Joe Baldwin Lessons Learned on Track 2009

Joe Baldwin aka Joe Daddy Http://www.joe-daddy.com  Prototype practices  Choosing the right code rail for your needs  Tools  Interoperability and compatibility  Turnouts  Commercial  Hand laying  Rules and Laws  Money Matters Poor track work is prototypical!

S Gauge Turnout

ME HO Gauge Turnout

Z Gauge Turnout S Gauge Turnout

Lots of opinions  Code 100 is for toy trains  Code 83 is the only acceptable mainline  Code 70 for main lines, code 50 for sidings  Micro Engineering track has proper spike detail  Real model railroaders Hand Lay  Atlas track sucks  Bachmann – outright laughter  Kato – I didn’t know they made track Decision Factor 100 Code 83 Code Track Super Reliability 3 2 2 Authenticity 2 3 1 Prototypical requirements 2 3 2 Cost 3 2 1 Ease of use 3 2 3 Speed of deployment 3 2 3 Kind of users (children) 3 2 2 Average Score 2.71 2.29 2.00  Jack Rummel BMRC Shinohara and Peco turnouts  Many modular (train show) layouts  Jeff Morrison, (good friend) Atlas Turnouts  Dave Cochrun (Good friend) Atlas Turnouts

All members of the Code 100 team  Jerry Gilland  Jerry Wilson  Bob Rothe  Doug Geiger

All members of the Hand Layers union  Doug Wright – Peco & Walthers Turnouts  John Parker - Peco Turnouts  Joe Baldwin – Atlas & Walthers Turnouts

Code 83 Atlas

 Porter Cable  Model #371  compact belt sander  2.5" x 14“  ~ 100 bucks  Vacuum Port

Unfortunately, Tools like lasers don’t ensure Straight track. . . Unfortunately, Tools like lasers don’t ensure Straight track. . .

Rail Height

Micro Engineering Micro Walthers Atlas Peco Micro Engineering Walthers Atlas Areas of concern Peco • Rail Height • Web Width (rail joiners) • Tie Height

Web width

Micro Engineering Micro Walthers Atlas Peco Micro Engineering Factors to consider Walthers Atlas • How many interconnections? Peco • Location of the ‘problem areas” • Personal skills • Personal patience • Time allocation Tie Height

Micro Engineering Micro Walthers Atlas Peco Micro Engineering Walthers Atlas Peco

Topic Step 1 - Using Assembly Fixtures Step 2 - Pre-Building The Frog Points Step 3 - Solid vs. Hinged Switchpoints Step 4 - Installing The PC Board Ties Step 5 - Preparing and Installing The Stockrail Step 6 - Preparing and Installing The Switchpoints Step 6 (Cont) - Preparing and Installing The Switchpoints Step 7 - Installing The Guardrails Step 8 - Installing The Frogpoints Step 9 - Installing The Throwbar Step 10 - Cleaning The Trackwork Step 11 - Finishing With QuickSticks Building Z Scale Trackwork With Fast Tracks Assembly Fixtures

