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       #Post#: 2481--------------------------------------------------
       Lionchief Polar Express Layout (100 ft. Min)
       By: worthing3104 Date: September 11, 2020, 10:56 pm
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       Helping my father in law build a garden train. It's going to be
       a big 1-rail 1-train set up but will be 100' long at a minimum.
       Question is, will the standard wall power be enough power for a
       track of that size if I run a bus line full length of the track
       with feeders every 10-20'?  I did buy my grandson a Lionchief
       CSX a couple years ago and run it on a layout about 36' of track
       with the wall pack and it performs flawlessly throughout the
       track with no voltage drops or slowing of the engine. On another
       note, the track will be laying on the ground so I don't have the
       luxury of drilling holes in plywood to run the wires under that.
       I figure I'll notch each piece of track so wire can be hidden
       under it.
       #Post#: 2482--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Lionchief Polar Express Layout (100 ft. Min)
       By: TrainLarry Date: September 12, 2020, 4:20 am
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       Welcome to the forum!
       Your proposed layout with the present transformer may work, but
       you may need a bigger power supply. A CW-80, GW-180, ZW-L or a
       postwar transformer like the KW or ZW will be better. A bigger
       transformer will let you add bigger locos and longer trains, as
       well as accessories such as switches and lights. You can never
       have too much power!
       Larry
       #Post#: 2483--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Lionchief Polar Express Layout (100 ft. Min)
       By: djacobsen Date: September 12, 2020, 7:34 am
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       Worthing3104
       Hello & Welcome to the Forum!
       I am not quite certain of your "Garden Train" plans.  Are you
       speaking of running O Scale or Large Scale outdoors?
       If you are considering Outdoor O, your track should be your
       first concern.  The normal tin track used for O scale is not
       adequate and will quickly become rusted junk. You will need to
       purchase stainless steel or brass track with UV resistant ties.
       Power? as much as you can afford to purchase.
       Feeder lines? take a voltage tester, go around the track and
       look for voltage drop, that's where you'll need a feeder.
       O Scale in the Garden is quite common in England/Great Britan,
       you might want to look up Brit sites to check out what done over
       the pond, if you plan on Outdoor O.
       If you are going large scale, all the same applies...
       Happy Rails!
       dave
       #Post#: 2484--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Lionchief Polar Express Layout (100 ft. Min)
       By: worthing3104 Date: September 13, 2020, 7:07 pm
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       I appreciate the replies gentlemen. A little more info, it will
       indeed be O gauge. Was going to use fasttrack for the entire
       layout. He (we) live in the Las Vegas area which is very dry,
       low humidity.  The area is a 20'x20' in a garden area in the
       back of his house and have already built an enclosed structure
       over the entire area.
       #Post#: 2485--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Lionchief Polar Express Layout (100 ft. Min)
       By: djacobsen Date: September 14, 2020, 7:11 am
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       worthing3104
       It is/will be Your Layout.  I only offer information based upon
       experience, my own and other Large scale & O scale enthusiests
       who run trains outdoors.
       Your choice to run indoor track, outdoors, IMHO, is a mistake
       and you will be replacing it with track made to be used
       outdoors. You need to consider UV Stability & corrosion of the
       track & connections, regardless whether you live in Las Vegas or
       Death Valley, unless you plan on taking the track up and putting
       it back out every time you chose to run your train.
       But in the end it will be your layout and whatever you choose to
       do, is what it's about in the long run.
       Happy Rails!
       dave
       #Post#: 2486--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Lionchief Polar Express Layout (100 ft. Min)
       By: worthing3104 Date: September 16, 2020, 6:49 pm
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       Would Fast Track be ok to set up inside an enclosed garage?
       #Post#: 2487--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Lionchief Polar Express Layout (100 ft. Min)
       By: TrainLarry Date: September 16, 2020, 9:43 pm
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       You can set up your layout in the garage, just make sure to open
       it and ventilate it in the summer. You may want to heat it in
       the winter.
       Recommend to take your trains indoors after an operating session
       - don't leave them in an excessively hot/cold environment.
       Larry
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