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N Gauge Steam Engines, Train Repairs, and Soldering Track
Bill has three questions for readers:
Are there any N gauge steam engines available?
Also - I've been looking for an old mine building - buildings suitable for an old NW track layout. I haven't had much luck with Ebay. Does anyone know where I can get engines repaired? I have an engine I bought on EBay, that may work if I could get someone to take a look at it?
Also, what are the pros and cons of soldering tracks together to prevent cars coming off the track at the point where tracks meet?
2 Responses to N Gauge Steam Engines, Train Repairs, and Soldering Track
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Bill,
There are many steam locomotives available in N gauge. I suggest doing a Google search and you should find many public as well private sales.
Sorry, I have no help on engine repairs or the type of buildings you want though, again, I’d suggest a Google search.
As far as soldering track, I wouldn’t recommend it. By soldering track, you’ve essentially made a long solid strip of metal. If your layout is located where that temperature can fluctuate 10 or more degrees, the track will expand (or contract) significantly causing the track to distort or even bow away from the roadbed. Also, if you’re ‘laying’ the track properly and without kinks, you shouldn’t have to resort to soldering the track sections together to prevent derailments.
Hope this helps,
Geof
Are there any N gauge steam engines available?
Yes, lots! The best two right now are the Kato Mikado and the Bachmann Spectrum Consolidation. Model Power has a Pacific that is kind of hit or miss, as well as a Mikado. Atlas has a Mogul and a Consolidation for the turn of the century time period. There are quite literally too many to list, but you can find an extensive listing here:
http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/locos.html
Also – I’ve been looking for an old mine building – buildings suitable for an old NW track layout.
There are a couple that I know of, but I don’t know if they are still available. My personal favorite is the New River mine made by Cornerstone.
Does anyone know where I can get engines repaired? I have an engine I bought on EBay, that may work if I could get someone to take a look at it?
Check with your local model railroad club or your local hobby shop if there is one. Also check with the manufacturer. Last but not least, join one of the Yahoo groups for your scale and interest, there is probably someone nearby that can help.
Also, what are the pros and cons of soldering tracks together to prevent cars coming off the track at the point where tracks meet?
Soldering joints is done more for electrical continuity than to prevent derailments. Pros, the electrical conductivity is better, cons sometimes the rail has been known to kink if your layout is somewhere that experiences large temperature swings. If you are going to solder track I would recommend not longer than 3 foot lengths.