There are NO dumb questions here!
Although you have head comments about the 'low profile' of ScaleTrax, I've run vitally all kinds of 3 rail O gauge equipment on our layout with NO problems
Originally Posted by Lionelzwl2012:
What switch number did you use for the double cross over in the track plan?
Hi Lionelzwl2012,
The double crossover in ScaleTrax is built with #4 switches, a couple 10 inch straights and a 22.5˚ crossing.
Originally Posted by PiperArcher
Sorry if this sounds dumb but can you use scaletrax on a layout and run any and every type of train over it or does the model have to have those 'scale wheels' MTH offers?
Hi PiperArcher,
That's not a dumb question at all. Unfortunately, this is another instance where terminology can create confusion. When the catalog refers to "Scale wheels" and "Hi-Rail wheels" it's referring to the size of the wheel flanges and is really indicating if the model is intended for 2-rail or 3-rail. "Scale wheels" have flanges that are .036" tall and are compatible with all commercially produced 2-rail O track. Flanges on "Hi-Rail wheels" should be .095" tall and are compatible with 3-rail track. I say should because there have been notable exceptions, but that's a different conversation.
ScaleTrax has true O-scale ties and uses the lowest profile rail of any commercially produced 3-rail track, but it is still 3-rail O track and is designed to work with .095" Hi-rail flanges. In fact, one of the real strengths of ScaleTrax switches is that the frog is very well designed to work with modern, post-war, and pre-war O gauge trains. One of the things I've learned from my hand-laid track projects is how useless the NMRA Hi-rail track standards can be. If you compare a ScaleTrax switch to the NMRA standars the frog flangeway is far too wide and the guard rail is too tight. However, adjusting the "slop" this way in a hi-rail switch works fine for modern equipment and MUCH better with some pre-war trains than the NMRA standards. Back in the day every axle had a LOT of lateral play and in some cases each wheel had play on the axle. The tight guard rail forces sloppy wheels to behave in the frog.
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Originally Posted by c.sam:
Erie Bob - That's really nice!
Do you envision having to move the layout someday?
Sam,
I'm sure of the "someday" move. After our youngest is out of High School (4.5 years), we are probably going to leave Memphis and move to Chattanooga, TN or in that general area. I don't want to spend time building another layout again. Have had too many of them. Being modular, I can construct additional modules to insert if I gain more space for my train room.
Bob
