New to the forum and I have some questions

[Medina1128]

Jeff, check with Mike and Robin Fifer. They specialize in N-scale and they are super nice people. http://www.fiferhobby.com/ Just tell them Marlon sent ya.... [:)]

[MAbruce]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jeff521

Thanks for the excellent suggestions and information. If I recall, some of my newer Kato and Atlas engines that I bought after the year 2000 are DCC ready. I'll have to do some research to figure out the best route to go.

Try this site for reviews of most older N-scale locos: http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/locos.html

QUOTE: I was thinking about selling some of my older engines and reinvesting the money in DCC. I have a bunch of GP-35's and SD-45's that I did not run very often. They were made in Japan before Atlas moved their manufacturing to China. I'm not sure if that makes any difference in their market value. I suppose I'll find out soon enough.

ebay is the way to go. Check out the recently completed sales for those items in N-scale and it should help you set your price. These locos usually get a decent price. Oh, and you might get a few deals on newer stuff there too.

[dgwinup]

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong. I believe that Atlas engines made in Japan had mechanisms made by Kato. Those would be worth keeping IF they are not too difficult to convert to DCC. Selling these and the ones made in China should give you enough for a good DCC engine or two, maybe several if only DCC-ready.

I have always used Atlas and Peco flex track and turnouts. All were code 80. Much of my inventory is older and has larger flanges, so I have not bothered to experiment with smaller code sizes. Fortunately for me, I have always been able to salvage my layouts when I tore them down to move, so I still have lots of track and turnouts for my next layout.

As others have suggested, buy some pieces of different codes and try them out with your engines. Engines are the hardest to modify to run on smaller coded rails. Remember, though, that N scale is small enough that you can easily disguise most of the out-of-scale dimensions. It will really only make a big difference to you in terms of what standards will want to follow.

Welcome to this forum. Your experience here will be enjoyable. Be cautioned that it is addictive! And don't forget to keep us informed of your progress and post pictures for the rest of us to envy you!

Darrell, greenly quiet...for now

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the excellent suggestions and information. If I recall, some of my newer Kato and Atlas engines that I bought after the year 2000 are DCC ready. I'll have to do some research to figure out the best route to go.

I was thinking about selling some of my older engines and reinvesting the money in DCC. I have a bunch of GP-35's and SD-45's that I did not run very often. They were made in Japan before Atlas moved their manufacturing to China. I'm not sure if that makes any difference in their market value. I suppose I'll find out soon enough.

[MAbruce]

Welcome to the age of choices in N-scale!

While I used standard Atlas code 80 track (because I already had it from a previous layout), I’ve heard some good reports about Atlas code 55. It certainly looks nicer, but it won’t accommodate older locos and cars with deeper flanged wheels. However, Peco code 55 will accommodate everything. Peco is not US prototypical looking, a bit pricier, and not as widely available, but many like it. I’ve heard mixed reviews of Micro-engineering. Looks great but it’s finicky to work with.

Wheel sets are easy enough to swap on rolling stock, but it’s the locos that will be the real challenge. Buy a test section of Atlas C55 and test them out.

If I had that much money to start a layout, and considering the size of area to work with, I would go DCC. I have operated with it before and it will not only give you more operating “fun”, but more flexibility when planning your layout. The wiring won’t be as complex. Most of your locos may be DCC friendly, so upgrading them should not be too much of a hassle. It will also make a multi-unit lash-up (a must in the area you are modeling) easy to do as you can sync them up in DCC.

I envy your position. Have fun planning and building!

[skiloff]

I would say code 70 should be fine, but test it out like Jeff said. I would also HIGHLY recommend DCC for that size of layout. Having that many locos on that big a layout is exactly why DCC was invented. Tony's Train Exchange can also be a very good source of information for conversion of your locos. Good luck, and welcome to the forums!

[Anonymous]

I also am new to the forums and have come back to model railroading after a 28 year absence. Back in the late 70's I was using shinohara code 70 and my loco's and rolling stock ran fine. Some problems on code 55 and some wheeelsets had to be changed for coe 40. I think they were micro engineering.

[MisterBeasley]

Don't forget the "fun factor" of DCC. I was hooked within a half-hour of running my first DCC train.

And I almost forgot -- welcome aboard! Great forum, as you'll discover.

[Medina1128]

Yeah, what selector said! Whew!

[selector]

Could you take your locos to a local hobby shop and ask them to place the locos on the smaller code? Or, order a few pieces with a view to changing the wheels if they don't work anyway. I would think that you are safe with that vintage of locos, but cannot say so since I am in HO. For sure try the locos over turnouts..that will be the biggest headache, over the frogs.

As for retrofitting, the DCC system, wired, plus the decoders for, say, 8 locos, will run you between $350 and $500, depending on sound decoders and speakers, the deal you get, your negotiating skills, etc, and your skills at installation.

A large layout could run you into the $3000 range if you buy and use a lot of materials of all types. If you are thrifty and handy, you could build one of the size you refer to for between $700-$1400, including track, turnouts, wiring, structures and scenic material.

[rolleiman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jeff521

Hello folks:

I just registered for this forum...here's my first post!

About a year and a half ago, I tore down my beautiful 9' x 12' N-scale model railroad that I had worked on for 14 years. I'll post some photos sometime soon.

Anyway, I've moved into my new house, and I have about 1200 square feet of basement to work with! Obviously, I'm thinking big. This will be my fourth major model railroad since 1983. All of them have been N-scale based on Southern Wyoming and Northern Colorado.

Most of my locomotives and rolling stock are fairly high quality (Kato, Atlas, etc), and all of my rolling stock has been fitted with Micro Trains trucks and couplers. My first question is what code and brand of track should I consider for realistic, big time mainline railroading? I used Peco Code 100 (I think...I could be wrong) on my lasy layout. It worked great but I've seen more realistic track (Shinohara maybe?). Will my rolling stock and engines work with code 70 without retrofitting the wheels? Or do I need special wheels with smaller flanges for Code 70? What about Code 55 for trunk lines and sidings?

My second question is with more than two dozen locomitives (Kato and Atlas, all diesel) dating from 1992--2003, should I consider retrofitting everything for DCC? Or would it totally drain my budget?

I have about $2000 to get started. I was unalble to salvage any of my track or scenery (except trees and some rocks) from my last layout (it's a long story, but I had one evening to dismantle my layout). I do have lots of structures, rolling stock, engines, etc.

Thanks in advance. I used the search function and read some threads, but I just got more confused.

I can't help you much with your N-decision (HO scale here) but can offer a couple suggestions.. First, if you do the math, after deciding how many trains will roll at one time, by the time you buy the power, switches, wire, build panels, etc for DC cab control (assuming that to be your alternative to DCC), you are well into the cost of a decent DCC set.. They now make multifunction decoders that they say will fit Z scale (can't verify that personally) so a retrofit of your older atlas, kato, etc may be a simple one.. Time once was, you had to mill out the loco halves under the fuel tank to get them to fit but it was possible.. May still be the case, I don't know..

With respect to track, An N scale friend of mine swears by Micro Engineering.. I think they have track with rail codes down to 40 now (0.040") as opposed to your code 80 Peco.. Only drawback, if I remember correctly, not all codes are / were (been a few years since we discussed it) offered with turnouts, and only #6 at that.. Someone else will have to give the real answers on the track..

With $2000 you can certainly get something up and running.. In building the monster layout however, you'll want to think in smaller chunks. That is, Get a general idea of what you want to do, avoid duckunders and access hatches at all cost, and work it around the obsticles in your basement/layout room.

Good luck,
Jeff
[swg]

[Anonymous]

Hello folks:

I just registered for this forum...here's my first post!

About a year and a half ago, I tore down my beautiful 9' x 12' N-scale model railroad that I had worked on for 14 years. I'll post some photos sometime soon.

Anyway, I've moved into my new house, and I have about 1200 square feet of basement to work with! Obviously, I'm thinking big. This will be my fourth major model railroad since 1983. All of them have been N-scale based on Southern Wyoming and Northern Colorado.

Most of my locomotives and rolling stock are fairly high quality (Kato, Atlas, etc), and all of my rolling stock has been fitted with Micro Trains trucks and couplers. My first question is what code and brand of track should I consider for realistic, big time mainline railroading? I used Peco Code 100 (I think...I could be wrong) on my last layout. It worked great but I've seen more realistic track (Shinohara maybe?). Will my rolling stock and engines work with code 70 without retrofitting the wheels? Or do I need special wheels with smaller flanges for Code 70? What about Code 55 for trunk lines and sidings?

My second question is with more than two dozen locomitives (Kato and Atlas, all diesel) dating from 1992--2003, should I consider retrofitting everything for DCC? Or would it totally drain my budget?

I have about $2000 to get started. I was unalble to salvage any of my track or scenery (except trees and some rocks) from my last layout (it's a long story, but I had one evening to dismantle my layout). I do have lots of structures, rolling stock, engines, etc.

Thanks in advance. I used the search function and read some threads, but I just got more confused.