4D HO Modular SIG
Tips for Beginners
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In this section you will find helpful tips for new people.  It's just a compilation of thoughts accumulated over the years in trying to help new people get started.  It's things they ought to know, but have to learn along the way.

>>Setup/down Tips for New People

>>CAR CHECK

Here is a nice checklist to evaluate your cars. If the following are satisfied, then the cars will work very reliability. Of course, the opposite is true.

  1. Wheels are metal
  2. If the trucks are metal, make sure that the insulated wheels are on the same side
  3. Wheels are clean
  4. Trucks swivel freely on bolster (Many are too tight)
  5. Axles are square to the trucks
  6. Wheels are perpendicular to the axle. (don’t laugh)
  7. Rolls freely down track of 1% grade
  8. Couplers are Kadee (Plastic ones are very unreliable)
  9. Couplers center themselves freely
  10. Use a Kadee coupler gauge to check the following:
    Couplers are the correct height
    Coupler trip pin is the correct height
  11. Use a NMRA gauge to check the wheels (and many other things)
    Wheels in gauge
  12. Use a scale to weigh the cars:
    Ideal weight of car (1 oz plus 0.5 oz per inch)

>>ROAD NAME:

Yes we have a road name, the Seattle, Pacific & Eastern (SP&S). Plans are to use this on our:
1. Show applications instead of 4th Div HO Modules SIG.

  1. Vests
  2. Rolling stock (maybe car colors coming)
  3. Inquiries about our Road and who we are.

The transition is slow. Hopefully we can select some colors someday

>>SIG MAGNETIC TRAIN BOARD

During shows, we need to monitor how many trains are out and on which track they are on. This will help each person determine if more are needed and on which track is deficient.

To that end, there is usually a magnetic board above the yard entrance (inside) where we keep this information posted and hopefully up to date.

When you take a train out, please put up a tag showing your name, train or number in the proper space to indicate the inner or outer track.

Use what ever means exists to put your name, loco number and place it properly. (We’ll try to make magnetic tags with your name on them so all you have to do is write the loco number (or consist number) on it and place it properly.) Note that the number to use is the DCC identifier so that anyone can pickup control if necessary.

>>SIG TRAIN ACTIVITY LIGHTS:

With our backboards blocking the views of train activity, it’s really hard to tell if the mainline is blocked or train stalled. Ideally each person should watch where he is going and watch the rear whenever his train is stopped.

Since this "ideal" is not perfectly met, we have developed a system where a light is posted on the backboard showing that train activity is occurring and operators should be especially careful. Such lights should be posted under the following circumstances:
1. When "switching activity" is occurring that sporadically blocks the main.
2. Entering or leaving the yard via the wye.

3. Using crossovers (these block both rails)