After a long health battle I’m getting back into the model train game but this time I am going to N Scale. I sold off most of my HO stock and building and am in the process of removing the EZ track and selling that off. My granddaughters game me a few N scale buildings to help me get going. I’ll be attending the Amherst show at the Big E in late January to pick up some deals there. My plan is to run two mainlines on two levels. I may want to do a divided scenic run. I’m looking for feedback on this idea and any info where I can see designs similar to what I want to do. As far as locos and stock I’m leaning towards Kato but am open to other brands if nearly as reliable and less expensive.
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- oval, against the wall, point-to-point
- two separate tracks on different levels or possibly a tiered layout where tracks rise up grades?
- what is a “divided scenic run”?
I love KATO and N Scale because I have found KATO engines to be very reliable and great quality. In fact, the best quality for the money. I run them in DCC with a Digitrax Zephyr express controller and also conventional with a starter set power supply/controller.
I own 2 conventional KATO N Scale CB&Q Silver Diesel engines and their passenger cars, 3 conventional KATO N Scale Chicago METRA F40PH engines and 1 DCC METRA F40PH engines, along with 2 DCC KATO N Scale Chicago METRA MP36H engines, 2 DCC KATO NScale AMTRAK Genesis engines, and a KATO DCC N Scale MILW Hiawatha Engine and Passenger car set, KATO DCC N Scale CNW “400” Engine and Passenger set, and the KATO N Scale DCC NYC 20th Century Limited Passenger set.
The only issue I have had with them was a recent order of two brand new Kato N Scale METRA MP36PH engines with factory installed DCC. The engines both arrived seemingly dead, but were not.
Good thing I bought them from Lombard’s Hobbies as they helped me and then when we hit a brick wall, and gave me two names at KATO USA to ask for and one to not ask for LOL!
I got stuck with the KATO guy I was warned about, let Lombard know his advice on phone did not work, and Lombard gave me all kind of options.
Fortunately, I was able to get both engines running perfectly by luck and quickly called Lombards back with how I did the fix.
The KATO USA guy had me remove the shells, and when I put one of them back on it was seated differently than the other engine. I tried to seat it like the other one, but couldnt. As a result, on a whim I threw it on the track and it worked!
SO I then reversed the process and adjusted the other engines shell to match the one I messed with and it worked too! Go figure! I am still not 100% sure if that was the culprit and fix, but they work flawlessly now.
I installed “some” of my DCC decoders into KATO engines in the past. And a couple factory installed DCC.
However, I recently started only buying factory equipped KATO engines.
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What a great story!
You should document the shell alignment with photos and diagrams. There is someone with a very similar issue with an N-scale ACS-64 who might benefit directly.
Appreciate the feedback. I was 100% sure on Kato track especially with all the turnout problems I had with Bachmann EZ track. I plan on buying two locos. One steam engine passenger and the other more modern freight. I have a limited budget until the fall so for now. I’m starting to plan the layout, buy track and 1 loco. My design will allow for the 2nd line when I can afford it along with a DCC conversion.
I suggest starting with DCC. I use an NCE PowerCab on N-scale Kato Unitrack. I started with Kato’s M2, which came with a transformer, and used terminal joiners to connect the PowerCab. The Kato transformer is used to power the remote turnouts.
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To RJ… will the 2 main lines interconnect or be stand alone?
Who needs the help? Kind of hard to diagram because I am still not 100% sure what cured it. Only thing for sure is fiddle faddling with the shell fixed it. I do know I lifted the back end of the shell up very very slightly and did not press back down.
I am using KATO UniTrack and switches.
Just looking into that today. I would like crossovers. With N scale I am considering a third or 4th line. Crossover on one pair and stand alone on 3rd and/or 4th.
I know Kato Unitrack is more expensive but definitely more durable, so I’m leaning that way. When I start the mockup I’ll need to buy some track or make templates to know where the tunnels go and the radius for the curves.
From feedback I’ve gotten, I’m going with DCC and just sell off my DC controllers.
Good choice, although I run both DCC and DC, I am phasing out my DC and going 100% DCC. it is so easy with Digitrax!
I use KATO UniTrack crossovers too. Yes, KATO UniTrack is more expensive and does not look as good as track on cork roadbed with ballast, but I have seen ballasted and painted KATO UniTrack that looks almost as good. It is also very forgiving, durable and high quality.
The only issue I had with a Engine and KATO UniTrack was a beautiful Broadway Limited PRR Electric that would run perfectly on traditional N Scale track but hated KATO UniTrack.
Yes, I was heartbroken as I love that engine, but the advantages of KATO UniTrack exceeded the want of using that BLI engine.
Are you plannign on buying DCC already installed in KATO DCC ready engines?
If so, make sure the engine is DCC ready as its easy to overlook that spec and then impossibly try to install a Decoder in a DC engine by mistake LOL!
Also, as I previously mentioned sometime factory installed DCC can be quirky, but are easy to resolve yourself and all the good KATO train stores provide great support and recourse if you hit a dead end.
I did do some research and I will buy engines that already have decoders in them, one diesel and one steam (maybe the Big Boy if I can get a good deal). Hoping for some of these good deals at the Amherst show in a few weeks. I will be taking apart my HO layout starting tomorrow.
I bought my Kato Big Boy at Spring Creek Model Trains last year. Very best price, great service, and no sales tax.
Is Spring Creek model trains in Texas? Also RJ, if you have any issues with the factory installed decoders let me know, if you or Spring Creek cant resolve, as I have fixed 2 that were “seemingly” dead from factory, but just needed shell reseating.
Good to know as I will be a DCC novice.
Spring Creek is in Deshler, Nebraska
Spring Creek you can’t go wrong.
I found the Spring Creek Website. The site seems to have a lot but the shows are a bit too far as I live In Connecticut. That said next weekend is the Amherst Train show in West Springfield Mass. It’s the biggest show in the US taking up over 4 huge buildings encompassing 8 acres. There will be all the manufactures, retailers, online vendors for new and used. I went two years ago and picked up some good deals on HO which I was doing at the time. In the hospital last year so I didn’t make it but excited to go this year. The website is http://www.railroadhobbyshow.com/ if you want to see what it’s about. I am looking up prices for items I want so I can find deals at the show but I won’t get everything there so I might be buying from Spring Creek at some point. Thanks for the info.