But 5 miles out of Sarnia is where lake effect snow can start. Happy thanks giving. We have ours beginning of October.

Whoa, never said anything about weed killer... I said weed barrier...it's a cloth material. Any thanks for the Thanksgiving wishes!

 

[phils2um]

Track prep Sunday,

Personally I would skip the USAT rail joiners and go immediately to rail clamps. Either Split-Jaw or Massoth/Trainli type clamps. The Massoth/Trainli type clamps are very unobtrusive when installed with the screws between the rails. I bought my last couple of batches from modell-land.de, 100 Stück Schienenverbinder Messing 19 mm mit Edelstahlschrauben ML-Train 8188165, at a very reasonable price even when shipping is considered. I included a few other goodies in the order to help amortize the shipping!. I prefer Split-Jaw clamps for getting power to and from the rails. I think you will regret relying on the USAT joiners alone (or at all!) for electrical conductivity. I've been running track power mfx/DCC in a climate identical to Ttaannggss for more that six years now. Ann Arbor is about 75 miles WSW of Sarnia, ON. My track is mostly LGB brass. I don't have any of the conductivity issues that scare many into battery/RC. It's all in the track joinery and power feeds.

 

[Brian Boyer]

Personally I would skip the USAT rail joiners and go immediately to rail clamps. Either Split-Jaw or Massoth/Trainli type clamps. The Massoth/Trainli type clamps are very unobtrusive when installed with the screws between the rails. I prefer Split-Jaw clamps for getting power to and from the rails. I bought my last couple of batches from modell-land.de, 100 Stück Schienenverbinder Messing 19 mm mit Edelstahlschrauben ML-Train 8188165, at a very reasonable price even when shipping is considered. I included a few other goodies in the order to help amortize the shipping!. I think you will regret relying on the USAT joiners alone (or at all!) for electrical conductivity. I've been running track power mfx/DCC in a climate identical to Ttaannggss for more that six years now. Ann Arbor is about 75 miles WSW of Sarnia, ON. My track is mostly LGB brass. I don't have any of the conductivity issues that scare many into battery/RC. It's all in the track joinery and power feeds.

I did buy some brass clamps. Hopefully I will be going battery power quickly. Hearing too many track power nightmares. With any luck within the first few months I'll be away from track power.

 

[JimmyB]

I cut a plow out of an aluminum ( I love to hear the Brits say that word)

We say "plough" and "aluminium", so you pronounce them differently because, you spell them differently.

 

[TTaannggss]

Whoa, never said anything about weed killer... I said weed barrier...it's a cloth material. Any thanks for the Thanksgiving wishes!

Ok. I thought weed guard might be weed killer. I have watched g scale videos where people do that.

 

[Brian Boyer]

Ok. I thought weed guard might be weed killer. I have watched g scale videos where people do that.

Nope, I try to be a good tree hugger...lol

 

[dunnyrail]

Personally I would skip the USAT rail joiners and go immediately to rail clamps. Either Split-Jaw or Massoth/Trainli type clamps. The Massoth/Trainli type clamps are very unobtrusive when installed with the screws between the rails. I bought my last couple of batches from modell-land.de, 100 Stück Schienenverbinder Messing 19 mm mit Edelstahlschrauben ML-Train 8188165, at a very reasonable price even when shipping is considered. I included a few other goodies in the order to help amortize the shipping!. I prefer Split-Jaw clamps for getting power to and from the rails. I think you will regret relying on the USAT joiners alone (or at all!) for electrical conductivity. I've been running track power mfx/DCC in a climate identical to Ttaannggss for more that six years now. Ann Arbor is about 75 miles WSW of Sarnia, ON. My track is mostly LGB brass. I don't have any of the conductivity issues that scare many into battery/RC. It's all in the track joinery and power feeds.

The issue with track is all about cleanliness. Yes you can run all day round in circles and your trains will help keep the track clean, but not the sidings unless they are loops and used at near equal amounts. I run timetables, shunt trains run round stop to pass etc etc. For me the hassle of track cleaning just got too much so I went all dead rail and have never regretted it. My loco DCC sounds are now reliable with slow running and shunting perfection. Just try one loco to see.

Oh and yes my track was fully rail clamped with Massoth and Hillman Clamps, it still is.

 

[TTaannggss]

Nope, I try to be a good tree hugger...lol

So you have 2 a units and a b unit now? Are all 3 powered?

 

[Brian Boyer]

So you have 2 a units and a b unit now? Are all 3 powered?

1 A powered, 1 B powered, and one small 040 steam engine powered. Started collecting some rolling stock. Remember I started from scratch just a few weeks ago.

 

[Sean.]

When you dig out your tracks right of way , try to place 6" on stone under your track for help with drainage..

 

[Sean.]

When I did mine I lined the trench with the fabric, laded down the stone I went a couple of inches below the grade, covered the stone with fabric making a sock , then added 1/8 rice stone on top of this and set my track down ..it's work well for 15 or so years... let mother nature show you were you need some water letter outers ...

 

[TTaannggss]

1 A powered, 1 B powered, and one small 040 steam engine powered. Started collecting some rolling stock. Remember I started from scratch just a few weeks ago.

Yes. Just like myself we really like trains. Your G scale central icon shows 2 f units that is why I am asking. It is an expensive hobby. I went way overboard in ho scale. I am not going to do that in G scale.

 

[Sean.]

I am not going to do that in G scale.

Ha Ha Ha ...

 

[Fred2179G]

Hearing too many track power nightmares

Hi Brian,
I'm south of you on a recently flooded barrier island. Can I recommend joining FGRS? (Florida Garden Railway Soc.) The newsletter editor, Paul Wagner, lives in Noth Port, about 90 mins south of you. He has a very nice layout which was track powered, and he's a very helpful, sociable type. A visit to his layout will answer a lot of questions for you.

 

[Brian Boyer]

Quick photo dump... came up a tad short on track as I was able to make layout bigger than initally planned And wow it got hot here again... back in the 80's.