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INTRODUCTION "HOTRAIL" IS THE NAME FOR
THE 'HO SCALE' VERSION OF THE 'N SCALE' "BEND TRACK" MODULAR SYSTEM DEVELOPED
BY THE "LINCOLN 'N' SCALERS" OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA IN 1986. THIS HAND BOOK
HAS BEEN ADAPTED WITH ONLY THE CHANGES REQUIRED TO WORK FOR 'HO SCALE'
MODULES. SO, WITH ALL THE CREDIT THAT IS DUE THE "LINCOLN 'N' SCALERS",
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING "SHERMAN HILL MODEL RAILROAD CLUB" TO COPY YOUR
"BEND TRACK" HAND BOOK.
BY NOW, MOST MODEL RAILROADERS
ARE AT LEAST SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR, IF NOT VERY FAMILIAR, WITH THE CONCEPT
OF MODULAR MODEL RAILROADING. IN CASE YOU'RE VERY NEW TO THE HOBBY, ALLOW
US TO BREIFLY EXPLAIN THE BASIC CONCEPT BEHIND MODULAR RAILROADING. MODULAR
RAILROADING IS A MEANS BY WHICH INDIVIDUAL MODELERS CAN BUILD A SECTION
OF RAILROAD AND ASSEMBLE THEM WITH OTHER MODELERS' UNITS TO FORM A COMPLETE
WORKING MODEL RAILROAD. IF YOU'VE EVER ATTENDED A MODEL RAILROAD MEET OR
CONVENTION, CHANCES ARE THAT YOU'VE SEEN THIS CONCEPT IN ACTION. THIS IDEA
IS SO POPULAR, THAT VIRTUALLY EVERY SCALE HAS MADE USE OF THIS CONCEPT,
NOT ONLY FOR PUBLIC SHOWS, BUT ALSO FOR HOME OR CLUB LAYOUTS.
IN JUNE OF 1995, ROBERT SHERWOOD,
PRESIDENT, SHMRC, ATTENDED THE SPRING CONVENTION OF THE "NMRA?ROCKY MOUNTAIN
REGION". WHILE VIEWING THE MODULAR LAYOUTS, HE VIEWED THE MODULAR LAYOUT
OF THE "LINCOLN 'N' SCALERS" AND THEIR "BEND TRACK" MODULAR CONCEPT. WHILE
VIEWING THEIR MODULAR LAYOUT, IDEAS STARTED TO COMING TO MIND, WOULD THIS
WORK FOR 'HO SCALE', COULD THIS WORK FOR 'HO SCALE'. BY TALKING TO CLUB
MEMBERS AND PURCHASING THEIR "BEND TRACK" MODULE HANDBOOK, THEIR MODULAR
SYSTEM WAS UNDERSTOOD.
"HOTRAIL" MODULAR SYSTEM
IS BASED ON STANDARD MODULES OF VARYING LENGTHS THAT ARE A MINIMUM OF 32"
WIDE AT THEIR JOINING SURFACES.
THESE LOLLIPOP MODULES, SET
OF FOUR (4), PROVIDE A 180 DEGREE TURN AROUND FOR THE MAINLINES.
FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES,
THE SMALLEST AND SIMPLEST "HOTRAIL" SYSTEM INCLUDES JUST TWO (2) LOLLIPOPS,
ASSEMBLED TOGETHER TO FORM A SMALL LOOP OR OVAL SETUP. THE TRAIN BEGINS
ON ONE SIDE OF A LOLLIPOP, THEN TRAVERSES TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE LOLLIPOP
BEFORE TRAVELING ONTO THE SECOND LOLLIPOP AND RETURNING TO THE STARTING
POINT.
WITH TWO LOLLIPOPS AND SOME
STRAIGHT MODULES, YOU HAVE USED THE TWO MOST BASIC MODULE DESIGNS TO EXPAND
YOUR LAYOUT.
