shaunster

Fair enough, still no mention of it on UK retailers sites and after all I bought it in the UK and it states suitable for 4 slow motion motors. Anyway, I got 2 new Yamorc switching modules with DCC concepts 3 pin to 2 pin converters and it works perfectly with 4 cobalts so far. Also using the yamorc feedback modules, highly recommended.

Its not an issue, I'm returning it now anyway but the Digitrax manual says suitable for slow motion motors, it doesn't mention only tortoise motors only. It would be useful if they updated the specs to say it can only handle those if it is a known issue.

Even just connecting two cobalt's seems to cause overload at startup as the motors adjust a little sometimes. I think I'll look into something other than digitrax as I already have a load of cobalt motors. The cobalt analogues are supposed to draw little anyway, 'Drive static <5mA, Active average <40mA'. Very surprised the DS74 cant handle this but you live and learn I guess.

Hi, Just testing a new Digitrax DS74 yesterday with 2 cobalt IP analogues, it will throw either one fine individually but cant throw 2 at the same time without the overload fault coming on. Can this DS74 really not power 2 of these at the same time? I tried with external power supply and track power, same issue. Thanks

I think I've decided to keep it a little simpler, do away with the under board fiddle yard idea and keep it on the main boards under a few lightweight hills and such. Add a couple of sidings aka on view storage to the station and keep the rest simple trackwork. Yes cuttings, embankments, tunnels and bridges. I will have a variety rather than purely rolling fields but its all part of the scenery. I want to have a version of the clayton tunnel near Hassocks on the Brighton mainline.

Thanks @HarlequinMy vision is sort of tracks running through countryside, embankment down the lower level on the scenic section, I do like the look of more complex trackwork but I could make it all one continuous loop and avoid them. I have adjusted the framework now so the depth at the back is 80cm, of course leaning into the corners is still a stretch but I don't intend to have trackwork there just hills.

The red lines on the right hand side will rise up slightly as drawn the station is 20mm higher than the green junction (its just very hard to see it in scarm), the blue line will also slope down that right side and I will use a retaining wall, I saw Charlie at Chadwick do something similar on YouTube and really liked the idea. I think the bottom left blue lines need to go down about 23mm from the green over about 1000mm length, its about 2.3% and the red line after the bridge needs to go down the same, in theory it gives 30mm clearance but I can work on that once the general plan looks alright. I'm not sure where to put the fiddle yard if I didn't have a helix or similar. I don't intend to do much fiddling though, so hidden storage behind removable scenery could work.

I came up with this using a lift out bridge and removing the branch line and adding an intermediary station on the line down the fiddle yard. The longest platform here is 1000mm, my western Pullman for example is 900mm long and I removed the double slip. But I did have to use some radius 3 curves.

The framework is at chest height, its 120cm high. Definitely don't want to be stooping over the layout. Its not an age thing or anything (i'm 33).

Should have been clearer, the fiddle yards will be below layout and joined. There is space under each proposed terminus for a 3/4 radius helix if I go that route. As it stands the two longest platforms could take an HST with 2 power cars and 5 coaches. In my head trains can go round and round tail chasing through the fiddle, or shuffle from terminus to fiddle. They can't go from the terminus and back again without reversing in the fiddle. Thanks I will read about your layout. The duck under would certainly open up more opportunities.

Hi, the door opens inwards but the original plan was for a duck under but I decided it was too annoying to be honest. Originally I started out with that large back board which is why it is deeper but I now have the whole room. I have already moved the central operating well back 10cm in that area, I can reach over to all parts now but the very far corner is a stretch.

Hello, I have a spare room which will be a new N Gauge railway, I will be running around the room with a walk in and some form of helix to the lower level fiddle yards. My interest is in running trains, mainly HSTs, DMUs, steam rail tours etc through scenery. I have no interest in shunting or anything like that really. The layout will be automated using itrain, idea being some trains can go round and round, some can go up to the termini and back down to the fiddle etc. I'm having a bit of a nightmare planning it, cant decide what to do. Cant help feeling I'm not making the best of the space. Track is Peco code 55. If anyone has any pointers that would be great. My first post was in the wrong section, I didn't see this one!