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Bachmann ez track power hookup

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  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Upstate New York USA
  • 24 posts
Bachmann ez track power hookup
Posted by dstark on Thursday, January 10, 2019 9:41 PM

 I have been in the hobby for 40 years but I have never used Bachmann ez track. I have a three-year-old who has a Thomas engine that I installed DCC in.  I built her a small 4‘ x 4‘ table for her “lAyout”. I am just going to put a circle of easy track on the table using 22 inch radius. My problem is how do I get power to the track. I can only find 18 inch radius curved terminals which obviously won’t work. Any ideas?

Eagle Pass & Moose Lake Railroad
  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, January 11, 2019 7:43 AM

Atlas makes these,

https://www.modeltrainstuff.com/atlas-ho-465-true-track-roadbed-terminal-joiners/?ne_ppc_id=1079742151&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIz5CDxe3l3wIVeSCtBh3mDgqnEAQYBSABEgJ_CPD_BwE

Available through many distributors, and probably were you got your track and train.

Mike.

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Upstate New York USA
  • 24 posts
Posted by dstark on Friday, January 11, 2019 8:01 AM

You can teach an old dog new tricks. I just assumed that Bachmann and atlas rail joiners did not mix, they were proprietary. I will check it out thank you sir.

 I just got a shipment of 200 feet of Atlas flex track and other stuff from Trainworld.  I ordered a set of these terminal connectors. Good fortune I guess. 

Eagle Pass & Moose Lake Railroad
  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Staten Island NY
  • 1,734 posts
Posted by joe323 on Friday, January 11, 2019 8:55 AM

I am not a fan of teminal joiners. They break too easily. I solder my feeders to the outside of the rails.

Joe Staten Island West 

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Upstate New York USA
  • 24 posts
Posted by dstark on Friday, January 11, 2019 9:05 AM
Joe: I am inclined to agree with you. I have not examined the track yet but I have concerns as the rail is in bedded in a rubber base. Perhaps you can remove the rail I'm not sure but I am concerned about the heat and the rubber. I have not even taken the track from the package yet I've been too busy rebuilding my own layout.
Eagle Pass & Moose Lake Railroad
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Friday, January 11, 2019 9:41 AM

 Depends what EZ Track you have, the black base is steel rail, the grey base is nickel silver. Steel will be much harder to solder to. It's definitely doable to solder feeders to the nickel silver without melting the plastic roadbed. You do have to have a bit of skill, or at least some practice.

 Terminal joiners work - I've used them on two layouts. I don't buy them though, the puchased ones are crazy expensive and at least the Atlas ones, use awfully thin and cheap wire. This is something that doesn't require high levels of soldering skill - there's really nothing to melt.

 Now - it worked, and worked well, for two layouts so far. But those layouts were both made with flex track. And EVERY joiner was one with feeder wires. Even painting the rails did not interrupt the joiners.

                                 --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, January 11, 2019 9:48 AM

I didn't, or wouldn't use them on my layout, as I soldered feeders to the track, but I suggested them for the little girls layout, since Bachmann EZ Track is already fastened to a "road bed".  Might have to make a little notch in the "road bed" for the wire.

Mike.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 1,835 posts
Posted by bearman on Saturday, January 12, 2019 11:18 AM

dtark...in order to join the Atlas True Track to the Bachman EZ track you will need an adaptor(s), made by one or the other company.  But, I don't think there is a curved adapter, you will have to check.

The Atlas track can be removed from the roadbed.  Not possible for the Bachmann variety.

Bear "It's all about having fun."

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 2,775 posts
Posted by snjroy on Saturday, January 12, 2019 10:52 PM

Hi there. I did this: I drilled two holes, outside the rails, put two wires through and soldered them to the rails. I also used a knife and made two v notches on the underside of the plastic to have room for the wires to reach the power pack. Worked for me...

Simon

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