UNLIKE TRADITIONAL MODULAR
SYSTEMS WHERE YOU HAVE JUST STRAIGHTS (USUALLY 4, 6, OR 8 FOOT), 90 DEGREE
CORNERS OR REVERSE MODULES WHICH MAKE UP 85% TO 90% OF MODULAR LAYOUTS,
"HOTRAIL" ACCOMMODATES AN ALMOST LIMITLESS VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SHAPES
OF MODULES TO MAKE UP ITS SYSTEM. BY USING THESE MODULES YOU CAN QUICKLY
CONJURE UP MODULE LAYOUTS OF VARYING SHAPES AND DESIGNS. LAYOUTS ARE POSSIBLE
WITH LEGS BRANCHING OUT ON EITHER SIDE OF A STRAIGHT RUN AND EACH 'LEG'
CAN BE AS LONG AND TWISTING AS YOU WANT IT TO BE. THIS HAS BEEN A BIG ADVANTAGE
WHEN SETTING UP A DISPLAY FOR A MODEL RAILROAD SHOW SINCE YOU CAN BEND
THE DISPLAY AROUND CORNERS AND JOG THE DISPLAY OUT OF THE WAY OF PILLARS
AND COLUMNS.
NOW THAT YOU HAVE AN IDEA
OF THE CONCEPT, LETS EXPLORE THE "HOTRAIL" FAMILY OF MODULES, STARTING
WITH THE BASIC STRAIGHT MODULE. A STRAIGHT CAN ACTUALLY BE BA ANY LENGTH
OR SHAPE YOU CAN THINK OF. ALL THAT IS NECESSARY IS TO HAVE EACH MODULE
CONFORM TO THE REQUIRED JOINING STANDARDS, ALLOWING THEM TO MATE WITH ANY
OTHER "HOTRAIL" MODULES. "HOTRAIL" STRAIGHT MODULES DIFFERS FROM THE TRADITIONAL
STRAIGHT MODULES IN THAT IT HAS DOUBLE MAINLINE TRACKS ON BOTH SIDES OF
THE MODULE INSTEAD OF JUST ONE SIDE. IN SETTING UP A TRADITIONAL MODULAR
LAYOUT, YOU MUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE AN EQUAL LENGTH OF MODULES ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE LAYOUT. FOR EXAMPLE, IF ONE SIDE OF THE LAYOUT TOTALS
12 FOOT (2 x 6 FOOT MODULES), THEN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAYOUT MUST MAINTAIN
THAT SAME 12 FOOT LENGTH, EITHER WITH 2 ? 6 FOOT MODULES, 3 ? 4 FOOT MODULES
OR SOME OTHER MODULE COMBINATION. WITH "HOTRAIL" THAT 'REQUIREMENT' IS
TOTALLY ELIMINATED. WHEN A STRAIGHT MODULE IS BUILT OF ANY LENGTH, IT'S
LIKE BUILDING TWO MODULES AT THE SAME TIME, AUTOMATICALLY TOTALING THE
SAME LENGTH.
LOLLIPOP MODULES MAY BE OF
ANY SIZE OR SHAPE THAT YOU DESIRE OR WHICH WILL FIT YOUR REQUIREMENT, AS
LONG AS THE DOUBLE MAINLINE TRACKS RETURN TO THE SAME 32" AREA AT WHICH
THEY ENTERED ONTO THE LOLLIPOP.