Rules o Rule #1 it is my railroad o Rule #2 when in doubt, refer to Rule #1

Laws o Turnouts must work in four directions o Don’t trust the knowledge of internet forums o Code 83 means rail height, nothing else o Think hard before mixing track and turnout makers Three significant cost drivers for my layout  Track  Turnouts  Switch machines  DCC / remote control Rail Code Manufacturer Retail Caboose 100 Atlas Model Railroad Co Inc $ 4.65 $ 3.49 Peco Railway Models $ 7.60 $ 5.92 Shinohara Track $ 8.99 $ 7.05 83 Atlas Model Railroad Co Inc $ 5.75 $ 4.31 Micro Engineering $ 5.49 $ 4.83 Peco Railway Models $ 7.20 $ 5.61 Walthers Track $ 9.30 $ 7.99 75 Peco Railway Models $ 9.30 $ 7.24 70 Shinohara Track $ 7.99 $ 6.37 SKU Code Descriptoin Type W Decoderscale MFG stock retail CH 150283 100 TURNOUT #6 LEFT HAND CODE 100 - BLACK TIES - CUSTOM-LINE - NS NICKEL SILVER TRACK Turnout HO Scale Atlas Model Yes Railroad Co$15.35 Inc $11.51 150284Turnout100 TURNOUT #6 RIGHT Cost HAND CODE 100 - BLACKComparison TIES - CUSTOM-LINE - NS NICKEL SILVER TRACK by CodeTurnout & Manufacturer HO Scale Atlas Model Yes Railroad Co$15.35 Inc $11.51 16044135 100 E-Z COMMAND #6 TURNOUT LEFT DCC Turnout HO Scale Bachmann YesIndustries $60.00 $49.58 16044136 100 E-Z COMMAND #6 TURNOUT RIGHT DCC Turnout HO Scale Bachmann YesIndustries $60.00 $49.58 16044559 100 TURNOUT #6 LH E-Z TRACK - GRAY ROADBED BLACK TIES - NS NICKEL SILVER RAIL Turnout Y HO Scale Bachmann YesIndustries $43.50 $37.74 16044560 100 TURNOUT #6 RH E-Z TRACK - GRAY ROADBED BLACK TIES - NS NICKEL SILVER RAIL Turnout Y HO Scale Bachmann YesIndustries $43.50 $37.74 5521905 100 TURNOUT #6 RH SLE95 CODE 100 - MedRadius- ELECTROFROG - NS NICKEL SILVER - Length 8-5/8in Radius 36in Turnout HO Scale Peco Railway Yes Models $22.99 $17.90 Code5521906 100 TURNOUT #6 LH SLEManufacturer 96 CODE 100 - MedRadius- ELECTROFROG - NS NICKEL SILVER - Length 8-5/8in Radius 36inCaboose Turnout HO Scale Retail Peco Railway Yes Models $22.99 $17.90 669118 100 WYE TURNOUT #6 NS c100 Wye HO Scale Shinohara Track $23.99 $20.13 669104 100 TURNOUT #6 RIGHT HAND NS c100 Turnout HO Scale Shinohara YesTrack $21.99 $18.45 100669108 100 TURNOUT #6 THREE Atlas WAY NS c100 Model Railroad Co Inc $ Turnout 11.51 HO Scale $ Shinohara YesTrack $45.99 15.35 $38.59 669127 100 TURNOUT Curved #6 RH Code 100 Turnout HO Scale Shinohara YesTrack $35.99 $30.20 150505 83 TURNOUT #6 LEFT HAND CODE 83 HO TRACK BROWNThis TIES - NS NICKEL is SILVERjust the data Turnout HO Scale Atlas Model Yes Railroad Co$18.50 Inc $13.88 150506 83 TURNOUT #6 RIGHT Peco HAND CODE 83Railway HO TRACK BROWN TIES Models - NS NICKEL SILVER $ Turnout 17.90 HO Scale $ Atlas Model Yes Railroad Co $18.50 Inc 22.99 $13.88 150563 83 TURNOUT #6 LEFT HAND CODE 83 CUSTOM-LINE - BROWNon TIESHO - NS NICKEL #6 SILVER Switches! TRACK - INSULATED FROG Turnout HO Scale Atlas Model Yes Railroad Co$17.35 Inc $13.01 150564 83 TURNOUT #6 RIGHT HAND CODE 83 CUSTOM-LINE - BROWN TIES - NS NICKEL SILVER TRACK - INSULATED FROG Turnout HO Scale Atlas Model Yes Railroad Co$17.35 Inc $13.01 3812860 83 Turnout LH electric Shinohara #6 LEFT 34 5/16 10DEG Track $ Turnout 29.08Y HO Scale $ Kato USA Inc Yes $55.00 34.66 $41.79 3812861 83 Turnout RH electric #6 RIGHT 34 5/16 10DEG Turnout Y HO Scale Kato USA Inc Yes $55.00 $41.79 25514705 83 TURNOUT - CODE 83, #6 FROG, LH Turnout HO Scale Micro Engineering Yes Co $20.95 $20.95 25514706 83 TURNOUT - CODE Bachmann83, #6 FROG, RH Industries $ Turnout 49.58 HO Scale $ Micro Engineering Yes Co $20.95 60.00 $20.95 0552SL8361 83 TURNOUT #6 RH SL8361 CODE 83 - INSULFROG - NS NICKEL SILVER Turnout HO Scale Peco Railway Yes Models $33.99 $26.46 83 0552SL8362 83 TURNOUT #6 LH SL8362 Atlas CODE 83 - INSULFROGModel - NS NICKEL Railroad SILVER Co Inc $ Turnout 13.45 HO Scale $ Peco Railway Yes Models $33.99 17.93 $26.46 0552SLE8361 83 TURNOUT #6 RH SLE8361 CODE 83 - ELECTROFROG - NS NICKEL SILVER Turnout HO Scale Peco Railway Yes Models $33.99 $26.46 0552SLE8362 83 TURNOUT #6 LH SLE8362 CODE 83 - ELECTROFROG - NS NICKEL SILVER Turnout HO Scale Peco Railway Yes Models $33.99 $26.46 9488803 83 TURNOUT #6 LEFT MicroHAND DCC OK - CODE Engineering 83 Co $ Turnout 20.95 HO Scale $ Walthers Track Yes $24.98 20.95 $21.29 9488804 83 TURNOUT #6 RIGHT HAND DCC OK - CODE 83 Turnout HO Scale Walthers Track Yes $24.98 $21.29 9488814 83 TURNOUT #6 DOUBLE SLIP DCC OK - CODE 83 Double Slip HO Scale Walthers Track Yes $74.98 $63.79 9488826 83 CURVED TURNOUT#6-1/2 Walthers LH 18/24in - CODE 83 Track $ Curved 21.29 HO Scale $ Walthers Track Yes $41.98 24.98 $35.69 9488827 83 CURVED TURNOUT #6-1/2 RH 18/24in - CODE 83 Curved HO Scale Walthers Track Yes $41.98 $35.69 9488808 83 3-WAY TURNOUT #6 DCC OK - CODE 83 3 Way HO Scale Walthers Track Yes $54.98 $46.79 5521912 75 TURNOUT #6 RH SLE195Peco CODE 75 -Railway MedRadius- ELECTROFROG Models - NS NICKEL SILVER - Length 8-5/8 Radius 36in $ Turnout 26.46 HO Scale $ Peco Railway Yes Models $24.99 33.99 $19.46 5521913 75 TURNOUT #6 LH SLE196 CODE 75 - MedRadius- ELECTROFROG - NS NICKEL SILVER - Length 8-5/8 Radius 36in Turnout HO Scale Peco Railway Yes Models $24.99 $19.46 25514805 70 TURNOUT CODE 70 #6 FROG LH Turnout HO Scale Micro Engineering Yes Co $20.95 $20.95 7525514806 70 TURNOUT CODE 70Peco #6 FROG RH Railway Models $ Turnout 19.46 HO Scale $ Micro Engineering Yes Co $20.95 24.99 $20.95 669303 70 TURNOUT#6 LH Code 70 - NS - Nickel Silver Turnout HO Scale Shinohara YesTrack $20.99 $17.61 669304 70 TURNOUT #6 RH Code 70 - NS - Nickel Silver Turnout HO Scale Shinohara YesTrack $20.99 $17.61 70669308 70 TURNOUT #6 3-WAY Micro Code 70 - NS - NickelEngineering Silver Co $ Turnout 20.95 HO Scale $ Shinohara YesTrack $45.99 20.95 $38.59 669326 70 TURNOUT Curved #6 LH Code 70 - NS - Nickel Silver Turnout HO Scale Shinohara YesTrack $35.99 $30.20 669327 70 TURNOUT Curved #6 RH Code 70 - NS - Nickel Silver Turnout HO Scale Shinohara YesTrack $35.99 $31.87 669126 70 TURNOUT Curved Shinohara#6 LH Track $ Turnout 27.68 HO Scale $ Shinohara YesTrack $35.99 32.66 $30.20  Bob Rothe Or the  Tortoise & the Hare

