What do you get when you listen to the guys on this forum?

[oleirish]

That is what it is all about!!!!!!!!

Jim

[IRONROOSTER]

This is what makes this forum so great - sharing what you know, learning what you don't.
Enjoy
Paul

[dehusman]

This is the same stuff I used to learn 30 years ago by belonging to a model railroad club. Only its faster and open 24x7.

Dave H.

[NZRMac]

Great place eh!!

I couldn't possibly list everything I've learnt (learning) I love it here[swg]

Ken.

[Tracklayer]

The forum has saved my hide (and nerves) more than once. We've got some great members here that really know their stuff.

Happy railroading...

Tracklayer

[jxtrrx]

I’ve been absorbing all the suggestions on this forum for many months now. As a new guy in the hobby, my layout ran OK, but always intermittent derailments. That becomes annoying – downright tedious after a while. I began to notice the following list of recurring tips on the forum to be just the opposite of what I had been doing:

• No S-curves (At least one car length of straight between opposing curves) -- Especially watch for these coming out of turnouts.

• #4 and #6 turnouts are more reliable than “Snap” switches.

• No “cheating” with sectional track to force it to fit. Use flex-track to line things up the way you want.

• Work slowly and carefully. You’ll be running trains soon enough.

• Plan! (I now use XtrkCAD before I start laying track.)

• Install switches to “de-power” some sections even with DCC so that parked locos are not always sitting on hot track.

• Solder the joiners on flex-track while the track is lying straight… then curve it to fit after the solder cools… no kinks.

• Remove the ties where joiners will go on flex track. They slide back under the rails easily enough after it’s laid.

• Use plenty of power feeders to assure even power distribution and smooth running.

• Use latex caulk to apply roadbed.

• If you wind up with a problem section of track, after a few attempts at repair, it’s often best to just rip it out and relay the whole section.

So I did all that. Ripped out a large area of my layout and redid it using those suggestions. What happened?

Zero derailments.
Even with long trains.
Even at full throttle.
Even with my most temperamental cars.
Backwards.

I’m so proud.[:D]

Thanks everyone, for so freely sharing your knowledge.