CURVED MODULES CAN BE BUILT
WITH ANY AMOUNT OF CURVATURE THAT IS DESIRED OR REQUIRED TO FIT A PARTICULAR
SPACE OR AREA. TRADITIONAL MODULAR SYSTEMS RELY HEAVILY ON HAVING FOUR
90 DEGREE CORNER MODULES IN ORDER TO HAVE A COMPLETE RUNNING LAYOUT. WITH
"HOTRAIL" THE NEED FOR CORNER MODULES DOES NOT EXIST. IN FACT, THE "HOTRAIL"
SYSTEM HAS NO CORNER MODULE AS SUCH, BUT RATHER STRAIGHT MODULES THAT HAVE
BEEN BENT TO ANY DESIRED AMOUNT OF CURVATURE OR ANGLE. THE THING TO REMEMBER
ABOUT A CURVED "HOTRAIL" MODULE IS THAT THE CURVE OF THE MODULE IS NOT
ITSELF NECESSARY TO MAKE THE SYSTEM WORK (THE LOLLIPOP MODULES TAKE CARE
OF THAT). THE REASON TO CURVE A "HOTRAIL" MODULE IS TO CREATE A MORE NATURAL
OR PLEASING APPEARANCE TO THE EYE OR TO BETTER MATCH WHAT YOU WANT THE
TRACK TO BE DOING, SUCH AS AN OFFSET OR 'S' SHAPED MODULE WHERE THE TRACK
FOLLOWS A RIVER OR HILLSIDE.
BRANCHING MODULES CAN ADD
A GREAT VARIETY AND INTEREST TO THE SHAPE OF THE "HOTRAIL" SYSTEM. BRANCHING
MODULES MAY BE 'T's, 'Y's, '+'s OR 'X's. WITH THE LARGER SCALE, BRANCHING
MODULES WILL REQUIRE SEVERAL MODULES TO MAKE THE CHANGE IN DIRECTION. ONE
NOTE TO MENTION, FOR EVERY BRANCH MODULE USED IN THE SYSTEM, THERE MUST
BE A LOLLIPOP LOCATED AT THE END OF EACH BRANCH LEG.
BY NOW YOUR HEAD MAY BE LOG
JAMMED WITH IDEAS FOR NEW AND INTERESTING SHAPES FOR MODULES AND ENTIRE
"HOTRAIL" LAYOUTS. LETS DISCUSS SOME ADVANTAGES AND POSSIBLE CONCERNS WITH
THE "HOTRAIL" MODULAR SYSTEM.
ADVANTAGE # 1 ... FLEXIBILITY WITH NO FIXED NUMBER OF MODULES
REQUIRED (OTHER THAN TWO LOLLIPOPS), THERE IS AN ALMOST LIMITLESS VARIETY
OF POSSIBLE PERMUTATIONS AND COMBINATIONS TO LAYOUT DESIGNS. GENERALLY,
EACH OPERATING SESSION OR SHOW CAN YIELD A NEW VARIATION ON THE GENERAL
"HOTRAIL" THEME.
ADVANTAGE # 2 ... AN INTERACTIVE LAYOUT WITH THE PROPER USE OF STANTIONS
OR GUARD BARRIERS, YOU'RE ABLE TO WALK AROUND THE LAYOUT, KEEPING AN EYE
ON YOUR TRAIN AND BEING ABLE TO INTERACT WITH THE PEOPLE VIEWING THE TRAINS.
FROM EARLIER EXPERIENCES WITH TRADITIONAL MODULAR LAYOUTS, IT SEEMED AS
IF THE MODULES CREATED A BARRIER BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND CLUB MEMBERS OPERATING
THE LAYOUT. CLUB MEMBERS WERE PERCEIVED AS BEING INSIDE A SOUND PROOF CONTROL
BOOTH, NOT TO BE CONTACTED UNLESS WE HAPPENED TO STRAY OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM.
ADVANTAGE # 3 ... MORE RUNNING LENGTH SINCE "HOTRAIL" DOES NOT
HAVE AN OPERATING PIT, YOUR ABLE TO MAKE BETTER USE OF THE SPACE THAT THE
SYSTEM OCCUPIES. MORE MODULES CAN BE USED, MEANING MORE MAINLINE RUNNING.
ADVANTAGE # 4 ... MINIMAL STARTUP EXPENSE TWO LOLLIPOPS FOR THE "HOTRAIL"
SYSTEM COSTS ABOUT $300.00 OR $37.50 PER MODULE x 8 MODULES.
