Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
[quote user="EMPIRE II LINE"][quote user="chicagojake"] So.... any advice to a newbee? What brand of track, switches, etc.?If you could do it all over again, what would you do the same? Different? I'll take any and all observations, opinions, advice, etc. Thanks Jake [/quote]Well Jake,I am doing it all over again, the <strike>fourth,</strike> scratch that, the Fifth time, for that matter, in "G" gauge, once in Florida originally, in 95, than in Ohio 96 thru 98, again in Florida 98 thru 04, again after the hurricanes of 04 thru 06, and now for the fifth time 07 to the present.I for one have chosen to use all Stainless Steel track, this time, as I use track power, a necessary "EVIL" some might say. However I don't think there is a feasable way of doing battery power for the equipment consists that I choose to run.And I hated the constant cleaning of Br-Ass...track...I have also chosen to do a semi-raised/modular layout. Because I have a bad back, and don't like to bend down constantly, and I live in a rental mobile park. All ponds are pretty much built up also, except for the initial drain back/sump pond, 4.5 feet down, 300 gallons.I plan to power all mainline #6 switches with under mounted Tortise type switch machines, I use only #6's on the main line. And all wide radius 10 ft diameter switches in the run through, ladder track designed yards, in the 11 by 35 foot train storage room. I got tired of removing trains from the tracks all the time on the former layouts when ever the whether turned bad, and at night.....All housed 10 Ft switches  in the two ladder storage yards use LGB switch machines.I know there are those who have their own personal opinions and will readily voice them. But I have for the time, chosen to use the Kietco, Loco-Linc RC system, in-conjunction with MTH's DCS system. Kiethcos system allows for RC control of the switches on the mainline also. So does the MTH, DCS system. I have designed a toggle switch system of control for the yard areas switches. My mainline has no curves less than 14 foot in diameter, except for only one bypass into the yard area for storage, two tracks 11.5 and 12.5 ft diameter, side by side, roughly at the halfway point in the 2000 ft long main line.My line is divided/switched into five separate loops though-out, so that on guest "club meet" weekends, I can have separate trains on each section running un-attended, if I want. That also means visitors can run their "out-of-the-box-engines" on the track powered layout also, as well as battery powered RC units. Very versitile...... I like to run long consists of 33 inch long, USA streamliner passenger cars, pulled by ABBA lashups of F-3's, 50 to 60 foot long trains. As well as long 30 to 50 car freight trains, pulled by multi lashups of Dash-9's and 8's, SD-45's, Geep 38's, 9's and 7's.That requires quite a bit of power to run train consists the likes of these. I have invested in GOOD power systems, Bridgewerks, TDR-25's, 18's, 15's and a 10. And would recommend that consideration definitely be given to that end, as to what you plan to do, run, and model.Byron         PS: E-mail me if you'd care to talk about specifics.              Here is an indication of how user friendly the Loco-Linc RC system is, My neighbors little four year old Daughter, Harley, is running a double headed Dash-9 lashup pulling a 44 car drag, about 75 foot in length , Loving the sound of the horn all the while as she moves it out....... I snapped this just 20 minutes ago.......Wednesday 7:30 PM the 18th, March, 2008....Byron     [IMG]http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb266/empireIIline/IMGA0366.jpg[/IMG][/quote]Jake,Don't listen to E-2-L he is a wild Floridian! [:D] Brass track is fine if you want it.Master Toad Frog
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag