i'm new - model railroading and ho scale

[Anonymous]

i'm new to model railroading, i have a 5X8 layout unfinished rocky terrain built in fiberglass and bondo. all track is atlas, switches are atlas. controller and sound controller. i have several questions, but no digital camera.
1)i got the track running good except for one intersection of two loops at a 30 degree angle. looking to replace this intersection, but i dont know where to buy.
the local hobby shop does not have.

2) the wiring on this set up is elaborate( to me anyways) i have 6 electric switches, underneath these are a series of boxes with 5 vertical switches on each box. boxes say atlas on them and are green and black. what are these for, please?

the whole set up was free, and i am eager to fix it up. i want to make sure the basic track and wiring is right before i start detailing the layout.

thanks for your help.

[Anonymous]

Can't help you on #1 or #2 but with your 5' width you have a great opportunity
to install 22" radius curves . As you expand your rolling stock and larger
locos you will see the advantages.

[rogerhensley]

As an answer to questions that you haven't asked yet, you might want to take a look at the NMRA's 'Introduction to Model Railroading' pages at http://www.nmra.org/beginner/

I'm sure that you can find a lot of answers there. :-)

[Anonymous]

DSOLSI,

Welcome! It sounds like you got a good beginning already done for you...!

For Q#1 - there are many Internet retailers who sell track. Go to the Atlas web site (www.atlasrr.com) and check in their on-line catalog for the part you need. (I am assuming that your track is Atlas. If not, you might need to do a bit more research. In most cases, the manufacturer name is on the bottom of the track. You can also use the Atlas catalog to determine what your green and black electrical switches are - I am guessing they are either for block control, or simple on/off switches.

However, before you rip up track, and for Q#2, I would refer you to some of the electrical wiring books published by Kalmbach, and available on the parent site of this forum (www.trains.com). There are a number available, but choose one that appeals to you, with articles and style that you can "easily sigest". I am not a fan of electrical stuff, and so lots of diagrams appeal to me...! You might also check your local library. The basic way of wiring a layout has not changed for decades, so even if the books are old, they probably are still relevant.

Two caveats - watch out for wiring for DCC, and for three-rail. These will not be helpful, unless you have those types of control for your train.

Good luck! Don't be afraid to ask more questions!

Andrew

[Anonymous]

thanks for the help guys, the green and black switches are atlas selectors and i believe there are used somehow to pick which switch i want to control being there are 10 switch track pieces and only 5 electrical switches. i know my lingo isn't correct yet bare with me. i found the intersections on the atlas website and have already placed an order. controller is a railmaster 2000 by tech 2 and sound controller is a tech 2 ___ 8000. are these decent building blocks for this size setup. track is not dcc.
and my outer loop is a 22" curve, but it intersects with the inner loop. - therefore train runs outerloop, then inner loop and back. inner loop looks to be about 19" the person who gave me the layout gave me several cars, and locomotives, but unfortunately all need repair. 2 locos are bigger diesels, so i would imagine he set it up to run the "big ones". i bought a botchman steam engine to start.

[Anonymous]

I just listed on ebay, the book WIRING written for Atlas by Paul Mallery. This book describes the use of Atlas' equipment and explains Block Control operation using Atlas' Selectors, Controllers ect. It is priced very reasonably. This would explain all to you!

Sorry for the blattent commersialism. However, this is the best answer to DSOLSI questions!

[BR60103]

The "selectors" should be wired to give power to diferent sections of track. there are two sets of terminals at the sides (top & bottom) and each set connects to a different power pack. If you have a power pack connected to the upper terminals, pushing the switch up will connect the power pack to that track. in the middle is an off. Similarly for down. You'll have to try to see which track they control.
The switch controllers should have no connection to the selectors. (Unless they have some other function.)
Try to get the Atlas book. It tells all!