CONCERN # 1 ... NO OPERATING PIT BY COMPARISON WITH TRADITIONAL MODULAR LAYOUTS, THE "HOTRAIL" SYSTEM HAS NO OPERATING PIT. TO COMBAT THIS, "HOTRAIL" CONCERN # 2 ... LOLLIPOP
DIMENSIONS
THE NITTY GRITTY OF "HOTRAIL".
WE'LL DISCUSS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MODULES WHICH INCLUDES THE BENCH
WORK AND LEGS, THE PLACEMENT OF THE MAINLINE TRACKS, MAINLINE MINIMUM RADIUS,
BRAND OF TRACK AND TURNOUTS AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
GENERAL AND CONSTRUCTION A. DRAW SCALE PLANS FOR TRACK
PLACEMENT
BENCH WORK A. MODULE FRAMING . 3/4"
x 4" . ACX PLYWOOD* (GOOD ONE SIDE)
* MAY USE OSB
(ORIENTED STRAND BOARD) IN PLACE OF PLYWOOD, SAME REASONS
LEGS A. LEG PLACEMENT ON MODULE
. 6 TO 12" FROM MODULE END
TRACK WORK "HOTRAIL" TRACK WORK CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS MAINLINE TRACK EAST BOUND MAIN
A. TRACK CENTERS . 2 1/2"
. MINIMUM
SCENERY TRACK SCENERY TRACKS ARE DEFINED AS ANY TRACK OTHER THAN THE MAINLINES, SUCH AS INDUSTRIAL SIDINGS OR YARDS. A. ACCESS TO MAIN . AVAILABLE
FROM EITHER MAINLINE
GENERAL A. MODULE ELECTRICAL PARTS
. EAST BOUND MAINLINE
G. TRACK FEEDLINES SHALL BE FIRMLY ATTACHED TO EACH MODULE AND SHALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE CONNECTOR FROM THE FEEDLINE TO ITS TRACK ON THE MODULE. THE FEEDLINE ENDS WILL BE ABLE TO EXTEND ONE (1) FOOT PAST THE TOP OR FRAME END OF THE MODULE. H. MAINLINE FEEDLINES BE CONTINUOUS AROUND THE LOOP AND NO SECTIONS OF MAINLINE OR MAINLINE PASSING TRACK SHALL DEPEND UPON BEING FEED THROUGH A SPANNER TRACK. I. A/C FEEDLINES SHALL BE
FIRMLY ATTACHED TO EACH MODULE AND SHALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE MODULE USER
(IF NEEDED) CONNECTION. A/C FEEDLINE ENDS WILL BE ABLE TO EXTEND ONE (1)
FOOT PAST THE TOP OR FRAME END OF THE MODULE.
MAINLINE THROTTLES A. MAINLINE THROTTLES CONNECT
TO THE MAINLINE VIA THE THROTTLE FEED CORD. THE THROTTLE FEED CORD SOCKET
ACCEPTS A 4?PIN "CINCH JONES" PLUG OR EQUIVALENT. THIS PLUG IS THE TYPE
USED ON HAND THROTTLES USED FOR THE LOCAL CONTROL OF MEMBERS MODULES AND
IS WIRED IDENTICALLY WHEN USING A HAND THROTTLE TO RUN A MAINLINE.
