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The original Model Railroader article from which the 5 templates was taken was published in Nov 1969, IIRC. The article contained the formula used for computing the 5 cubic spiral easements that were published. I wish the pdf had the formula (I lost my 1969 issues in the last move)...

Nn3 - N scale models of 3ft gauge prototypes - use Z mechanisms, track, and Z gauge of 6.5mm as reasonably close. 56.5" gauge is 8.97mm in 1/160 N scale, close enough to 9mm, which is where the N designator comes from. 36" in N scale is 5.72mm. But just like HOn2 uses N gauge and Sn2 uses...

Nickel plating is the norm over brass tires to get rid of the brass color, and that's what was done at the factory. Brass tires have better adhesion and conductivity, but aren't the right color, and are much more easily oxidized. The latter prevents conductivity until the oxidation is worn...

In reading more of your posts, I seem to sense you expect newer technology to bail you out of age-old model railroad problems. For the most part, it hasn't happened. While model diesel locomotive drive design seems to have locked in on a "standard" way of doing things, and DCC has...

Physics doesn't scale exactly, and that's the world we live in. Model rolling friction is considerably higher than prototype, and far more variable. But material strength is far greater. You could couple into most model cars at a scale 20MPH without damage. Coupling at a scale 4MPH is a...

My apologies for not understanding your priorities for your layout correctly. Ignore most of my previous post, which was built around more conventional concepts and vision. Based on what you have said, I might suggest the layout be oriented around the yard, staging, and the branch (I think...

[/I] I don't think there is a well-defined average for model units - there are just too many variables. A Hobbytown of Boston model will probably pull more than the prototype; a Proto2K with sound may struggle to pull 25% as much. Weight, drive wheel material, rail material, weight of cars...

Sorry, I misunderstood the plan. Forget about what I said about access. With your long comfortable reach and the relatively low layout, you probably don't even need the access holes. I would make a plan in advance for wiring without having to bend over a lot. Some suggestions: use DCC to...

Steve I've opened the track plan you posted at the XtrkCad group with XtrkCad. The good news is that there are only 2 places with red track - a minimum radius violation or similar - and these are not on the main line. The bad news - and I'm being my blunt, negative self here - is that if you...

It isn't/wasn't the trucking industry that killed the boxcar - it was the railroads themselves. There is not reason on earth that it should cost more for me to ship a boxcar load cross country than to pay a truck to drive it - but it does, and several times as much, unless you are a regular and...

Any turnout that is correctly wired to work with DC will also work with DCC. However, momentary short circuits in DC only affect the block/train/throttle where the short is occurring. And the short circuits may be brief enough to be almost unnoticeable. The following assumes you already know...

I can understand other complaints about XtrkCad. But XtrkCad does have Peco turnouts in all gauges, and virtually every other make of turnout and track, too. To me, that is one of the program's strengths - the extensive libraries and the constant updates of the libraries by volunteers. The...

I know it was published in Model Railroader, but that doesn't mean it's a great idea. Your DCC power bus is about the most expensive power source available on your layout. Even though you may be running your LEDs at 15 ma, 10 of them are equal to the draw of an N scale motor. That's one less...

The only obvious omission is HOj - 1/80 scale on HO gauge track, used primarily in Japan. Somewhat similar to the various N scales for the same track.

There should be a 6th (and possibly 7th connection somewhere) or just 4. Connections as follows: 2 wires to each coil. Almost always, one wire from each coil is tied together for a total of 3 connections instead of 4. The common wire (or one wire from each coil) goes directly to one side of...

Do not cut a hole until you have the turntable in hand! The Walters turntables - should you choose to use one - are suspended by a lip around the pit wall. Other makes of turntables have their own installation methods. You need a pretty accurate measurement before you cut. I'm assuming you...

Problem is that what you are looking for is not prototypical, and therefore not likely to be made recently with the rage on about prototypical detail. In prototype practice, about the longest gallows or A frame turnouts were 65ft. Anything bigger required a significant pit to fit the bridge...

The advantage of power routing in DC is eliminating block toggles, by having the turnout motor turn off a section of track automatically when it can't be used with the turnout thrown for the other path. In DCC, power routing will still prevent a locomotive from approaching a turnout thrown...

Besides having to clear the existing gearbox, the question becomes whether the Atlas movement and gearing is suitable and accurate enough for a turntable nearly twice the size. Also whether the appearance suits you. The Atlas turntable uses a Geneva movement which pauses and is indexed every...

In addition to the access issues Russ mentioned, you also have very narrow aisles. Even if you are skinny enough to use an 18" aisle, you probably won't be able to touch anything without hitting something else with a wrist or elbow. Recommended minimum aisles are 24". In my mock-ups with...