Expensive

Inexpensive

New Atlas Old Atlas ElectricNew Atlas Manual Caboose PFM Industries New Atlas Old Atlas ElectricNew Atlas Manual New Atlas Manual Old Atlas PFM Peco SwitchMaster Tortoise

• Easy to install • Easy to install • High Current required • Slow throwing • Slow throwing • Difficult Mounting • Quiet • Quiet • Requires detent latch • Expensive • Expensive • NOISY • Versatile, other uses • Harder to wire • Plug and play decoders Peco SwitchMaster Tortoise

• Easy to install • Slow throwing • Quiet • Expensive • Versatile, other uses • Plug and play decoders Hare & Cobalt Peco

SwitchMaster Tortoise

• High Current required • Difficult Mounting • Requires detent latch • NOISY SwitchMaster

• Easy to install • Slow throwing • Quiet • Expensive • Harder to wire Type Manufacturer Retail Caboose Quality Ease of use Comments Electric Atlas Model Railroad Co Inc 10.85 8.14 Low Poor Poor design, fragile Rix Products 12.99 10.98 No experience Peco Railway Models ** 13.99 10.89 High Poor Noisy, hard install Circuitron Inc (Tortoise) 18.95 13.27 High Great Flexible and easy Builders In Scale (Switchmaster) 22.65 19.25 High Good Passionate users Manual Caboose Industries 3.25 2.75 Good Good Inexpensive Atlas Model Railroad Co Inc 4.7 3.53 Poor Poor Poor design, fragile Accessory Peco 7 5.44 Good Reqiured**

** Required to give similar functionality as Tortoise and Switchmaster

Track How I did It How I'd Do it! Qty components Cost Total Cost Total Track 170 $ 4.31 $ 732.70 $ 3.49 $ 593.30 Turnouts 35 $ 21.29 $ 745.15 $ 17.90 $ 626.50 Switch Motors 20 $ 13.27 $ 265.40 $ 13.27 $ 265.40 Decoders 20 $ 15.00 $ 300.00 $ 15.00 $ 300.00 Fast Trax Jigs 1 $ 500.00 $ 500.00 Peco turnouts 16 $ 26.00 $ 416.00 Switch Motors 15 $ 11.00 $ 165.00 Accessory switches 15 $ 5.50 $ 82.50 Income from Peco 15 $ (6.00) $ (90.00) Refund from Jigs 1 $ (450.00) $ (450.00) Lenz LS150 3 $ 50.00 $ 150.00 Income from Lenz 3 $ (35.00) $ (105.00) $ 2,711.75 $ 1,785.20 $ (926.55)  Code 83 Atlas Flex Track  Peco Insulfrog Turnouts (woops)  Peco Switch Motors (woops)  Lenz DCC stationary decoders (woops)  Hand Laid (Fast Tracks) turnouts (BIG woops)  Walthers and Atlas turnouts  Tortoise Switch Motors (Used)  Hare Stationary Decoders (Used)  Atlas Code 100 Flex Track  Peco Code 100 Turnouts  Tortoise Switch Motors  Hare (Wabbit) Decoders Why? o Cheaper o Stronger o Easier (plug and play) o Quicker (my detours cost me 5 months work) o Look just as good (to Me!)