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Andy Sperando's book assumes classic turnout wiring. Atlas makes all routes powered, period - with an insulated frog. Old Walters/Shinohara and Peco Electrofrog (perhaps? I have different reports even on Peco Electrofrogs) are classic power routing turnouts. Peco Insulfrog are a different...

I'm not sure MRC could help you, even if they wanted to. Do you know if they still have parts for the old Prodigy systems available? Assuming it was MRC's error that the incorrect item was in the box, a fair settlement might be a significant discount on a new Prodigy Express system. After...

I see it more as a continuous spectrum of various shades of realism - Lionel O27 at one end, and Proto48 or Proto87 at the other. Same with layouts - some are more realistic than others. But in the end, regarless of where on the relaism spectrum the model trains fall, they are all really toys...

What might work - and it would depend on existing track being in the right place, and decently maintained for passenger speeds - is a bus direct competitor. I have in mind a modern equivalent of an RDC; one that could have a coach or 2 added on if demand warranted. Keep the schedules frequent -...

Kevin You are right on the mark. I grew up in the '60s. A family of six kids getting by on a single middle-class (probably lower) income. We did it by no college fund, an older 4 bedroom (we all shared bedrooms), 2 bath house, no air conditioning (in Northern Virginia), black and white TV...

Very nice work, Gary. I'd be proud to have your track.

Riverotter The key to Free-mo and the most important part in linking modules is the end plate. If lumber is used for the end plate (no rules against other materials), the end plate needs to be 3/4" thick (plywood strongly preferred for stability), 6" in vertical dimension, and 24" or 26" in...

36" is 6 40ft cars, or 5 comfortably. 2 spurs with 2-3 cars each would be a more logical, efficient arrangement for a railroad to get the cars loaded and unloaded. It really depends on your scheme for operating the team track. Is it mostly LCL in boxcars, or is it intermodal, or is it (in...

Thought about your question some more. Although I am firmly in the keep track gauge to the minimum camp, there is a serious drawback to my position. The minimum radius required will be higher than with other approaches. I'm speculating, but IIRC correctly from the Fast Tracks video on check...

Take a look at http://www.nmra.com/standards/sandrp/rp12_3.html. The closure rail radius specified for a #6 is 43", as is the radius of the curved point. I believe Fast Tracks follows the NMRA RP geometry very closely. I would not trust any "substitution" radius because a numbered frog...

Perhaps the difference in our philosophies comes from being just a few years ahead of you. I learned engineering when extra accuracy and precision was very expensive, and only to be used when absolutely needed. When slide rules were the normal engineering calculator, going to more than 3...

I guess I don't understand the problem. I admit I don't currently use Fast Tracks products. I may invest in some of their tools when I start construction of my layout and/or Free-mo modules, but that would be it. For track planning, I use commercial turnouts in the library of the software I am...

You are expecting something that doesn't exist. Study prototype turnouts - either through photos or the real thing. Points are not part of a continuous curve. Often in North American practice, points are actually straight and hinged. Only a section of the closure rail has the stated radius...

The cost per hour for N (a different metric than cost per layout) is probably a lot higher due to lack of kits. In HO, you can reduce your cost per hour substantially by buying readily available kits for your rolling stock (they are still available!). The more complex can take several evenings...

Like I said earlier, I'm a fan of minimizing slop (part of the engineer in me). That means keeping track gauge at minimum. I like the appearance of minimum flangeways, too. Finally, the minimum flangeways (.040") will work reasonably with my preferred code 88 wheels, whereas a Fast Tracks...

Bob Can you elaborate on some of the changes you have developed? I use your web tutorial as my bible on module construction. I'd like to update with your newer methods and techniques. thanks in advance

That 0.66" sounds very wrong. I'm a fan of Steve Hatch, and he documents why turnouts should be right at minimum gauge on his web site (http://www.railwayeng.com/rrhints.htm). He has finally persuaded some critical members of the NMRA that he is correct. The only reason for having slop...

The Fast Tracks turnout geometry is based on the NMRA turnout patterns here: http://www.nmra.com/standards/sandrp/rp12_3.html. These are reasonable replicas of North American practice prototype, but not exact. For more accurately scaled turnout templates, see...

To be honest, the 2nd effort (Red Rock-based) appears to be the better. In this latest plan, I'm not sure what you are trying to gain operationally with the extra loop. Is it intended to be a twice-around or 2 normally separate loops? The object of twice-arounds in small layouts (and yes, 6x6...

In the past, I have tried designing a home layout around some Free-mo modules. Eventually, I gave up because the differences in purpose and practical standards were too great. I have been challenged to produce an HO/HOn3 Free-mo module set for Sept 2009. I have been leery of accepting...