GarGraves Trackage Geometry

Experimenting with 0 Scale Layouts based on

GarGraves Tubular Rail Profile and Trackage Geometry A Quick Reference Guide for Hi-Railers

Author: Johannis Likos e-mail: likosjo@yahoo.com http://issuu.com/johannis_likos/docs/GarGraves_0_USA August 9, 2010

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Generally about 0 Scale Tracks

1.1 Rail Profiles A cut view across a solid or hollow rail describes the shape of the low or high profile. The wheel flanges of the motive power and rolling stock must match according to rail profile in order primarily to avoid derailments and secondly to serve the purpose, either serious, photorealistic and prototypical or entertaining and functional.

Most of the trackage manufacturers provide with a variety of concepts and solutions with or without trackbed, with wood or plastic ties, for indoor or outdoor usage and for 2-rail DC or 3-rail AC operation, such as: • Atlas • GarGraves • Lionel

1.1.1 Solid Rails

• Mike’s Train House

Nickel silver is another non-corrosive authentic rail material. Solid rails are more robust and can be cut and trimmed to the desired length by using Dremel tools.

– RealTrax (with trackbed) – ScaleTrax (without trackbed) • Peco

1.1.2 Tubular Rails

– Code 124 – Code 143

If you have already inherited an old toy train set and if you want to continue with it, then you can expand your

• Ross Custom Switches 1

layout by investing in track material with solenoid1 rails, such as GarGraves and/or RCS2 , which are compatible to eachother. Tubular rails can be easily cut and trimmed to the desired length due to the extremely thin tinplate material. But on the other hand tubular rails are fragile in case someone accidently steps on them. Always prefer GarGraves tracks with the so called Phantom3 center rail and paint the outer rails in rusty brown color for more realistic appearance. If the outer rails of straight and curved tracks are insulated from eachother, they can be even used for 2-rail DC operation, but switches have to be replaced due to conductivity. It is recommended to choose wood ties and bright tinplate rails for indoor layouts, while outdoor layouts should be set up with tracks of plastic ties and stainless rails due to air humidity and further hot or wet weather influence. The overall investment costs for a novice is the main argument why to favor GarGraves products instead of its competitors. Compared to some more expensive from other trackage manufacturers, the Ross tracks and the GarGraves tracks with their hollow rails are strong enough to resist damage while repeatedly and frequently assembling and disassembling layouts.

The smaller wheel flanges are supposed to fit to the code 124 and 143 rail profile without any unintended derailment accident.

1.2.2 3-Rail AC (Hi-Rail) This is the traditional operation mode from the historic toy trains era, which will be gradually replaced by the more realistic 2-rail system in the future. The AC power is taken through the roller contactors from the center rail and is returned or grounded through the locomotive wheels to one of the outer rails of the track. The bigger wheel flanges prevent from derailment during crossover in narrow switches, which require a higher rail profile.

1.1.3 Hybrid Track Layout Technically it is possible to set up a layout with mixed rail materials by connecting solid and tubular rails through special Altas transition joiners. But photographically it doesn’t look nice, if tracks from different manufacturers are mixed together on the same layout.

1.2

2 The GarGraves Track Geometry GarGraves provides in its product sortiment with all kind of track types in various sizes in order to meet the poor expectations of the spontanous Hi-Railer.

CAUTION! Do not confuse the nominal diameters, which have been abstractly defined by NMRA, with the actually measured dimensions, which are specifically described in the product catalogs.

Rail Systems

There are two ways, how the internal motors of the locomotives are powered and how they are electrified4 through the metallic rails.

2.1 Straight Tracks The length of the straight tracks provided by GarGraves is a multiple of 6.2”, such as 12.4”, 24.8 and 37.2”.

1.2.1 2-Rail DC This is the prototypical operation mode for the modern model trains era, where the highest precision must be achieved, such as the size of the manual couplers to the proportions of the locomotives as an example.

1 Derived from the Greek stereometric expression σωληνοειδὴ and means simply tube-like or pipe-like shape.

2 Abbreviation for Ross Custom Switches.

3 It is the blackened center rail.

4 It is technically possible to electrify electric locomotives, such as GG-1, EP-5, AEM-7 and European TRAXX, through overhead catenary.

If for some geometric reason you require on your layout another irregular length something in between, then you have to carefully cut the hollow rails the next bigger available straight track to the desired size, but remember, that there is enough room left for the joining pins.

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curves for more realistic operation.

