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If you want a ready kit look at the block detector that Atlas uses in their new signalling system. There may be others as well. The problem with it is that it detect something drawing current through the tracks, so a reverse movement might not be seen in time.

Is it bunny hopping, or just running jerky? If it is hopping check the quartering of the drivers. In other words, make sense the 'weights' on the three drivers on each side are at the same relative position. If they are not, the running gear binds, and the loco just about leaps off the track...

Mike- I like the helix idea even less with it in a alcove. Any touble in there is going to be a real pain. Also, have you thought about how you are going to support a 36" deep second level? Let alone reach to the back of it. I'm afraid this could be a design that can't get built. So, do...

Most new N scale locos have both trucks powered. A loco spins its wheels if it is to light to get traction. If you are running DC, as I am guess you are, and you are just trying to pull cars, this set will just about pull stumps: Walthers Model Railroad Mall -- product information page for...

Either scale would work. An N scale door layout would be tempting. Like this: Dave Vollmer's N Scale Pennsy Middle Division The site says it as having an upgrade this weekend, and may be down at times.

How about an IR emitter/detector pair. Hide them in the bushes or sheds: Infrared Detection

My Little Pony? You've nailed that, as well. If you want to do detailing, Nis not the place. In one of Model Railroader's Dream Plan Build series the featured Monroe Stewart's (I think) N scale layout. If I am remembering correctly he is an architect. He pointed out that because of the size of N...

It is easy to confuse what happens in modelling to real life. In many cases (maybe most, but my experience is not wide enough to make that statement) an N scale 6 wheel truck is driven by 4 wheels. So there is effectively less weight on each driving wheel, and traction is lost. This is...

All three of these points are true, but all in all three cases the gap is closing, almost daily. The difference from 10 to 15 years ago is incredible. And the quality has made giant leaps, as well. As they say, it's not your father's N scale! Optivisor is the first required tool.

Things I see as advantages to N: It is much easier to get a feeling of 'wide open spaces'. Longer trains. More fits in the same space. Or, even better, the same fits in the same space, and makes it look less crowded. The wide open spaces thing. In some cases buildings can look better, since...

Is this DC or DCC? I think there are probably better detection methods than reed switches. I don't really know how reliable detecting the loco motor. If someone has used them with good success, I'll retract this fear completely. I'll need to try to look up the FL-2 to see what makes it happy.

Mike- Sorry to hear about your health woes. I hope you are feling better. On to the layout. Are you sure you want to go with the double decker helix arrangment. I think I'd advise against it, for several reasons. First, the helix takes up a lot of the space, so you don't get nearly the...

These charts shoudl tell you: Micro-Trains | The Ultimate in N and Z scale model trains

No problems. In some ways it will be easier to handle. Jeff

The reverse sections look like this: They are in red, except for the tiny bit on the upper level I missed.

If the amber was dim then you could go to 4.5V, try 100 Ohms on the amber, 270 on the green and 330 on the red. (You might start a bit higher, and work down to it, maybe get some 100s and 47s and put them in series til you get what you want, light wise).

If I am not mistaken, the red has the smallest drop over the diode, and may have led to the battery having the most current for outblowing. Quick, back of the envelope calculation coming up..... 3 Volts from the batteries, a little over 2 across the LED, 15 ma, 1 Volt to drop, V=IR, R=V/I...

It's not the voltage, it's the current. A resistor in series would have protected it.

I thought this at first, but the more I see and read the less I think this is true. The reverser acts before the DCC unit senses the short and shuts down itself, so the impact there is less that the impact of a short. As far as the wheels go, I expect that as much damage due to dirty track and...

This is for N scale turnouts, so take it with a grain of salt.... I find that I want to have the guard rails as far from the stock rails as they will go, when held up to the light I like to see a sliver of light between them. Any closer and the flage rides up the guard rail and bad things happen.