Graham Farrish "the Highlander" set contents

[Ric Shortman]

Hi There
I am looking to start out in N Gauge DCC (after many years away from layout building)
I am thinking to buy the Graham Farrish "The Highlander" DCC set and build up from there - can anyone please tell me the track numbers included in the set so I can do my track design / buy list - I have googled like crazy but cant find this info anywhere

thx

[crewearpley40]

Hi Richard listed here https://www.modelrailwaysdirect.co.uk/train-sets-n/graham-farish-370-048-the-highlander-digital-train-set/  You can certainly add points extra straights and create a siding, station

[ntpntpntp]

It seems to be a popular set for breaking and selling the loco and stock separately.

[Ric Shortman]

thats great, thanks - must be the only site I didnt look at   
I am looking to build out with a second oval with dual crossover points, a small passing loop on the inside oval with two sidings

[Ric Shortman]

It seems to be a popular set for breaking and selling the loco and stock separately.

I know I have seen the coaches scattered over ebay - I thought it was a good base set for me, gets the DDC fitted loco (and a nice one at that) and the EZ controller

[crewearpley40]

thats great, thanks - must be the only site I didnt look at   
I am looking to build out with a second oval with dual crossover points, a small passing loop on the inside oval with two sidings

John Dutfield and call ken he does a deal for ngaugeforum members as the big stockists sell quickly. Good luck with buying additional track

[ntpntpntp]

Keep in mind that the Farish sectional track - whilst looking superficially almost identical to Peco Setrack - has larger/wider joiners, so if you mix the two brands of sectional track you may need to open out the slots in the Peco track which accommodate the rail joiner.   It's easy to do, just a couple of cuts with a craft knife (which I've done to the Peco point on the left of this photo)




Once you've done that the brands join together nicely.

[crewearpley40]

Good point nick ntp. Maybe worth considering.  I only just realised that there was peco not farish track. Sorry .  Maybe worth shopping aroubs

[Ric Shortman]

Keep in mind that the Farish sectional track - whilst looking superficially almost identical to Peco Setrack - has larger/wider joiners, so if you mix the two brands of sectional track you may need to open out the slots in the Peco track which accommodate the rail joiner.   It's easy to do, just a couple of cuts with a craft knife (which I've done to the Peco point on the left of this photo)




Once you've done that the brands join together nicely.

Ah I didnt know that- very useful to know - so I may be better just buying the Peco track I need and forgetting the GF track in the set ?
are the points DDC ready as standard - I know with my Hornby 00 kit I had to fit little jumpers in the points to make them DCC ready

[ntpntpntp]

Nothing wrong with the GF track, if you buy the set you may as well use it.

No, the Setrack points are "power routing" out of the box, so only the selected route is live beyond the point.  Other brands such as Fleischmann and Minitrix are also "power routing" but can use the little wire U clips to bridge across and make both routes live.

To be honest I would suggest using an isolating joiner on the frog V and an additional power feed to the rail beyond.  Yes I know isolating joiners are not mandatory for these insulated frog points, but if you treat them the same as a live frog point then there is no risk of power feeding back into the open point blade. Some DCC users reckon this can cause shorts in certain circumstances, while others never experience the problem.   The decision is up to you.

[Ric Shortman]

Thx - I read some stuff on the isolators the other day - also there was a youtube video on checking them for shorts before installing - your comment has made that make a lot more sense now 
thx

[jpendle]

The DCC point mods done on OO points are not required on N Gauge Peco points.

This is because there is more of a gap in the points so we don't get wheels causing shorts as trains run through.

I've got almost 80 Peco Code 55 Electrofrog points on my layout and none have been modified.

I have soldered a wire to the frog on each one so that I can switch the frog polarity rather then rely on blade contact.

Regards,

John P

[Ric Shortman]

The DCC point mods done on OO points are not required on N Gauge Peco points.

This is because there is more of a gap in the points so we don't get wheels causing shorts as trains run through.

I've got almost 80 Peco Code 55 Electrofrog points on my layout and none have been modified.

I have soldered a wire to the frog on each one so that I can switch the frog polarity rather then rely on blade contact.

Regards,


Am I better with Code 55 or Code 80 track ?

John P

[tunneroner61]

Code 55 every time. More robust than code 80 and better looking too!!

Norman

[jpendle]

What @tunneroner61 said.

Although FYI there is no Setrack available in Code 55.

Regards,

John P