Thank God for useful skills

[Cameramonkey]

So I am finalizing the electrical on my train table. I discovered that whenever my train would approach the turnouts (switches) it would die immediately before and after the turnout if the switch wasnt thrown the right direction. I'm running Kato Unitrack and discovered that my turnouts are power routing, and thanks to the way my track is laid out I need to add 15 more power feeders. Factory built feeders are $6 a pop.

Luckilly my dad taught me to solder, so I am sitting here making my own out of extra connectors and scrap network cable.

 

[GLOCKMAN23C]

So I am finalizing the electrical on my train table. I discovered that whenever my train would approach the turnouts (switches) it would die immediately before and after the turnout if the switch wasnt thrown the right direction. I'm running Kato Unitrack and discovered that my turnouts are power routing, and thanks to the way my track is laid out I need to add 15 more power feeders. Factory built feeders are $6 a pop.

Luckilly my dad taught me to solder, so I am sitting here making my own out of extra connectors and scrap network cable.

Very cool. Got any pics? I haven't messed with model trains since I I was a kid.

 

[Cameramonkey]

And no, $6 each isnt a lot of money, but my remaining budget is about $5 short per connector right now in discretionary spending...

 

[Cameramonkey]

I have done a bit more on the tunnel, but this is the most recent picture. Its setup with an inner loop acting as a switching/yard area with a roundhouse, and two outer road loops for a frieght line.

 

[chef larry]

Do you have any pictures of the rolling stock?

 

[Cameramonkey]

Do you have any pictures of the rolling stock?

Not yet. Nothing spectacular except these two. The rest were inherited from my dad:

 

[1911ly]

Being handy has made me a lot not money then being handsome!! Way to go!!

 

[chef larry]

Being handy has made me a lot not money then being handsome!! Way to go!!

Another fan of Red Green.

 

[1911ly]

Another fan of Red Green.

I knew I heard that somewhere. Hell yeah! Awesome show.

 

[Cameramonkey]

And I just had a revelation! I only need HALF as many feeders. I only need to add them to the switched rail, not the common rail.

 

[Cameramonkey]

And my table would make Red Green proud. My wires on the underside are covered with duct tape!

 

[GunSlinger]

I like what ya got going there! I still play with trains too.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

And my table would make Red Green proud. My wires on the underside are covered with duct tape!

Any time I use a bent nail in place of a cotter pin, I'll think of Red Green.

"Just put a nail in there and bend it over, or if you're made of money, you can use a cotter pin."

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Not to thread jack, but if you have never been to Jingle Rails at the Eiteljorg Museum, it's worth the trip if you're a model train enthusiast. Pretty amazing display. Running now through January 19th. We try and take the grand kids every year.

Jingle Rails- The Great Western Adventure

 

[chef larry]

Not to thread jack, but if you have never been to Jingle Rails at the Eiteljorg Museum, it's worth the trip if you're a model train enthusiast. Pretty amazing display. Running now through January 19th. We try and take the grand kids every year.

Jingle Rails- The Great Western Adventure

Wish I was closer to Indy to see the train display with the grandkids.

 

[Cameramonkey]

not a Threadjack at all... I try to take the kids there every year. Havent been this year but hoping to make it some time.

 

[Slawburger]

"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy."

 

[DoggyDaddy]

not a Threadjack at all... I try to take the kids there every year. Havent been this year but hoping to make it some time.

I was fortunate enough to have visited most of the places that they've recreated when I was a kid. They really do a great job of reproducing them in miniature.

 

[Brandon]

Glad my dad taught and or allowed me to take stuff apart and put it back together or help me put them back together. Has saved my rear more times then I can count and saved a lot of money.

 

[Classic]

I've had a ouple of layouts in the past but now just put a train and a monorail under the tree. Got both up and running last night. Always fun.