Just starting out in G gauge

Sarah Winfield said:
Latest update with some positive results.
After trying various combinations to eliminate where the problem lay I finally got my Stainz working and with the E-Z controller! :)
It is Station 2 on the E-Z and my locomotive purrs (or perhaps growls) along in either direction. Even with my dirty track there isn't any hesitation.
I feel awfully humble and grateful to everyone who has helped me. I am now back at the stage I was 2 years ago except I now have 3 pieces of rolling stock to make playing trains a little more interesting.
Thank you.
Sarah Winfield
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Excellent news, Sarah! Run and enjoy.
 
That is great to hear! You've managed to answer several of the important basic questions: your loco runs, your control unit works, the loco IS definitely DCC-chipped and it is currently programmed to address 2..... that's really all you need to know right now!

Do you have enoguh track to make a circle or oval? If you do, I'd suggest just letting the loco run round at a moderate speed for a good while (I'm thinking 10-15 minutes, then reverse the direction and repeat). That will get everything nicely run-in again, especially if the loco hasn't run at all for a few years, and you should find that afterwards it runs more smoothly - even at very low speed settings.

Them as others have said above, just play trains for a bit and get some fun from it - that's what it's all about..... ;)

Jon.
 
Sarah Winfield said:
Before I begin today's trials and tribulations in my determined attempt to have a locomotive moving along the track, would members advise me whether the "Analogue Locomotive Operation" output from the E-Z is the same as the output from a DC controller please? I'm pretty sure I had the locomotive working 2 years ago with my Gaugemaster Series P controller.
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No, the output 10 is a sort of weird pulsed power, called "zero stretching" because it takes a "0" in DCC and stretches in time to be mostly positive (or negative) but your loco wlll make a lot of noise when running in this mode.. normally only used for a DC loco... a DCC loco might see this transmogrified DCC signal and refuse to do anything.

Greg
 
Sarah Winfield said:
Latest update with some positive results.
After trying various combinations to eliminate where the problem lay I finally got my Stainz working and with the E-Z controller! :)
It is Station 2 on the E-Z and my locomotive purrs (or perhaps growls) along in either direction. Even with my dirty track there isn't any hesitation.
I feel awfully humble and grateful to everyone who has helped me. I am now back at the stage I was 2 years ago except I now have 3 pieces of rolling stock to make playing trains a little more interesting.
Thank you.
Sarah Winfield
Click to expand...

Well done!
:party::clap::clap::clap::party:

No stopping you now! Outside, and 70 miles across the Fens!! ;):giggle::giggle: - Sure we can find some volunteers to give you a hand? :think:
 
Zerogee, I do have enough track although it needs a bit of cleaning. I have some track ends standing in vinegar so I've made a start at least. I'll follow your suggestion just to see my locomotive running.
Thank you PhilP and everyone for their encouragement. Now I have to decide between housework and playing trains....oh decisions, decisions. (Makes itself really)
 
Sarah Winfield said:
Zerogee, I do have enough track although it needs a bit of cleaning. I have some track ends standing in vinegar so I've made a start at least. I'll follow your suggestion just to see my locomotive running.
Thank you PhilP and everyone for their encouragement. Now I have to decide between housework and playing trains....oh decisions, decisions. (Makes itself really)
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B****r the housework, get the trains running :mask::mask::mask::mask:

You've got the joints clean, just run the Mk 1 LGB cleaner along the top of the rails, and you're in business.

Anyway, speaking as a male of the species, didn't you know that the house cleans itself ?? :emo::emo::emo::emo::emo::emo:
 
Quite a satisfying day. My oval of track, locomotive and single coach have been enjoyable to play with. I can leave the track set up on my bedroom floor for a few days until that nagging housework guilt keeps me awake.
A little more about my locomotive, etc. It is, as I said, a small Stainz fitted with a Lenz Electronia LE230 V1 decoder. I also have 3 pieces of rolling stock and quite a lot of track.
Also as I said I only have a small garden laid to slabs and stone. I'm thinking I might be able to have a layout comprising end to end with a continuous run in the centre to be erected on wooden staging covered in artificial grass, say 3' above the ground. I can't have it at ground level because If I get down I've no-one to help me up.
Your thoughts and observations would be appreciated please.
Thank you,
Sarah Winfield
 
3' might be a little high? - Unless you intend to stand all the time??

You could do worse then Mike's Lazy Grange Bay 3.. That is a raised layout.. - You do have to remember you will need to be able to reach all parts, so much more than five feet (if you have access from both sides) may be too much..
 
I was hoping to erect it on 3 sides of my garden fence. The two end to ends would be about 12 to 18" wide enough to have a run-round loop at each end. The main line would be single track as would be the continuous run.
Of course I may have this totally wrong as I've never dealt with anything as large as G scale.
Where can I find details, please, of the layout you mention?
Thanks,
Sarah Winfield
 
Sarah Winfield said:
I was hoping to erect it on 3 sides of my garden fence. The two end to ends would be about 12 to 18" wide enough to have a run-round loop at each end. The main line would be single track as would be the continuous run.
Of course I may have this totally wrong as I've never dealt with anything as large as G scale.
Where can I find details, please, of the layout you mention?
Thanks,
Sarah Winfield
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It'll need to be wider than 18" for a run round loop. Lazy Grange has its own thread on the forum
 
Paul M said:
It'll need to be wider than 18" for a run round loop. Lazy Grange has its own thread on the forum
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18" should be plenty of width - Paul, I think Sarah means a passing loop, are you thinking of a reversing loop instead (which would of course need around 5 feet even if using R1 curves)....?

Jon.
 
Sarah Winfield said:
'm thinking I might be able to have a layout comprising end to end with a continuous run in the centre to be erected on wooden staging covered in artificial grass, say 3' above the ground. I can't have it at ground level because If I get down I've no-one to help me up.
Your thoughts and observations would be appreciated please.
Thank you,
Sarah Winfield
Click to expand...

I've set mine up at 32" to 34" for those times that a chair is a necessity. And you could roll a wheelchair under it (depending on the brand). 36" is good though. Plan your wiring access in advance though. Mine just sort of grew, and at times service is challenging.
 
I'm planning on making mine around waist height, for me that's about 100mm.

I should be able to reach across it at that height.
 
Like the Robinsons advert.....'I think I got the decimal point in the wrong place!' ;):giggle:
 
Zerogee said:
18" should be plenty of width - Paul, I think Sarah means a passing loop, are you thinking of a reversing loop instead (which would of course need around 5 feet even if using R1 curves)....?

Jon.
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I was Jon! Sorry Sarah, as you were!:blush:
 
Visters are always welcome.. I welcome them back if they bring cake.
Enjoy your railway your way Sarah.
I too struggle to get up.. falling down is easy
 
I run Massoth digical Sarah..the cammra is my phone balanced on the front of a loco...
:-)
 
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