Pengi's T Gauge Experiment

[Sprintex]

You're not meant to build a fully scenic layout, although some already have and an increasing number of items are being introduced to enable people to do so as it gains popularity. As I said above though it was originally intended for the Japanese market where usage is more akin to Scalextric - set up track on floor or a table, play with it, and pack it away when you're finished. Same reason Kato track came about, which is why it comes with replaceable 'clip' track connectors and simple plug-in electrics


Paul

[ParkeNd]

You're not meant to build a fully scenic layout, although some already have and an increasing number of items are being introduced to enable people to do so as it gains popularity. As I said above though it was originally intended for the Japanese market where usage is more akin to Scalextric - set up track on floor or a table, play with it, and pack it away when you're finished. Same reason Kato track came about


Paul

Thanks for that. Makes sense to me.

[Michael Shillabeer]

Hello

I built a T Gauge layout for Hornby Magazine's 3foot challenge.

I blogged it on the T Gauge forum but the site has gone awol!

Here's a summary and a photo http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/39336-garage-layout/

I won £500 of OO equipment!

Best regards
Michael

[PostModN66]

Michael,

I followed the link - I have to say, what an excellent idea and a wonderful execution.

Fantastic    A*  !!

Cheers  Jon   

[Pengi]

Michael, that is sensational - a really clever idea brilliantly done!

What is your opinion on the points - are they good enough to run an 8 car train over them? The one way points look interesting  but you would still need a manual point as well for a passing loop?

[EtchedPixels]

I found the points utterly useless, its one of the things that persuaded me that T was never going to work without major hacking. They can be rebuilt and people have hand laid their own electrofrog points but the RTR ones were junk with big isolated areas so stock would stall all the time.

I'm slowly building 15" gauge stock in N scale for my T track. For the drive however I think I'll be trying to fit a rather better motor to their gearbox (as I have lots more room even if building a 15" gauge quarry Hunslet or similar), and going from 4.5v up to 6v or 9v so its controllable.

No DCC - the voltages it uses are way lower than any existing DCC devices can handle.

There are surprisingly lots of scenic options with all the 1:400-1:500 scale card kits around including some really big buildings (or at least they would be in any other scale!)

Alan

[Pengi]

Thanks EP - that is very helpful

[Lawrence]

Jane - Sankai do some 1:500 kits you know  castles and temples I believe, they'll test your eyesight 

[rhysapthomas]

Facinating stuff I have often looked at T gauge and thought what a long train you could run!

However there are smaller take a look at www.idlmotors.com for a 1/900 scale system

[Vanders]

I'd like to try something with T, if only the points weren't so useless (although, believe it or not, some people have built handbuilt T track...) and if someone would bloody well produce a Co-Co chassis!

[Pengi]

Thanks, this has decided me - no points, so Clapham Junction is out! Progress on this project will be slow - as need to do a lot more work on the N gauge layout. 

I am thinking of an L shaped end to end layout  or a straight shelf layout using the switchback sensors to send the trains back and forth automatically. For location, I've always wanted to do a layout with Venice Santa Lucia at one end and Venice Mestre at the other (with the lagoon in the middle). Will have to be cut down versions of the stations, and the bridge, because I don't want to use points.

Lawrence - will take a look at the Sankei kits  they are the only kits I really enjoy making in N, so maybe I will find them fun in T

[Bealman]

This is interesting stuff, but the only reason I would even give T a bat of an eyelid is to possibly add a short narrow gauge line onto my existing layout..... but there again, I can use Z for that.

A plausible idea could be a forced perspective mainline way up in the hills in the background (just a little loop) with trains hurtling between hiils or tunnels, perhaps?

George

[Michael Shillabeer]

Hello

The only thing I've found frustrating with the points is the lack of facility for remote control and the limited radius available.

I haven't used the one-way points.

Here are some more pictures.











Best regards
Michael

[Bealman]

I must admit, that's pretty cool!

[d-a-n]

That garage layout is something else - I love creative thinking like that!