First Run on Track! (Making a start)
My son and I are totally hooked on Live Steam, we generally wont run anything else now!! We have been running an A3 on the rolling road for 3 months (Due to not having a track ready and wanting to master the whole control side) We both watched the live steam DVD and took everything to the rolling road. (Step by step). Although my son is quite young (soon to be 5) he has totally mastered the control and happily accelerates and stops in a way that you would expect of an experienced driver. He does however insist on going full chat on the rolling road! (I wear the gloves in this household)
We ran on track for the first time yesterday and it has been hugely rewarding.
We haven't needed to add any additional wiring (12' length layout) My experience of the wiring is, its just a repeater and doesn't need to run all the way back to the power unit (Like a house does) and alleviates any dead spots. (Which would not be apparent in live steam) We ran a second 12v transformer and ran Hornby Thomas the tank engine (not at the same time) and checked for continuity that way.
Also I have propped both ends of the layout up (If you can imagine a double ended slipper bath) and that has been useful to create a gentle gradient before the turn.
My view on underlay is 2mm cork (quietness and a scale ballast hip) and also I'm running a 3rd Radius (505mm) and there is no chance of making the bend without the up gradients at each end. So the plan is to go up to 572mm and add a 1mm packer to the outside of the track (Brooklands style) I'll report back on whether that works at warp speed!
I hope this info is useful to anyone starting out.
Luke, dont be led into a false sense of security by a perfectly functioning Thomas that draws maybe one tenth of an amp. Live Steam draws 5 amps that will test loosly fitted fishplates and glancing point blades.
If your loco ever starts doing odd things like stopping suddenly, speeding up suddenly, going into un-commanded reverse, whistle coming and going then it's poor power supply to the track that's to blame.
Be on the lookout for melted sleepers - that's where the problem will be.
Delighted to hear that you are both totally hooked. Keep reading this forum and come along to a Roadshow if you can. Lots to learn and lots more enjoyment to be had.