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I have a door sitting in one of the seacans at work and was wondering if it would be worth taking home to plop some clockwork track on.

The reason I'm asking here and not on the layout design forum is you guys are more likely to understand the intricacies of gently banked clockwork track. I would be using my big layout if not for that pesky third rail. 

Most of the track I'm going to use will be Hafner and am looking to maximize the run time and just simple fun with the layout, also to motivate me to work on the big one this winter.

TIA

Edit: I guess what I'm asking is... Does anyone have any layout ideas or suggestions etc. that would be simple and maximize the fun/run time? 

Last edited by SteamWolf
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How big is the door?  Specifically, how wide?  You might consider using something bigger than the common O-27 curves that come with most windup sets.  Even going from O-27 to Marx O-34 will help the trains stay on the track better and run longer due to less drag through the curves.  You can remove the center rail to make it look like clockwork track... my mainline is Lionel O-42 with the center rail removed.

A common loop with a siding or two works well enough.  A Figure 8 is neat, but the windup trains tend to bounce across those 90 degree crossings at speed and occasionally come of the rails.  The Thor Trains website has a lot of ideas for small layouts that will work well, as long as it has a loop (or loops) for the continuous running that is necessary with the clockworks.

(Edit: Looks like great minds think alike... Steve asked the same question about the door while I was typing up my post... :-D)

Last edited by WindupGuy
WindupGuy posted:

Here is an overhead view of a door layout that I used to have for train show use.  It used mostly Hafner track for the mainline, with a couple of Ives switches and some other various accessories:

2015Display1 [513x1024)

Hey James, Thanks for the pic, that looks really simple and like it could be a bit of fun. The door is 31" wide and I was looking at the thortrains site for that size of door and found a few that might work but was woried about the rocket Hafner and Marx that I have and dogbone shaped layouts.

I appreciate all the feedback guys. 

Don't use steel wool, the little pieces of metal aren't good for either electric or windup trains... hopefully the other guys will have some good suggestions.

I'm a bit ashamed to admit that I'm lazy and don't bother to clean it up.  I've used some very rusty track that was otherwise in good condition.  Running the windups over it will eventually knock the rust off the railhead.  It's not like I have to worry about electrical contact... 

Rotory wire brush . Oil with hair clipper oil, or gun oil, just enough to protect it after.  If it's a lot, try electrolosis.  I've done  some in evaporust too.  The nice thing with chemical cleaning is it cleans inside the tube.(pull pins/ dry it asap)

  As a rule, never use steel wool anywhere near a layout. The dust will be drawn to running motors.

Much courser scouring grade metal wools like Choir Boy stainlesss steel, can be used if you pick out the "tinsel" carefully.(most stainless isnt magnetic...you'd never get all the fine stuff cleaned fully...just don't)

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