Micro Trains couplers

Woah there Inkaneer! Seams you took offense when there was none to be given. I realize however there are some of you that are borderline fundamental regarding one of the many modular organizations. I said no offense to the non-prototype guys and that goes for T-Trak, NTrak and any other modular non-modular club, home layout what have you. I've been an active N scale modeler now for well over 25 years and have enjoyed all of the above. I'm also well aware as to the advantages of NTrak and modern prototype operations. You are right as I have done in the past, run a 75+ train with four SD70 MACs in the lead. You are correct that this is very difficult at best in other scales, HO being one. Impossible in HO? No, sorry. More difficult? Absolutely. However, keep in mind that the modern 4 unit brace with the 110 cars you quoted is still small in the prototype world and I still stand by my statement of an active three main line, especially in modern times. Yes the NYC had a three main line on the Mohawk division during the steam era but by the time Conrail was on the scene, that was a distant memory. At this point however, you have taken my reasoning on body mount versus older style couplers and turned it into a dissertation on why I find folks who run on modular layouts wrong or unprototypical. Perhaps you should go back and read my response again. It was the NTrak guy that came to me and told me my rendition of the City Job was a pointless waste of time. Yes I saw him run his trains on the nearby NTrak set up and never once did I judge him for whatever "Prototype Sins" he may have or not have committed. I for one was having too much fun running my layout with friends and occasionally walking over to admire a wide assortment of crack freight and passenger trains that would never see my little sliver of the world. I even found some astounding modeling on the T-Trak modules. All in all, it was a fun weekend, why Mr. Grumpy NTrak had to come over and be a something you accused me of, a parochial NTrak guy, I'll never know but I've never lost a moment of sleep over it.

And akin to calling the kettle black, you finished your argument with quote, "Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with point to point switching layouts but Nscale is bigger than that and we should be grateful that there are these other N scale aficionados who share our interests because without them we might be running point to point in (HORRORS!!!) HO." N scale is bigger than that? So if I want a point to point switching layout, N or smaller is not the scale? We only run big, modern trains. Well then, I guess a small switching layout in 1960's Illinois really isn't for N scale is it? I choose N scale for a number of reasons. Mainly because my friend and I that took on this project, already model in N. Second, the track plan of the City job is as close to scale as possible, within a few feet. There is no "selective compression", just chunks of modeling. The building we scratched built and the trains we run are based on research and are scaled from actual buildings and trains. Based on your statements, it is no wonder why we receive a better reception at RPM meets, a sector of model railroading that is largely 1/87th. The HO folks are amazed at how well the locomotives operate at low speed, how much better the cars look, how we actually run operations. I guess it is something the HO guys are used to, be it modular or home layouts, and something rare in N scale.

For all the things you have pointed out on my observations, I have received from your fellow NTrak and T-Trak fellows, albeit, not as kind as you have afforded me. Based on the reception my fellow modeler friend and I have received from the NTrak and T-Trak folks I have contemplated the switch to HO, after-all I only enjoy my little switching layout and N scale is much bigger than that. I could write more but your mind is made up. Your right, I'm wrong. Very well, I still sleep very well at night.

 

Again I apologize if it seamed by my post that I was over generalizing that all modular groups refused to run prototypical. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Modutrak guys put a lot of layouts to shame. My critique was aimed at those who don't want to run in the same manner as I. And please read my first post. NO ONE IS WRONG! To each his own I say. Someone asked a question on couplers and I gave MY REASONS. The thread then just started in your typical Trainboard argument thread.

 

Thread drift indeed. The OP asked a question, valid I may add regarding what type of layout they wish to build. In this case a switching layout. Not an NTrak, T-Trak, Free-Mo, modular or even standard rounds round home layout, a SWITCHING layout. They asked if if body mount couplers versus talgo would be okay. Because I have a similar layout, I gave my opinion based on my results. This after some rather pointless posts that were not very useable to the OP. I believe the only real transgression I’ve committed here is the over generalization some of you equated when I used unprototypical with modular, meaning one of the same. For that I am man enough to say “I’m sorry”. I’ve no doubt that NTrak as well as others have furthered the advancement of the scale, remember, I’ve been there for most of the ride. That said, I think there is a bit of complacency in some of these modular groups which is why I brought up pizza cutters earlier.

Yes, I realize the scale is bigger then anyone group, segment or in my case, layout in a spare bedroom (I don’t have a basement). But that wasn’t the question of the OP. The reason I brought up Mr. Grumpy was not because he is the exception and not because I have thin skin, (I’ve worked the Hobby trade for 20 years and have done public displays even longer so comments from the peanut gallery are usually taken in stride). No, it has been my experience that Mr. Grumpy is becoming the rule. I won’t go into detail because that is a whole other thread.

In the end, if your still reading this, I’m sorry my comment made a few of you upset. I’m not the most argumentative person on Trainboard but I will stand up to something tossed my direction. I may just go to HO scale, unfortunately Inkineer, not for any of your doing but for other reasons not applicable to this thread nor would you or anyone care.

 

Case in point of a totally useless post. I get it Jack, you don’t like body mounted couplers, move along, this isn’t the thread your looking for.

 

Keep in mind modern. If your modeling the 1970s, trains might not be that long. If your going for historical accuracy, a bit of research helps a lot. If accuracy is your goal and you enjoy it. In the end it is your layout and you model it how you want it to please no one but yourself.