HAND THROTTLES A. HAND THROTTLES MAY BE USED FOR LOCAL CONTROL OF TRAINS ON MEMBERS MODULES. THESE HAND THROTTLES DRAW 16 volts A/C FROM THE MODULES A/C FEEDLINE. THE PLUG ON THE THROTTLE IS A 4?PIN "CINCH JONES" PLUG OR EQUIVALENT. B. SOCKETS ON MODULES OR CONTROL PANELS FOR HAND THROTTLES ARE 4?PIN "CINCH JONES" SOCKETS OR EQUIVALENT. PIN WIRING AS FOLLOWS C. WIRING FOR HAND THROTTLES
PLUGS AND SOCKETS
D. WIRING FOR OTHER THROTTLES
CONTROL PANELS A. ALL CONTROL PANEL SWITCHES SHALL BE CLEARLY MARKED/LABELED AS TO FUNCTION AND POSITIONS. B. NO CONTROL PANEL SWITCH SETTINGS SHALL ALLOW POWER FROM A MODULES LOCAL THROTTLE TO FEED BACK INTO ANY MAINLINE TRACK FEEDLINE. C. NO CONTROL PANEL SWITCH
SETTINGS SHALL ALLOW POWER FROM ONE MAINLINE TO BE CONNECTED TO THE OTHER
MAINLINE.
TRACK GAPS A. INSULATING MATERIAL SHALL BE USED TO FILL RAIL GAPS. NO AIR GAPS ARE ALLOWED. B. SUITABLE INSULATING MATERIALS
ARE
C. TRACK BETWEEN MAINLINES AND PASSING TRACKS SHALL HAVE BOTH RAILS GAPPED. D. TRACK BETWEEN PASSING TRACKS AND OTHER SIDINGS SHALL HAVE BOTH RAILS GAPPED. E. ALL RAILS GAPPED FOR BLOCK CONTROL, SHALL HAVE BOTH RAILS GAPPED. F. ALL PASSING TRACKS SHALL
BE GAPPED.
GENERAL A. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS STANDARD, "ROLLING STOCK" INCLUDES CARS AND LOCOMOTIVES . ANY MODEL TO BE OPERATED ON THE RAILS OF CLUB LAYOUTS. A.1. "GENERAL SERVICE" ROLLING STOCK IS MADE AVAILABLE BY THE MEMBER TO BE USED FOR ANY PROTOTYPICAL PURPOSE DURING OPERATIONS. GENERAL SERVICE ROLLING STOCK IS NORMALLY PLACED IN THE YARD OR MAINLINE SIDINGS AND IS AVAILABLE FOR UNRESTRICTED OPERATION BY MEMBERS AND APPROVED GUESTS. ANY ROLLING STOCK LEFT IN THESE LOCATIONS IS PRESUMED TO BE FOR GENERAL SERVICE UNLESS SHOWN OTHERWISE, IN WHICH CASE IT IS REMOVED IMMEDIATELY FROM THE LAYOUT. ALL GENERAL SERVICE ROLLING STOCK MUST MEET THESE STANDARDS COMPLETELY. A.2. "SPECIAL SERVICE" ROLLING STOCK IS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBER TO BE USED FOR SOME SPECIAL PURPOSE BY HIMSELF/HERSELF OR SOME OPERATOR AND IS NOT TO BE MIXED WITH OR OPERATED WITH "GENERAL SERVICE" ROLLING STOCK. TYPICALLY, SPECIAL SERVICE ROLLING STOCK CONSISTS OF ESPECIALLY PRIZED MODELS, UNIT TRAINS OR ROLLING STOCK WHICH HAS NOT MET THE "GENERAL SERVICE" STANDARDS. THE OPERATOR MUST OBTAIN THE "TRAINMASTERS" PERMISSION TO RUN "SPECIAL SERVICE" ROLLING STOCK EACH TIME HE/SHE WANTS TO RUN IT AND MUST REMOVE IT FROM THE YARD, MAINLINE OR MAINLINE SIDING TRACKS AS SOON AS THE RUN IS FINISHED. THIS PRECAUTION IS NECESSARY TO PREVENT "SPECIAL SERVICE" ROLLING STOCK FROM BEING MIXED IN WITH "GENERAL SERVICE" ROLLING STOCK WHILE UNATTENDED AND CAUSING OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS OR DAMAGE TO PRIZED EQUIPMENT. SUCH ROLLING STOCK IS ALWAYS LIABLE TO NEED EXTRA CARE IN OPERATING, TENDS TO INTERFERE WITH ORDINARY "GENERAL SERVICE" OPERATIONS AND MAY BE ESPECIALLY SUBJECT TO INADVERTENT DAMAGE IF OTHER OPERATORS ARE NOT AWARE