terms

[jboot111]

all these train terms are driving me nuts can someone tell them to me

[jboot111]

well that helped on some of them but ones like #6 turnout and that are confusing

[jward]

hmmmm. turnout is another name for a track switch. #5 and #6 refer to how sharply the curved side diverges from the straight side. the number refers to how many units in length it takes the rails to spread 1 unit apart. for example, on a number 6, the tracks would spread 1 inch for every 6 inches forward.

[jboot111]

ok is it the same with turntables

[CNE Runner]

jboot111 - You are right...there are a lot of terms in model railroading - but then again the same is true in almost any pursuit. For example, I have spent a large portion of my life as a part time flight instructor. Students were [usually] overwhelmed by the terminology. I always suggested that they begin reading the various magazines and immerse themselves in the genre. By the time they had been flying for a few hours all those terms became second nature.

The same is true with model railroading. You should be reading at least a couple of hobby magazines. The two foremost resources are probably Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman. These two magazines are 'pitched' at slightly different audiences - with RMC being geared more to the moderately skilled hobbyist and MR appealing to the general modeler (incidentally, these are not all inclusive descriptions). If you want a free on-line model railroad 'magazine' try Model Railroad Hobbyist (a web search will reveal their website).

Scheesh...not only do you have to contend with designing a layout, laying track, wiring, and learning operation, you have to learn the lexicon as well! It ain't fair!

Cheers,
Ray

[richg]

If you do not like being led by the hand, a simple solution is to do a web search.
Yeah, OK, it is like doing homework. Deal with it.
I sometimes get some Cheese to go with my Whine if things get difficult.
Below are some search engines.
I have accumulated a vast amount of data and URL's for my web browser. Sure makes model railroading lot more pleasant.
The Internet has becmome my LHS.
Many times you can find other things of interest.

Different search options below.

http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en

http://www.yahoo.com/

http://www.scroogle.org/

Store the links in Favorites if you have not figured t out yet.

Many people have some home page with a search option.

Rich