Multiple Locomotives

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I am very new to this hobby. I bought McKinley Explorer and planning to buy The Keystone & Overland Limited sets. I think Bachmann sets are less expensive compared to other products in the market. I am not sure about the quality.

My question is how will I be using the UL listed power pack for all the three sets. Do I need to use one power pack for all sets or use individual ones for each track. I am planning to join all the three track sets and make a big layout. Again I am not sure, if I can do this.

I will appreciate any help.

Thanks
Ken

[daan]

First Ken, Welcome to the forum. I gues you'll start with h0 (that's Bachmann mostly) so you probably would like to search the "model railroader" forum for your questions.
h0 is mostly 2 rail DC current, that means, track without a 3rd rail. Most of the tracks used in h0 will fit together, so your plan could work. If you make a single big oval from your tracks, one transformer will do.
If you want to run all 3 trains together, the simplest solution is to make 3 individual ovals or tracks, which then will need a power pack each.
I don't know about the Bachmann quality, but most of the time you get what you paid for, so a cheap set will be not as sturdy and detailed as a more expensive one.
There are possibilities to make one big layout from all your track and still run all your trains, but to do that you'll need to buy track insulation clamps, with which you can make track sections which are electrically independent. Each electrical independent part has its own transformer, or can be switched off by using a single pole single throw electric switch between your transformer and one of your tracks. This way you can "park" your train on that track, switch the power off and run another train.
Just to make a difference between this forum and the model railroader forum, this forum is about the bigger scale 0, which contains Lionel, K-line and MTH, to name a few. Mostly 3-rail and also called hirail.
Look at the sunday photo fun page to see what sort of trains are meant by 0 gauge..
Enjoy your hobby!