OF ITS PRESENCE. PRIOR PERMISSION IS THE ONLY WAY TO MINIMIZE DISPUTES AMONG MEMBERS. A.3. "TRAINMASTER" FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS STANDARD, IS THE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN DESIGNATED "TRAINMASTER" FOR THE CLUB EVENT IN QUESTION OR A.3.1 THE PERSON APPOINTED BY THE "TRAINMASTER" TO ACT IN HIS/HER ABSENCE OR A.3.2 THE PERSON WHO IS EXERCISING OVERALL MANAGEMENT OF THE LAYOUT AT THE MOMENT. A.4. MEMBERS SHOULD REMOVE ANY PIECE OF ROLLING STOCK AT ONCE FROM THE YARD, MAINLINE OR MAINLINE SIDINGS IF IT: A.4.1 IS CAUSING AN OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS A.4.2 DOES NOT HAVE A CURRENTLY VALID INSPECTION A.5. ALL ROLLING STOCK THAT IS REMOVED FROM THE LAYOUT ACCORDING TO PARAGRAPH A.4, MUST BE PLACED IMMEDIATELY IN THE "BAD ORDER" BOX WITH A STICK?ON LABEL SHOWING: A.5.1 WHY IT WAS REMOVED A.5.2 WHO REMOVED IT
A.6. BEFORE BEING RETURNED TO THE LAYOUT, ANY "BAD ORDER" ROLLING STOCK MUST HAVE THE LISTED DEFECT(S) FULLY CORRECTED OR SHOWN NOT TO EXIST AND MUST RECEIVE THE "TRAINMASTERS" APPROVAL. IF FEASIBLE, THE PERSON REPAIRING THE ROLLING STOCK SHOULD SUBJECT IT TO THE COMPLETE INSPECTION SPECIFIED BY THIS STANDARD, SECTION B. A.7. "ROLLING STOCK
INSPECTIONS" DETERMINE WETHER OR NOT ANY PIECE OF ROLLING STOCK MEETS THIS
STANDARD. NO OTHER METHOD OF MAKING THIS DETERMINATION IS RECOGNIZED. THE
DETERMINATION IS MADE INDIVIDUALLY FOR EVERY CAR OR LOCOMOTIVE. SUCCESSFUL
COMPLETION OF THE INSPECTION IS VALID FOR THAT PIECE OF ROLLING STOCK FOR
ONE (1) YEAR, AFTER WHICH IT MUST BE REINSPECTED.
INSPECTION PROCEDURE B. ROLLING STOCK INSPECTIONS CAN BE A TIME CONSUMING PROCESS, BUT ARE GENERALLY A REWARDING EXPERIENCE FOR THE MEMBER. THE TIME ELEMENT CAN BE DRASTICALLY REDUCED IF THE MEMBER PERFORMS A PRE?INSPECTION OF HIS/HER ROLLING STOCK AND RIGOROUSLY APPLIES THIS STANDARD TO IT BEFORE PRESENTING IT FOR INSPECTION. B.1 THE "MASTER MECHANIC" OR HIS/HER DESIGNATED ASSISTANT(S) WILL CONDUCT ALL ROLLING STOCK INSPECTIONS OR SUPERVISE ALL GROUP INSPECTION PARTIES. B.2 ALL INSPECTIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED TO THIS STANDARD. NO EXCEPTIONS ARE PERMITTED. ANY ROLLING STOCK THAT DOES NOT MEET ALL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE STANDARD WILL BE CONSIDERED "SPECIAL SERVICE" ROLLING STOCK. ROLLING STOCK THAT DOES MEET ALL SPECIFICATIONS IS CONSIDERED TO HAVE PASSED THE INSPECTION. B.3 ALL ROLLING STOCK THAT PASSES INSPECTION WILL HAVE A STICKER ATTACHED TO THE UNDERSIDE INDICATING THE MONTH AND YEAR OF THE INSPECTION. THIS STICKER IS THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE EVIDENCE THAT THE ROLLING STOCK CURRENTLY CONFORMS TO THIS STANDARD. IF THE STICKER IS MISSING OR EXPIRED, THE ROLLING STOCK SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE LAYOUT UNTIL IT IS SUCCESSFULLY RE?INSPECTED. B.4 MEMBERS SHOULD SUBMIT
ROLLING STOCK FOR RE?INSPECTION AFTER MAJOR REPAIRS OR MODIFICATIONS.
