Thanks. If you're in the area (San Pedro is the southern part of the City of Los Angeles) drop by. Guest have somtimes brought their 3-rail O gauge trains to run on the layout. We've also had kids as young as five running our trains under command control.
Basically, under a 2-rail system, when you set up a wye or a reverse loop, the hot and ground rails end up touching each other. You have to set up insulated sections fed from a toggle switch. DCC doesn't care about the polarity of the rails, but you still need to deal with the reverse loops electrically to keep the rails from shorting.
hey awsome vid thanks for posting! theres so much i dont know is there anyway you could make some tutorials? i mean about how the electrics work etc im only 15 i love trains but i have no one to tell me.
The layout is a 3-rail system with the "hot" signal running on the center rail and the "ground" on the running rails. This means there are no reverse loop problems, so wiring is pretty simple. Kalmbach has a couple of books out on wiring toy train layouts that would help. We hadn't thought of a tutorial, but that sounds like a good idea. I'll talk to the guys in the club.
Don't worry. When I was your age, neither did I. The trains will still be there when your kids are off to college and you have the spare room and money. In the mean time, focus on your education (so you'll be able to afford all this stuff) read all the how-to's and soak up as much info as you can. It'll pay off down the road.
yeah, me too. i have my allowance and money i earn doing yard work, but i dont have much. i've only got back into trains recently, and im doing n scale because its so inexpensive.
Thanks Matt, the last time I was in L.A. was in 1979 !!! Check out Kens Model Railway on the tube, and get a flavour of the most popular gauge in U.K. Regards Ken
I watched the video series. Very impressive. You are using a technique I've been investigating for the garage at home. My wife needss to park her car inside and I have the same space issues.
Hi I love your layout. Your clubroom looks huge and I would love to be able to place my 'OO' gauge in there. What gauge is it 'O' Regards Ken from England
Thanks. It's O gauge. The overall layout area is 105 feet by 20 feet. We have two mainlines and can run up to six trains at a time using command control (space and power limits keep us from running more.) If you're going to be in the Los Angeles, California area, let me know.
You fellows have done a terrific job. a very engoyable ride.
Thank you for such a wonderful video.
rancocaskid 5 months ago
Still one of the best train vids on the net, I would love ta run my trains on this layout
kyroughman 1 year ago
@kyroughman
Thanks. If you're in the area (San Pedro is the southern part of the City of Los Angeles) drop by. Guest have somtimes brought their 3-rail O gauge trains to run on the layout. We've also had kids as young as five running our trains under command control.
AGHRMatt 1 year ago
Basically, under a 2-rail system, when you set up a wye or a reverse loop, the hot and ground rails end up touching each other. You have to set up insulated sections fed from a toggle switch. DCC doesn't care about the polarity of the rails, but you still need to deal with the reverse loops electrically to keep the rails from shorting.
AGHRMatt 3 years ago
hey awsome vid thanks for posting! theres so much i dont know is there anyway you could make some tutorials? i mean about how the electrics work etc im only 15 i love trains but i have no one to tell me.
modelearth 3 years ago
The layout is a 3-rail system with the "hot" signal running on the center rail and the "ground" on the running rails. This means there are no reverse loop problems, so wiring is pretty simple. Kalmbach has a couple of books out on wiring toy train layouts that would help. We hadn't thought of a tutorial, but that sounds like a good idea. I'll talk to the guys in the club.
Matt
AGHRMatt 3 years ago
whats a "reverse loop problem" and would i have to worry about it if i had DCC installed? im trying to start a layout and i need to know this stuff.
rockguitarist946 3 years ago
man i so love model trains, but im only 14 and dont got the money yet. im so sad...
Hellafireleli 4 years ago
Don't worry. When I was your age, neither did I. The trains will still be there when your kids are off to college and you have the spare room and money. In the mean time, focus on your education (so you'll be able to afford all this stuff) read all the how-to's and soak up as much info as you can. It'll pay off down the road.
Matt
AGHRMatt 4 years ago
hey thx, how old r u? im gussing adult.
Hellafireleli 4 years ago
I'll be 52 next month. I got back into the hobby about 20 years ago. Trust me, it'll all still be out there.
AGHRMatt 4 years ago
yer i get what u mean. well thx 4 that
Hellafireleli 4 years ago
yeah, me too. i have my allowance and money i earn doing yard work, but i dont have much. i've only got back into trains recently, and im doing n scale because its so inexpensive.
rockguitarist946 3 years ago
Wow bump my 1 year old post o.O
Yer n scale is cute
Hellafireleli 3 years ago
Thanks. It has been a labor of love of the hobby. We've been working hard on getting the scenery completed, while adding a second-level expansion.
Matt
AGHRMatt 4 years ago
Nice layout :)
Explosion000 4 years ago
Thanks. We've been working at it for a while. We spent the first two years rehabilitating the building.
AGHRMatt 4 years ago
Also, 2:10 to 2:14, funny how that lady steps back from the train as it approaches, like it's a real train.
ntrainride 4 years ago
Yea. I noticed that too. She spotted the camera and I guess she wanted to back out of the shot. Thanks for the comments.
AGHRMatt 4 years ago
Damn. Makes me feel like I'm in the Land Of The Giants or something. Nicely done.
ntrainride 4 years ago
Hi Matt Sell the wife's car and buy more trains!!!
mitralmikel 4 years ago
Thanks. I like how you think.
AGHRMatt 4 years ago
Cool!
buggiecar 4 years ago
Thanks Matt, the last time I was in L.A. was in 1979 !!! Check out Kens Model Railway on the tube, and get a flavour of the most popular gauge in U.K. Regards Ken
mitralmikel 4 years ago
I watched the video series. Very impressive. You are using a technique I've been investigating for the garage at home. My wife needss to park her car inside and I have the same space issues.
AGHRMatt 4 years ago
Hi I love your layout. Your clubroom looks huge and I would love to be able to place my 'OO' gauge in there. What gauge is it 'O' Regards Ken from England
mitralmikel 4 years ago
Thanks. It's O gauge. The overall layout area is 105 feet by 20 feet. We have two mainlines and can run up to six trains at a time using command control (space and power limits keep us from running more.) If you're going to be in the Los Angeles, California area, let me know.
Matt
AGHRMatt 4 years ago