Some questions

[TrainLegend150]

My birthday is coming up soon. I'm sure that I'm going to be getting a DCC 1225 Pere Marquette (My favorite engine!). The only problem is, I don't have a DCC Controller. Will a DCC engine still work on a Bachmann track with an Analog controller? And also, I'm having trouble with ideas for a layout. I don't have a lot of track, though. Can anybody give me any Basic track ideas? Thanks!

[jward]

for ideas, look into the layout plan books published by atlas, bachmann. kalmbach and others. you could also look for layout plans online as well.

[TrainLegend150]

Thank you!

[jettrainfan]

DCC engines can run on anolog, but the throttle needs to be turned up a bit before it starts running because DCC engines require more volatge to start moving, but they'll run at a good speed still.

[Doneldon]

Legend-

Your will receive a dual mode (DC & DCC) decoder so it will run on your DC system. However, many people report that their dual mode locos run better with the decoder removed and replaced by the small metal jumpers which are included with the loco. If I were you, I'd check out your loco with the decoder in and then take it out for a second test. Then run it whichever way is better. Good luck and Happy Birthday
                                                                                                                                                                  -- D

[TrainLegend150]

Okay, thank you!

[richg]

for ideas, look into the layout plan books published by atlas, bachmann. kalmbach and others. you could also look for layout plans online as well.

Some ideas. I believe most are for sectional track.

http://www.thortrains.net/smscale1.htm

http://www.thortrains.net/poorhox.html

http://www.thortrains.net/4holayx.html

http://www.thortrains.net/nscale/homini1a.html

Holiday layouts.

http://www.thortrains.net/yule/yuleho1.html

Layouts for different scales.

http://www.thortrains.net/

Rich

[richg]

I also did a Google search for layouts using ho scale sectional track.

http://www.greatesthobby.com/wgh/objects/pdf/wgh_section6.pdf

http://www.gatewaynmra.org/project09.htm

http://www.gatewaynmra.org/project.htm

http://books.google.com/books?id=9JghMSZG6AQC&pg=PA21&lpg=PA21&dq=layouts+using+ho+sectional+track&source=bl&ots=ZkoWuUvjMS&sig=dJpM1OTSz4ol6PsMcY8I6d0BNNc&hl=en&ei=nVtUTp2hBYfpgQe6jJ04&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CDcQ6AEwBTgK#v=onepage&q=layouts%20using%20ho%20sectional%20track&f=true

http://download.atlasrr.com/09TrackCat/HOScale41-78.pdf

http://www.greatesthobby.com/wgh/objects/pdf/p18221(1).pdf

http://www.girr.org/girr/girr_ho/girr_ho.html

Rich

[jward]

i would advise against building thortrains layouts as shown. he uses alot of 18" or sharper s curves, which in reality cause alot of derailment problems. redesigned to add a full section of straight track between curves of opposite directions, these plans are usable. also, the use of the standard 18" radius switches in a crossover is not recommended due to the resulting s curve. better to use numbered switches (#5, #6) for crossovers between tracks.

nothing kills interest in a new hobby faster than building something that does not work right, and not understanding how to correct it.

the gateway nmra layouts are good ones, and the girr layout is a particularly well thought out plan with alot of operating interest. and of course one can't go wrong with the atlas code 83/100 layouts (not the true track ones) which have been published with complete instructions for probably 50 years. in particular that girr layout looks like something i would have built given the space.

note that bachmann ez track and atlas track have different geometries, and to build an atlas plan with ez track you will have to modify things a bit. nothing insurmountable, more like a redrawing of the atlas plan using bachmann track. there is a program others have used called anyrail which will allow you to tinker around with your ideas using different brands of track.

[richg]

I am  glad to see the suggestions as I have not worked with sectional track for over forty years. I know there are issues with 18 inch radius but could not remember the specifics.
I do remember issues with those who used horn hook couplers when backing.

Rich

[Jim Banner]

I used 18" radius almost exclusively on my H0 layout and as long as I stick with 6-coupled steam, 4-axle diesels and 40' or 50' cars, it works well.  Some 8-coupled steam and some 6-axle diesels will work, but don't bring any over on operating night because you won't be allowed to run them unless that exact locomotive (not just that type) has been proved to run on my layout.

I do have one branch line with switch backs, 6% grades, and 15" radius curves.  The tail tracks of the switch backs were purposely made just long enough for one 4-axle diesel such as a GP-7 or an RS-3 plus one 40' car and they work just fine at low speed but we normally use a switcher.

Jim

[jward]

rereading the original post, the locomotive in question is a 2-8-4 i believe. 18"r curves may not be the best choice here. 22"r or 24"r would work much better.

since most of the layout plans posted so far are 18"r layouts, they will need to be reworked for at least 22"r

the good news is that shouldn't be too difficult with the layout design programs out there.

there are a couple layouts in the atlas layout books that use 22"r exclusively (HO29) or provide a path around the layout with 22"r minimum (HO36)

[TrainLegend150]

rereading the original post, the locomotive in question is a 2-8-4 i believe. 18"r curves may not be the best choice here. 22"r or 24"r would work much better.

since most of the layout plans posted so far are 18"r layouts, they will need to be reworked for at least 22"r

the good news is that shouldn't be too difficult with the layout design programs out there.

there are a couple layouts in the atlas layout books that use 22"r exclusively (HO29) or provide a path around the layout with 22"r minimum (HO36)

Ok, so if I want to make a layout say like this one (http://www.thortrains.net/poorhof.html), I'll have to redesign it so it'll fit with 22"r or 24"r track?

[jward]

that is correct. in fact, this layout shows why i am not a fan of thortrains layout plans.

the layout is designed using 15" radius curves. those might work well for the thomas trains, but regular sized HO locomotives and cars aren't going to like them. better to stick with larger curves and have a little less railroad that is derailment free.

18" radius snap switches are also used to cross over between parallel tracks. i have found this configuration to be a source of trouble, because the crossover itself forms an s curve of 18" radius track. i can guarantee that if your trains don't derail on this going forward they will backing up. better to use numbered switches such as #5, #6 for your crossovers, and anywhere you have an s curve put at least 9" of straight track between the curves.

note that, the sharper the curve, the more likely you are to experience derailments. in the case of s curves you have theend of one car swinging to the left, and the adjacent car swinging to the right. couplers have only a limited amount of swing to them, and when you exceed that, you train derails. the sharper the curve, the more the ends swing out and the more likely you are to exceed the limits of the couplers. this is why an s curve made by two #6 switches works well (minimal overhand) but one of 18"r switches is frustratiing.

my advice to you, and anybody else who is thinking of redesigning a layout, is to get yourself a good layout planning program. atlas has a freeware download for their track, anyrail has a demo which has libraries of track from various manufacturers including bachmann, the full program you have to pay for....