N-Scale – Westborough Rail Road

The Westborough Rail Road has an interesting beginning. I was considering building a small test track in N-Scale to see if any of the old model railroad stuff stored in the attic would run after all the years of storage. When i explored what i would need, i discovered how much n-scale had changed over the years. I decided i would try to build a little switching track in a 1 x 4 foot space  which is the back side of a shelf. 

One thing led to another and the 1 x 4 foot switching board evolved into a 1 meter by 3 meter loop. 

At the same time, i thought I might try and see how a DCC system compared to the old DC system i was used to. For many reasons, DCC is much nicer than DC. The basic reason is that you don’t need to use a bunch of ‘selector’ switches to control which track segments are active. My initial thought, which is correct, is that all the effects lighting would be on on each piece of rolling stock. Also all the effect lighting is at constant brightness, which always bothered me on DC. 

I thought it would be a simple matter to convert my existing collection of life-like locos to DCC. That was not the case. I soon discovered how much i liked the newer ‘decoder ready’ locos and even the already installed versions. 

In the end, the only surviving engines are a couple of emd e9’s from life-like. They were easier to upgrade to DCC, but actually, they may be replaced by newer more high quality units eventually. 

As for the rolling stock, a lot of it has been usable after the change out of wheel sets and couplers to either Micro Train or Kato universal. Some of the old Bachmann passenger cars have been changed out to Led and kado couplers… they are not the correct period however, and will probably be replaced with new Kato UP passenger cars. The other new trains are AMTRAK current day.

No track was re-usable so after trying Anyrail software, I decided to use modular track and went with Kato Uni-track. It seems to be very nice and easy to design. I did manage to update an old atlas turntable so that is in use. The only other old piece is an MRC transformer, which i am using as a DC power supply for landscape and switches. 

The control panels are custom made as i really don’t like the Kato or Atlas control panel devices. 

The table is built out of a couple of tool tables and a couple of sheets of plywood and old 2×4’s that were stacked [scraps]. Next time, if there is a next time, i will rather use modules prebuilt. 

That is a pretty good summary.  Click the button below to go on with the story and specifics of the WRR