Large Scale Central

Some noob type questions (track, radius, etc...)

General Discussion
#1

I’m a little embarrassed that I don’t know the answers to these questions, so I was hoping anyone here could help. Specific questions are bold.

I got my sister a USA trains Goose Island Beer reefer car for Christmas. She works at their Chicago plant. She liked it so much that now she wants a train running under her Christmas tree next year. She lives near Chicago and I live in Southern California. So I won’t be able to hook up the trains for her.

Because she is familiar with my train layouts and knows a little about trains, she doesn’t really want a basic starter set. But would prefer a somewhat realistic looking consist.

So I figured a nice starting setup for her would be a USA trains NW2, the Goose Island reefer, and a caboose. Assuming the 1:24 - 1:22.5 reefer would look right with a 1:29 scale loco and caboose.

Many years ago I used to have LGB sectional track under my tree, that is until everything moved outside and I changed to Llagas Creek track. So I’ve been out of the indoor sectional track world for a long time.

I need to know what the tolerable radius is for the NW2? Especially around a Christmas tree circle of track.

Also I’m looking for track advice. She needs something simple to connect, and will be running track power. LGB? or maybe USA track? I’m looking at LGB R2 (15000) curve track…as I still have a few of these pieces.

Oh and I might add sound to her loco. Likely Phoenix since that’s what I use on our layout. But do these sound systems work on track power?

And I’ll have to find a transformer. Any advice on a simple one?

#2

Did some online searching and just realized that USA trains makes NW-2 starter sets. Almost perfect for my sister.

Too bad I’m looking for the out of production Chicago & Northwestern set R72302. Well at least I have a year to find one (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-yell.gif)

#3

Matt - R2 should be OK. I don’t have a NW-2, but I used to run a USA GP-9 on a R1 circle under the tree. I was forced to use hook-and-loo[p couplers and it hung over a lot but it worked.

Phoenix makes sound systems for track power. The utilize a rechargeable battery to keep sound running when loco stops or is going too slow to develop the needed voltage.

I’ll defer the track advice to someone else. I used Aristo and it’s not the easiest to put together. USA is almost identical.

#4

The bottom of my tree is not that large so I use 4’ diameter track. I think the 5’ would stick out too much and people walking up to the tree would kick it or step on it trying to get a closer look at the ornaments. I also use LGB 12000 series switches. My NW2 will negotiate this tighter track but it doesn’t look so good doing it and going around and around such a tight circle would probably wear out either the wheels or the track.

I have LGB, USAT and Aristo track and they all connect the same way. Indoors I don’t use grease or screws but I do use pliers to tighten the joiners a bit. It all slides together.

I also use hook and loops.

I have Phoenix and Sierra in my track powered trains and like Daktah wrote these systems use battery to supply power then when the voltage gets high enough it takes over increasing the rpm sound. I have dallee cards in 2 diesels and they sound pretty good but I can’t sound the bell or whistle but I believe reed switches can be used. Then again having sound going round and round the tree gets old fast but it is still nice to have the option.

Indoors I use a 1amp LGB from a starter set but you may need more for the NW2.

#5

The cheap Bachmann track comes in 4 foot circles, and it also comes with clips to hold the track together. I had an oval of that track set up in my living room one Christmas.

My mom eventually made me take it down. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-frown.gif)In June.(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif)

#6

Matt Doti said:

Did some online searching and just realized that USA trains makes NW-2 starter sets. Almost perfect for my sister.

Too bad I’m looking for the out of production Chicago & Northwestern set R72302. Well at least I have a year to find one (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-yell.gif)

Edit for email sent

(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#7

I have a mix of Aristo and LGB track, sometimes it can be a pain to put pieces together, but with a little patience it works. Indors I run a critter with a box car and caboose on 4ft diameter track with knuckle couplers without any issues. I just picked up an Arista FA-1 and run it on that same track without any issues as well. I think the NW-2 would be fine. As for power…I use an old N Scale transformer I had laying around since I am battery powered outside.

Good luck…check ebay for some great deals

#8

I found LGB track to be far superior to Aristo-Craft track. Did I hear a great gasp in The Force?

If you make an 8 foot diameter circle with each, the ends of all the LGB rails fit tightly first try.

If you do the same with Aristo-Craft track, there will be gaps no matter how many times you spin inside the circle.

Unless you want crawl around on the floor installing those wax laden little screws with the miniscule screw driver.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-yell.gif)