Now N ....minor changes (Winter Project) P16...

[whynot]

Following the over lengthy (sorry!) "Round n round in N" discourse and the "00 Closing Down Sale" and altho' Under Construction is putting it a bit strong, beginnings....

Found a few bits of Setrack that I acquired when contemplating 009 and my hardly used but at least 23 y.o. Farish Prairie from a plan that never even started, I thought I'd see if runs.





And it does. Remarkably well. And to my surprise no problem whatsoever slowly thro' the Setrack insulfrog. Perhaps as long as pick up on all 6 wheels, then Setrack points are OK. I may go all Setrack simply for space saving. I don't care about looks, I want round n round in minimal space - it'll be a train set look whatever I do, so may as well be unashamed and up-front! I'm hoping my new Farish Jinty is as well behaved as the Prairie (a 5 ploe motor version).

[ParkeNd]

The new Farish Jinty is a superb runner but don't know how it will cope with Setrack insulfrog points - might be OK.

Unless Setrack saves you a huge amount of space it's quite a penalty to pay in comparison with Code 55 flexitrack and electrofrog points. Have a think about it first. There are no doubt countless dyed in the wool fans of Setrack who have faultless running and 7" radius curves on a 15" wide board - but there are probably far more people saying "go Code 55".

[whynot]

Does the Jinty pick up on all wheels? I guess that that is the crucial design issue.

Code 55 is not I think suitable for my 25 y.o. rolling stock (and as it would cost approx 150 quid to replace with new at RRP, it's not going anywhere!)

A few quick Scarms do however convince me that the space savings over small electrofrogs in Code 80 would not be worth the downsides.

Electrofrogs but with setrack R2 and R3 curves best compromise I conclude.

[ParkeNd]

Does the Jinty pick up on all wheels? I guess that that is the crucial design issue.

Code 55 is not I think suitable for my 25 y.o. rolling stock (and as it would cost approx 150 quid to replace with new at RRP, it's not going anywhere!)

A few quick Scarms do however convince me that the space savings over small electrofrogs in Code 80 would not be worth the downsides.

Electrofrogs but with setrack R2 and R3 curves best compromise I conclude.

The Jinty picks up via all 6 wheels through it's axle bearings.

Code 55 flexi is easy to bend with Tracksettas and easy to cut with Xuron track cutters in case you were worried about either.

[whynot]

Thanks - must say I've read about pick up via axle bearings and it sounds a silly idea to me! The nice big metal strips on the old Prairie look better engineering to me. Just have to cross fingers.

I've no problem with bending and cutting (big electrician side cutters and a file works fine for me), but at only a few quid more the ease and precision of setrack curves seems a good idea.

[PinkNosedPenguin]

Good luck with your beginnings. My advice is electrofrog points

[JohnN]

All the best for the new build Dave.

[Notroh]

Great to see another N build.

I like others would suggest peco 55 and electrofrog points, it all runs so smoothly

Best of luck

Peter

[whynot]

Thanks for encouragement!

Electrofrog, yes - altho' I could gain 4" of valuable scenic space with Setracks. Code 55, no - as above, I suspect that it wouldn't work well with my old rolling stock.

For for space management as much as cash reasons, I need to be rid of a lot of my 00 stuff for before I plunge into N!

Ah well, at least it will give some purpose to the New Year!

[Kentishman]

Evening Whynot,
FYI I've used the following quite happily with short insulfrog points: Farrish Jinty and 57XX, Dapol 14XX and Terrier. Providing track and wheels are clean all run well at slow speed.

Beware of old Farrish 0-6-0s though. I have one that will not run through short insulfrog points slowly as the centre wheels are 0.5mm larger diameter than the others, hence it always runs with only the 4 wheels on the centre and rear axles making contact.

[whynot]

Thanks Kentishman. I've read some very mixed messages about Setrack points! If the ancient Prairie runs fine with them, I'm not at all clear why modern stuff shouldn't. The Jinty will be the only small loco - seems obvious to me that diesels much less likely to have a problem and if I buy any more locos that is what they will be. A difficult call it seems.

The train set look bothers me not at all - that's what it will be (and in a sense ALL circular layouts are fundamentally just that).

Might just toss a coin!

[Emettman]

The train set look bothers me not at all - that's what it will be (and in a sense ALL circular layouts are fundamentally just that).

Apart from the notorious "prototype for everything" department.
In this case, mainly railway museums that have done some tight curve tracklaying:
Wisconsin National Railroad Museum
https://goo.gl/maps/uL6oh
And the Colarado Railroad Museum

Just for two.

Or is this nature imitating art: real railroads being turned into (giant) trainsets?

Chris

[whynot]

Wow - modelling those would be fantastic!

[jamest]

Hi,

Happy new year.

Best of luck with the new venture - I'll watch with interest.

Regards,
James

[whynot]

Thanks James - and to you!

It'll make for slow motion watching I think. Not even got a board yet - need either to sell current layout or strip it and re-cycle the timber before I have the space to start.