Warning - N Scale

You know, Mothra was always my favorite of the Godzilla adversaries. For the life of me, I never understood why those Japanese guys didn't just build a giant porch-light.

The middle of the layout where the 2 legs meet has a horseshoe curve that you can see in this photo.




In an N scale forum it was suggested that I take out the horseshoe curve to make more room for structures and possibly industrial spurs. I decided to try it.




If I keep this arrangement I’ll add a triangle of foam under the track. I’m running trains and imagining how I might scenic this area with and without the horseshoe curve.

I added 2 double crossovers so trains can change tracks.






Kato double crossovers have each track insulated from the other but they are also insulated left from right. I added feeders to each track between the crossovers and ran trains to make sure everything worked as it should. You’ll notice a track section is missing in one photo. The track section was there when I tested the trains.

The train on the inside track ran fine, however the train on the outside track stopped dead when it ran onto the right side of the crossover in the first photo. My first thought was that the crossover was defective. I got my multi-meter and found that, as expected, the left side of the crossover had power to the rails while the right side didn’t, but the track to the right that is missing in the photo had power. The only way that could happen is if there was no rail joiner to conduct electricity but it looked like both Unijoiners were in place. I removed the track section and this is what I found.




I had bought some used track at a train show in December and apparently this was one of the sections. The plastic part of the joiner that locks the sections together is there but the previous owner removed the part that conducts electric. I replaced the Unijoiner and trains ran smooth as silk. 

That’s it for now.

I'm looking away...nooooooo.

I have thought of going into HO. Only because there is so much available. But not into selling what I have piece by piece. But if someone came and bought everything, I would be very serious into changing to HO.

I hear you, Healey. I’m not sure if you should resist temptation or give in. If I had room I’d have both N and O.

Thanks HB. There is an awful lot available in N scale and the prices are a lot better than O but the smaller scales aren’t right for everyone. 

HO is a really nice size. If I had a little bigger train room I would have switched to HO.

Thanks Adam.

Thanks Dave. I will keep updating this thread as I make progress.