I am moving into model railroading (rc airplanes in summer) n scale, do you guys put re-railers in hidden section of your track just in case? Or will this cause more potential problems. I know tedious tracklaying is very important but I suspect derailments are inevitable.
Welcome to TrainBoard! Yes, I use re-railers behind hills (also a small staging area) and out of sight in the back of my 36" x 80" layout. As you say, just in case.
As long as they are for insurance, and not an excuse to cover for poor trackwork, they are fine. Hidden areas are some of the most appropriate areas
I'm not quite sure why this thread stretches out so wide maybe it got derailed and needs a rerailer...grin! Yes, I use rerailers in my hidden staging yard, stub end yard, on the main line and in areas hard to access. I also use them for those maintenance roads. Railroads have to allow for their trucks and security to cross the tracks. Take a look at my model railroad in the pictures I provided on RailImages . I do have some older locomotives that hang up on the rerailers but I seldom run them. Basically yunk! It's true I have equipment that won't always rerail at the rerailer. But in most cases they are a life saver and they come in cherry, strawberry, apple, lemon and orange flavors ...oops... wrong life saver...grin! Post Christmas Blues...I'm sure. Feel free to drop them in wherever you see the need or have a purpose. I must warn you there are fellow model rails that look down their nose at such track laying. They are good guys. They would rather do without the rerailers. "It's your railroad and you make the rules, first and foremost have fun" Jim 157.
Re-Railers and Kato Track Kato makes their own re-railer tracks which are pricey but very useful for getting cars on the track. Does anyone make their own for Kato track. It is as simple as using rails like the prototype does for bridges or maybe a sheet of styrene?
Mike- Welcome to Trainboard. Hidden is the best place unless you model at Vollmer's level. I have a double main line going through a tunnel that contains a 9 3/4" turn. Without the hidden rerailers, I would not be able to run trains without holding my breath every time I see a caboose disappear into the tunnel.
Welcome to Trainboard. I have put them into all 4 hidden staging yards. They do get the odd car back on to the tracks for me.
Basically they function to help get a car that is off the rail a little back on track. The way the plastic base is molded and angled on each end of the track helps to guide the wheels back on to the rails. I sometimes use my re-railers to put cars on the layout - you just gently roll the car over the ends of the track, and generally the wheels will be guided on to the rails. Works nicely if you have vision troubles to get cars and even locomotives on the layout.
Oh OK, thanks Tim. That clears it up. I like how it can be incorporated into a railway crossing and disguised that way too.
Add another vote for use in staging areas and hidden trackage where appropriate. I put in one between sections of flex track.
