On30 ET&WNC R.R.

[davefoxx]

Well, I haven't had my Bachmann ten wheelers for very long, but they run fine.  If they hold up like the G scale ten where that I've owned for more than twenty years, I should be fine.

DFF

[davefoxx]

Again, this is only brainstorming, so I'm not locked into anything in the plan.  In other words, your critiques are welcome.



Things I've addressed:
1) Doe River Gorge is moved to the right end of the plan and will take over that entire end of the basement.
2) The distance between the prototype Port Rayon and Elizabethton is only 1.6 miles, so it's not a huge problem for these two towns to be only a few feet apart on the layout.  This should allow more room for the gorge and that feeling of remoteness that @Ed Kapuscinski was looking for.  I will miss having a town along the line between the gorge and Cranberry, though.
3) Pardee Point fits neatly into that odd corner at the bottom right of the plan.  I believe that I can disguise Cranberry's tail track from Pardee Point.  Remember, the tail track will be downhill.

I don't know.  This room-sized layout is growing on me.  The question is, should I just bag the N scale layout?  I could sell it all off and recoup some funds for the layout room construction and On30 layout.  Everyone knows that I really am not one for building large layouts.  But, I think a room-sized O scale layout would be much more manageable than a room-sized N scale layout.  My real concern is that I definitely don't want two room-sized layouts (On30 on top of an N scale layout), and that seems to be where this would be heading, if the On30 ends up filling the entire room.

Thoughts?

DFF

[Chris333]

I like that last design 

[Dave V]

I have a question that I hope does not detract from the layout planning, how do the Bachmann engines run?  I had nothing but trouble with the 2 Bachman engines I had, dash8 40 B or C, cannot remember which, first Spectrum engines released back in the mid to late 90"s and then I tried the Bachmann doddle bug, again no luck, ran badly then stopped  running.  I have not brought Bachmann since and have been telling anyone who asks to stay away.  Again how do their On3 engines run over time?  thanks, Craig

You've run into two challenges with Bachmann.  One is that they clearly have QC issues across the board.  The other is that they have multiple "lines" of product with distinct stratifications in quality.  From everything I've heard their On30 stuff is universally top-notch.  Their higher-end G scale stuff is also awesome.  I replaced my Big Hauler train set 4-6-0 mech with the upgraded motor and mech for the "Annie" (Anniversary) 4-6-0 and it runs like a very large Swiss watch.  In HO and N, though, it really becomes hit or miss.  I have a phenomenal Bachmann 4-6-0 in N that is reliable as hell...and I have a 4-8-2, also in N, that I modified as a PRR M1a that doesn't run for crap and has a habit of throwing pieces of valve gear at random.

I think Dave will be just fine with Bachmann in On30.  For whatever reason, Bachmann seems to have care and pride in that line above anything it does in HO and N.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I don't know.  This room-sized layout is growing on me.  The question is, should I just bag the N scale layout?

As I said to the other Dave, this is your hobby, and you must follow your passion.

Keep enough of your N scale stuff for SBD night on the NCR though (or to build a module and do BANTRAK stuff)!

[davefoxx]

This should make @peteski very happy.   

Since I am selling my N scale layout with the existing Digitrax system, I'm going to need a new DCC system. So, I took advantage of the 10% off sale at MBK today, coinciding with the Timonium show this weekend, and purchased an NCE PH-PRO-R Power Pro 5 Amp Wireless DCC Starter System.  Because I knew how my layout hooked up on the Digitrax system, it was cake to disconnect the old DCC system and get the NCE system up and running.

Of course, I haven't hooked up the wireless yet, but I literally had trains running in less than ten minutes.  My only complaint so far is that I cannot control two trains independently on the Power Pro throttle like I could on my DT402D, but I admit that I haven't read the manual yet.  I'll keep you posted for an objective view of Digitrax versus NCE as I learn the new system.

DFF

[Ed Kapuscinski]

When you make a change, you make a change.

[p51]

I like that last design 

As do I, a lot!

[jpec]

You had me at Doe River Gorge...

If you're Timonium bound, there was a vendor (Scale Model Railroads) selling off estate On30 locomotives ranging from $50 for the Davenport to no more than $150 for steam with DCC and sound. I don't know if any could be modified for your needs...

Jeff

[MichaelWinicki]

I don't know.  This room-sized layout is growing on me.  The question is, should I just bag the N scale layout?  I could sell it all off and recoup some funds for the layout room construction and On30 layout.  Everyone knows that I really am not one for building large layouts.  But, I think a room-sized O scale layout would be much more manageable than a room-sized N scale layout.  My real concern is that I definitely don't want two room-sized layouts (On30 on top of an N scale layout), and that seems to be where this would be heading, if the On30 ends up filling the entire room.

Thoughts?

DFF

Dave, if it checks off all the boxes on your layout wish list: Time period & local, Scenery, Motive power & rolling stock, Operations... Then I'd say do it.

Operations seem a bit thin on it but not everyone is into ops.

[Scottl]

+1  I like it.  Lots of scenic potential and a good roundy-round option too.

[peteski]

This should make @peteski very happy.   

Since I am selling my N scale layout with the existing Digitrax system, I'm going to need a new DCC system. So, I took advantage of the 10% off sale at MBK today, coinciding with the Timonium show this weekend, and purchased an NCE PH-PRO-R Power Pro 5 Amp Wireless DCC Starter System.  Because I knew how my layout hooked up on the Digitrax system, it was cake to disconnect the old DCC system and get the NCE system up and running.

Of course, I haven't hooked up the wireless yet, but I literally had trains running in less than ten minutes.  My only complaint so far is that I cannot control two trains independently on the Power Pro throttle like I could on my DT402D, but I admit that I haven't read the manual yet.  I'll keep you posted for an objective view of Digitrax versus NCE as I learn the new system.

DFF

LOL!  If you were geeky enough to get comfortable wit Digitrax DCC, any other system will be a breeze to learn!    

The NCE Pro Cab obviously doesn't have 2 speed control knobs, but it remembers the last few locos you entered on the throttle.  You can also adjust the number of locos in the recall memory.

When you start fresh, you hit LOCO SELECT, type in the address and hit ENTER.  Now you control that loco. If you then hit LOCO SELECT  again, type in the address and hit ENTER, you now control that loco (as the display shows). But if you hit the RECALL button it will bring you back to the first loco. By repeatedly hitting RECALL, you cycle through the addresses you typed in.

[Scottl]

Cool, I did not know about the recall function.

[Dave V]

I'm leaning toward sticking with Digitrax for the Rio Grande Southern mostly because I can use the throttles from the Juniata Division.

[davefoxx]

LOL!  If you were geeky enough to get comfortable wit Digitrax DCC, any other system will be a breeze to learn!    

The NCE Pro Cab obviously doesn't have 2 speed control knobs, but it remembers the last few locos you entered on the throttle.  You can also adjust the number of locos in the recall memory.

When you start fresh, you hit LOCO SELECT, type in the address and hit ENTER.  Now you control that loco. If you then hit LOCO SELECT  again, type in the address and hit ENTER, you now control that loco (as the display shows). But if you hit the RECALL button it will bring you back to the first loco. By repeatedly hitting RECALL, you cycle through the addresses you typed in.

Yup, I found this feature earlier this afternoon and expanded the number of locos to four (I have the choice of two to six locomotives) in the recall memory.

Thanks,
DFF