First let me say how impressed I was with the Sn2 Crew's set up, and they're great guys also. Their tiny, tippy trains ran like champs, and their reverse loops operated flawlessly. I agree with the operational viability of both reverse loops and 4-corner set ups, but our small group is pretty well stretched to the limit with what we can now carry, as well as store at home: so it looks for the foreseeable future we'll stick with our two train turntables. We do have a second in case have to travel light and leave my Port Dover terminal at home. In retrospect, I wish I had made them each another foot longer, but it's too late in the game now. There have been a few shows where only one of us attended, using a single module with the train turntables at each end, and it worked pretty well. This allows as to still spread the S word with a minimum of manpower. This is what group member John Johnston plans to do for a local train show in March.
Jim Martin >________________________________ > From: Frank J Knight <[email protected]> >To: [email protected] >Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 8:46:33 AM >Subject: Re: {S-Scale List} Free Mo S > > > >Since we run our Free Mo Sn2 Crew layout with return loops, I feel >qualified to respond to this statement. We used to run a continuous loop >but it was always difficult to insure we had the right number and size >of modules for each show. Even though we were running Free Mo we did not >have much freedom in the layout configuration. That is why I decided to >make the return loop modules. I made a Y module, two 60 degree curves >and two 90 degree curves for each end. I also committed to buying a >small trailer to carry my modules. > >What a difference the return loops made when running at shows. We run >DCC so it was easy to use auto-reversers to control the Y turnouts. We >could easily run one train continuously at a reasonable speed of about >30 scale mph. Once we installed computer control it was easy to keep up >to 4 trains running on the layout. Typically 2 trains would always be >running and 2 would be waiting for a clear block. One engineer could >monitor the whole layout easily since it was the computer insuring that >the trains would not get into trouble. > >Prior to installing the return loops it was so easy to start talking to >someone and lose track of your train. After return loops we were free to >move around and talk to the audience without concern for train >collisions. > >Don't think that because we run Sn2 that this would not be practical for >standard gauge. In Sn2 out locos are Forneys which have a long frame. My >return loops are 36" radius but it wouldn't take modules much bigger to >have a radius up to 48" if you wanted. > >One other point is that typically we have only 1 to 3 Crew members >supporting our layout at shows. > >Frank Knight > >--- In [email protected], tennsgauge@... wrote: >> >> But the disadvantage is that it the two or more loops at the ends >require >> a lot more modules. A big club like Bill's CJSS could do it if they >chose >> to, but smaller clubs would have a harder time. >> >> - Earl Henry, Nashville >> >> > > > > >