For the non-derailment cross-over between RC switches there are specific descriptive wiring instructions. GarGraves provides with the following nominal switch sizes with various geometric transition possibilities: • O-42

An exception of short straight track pieces are the bumpers in black, red or yellow for marking the dead end of a sidetrack in a yard.

2.2

• O-54 • O-72 • O-100

Curved Tracks

Some experience in the layouting of switches is required, while designing freight yards, roundhouses and train stations.

The distances between inner curves and outer curves are not constant. A narrower distances looks more realistic but cannot be applied in a narrow curve with longer locomotives and/or longer passenger cars. So you must estimate best suitable diameters for the inner and outer curves according to the available layout space.

The angle (β) in the curved part of the switch should be close to the angle (α) of the make-up curve in order to reach the desired parallel distance (p) at the continuation. The make-up curve should be accompanied by another shorter straight track piece (a) in parallel, which is joined together with the straight part (b) of the switch. The straight length a+b=24.8” approximately would be reached in the case of an O72 switch. In some cases the make-up curve must be purchased separately, while in some other cases you must explicitely request the best suitable make-up curve out of three choices in order to reach the desired center-to-center distance of parallel tracks on your designed layout. If you prefer more complex 3-way or 4-way switches for a centric entry and exit of your freight yard or your shed, then exceptionally as an ellegant choice would be the compatible

An irregular curve or a much wider curve can be achieved by bending the flexible track, but it should be carefully designed5 before bending and trimming the flextrack.

2.3

Switches

Generally there are the cheaper manually operated and the more expensive remote controlled6 switches with narrower curves for small layout space or with wider 5 Design and printout on paper probably through a track layouting software is recommended.

6 In the trackage catalogs the RC initials are appended to the product code of the switches.

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Ross trackage. Any way, the RCS switches are always a complementary solutions for hi-railers, who want to build more professional layouts.

So, at an exposition event only one train is going and returning tireless on the same straight track uninterrupted automatically, while on an optional sidetrack with another train can be done the switching manually. In this way you have the possibility to speak to the visitors of the convention while your train is running or to demonstrate some features with the other train on the sidetrack.

CAUTION! If the operation is in analog mode, then the Instead of the 4-way switch solution by RCS, it can be sidetrack with separate control device must be insulated used a wye switch with a left-hand switch, a right-hand by using plastic pins as rail joiners. Otherwise, in digswitch and few make-up curves and all of them O72- ital mode (DCS or TMCC) should be used metal pins as compatible curved tracks provided by GarGraves . rail joiners.

2.3.1 Manual vs. Electrical

3.1.2 Simple Oval Layout for Indoor

You can operate the manual switches by hand, if the direction is changed occasionally in a branchline. For frequend direction changes in a yard it is recommended to invest in remote-controlled7 switches, which are more expensive.

A train can run round-and-round on the floor or around the X-mas tree.

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Track layout Examples

The below proposed layouts for indoor and outdoor can be decorated by adding ballast, vegetation, crossings, bridges, tunnels, sheds, stations, factories, shops, office buildings, etc.

This is the most simple and straight forward way to enjoy playing with toy trains.

3.1.3 Multiple Oval Layout for Indoor

3.1

Circular vs. Push-Pull Operation

From three or up to six trains can run automatically at constant speed and at a constant distance on the The ugliest part in an oval layout are the narrow curves, separate circular tracks, while on the insulated yard can therefore, if the landscape and scenery permits it, they be done the switching manually. should be hidden inside tunnels or behind buildings, but generally for playing with toy trains it serves the purpose. More demanding prototypical model railroaders prefer realistic switching operations manually on segmented and modular layouts. A work-around solution for automatic push-pull operations could be the block signal detectors with crossing gates and signals by Z-Stuff together with one or two auxiliary Z-500 controllers by MTH for reverting the driving direction of the powered You can start with the smallest inner circle and then later locomotive after a short break. increase the amount of bigger and bigger outer circles.

The inner circles are suitable for short switchers pulling 3.1.1 Indoor Layout with Dogbone Loop freight cars, while the heavier diesels pulling long passenger cars fit better on the outer circles.

Technically a single-track dogbone-shaped indoor layout with O-72 switches is only in 3-rail AC system possible, 3.1.4 Multi-level Scenery Layout for Indoor as we know it from the H0-scaled Märklin system.

An adventurous 8-shaped track layout with a freight yard in the spectacular valley surrounded by a mountainous scenery, so that tunnels must be passed-through

7 To

the product code of the electrical switches are appended the initials RC.

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and a bridge over the yard must be crossed.

where four trains could run in different direction and additionally another two train can do the switching on the side tracks.

