Thanks to all of you...I should be able to install the decoder myself

Have a nice day

YES, it is the Dynamis system.

Does that mean I can or cannot run little Thomas for my grandson. I was a bit confused by the replies.

Thank You for your help fellas.

I have a DCC Spectrum layout with the wireless command controller. My grandson wants me to get a Thomas engine which is not DCC.

The question is: can I use the Bachmann Thomas locomotive with my DCC Spectrum layout?

Was just thinking it might be fascinating for my 3 year old grandson which is why I am getting into this hobby in the first place, he loves trains

Does the Spectrum line of steam locomotives make smoke?

Thanks again everyone, and Railsider, I think the bridge track solves my problem.

Thanks to all of you for your input...what swell guys!

I will post a picture when I get around to building this setup.

Mike

Well, I will have to get a lot closer to the edge than 30". And derailments are one of the issues. I thought that there might be some clever track design out there that would allow the track to hinge. I did see an idea from a reponse up above that says cut the track so that they two pieces will form a butt joint when the wings are folded down for use, if I am interpretting him right.

Let me try to be a bit more precise as to what I was planning. I envision it having three sections. Two 4 x 8 sheets of plywood, or something, as the foldable sections and joined in between by a center section that is maybe 1 x 8. The reason for the center section would be solely to create a space for the scenery components of the two 4 x 8 sections when they were folded vertically. That is why it would look like a taco from the end. When it was laid down it would be about 8 x 9 which is a good size for a complex layout. But fold the two 4 x 8 "wings" up and roll it away. I could build legs and wheels on it too.

There are two problems that I am trying to work out though:

First, for it to be stiff enough to keep everything aligned the plywood would have to be thick enough to be rigid. The larger the size of a sheet the more a given thickness will flex. So, I as thinking of using two thin plywood "skins" glued to sandwich a styrofoan "cores" so that the entire rig would be light enough to handle.

The other problem is how to hinge the track sections at the hinge points of the folds. Is there a way to do this?

I posted this also in General Topics. I am thinking of building a folding HO layout that I could roll into a spare room when not in use. I want a layout that would require about 8' by 10' or so but don't have the space for a permanent setup. I was thinking about taking some thin plywood and sandwiching it around styrofoam sheets for strength and light weigth, making a tri-fold design with mayne a 12 inch to 2 feet center section to give clearance for scenery, and having two full 4' by 8' sections on each side. From the end it would resemble a taco. I would need a track that would fold at the joints. Any ideas?

Let me try to be a bit more precise as to what I was planning. I envision it having three sections. Two 4 x 8 sheets of plywood, or something, as the foldable sections and joined in between by a center section that is maybe 1 x 8. The reason for the center section would be solely to create a space for the scenery components of the two 4 x 8 sections when they were folded vertically. That is why it would look like a taco from the end. When it was laid down it would be about 8 x 9 which is a good size for a complex layout. But fold the two 4 x 8 "wings" up and roll it away. I could build legs and wheels on it too.

There are two problems that I am trying to work out though:

First, for it to be stiff enough to keep everything aligned the plywood would have to be thick enough to be rigid. The larger the size of a sheet the more a given thickness will flex. So, I as thinking of using two thin plywood "skins" glued to sandwich a styrofoan "cores" so that the entire rig would be light enough to handle.

The other problem is how to hinge the track sections at the hinge points of the folds. Is there a way to do this?

I am thinking of building a folding HO layout that I could roll into a spare room when not in use. I want a layout that would require about 8' by 10' or so but don't have the space for a permanent setup. I was thinking about taking some thin plywood and sandwiching it around styrofoam sheets for strength and light weigth, making a tri-fold design with mayne a 12 inch to 2 feet center section to give clearance for scenery, and having two full 4' by 8' sections on each side. From the end it would resemble a taco. I would need a track that would fold at the joints. Any ideas?