Hi All,

New to the forum and the hobby.
I have always had a love for intricate detail and construction but this is a very new area for me.
Basically my son has started to develop a great fondness for all things trains, most likely due to the marketing genius that is Thomas the Tank Engine

Anyway hoping to get him involved in my interest in modelling/miniature landscaping I am planning to start my first N gauge project.
I am quietly confident in every area except the actual track itself, which I guess is the key starting point.

My plan is for a 40's / 50's colliery, very weathered with lots of landscape detail.
Size wise I want to start small so have given myself an area of 800mm x 500mm on which to lay the track.

Having done a lot of reading and playing with AnyRail I am leaning towards Peco Setrack code 80 as it would allow a continuous layout within that space.
I am hoping to add electronic control to the points in the also and this looks to be possible with this track using servos/motors.

Before I dive in and make that first purchase I was wondering if anyone could point out why this would be a bad choice or if there is a far better alternative.

Anyway thats quite an essay now, any pointers would be much appreciated.

Looking forward to using the forum, thanks in advance
Darren

Hi Darren and welcome to the forum, it sounds like you have chosen a great theme for your layout and I hope it all works out well for you.

With regards to track, I think your choice of Peco is spot on and would suit that style of layout perfectly.

Welcome in Darren 

I'd agree with Dave, for someone just starting out the Peco Setrack is ideal rather than messing about trying to form smooth curves using flexi, that can come later 

The other alternative you might want to look at is Kato Unitrack. It's a bit more expensive than Peco and less widely available but comes with a ballast-effect base moulded in which will save you any messy ballasting if you wish, and I understand from others that the electrics are quite good too if you want to add point motors. Despite it's 'plasticky' appearance it can still be made to look quite realistic with a little dressing 

Above all, enjoy your foray into N gauge and don't be afraid to ask questions no matter how basic they may seem, we've all been there before 


Paul

Hi Darren and welcome to the forum.

If you are going down the setrack route then I would recommend you consider Kato Unitrack over Peco Code 80. Setting up the points is a real doddle as the motors are built into the points and it is literally as simple as plugging one connector into the point switch. You can buy Kato variation packs that give you all you need for loops and sidings. It is also 'bullet proof' and can easily be cleaned off and used again. It is more expensive though  - for me it is worth it for being easy to use and reliable.

The ballast can weathered - link to an example of a layout below and there are plenty of posts on ballasting Kato on the forum (which you can find via the search button)

http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=335.105

Welcome to the forum Darren.

Good idea for your first layout.

Just a suggestion to get you started, have you considered buying the farish "colliery set"?

This would give you a basic track oval, loco, wagons and controller.

So you would be up and running in no time.

I used this set to start me off in my re-introduction to "n gauge".

Reuben.

Hi All,

Thanks for all the comments.

I am quite looking forward to putting in scatter ballast and wiring up points, like to make things rather than buy them ready to go if that makes sense.

Hope to have a first draft of a track layout posted up this evening.

Hi Darren,

By all means use the Peco Setrack but I would suggest you use Code 80 small electrofrog points. The wiring is a little more difficult but they would provide far better running for a colliery which is suggesting small steam/diesel shunters (0-6-0's) which tend to stall on insulfrog points. I would urge you to consider this rather than experience poor running for you and your son.

Oddly enough I was just reading up on the 2 different types as I will be using Diesel shunters.

This is probably a stupid question but are the 3 types of Peco track compatible with each other?
I.e could a ST1 be joined to a SL-E395

Code 80 Setrack and Code 80 Streamline will join up no problem - the only real differences are that Setrack comes with rail-joiners attached and Streamline doesn't, plus the point angles are different - the curved track on setrack points turns out 22.5 degrees, the streamline ones are only 10 degrees.

Code 55 track will also join up to Code 80, but because the track is finer the sleepers of the code 55 will be left floating approx 1mm above your baseboard so will need packing underneath to keep level. You also may find there's a small 'step' where the two tracks join that can easily be smoothed with a fine file or similar 


Paul

Thank Paul, thats really useful.