ATTENTION! For setting up an outdoor layout, probably with elevation, is required further knowledge on how to prepare the earthground in the same way as it is done for the G scale garden trains.

3.2 Modules and Segments Not everyone has the space at home to set up a monuFor more entertainment there could be either a pulp fac- mental 0 scale layout fixed in his basement. Therefore, tory or a steel mill with smoking furnace chimneys in the a modular and/or segmented layout could be a practivalley next to the yard. cal solution. Each module and each segment extracted from a layout can stand alone as a diorama in an exposition or museum or otherwise can be merged with further modules of other fellows, if all apply a common and well 3.1.5 Simple Outdoor Setup documented standard.

A simple U-shaped outdoor layout could look like this: 3.2.1 Segmented Layout A segmented layout consists of non-standardized irregular parts to be assembled in a specific order, so their sides have to be marked, otherwise they can not fit to eachother.

3.2.2 Modular Layout Modules can be built according to an officially documented standard or any regional model railroader club can specify its own standard for local use. At national conventions modules of a common standard should ...with less motive power and a minimum of rolling stock. usually fit to eachother randomly. Complex segments can be also used in larger layouts under the condition, that the entrance and the exit of the incorporated segment has been built according to de-facto module 3.1.6 Multiple Outdoor Setup specifications, which describe legs, wiring, rail profile, distance of parallel tracks, scenery, painting, ballast, A more complex U-shaped outdoor layout could look etc. A simple straight yard segment with single track like this: entry/exit on both sides could look like this:

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A realistic S-shaped yard segment with single track entry/exit on both sides could look like this:

Finally you can play around with the same module pieces and re-arrange them according to the available booth space, so that you can present at every convention a different shape of a freight yard without any extra modeling eort.

ATTENTION! In the above proposed drawings are used compatible RCS 3-way switches and make-up curves.

The shape of this yard consists of the following dierent building blocks either in multiple quantities or pair-wise:

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Conclusion

5.3 Known American Resellers

• http://www.discounttrainsonline.com The critical 0 scale model railroading who has enough money to spend for his hobby and who insists on pho• http://factorydirecttrains.com torealistic perfection, he will choose 2-rail DC and solid • http://www.internettrains.com tracks, there is no dobt about it. But the nostalgic novice in the toy train playing, in other words: simply the • http://www.micromark.com classic train enthusiast, there are other more affordable • http://www.trainworldonline.com entry-level choices for low budget based on 3-rail8 AC operation, such as the track product line by GarGraves.

• http://www.trainz.com Since detailed documentation specifically on GarGraves track geometry has been sadly lacking, hopefully this article assists every 0 scale beginner in his new exciting 5.4 Some European Resellers hobby activities.

• http://www.easygleis.de

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Sources

Below are listed web links for further investigation of the possibilities in the 0 scale model railroading hobby.

5.1

http://www.atlaso.com

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http://www.gargraves.com

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http://www.lionel.com

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http://www.mthtrains.com

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http://www.peco-gleise.de

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http://www.rossswitches.com

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http://www.williamstrains.com

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http://www.z-stuff.net

5.2

http://www.atlasrr.com/righttrack.htm

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http://www.cadrail.com

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http://www.rrtrack.com

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http://www.theliquidateher.com

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http://www.trackplanning.com

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http://www.winrail.com

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http://www.xtrkcad.org

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http://www.weinert-modellbau.de

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http://www.ogaugerr.com

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http://www.oscalemag.com

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http://www.classictoytrains.com

5.6 Magazines in German •

http://www.spurnull-magazin.de

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http://www.012-express.de

5.7 North American Associations

Layouting Software

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http://www.spur-0-shop.de

5.5 Magazines in English

Track and Accessory Manufacturers

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http://www.nmra.org

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http://www.hirailers.com

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http://www.proto48.org

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http://www.oscalekings.org

5.8 Central European Associations •

http://www.argespur0.de

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http://www.morop.org

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http://www.fremo-net.eu

5.9 American Conventions •

http://www.2010oscalenational.com

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http://www.oscalenews.com/meets.html

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http://2012oscalenational.com

5.10 U.S. Conventions in Europe

8 The European hi-railers who would like to apply NMRA standards

and to design layous with GarGraves trackage but have problems in converting imperial measurements into metric ones and vice versa, then the internet provides with sufficient calculation assistance, such as the site: http://manuelsweb.com/ft_in_cm.htm

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http://www.us-convention-brd.de

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http://www.trainmaster.ch/convention.htm