INSPECTION CHECKLIST C. TRUCKS C.1 WHEEL FLANGES AND GAUGE (ALL AXLES) MUST CONFORM TO THE NMRA MK?IV STANDARDS GAUGE. C.2 ALL WHEEL TREADS AND FLANGES MUST BE FREE OF FLAT SPOTS, CHIP?OUTS AND MUST HAVE NO FOREIGN MATTER BUILD UP. C.3 TRUCKS MUST ROTATE FREELY UNDER FINGER PRESSURE, IF IN DOUBT, THE CAR MUST NEGOTIATE A #4 TURNOUT WITHOUT BINDING. C.4 AXLES MUST SPIN FREELY UNDER FINGER PRESSURE, IF IN DOUBT, THE CAR MUST ROLL FREELY DOWN A 2% GRADE. C.5 THE TRUCK ON ONE (1)
END OF THE CAR MUST HAVE A SLIGHT LATERAL ROCK (1/8" IS DESIRABLE) AND
THE TRUCK ON THE OTHER END MUST HAVE THE MINIMUM POSSIBLE ROCK CONSISTENT
WITH FREE ROTATION. SPRUNG TRUCKS REQUIRE MINIMAL LATERAL ROCK.
D. OWNER IDENTIFICATION D.1 MUST BE THE ASSIGNED CLUB COLOR CODE. D.2 MUST BE CLEARLY VISIBLE AND UNMISTAKABLY LEGIBLE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ROLLING STOCK. D.3 WAYS TO MARK ROLLING STOCK D.3.1 PAINT (TESTORS 1/4oz BOTTLE WORKS GREAT FOR THIS) D.3.2 1/8" STICKY DOTS D.3.3 TAMIYA PAINT TENS
E. COUPLERS E.1 MUST BE KADEE OR EQUAL MAGNETIC TYPE, ON BOTH ENDS. E.2 MUST BE FREE OF FLASH AND FOREIGN MATTER BUILD UP ON ALL OPERATING SURFACES E.2.1 PAINT OR WEATHERING IS ACCEPTABLE, WITH NO INTERFERENCE WITH OPERATION E.3 MUST MOVE READILY BY FINGER PRESSURE TO EACH SIDE OF THE COUPLER POCKET AND MUST SNAP BACK FREELY TO FROM EACH SIDE E.4 OPERATING FACE MUST MATE WITH AT LEAST 90% HEIGHT OVERLAP (FACE?TO?FACE) WITH A KADEE GAUGE. E.4.1 THIS TEST IS TO BE PERFORMED WITH THE COUPLER UNDER TENSION (PULLING THE ROLLING STOCK AND GAUGE IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS). E.5 THE UNCOUPLING PIN (GLAD HAND) MUST BE SET TO CLEAR A STANDARD KADEE GAUGE BY 0.020". E.6 THE COUPLER MUST SNAP
OPEN FREELY WHEN THE PIECE OF ROLLING STOCK IS MOVED NORMALLY OVER A STANDARD
KADEE UNCOUPLING MAGNET AND MUST SNAP BACK TO CLOSED AND CENTERED POSITION
AFTER PASSING THE RAMP.
