Trying to find Shinohara track!

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Ok, here goes…

In about 10 days, I’m taking a week off. I’ve saved a little money, and it’s spring break for the kids…

So we’re going to start a layout. It’s from the Iain Rice book “Small, Smart & Practical Track Plans”. It’s the “Mount Galena Mines Railroad”. I’m building it to be 3 individual benchwork sections, so I can start by building in the basement, and moving it into the garage, if we ever can climate control that area.

I’ve made a few changes. I’m going to make the curves a minimum radius of 22 inches, instead of the specified 18. I will be running smaller steam on the railroad - because I love steam. I’m adding a 3 way switch in the small staging area to add an extra track. The 3 way switch will take up less area than 2 individual switches.

I’m also planning on eventually building a helix - a temporary one - to connect the ends of this point-to-point railroad - so I can have continuous running if I so choose.

I have a digi-cam, and I’m hoping to take pics of my progress and post them on my website. Address will be forthcoming.

Anyway - I’ve decided on Walthers Shinohara track. Here’s what I need:

Qty. 5 #4 RH
Qty. 2 #5 LH
Qty. 1 #7.5 RH Curved
Qty. 1 #6 RH
Qty. 1 #6 LH
Qty. 1 #8 RH Curved
Qty. 1 3-way
Qty. 17 39" flex OR Qty. 18 36" Flex.

I’m thinking of using the Walthers Shinohara flex - can anybody recommend the Micro-Engineering flex instead? I thought I read something on this forum about rail joiners being loose in the flex.

I’m not using the Atlas Flex (although it is very nice) because of the tie height difference - I don’t want to shim every turnout!

My problem is that every on-line place I’ve been to has several of the items out of stock. Either #4s or #6s or both.

I’m going to call my LHS tomorrow, but I have a feeling they may be out of stock everywhere…

Anybody have an

2

Hi!..you did not say where you live!..charles ro supply in Malden MA. has turnouts in stock…BUT…i don’t think they ship HO…ALSO…i have purchased Walthers code 83 turnouts and i don’t think i’m going to use them code 83…so if all else fails…e-mail me at Tomytuna @aol.dom…also try e-bay…have seen code 83 track there also…good luck Tom

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Check out Walthers site www.walthers.com if you order through the Terminal Hobby Shop they have a next business day ship and 2-4 days ship if you’re willing to pay extra.
Enjoy
Paul

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I’m in the western suburbs of Chicago.

I already checked Walthers - they are out of stock on the same things everybody else is.

Well, I’m going to check out the LHS I like, and see what they can do.

If anybody else has any suggestions, I’d be happy to hear them.

Rob

5

FOUND!

Well, it took 3 individual hobby shops, but I found all the switches and flex track I needed.

Some of the switches have the sticker that says they are the newer, DCC compatible ones, some aren’t. I’ll fix 'em either way. :slight_smile:

Some minor… modifications of the track plan were made on the fly - #4 turnouts were not available in the numbers I needed. :slight_smile:

As things get started, I’ll post pics.

Thanks to everybody who replied.

Rob

6

Bibfortuna,
If you need more Shinohara, you might want to try Caboose Hobbies in Denver,
http://www.caboosehobbies.com/catalog/search.cfm
They have an 800 number. Just checked their Web site and they have a good inventory of Shinohara with just a few out-of-stock items in the various codes. No, I don’t work for them - it would be a bit of a commute from the East coast.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543