Just joined yesterday

2609 Views 16 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Torby, Feb 18, 2009

GeorgiaTrain

Discussion Starter · Feb 17, 2009

2

Hi everyone,
I just joined last night. This railroad is the "grandkids railroad" no scale, no gauge, just for fun. Anyway, I purchase 200 feet of aluminum rail and will be moving the railroad from limited tabletop onto the floor in my basement. I roughed in a hand drawing and included a picture of the room. I'm looking for ideas, changes, suggestions. I drew some of the rails on top of the ping pong table but of course they actually will be going under.

Thanks for your help,
Jay

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1 - 17 of 17 Posts

bobgrosh

· #2 · Feb 17, 2009

For the grandkids is the best scale.

steam5

· #3 · Feb 17, 2009

Jay welcome.

I am new to large scale, but I’ve been in HO for a long time and still am.

If you’re using aluminium rail I assume you will be using battery powered locomotives? I have read people using aluminium rail with track power quite well though.

Aluminium rail is not as robust as brass or stainless steel, I maybe worried about foot traffic bending your brass rail, I’m sure an aluminium user will give some info here.

If you’re using track power (or DCC) I can see at least 1 return loop with will need to be wired appropriately. Heaps of info again on this site, just do a search for ‘return loop’.

Hope this heaps a bit
Alan

steam5

· #4 · Feb 17, 2009

Edit “I maybe worried about foot traffic bending your ALUMINIUM rail”

R.W. Marty

· #5 · Feb 17, 2009

Welcome aboard,
Might consider putting some thing between the track and that nice light carpet.
Track, especially aluminum, has a tendency to produce nice black soot, for lack of a better word,
so something to keep it off the carpet would probably help keep the railroad running.
Just a suggestion
Rick Marty

GG

· #6 · Feb 17, 2009

Posted By R.W. Marty on 02/17/2009 5:15 PM

Welcome aboard,
Might consider putting some thing between the track and that nice light carpet.
Track, especially aluminum, has a tendency to produce nice black soot, for lack of a better word,
so something to keep it off the carpet would probably help keep the railroad running.
Just a suggestion
Rick Marty

Yes..... consult with people on the white carpet bit..... been there, done that and still alive after much damage control..

I believe that it is called electrical arcing....

Very nice room to set up in.

gg

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smcgill

· #7 · Feb 17, 2009

2

Can I be one of your Grandkid???

Lucky kids!!
Welcome to the insanity!
Just remember to have fun!!

Sean

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aceinspp

· #8 · Feb 18, 2009

Welcome to the forum. Enjoy. Later RJD

NavyTech

· #9 · Feb 18, 2009

you may want to consider elevating the track off the carpet. this will eliminated trafic walking on the track and the static discharge that can ocure. not sure if that will be safe for kids getting a shock or not. Maybe someone that has run track on carpet can add some input on this. If using battery power than It should not be a concern.

Torby

· #10 · Feb 18, 2009

Carpet:

If you run track power you will get black soot (pretty good description) whatever you use for track. You definitely want someting between the track and your nice carpet.

Feet:

Aluminum rail bends quite easily. Go for brass or stainless. One annoyance with the asylum layout was how easily a mis-placed bare heel pops the ties off the rail. I was always having to take sections out and slide the ties back on.

Shock:

I used Aristo's PWC throttles that put a 22v signal on the rails. Normally touching or stepping on the track you couldn't feel it. If you sit on it with bare leg, it will feel like pinpricks. I'd feel a tingle if I placed my hand on the track and my wedding ring touched a rail. You can also feel a tingle with a wet hand or foot. One day I had my gold rim glasses on and bent down to look down the track after the train passed. When I got close to the rail, my vision flashed white, so apparently a 13khz electric field triggers the photo sensors in your eyes.

I much enjoyed my asylum layout http://gold.mylargescale.com/torby/ but it was a good thing the landlady was planning to change the carpet when I took it up. Hmm. Looks like that old page is suffering pretty bad link rot.

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Stan Cedarleaf

· #11 · Feb 18, 2009

Welcome to MLS, Jay. The plans look fantastic. Grandkids are most blessed....

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I like your quote... "This railroad is the "grandkids railroad" no scale, no gauge, just for fun"
That's what it's all about....

Big John

· #12 · Feb 18, 2009

Since you plan to keep the railroad in the basement you might consider using Bachmann track. It is a rolled tinplate similar to the old Lionel track. It is very inexpensive and easy to find. Most large scale modelers put their trains outside and cannot use Bachmann track as it will rust to pieces. You can ususlly find the track on ebay as people who buy train sets sell off the track. You should not have the problem of black soot coming of as you will with aluminum track. The track will still bend if stepped on but the replacement cost is cheep. You can run track power with little problem and you do not have to use the expensive rail clamps. Bachmann's system of plastic clips holds the rail joints together fairly well. I just wish my grandchildren were young again. I had great times running trains with them but now they are teenagers and have lost interest in grandpa and his trains. Good luck on your railroad project.

Big John

· #13 · Feb 18, 2009

PS I forgot to tell you that you could probably sell the 200 feet of aluminum track and purchase 500 feet of Bachmann track with the money.

John

Semper Vaporo

· #14 · Feb 18, 2009

I really do understand your philosophy, but I must take one exception to the way you stated it...

"This railroad is the "grandkids railroad" no scale, no gauge, just for fun."

Ya just gotta set a "gauge" for it. You cannot put down HO gauge track and expect to run an Aster Big-Boy on it!

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GeorgiaTrain

Discussion Starter · #15 · Feb 18, 2009

Thanks for all the insights and suggestions!

I am using battery power so the track will not be powered. Also the room is heated and air-conditioned so oxidation should be minimal. Thanks for the heads up; I'll see if there is any black stuff generated that might damage the carpet. Battery powered also solves any return loop issues.

Foot traffic could be an issue but I will train the big kids and little ones to watch their step. Good luck right? The track is 332 which will hopefully help.

Cost of aluminum vs tin. I paid $2.26 ft vs ebay tin at $1.20 -$2.00 with the auction still in progress. Also I bought 6 ft lenghts which will minimize the connections and also purchased the Train-li to bend the rails the way I want them to be.

C.T. you're right: Big-Boy on HO doesn't work, but the "fun" philosophy does.

Enjoy your day,
Jay

Les

· #16 · Feb 18, 2009

Jay,

Welcome!

I believe you'll find this a happy, friendly board. Please don't hesitate to ask questions, either.

Les

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Torby

· #17 · Feb 18, 2009

Good choice with battery. You won't have to worry about oxidation, or soot.

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