F. WEIGHT F.1 WEIGHT SPECIFICATIONS DO NOT APPLY TO POWERED LOCOMOTIVES, EXCEPT FOR STEAM LOCOMOTIVE TENDERS (SEE PARAGRAPH G.1). F.2 ALL CARS MUST BE WEIGHTED TO THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATIONS F.2.1 STARTING WEIGHT CHART . +/? .5oz: F.2.2 FORMULA FOR FIGURING CAR WEIGHTS F.2.2.1 2 oz + 1/2 oz FOR
EACH """ OF CAR LENGTH ? CAR LOAD
SCALE LENGTH . WEIGHT* SCALE LENGTH . WEIGHT* UNDER 32 FEET: 3.0 oz
58?62 FEET: . 5.0 oz
* THE CAR LOAD WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE CARS WEIGHT F.3 FOR WEIGHT CALCULATION PURPOSES, CAR LENGTH IS MEASURED FROM END BEAM TO END BEAM (DOES NOT INCLUDE COUPLERS). F.4 WEIGHTS MUST BE SECURED SO THAT THEY CANNOT FALL OFF OR SHIFT SIDEWAYS ENOUGH TO MAKE THE CAR LEAN. F.5 OVERALL WEIGHT MUST BEAR
APPROXIMATELY EQUALLY ON BOTH ENDS OF THE CAR, IF IN DOUBT, THE CAR MUST
BALANCE ON TWO PARALLEL ADJACENT FINGERS AT ITS CENTER POINT WITHOUT FALLING
OFF.
G. LOCOMOTIVES G.1 STEAM LOCOMOTIVES TENDERS MUST MEET ALL OF THE ABOVE SPECIFICATIONS, EXCEPT THAT WEIGHT SPECIFICATIONS ARE WAIVED IF THE TENDER IS NOT READILY DETACHABLE FROM THE ENGINE. TRUCK STANDARDS WILL APPLY. G.2 ALL MOTIVE POWER MUST MEET ALL SPECIFICATIONS IN THIS STANDARD EXCEPT WEIGHT AND FRONT COUPLERS ON STEAM LOCOMOTIVES. G.3 ALL MOTIVE POWER UNITS MUST BE ABLE TO MOVE RELIABLY UNDER THEIR OWN POWER, IF IN DOUBT, THEY MUST TRAVERSE AT LEAST THREE (3) FEET AT A REASONABLE YARD SPEED. G.4 DUMMY MOTIVE POWER UNITS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR "GENERAL SERVICE" PROVIDED THAT THEY MEET ALL REQUIREMENTS IN THIS STANDARD. DUMMY MOTIVE POWER UNITS WILL ALWAYS BE THE TRAILING UNIT. NO MORE THAN ONE (1) DUMMY PER MOTIVE POWER CONSIST. G.5 WORKING FRONT COUPLERS
ARE OPTIONAL ON STEAM LOCOMOTIVES.
H. PASSENGER CARS H.1 PASSENGER CARS MUST MEET
ALL REQUIREMENTS AS OUTLINED IN
H.2 COUPLERS MAY BE BODY OR TRUCK MOUNTED. ALL OTHER PARTS OF SECTION E.3 APPLY. H.3 PASSENGER CARS SHALL
BE CONSIDERED "GENERAL SERVICE" UNLESS THE "TRAINMASTER" IS INFORMED OTHERWISE.
I. UNIT TRAINS I.1 ALL UNIT TRAINS (ARTICULATED STACK AND PIGGYBACK CARS) MUST HAVE KADEE COUPLERS ON BOTH ENDS. DRAWBARS MAY BE USED IN BETWEEN. NORMAL WEIGHT STANDARDS ARE WAIVED FOR ARTICULATED UNITS, UNLESS OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS DEVELOP, THEN SECTION A.2 APPLIES. |
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