There should be symbols for track and points (accessories) on the back, and AC / DC symbols.

Blue and Red for track outputs (DC), black and white for accessories (AC).   ** get it professionally safety tested before using it.

It probably has a loco moulded in the housing near the track output and a turnout near the accessory output.

Use a voltmeter. One pair is 13-16v AC for accessories, the other is 0-12v DC controlled by the knob for the track power.

Trix conventionally used blue/red for track and black/white for AC.

Given the age of most TRIX vario controllers I'd also consider whether it's best kept as an exhibit as it's unlikely to meet modern safety standards, and given it's age really ought to be properly inspected and tested before use at all.

Hi everyone. In an eBay job lot of N gauge track was included a TRIX vario-controller. It seems to be working but I don't know the terminal outputs. There are 4.red black blue and white. Anyone help with which is what?

Quote from: EtchedPixels on April 04, 2026, 06:18:18 PMAn awful lot of even short wagons will not take the tram track 150 radius points as the couplings are not flexible enough so they'll just pull off the rails. Even peco set track is problematic for longer wagons when you get an S bend.

The couplings on modern UK wagons are engineering for about 9" (225mm) curve minimums. The older ones like Minitrix are about 7" (180mm or so)

I have a little circular christmas layout that is just a simple circle of track at about 150mm radius and most wagons will not run on it.

Good tip. I will reconsider the limitations.

Thanks!

Quote from: scottmitchell74 on April 01, 2026, 03:43:54 AM

Quote from: Bealman on April 01, 2026, 03:41:37 AMHow about using the Wanted section, instead of starting up a new topic?

Why can't one start a Lament?

Because it leads to bagpipes...

Quote from: njee20 on April 03, 2026, 08:15:47 PMIt's a classic inglenook shunting puzzle, so the layout is fine.

I wouldn't use the Unitram points, they're very sharp and (IMO) will look daft. Kato's #4 points aren't great, but perhaps try it with #6s.

Revised #4 are fine but if you are trying to be compact then peco set track is much better suited.

An awful lot of even short wagons will not take the tram track 150 radius points as the couplings are not flexible enough so they'll just pull off the rails. Even peco set track is problematic for longer wagons when you get an S bend.

The couplings on modern UK wagons are engineering for about 9" (225mm) curve minimums. The older ones like Minitrix are about 7" (180mm or so)

I have a little circular christmas layout that is just a simple circle of track at about 150mm radius and most wagons will not run on it.

I had OO as a kid but when it came many years later to a little project with someone about computer control of model trains I only had some ikea shelves to put it on so at 50cm wide that really meant N for running stuff in circles and trying to get a computer to control with an H bridge (this is a long time ago....). So I ended up with a Farish large logo 50 and some coaches, and then I got back into model railways and it expanded a lot. I still like building Ikeabahn designs (ones that fit on one or two Ivar 83cm x 50cm shelves) as it's a great way to keep layouts mixed in with storage and also to store them as you can stack them as shelves in the units.


I did have a little OO shelf layout as well for a while but I sold it and concentrated on N.

TT was always my favourite size but apart from some old TT my grandfather had it was a nonexistent scale when it mattered and I'm not switching at this point.

I'd also always fancied a go at N having seen some of the N stuff in books in particular the kit built 03, which I eventually managed to end up with.

Quote from: Snowwolflair on April 03, 2026, 11:21:03 PMWhy

56 years ago my father bought me a Lima class 86 for Christmas and it has been down hill ever since

Then stop living at the top of a hill