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C-track - Connecting 2 Separate Layouts With C-Track
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Offline MartinWalkabout  
#1 Posted : 02 September 2022 15:34:19(UTC)
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MartinWalkabout

United Kingdom   
Joined: 06/01/2021(UTC)
Posts: 7
Location: Broadwy
Hello Everyone,
I've been building a 15' x 5' layout for the last 3 years and am now going to connect it to a second 4' x 8' layout using C-Track through out. Both layout tables are on wheels so if needed I can move them around.
The two layouts will be connected with a single rail line and I'm trying to figure out how to connect two C-Track rails at the junction point so I can move the two layouts apart if ever needed.
Has anyone ever tried this and is there a simple way of doing it? Some kind of home-made magnetic connector? Or is this a problem that has no simple solution.
I've never posted here before but have gained a lot of guidance from the many dedicated members. Any help or input would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Peter
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Offline JohnjeanB  
#2 Posted : 02 September 2022 15:57:43(UTC)
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JohnjeanB

France   
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC)
Posts: 3,124
Location: Paris, France
Hi Martin
Welcome to the Forum
I suggest you centralise the power wires of each layout independently and - when assembled to gether - have the joining track insulated on one side and both layouts connected by (large) plugs to the digital command station or the transformer.
Better use 0.5 mm² (AWG 20) or thicker wire
Cheers
Jean
My layout videos
latest vid
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Offline kimballthurlow  
#3 Posted : 02 September 2022 23:55:30(UTC)
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kimballthurlow

Australia   
Joined: 18/03/2007(UTC)
Posts: 6,669
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Originally Posted by: MartinWalkabout Go to Quoted Post
Hello Everyone,
....how to connect two C-Track rails at the junction point so I can move the two layouts apart if ever needed.
Has anyone ever tried this and is there a simple way of doing it? Some kind of home-made magnetic connector? Or is this a problem that has no simple solution.
..
Thanks
Peter


Hello Peter,

The generally workable idea for physically joining portable layout tracks is to use a single piece of standard track as the joiner.
End the tracks on both baseboard sections a distance from the baseboard edge.
The combined distance between baseboard tracks has to be equal to the length of your joiner.
You will be best to figure out what standard section of C track you will use as joiner and how to end each section of track on the baseboards to suit.
When you join up the baseboards you insert the joiner.

This suggestion takes no account of what other electrical and physically compatabilities you might need.
I suggest you go to a local model railway show, and you will see plenty of examples of joining arrangements in the layout displays.

Kimball
HO Scale - Märklin (ep II-III and VI, C Track, digital) - 2 rail HO (Queensland Australia, UK, USA) - 3 rail OO (English Hornby Dublo) - old clockwork O gauge - Live Steam 90mm (3.1/2 inch) gauge.
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Offline kiwiAlan  
#4 Posted : 03 September 2022 00:25:29(UTC)
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kiwiAlan

United Kingdom   
Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC)
Posts: 8,109
Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
Originally Posted by: MartinWalkabout Go to Quoted Post

Has anyone ever tried this and is there a simple way of doing it? Some kind of home-made magnetic connector? Or is this a problem that has no simple solution.
I've never posted here before but have gained a lot of guidance from the many dedicated members. Any help or input would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Peter


The process listed by Kimball is how Marklin do their display layout that they take to all the shows to display new products. The only part of the problem I see is that the track needs to be 'bent' when dismantling it (as illustrated in the C track booklet) to get the plastic clips to disengage, otherwise they break off. But in some ways it would be good to break them off on the joining piece and the end pieces on each module, then use rail joiners to connect the track pieces together. Marklin do sell packets of rail joiners for C track, I suspect for exactly this purpose.

But the other question is how are you going to align the two modules? The modules will need to be accurately alighed each time you set them up, and to do this I would recommend you get what are called 'pattern makers dowels' (often available from traders at MRR exhibitions here in the UK. They come in two styles (as evidenced by these particular eBay offerings): -

This is one version which I don't like as I suspect it will be too easy to get the hole in the wood at an angle and they won't mate properly when the modules are pushed together.

I prefer these ones which require a recess in the end of the module so the faces of the plates are flush with the end of the modules.

The modules are then held together by bolts through other holes in the modules.
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Offline MartinWalkabout  
#5 Posted : 07 September 2022 10:38:01(UTC)
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MartinWalkabout

United Kingdom   
Joined: 06/01/2021(UTC)
Posts: 7
Location: Broadwy
Originally Posted by: JohnjeanB Go to Quoted Post
Hi Martin
Welcome to the Forum
I suggest you centralise the power wires of each layout independently and - when assembled to gether - have the joining track insulated on one side and both layouts connected by (large) plugs to the digital command station or the transformer.
Better use 0.5 mm² (AWG 20) or thicker wire
Cheers
Jean


Merci for the reply Jean! I had the same idea of creating independent power sections. Will experiment with that!
Peter
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Offline MartinWalkabout  
#6 Posted : 07 September 2022 10:40:53(UTC)
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MartinWalkabout

United Kingdom   
Joined: 06/01/2021(UTC)
Posts: 7
Location: Broadwy
Originally Posted by: kimballthurlow Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: MartinWalkabout Go to Quoted Post
Hello Everyone,
....how to connect two C-Track rails at the junction point so I can move the two layouts apart if ever needed.
Has anyone ever tried this and is there a simple way of doing it? Some kind of home-made magnetic connector? Or is this a problem that has no simple solution.
..
Thanks
Peter


Hello Peter,

The generally workable idea for physically joining portable layout tracks is to use a single piece of standard track as the joiner.
End the tracks on both baseboard sections a distance from the baseboard edge.
The combined distance between baseboard tracks has to be equal to the length of your joiner.
You will be best to figure out what standard section of C track you will use as joiner and how to end each section of track on the baseboards to suit.
When you join up the baseboards you insert the joiner.

This suggestion takes no account of what other electrical and physically compatabilities you might need.
I suggest you go to a local model railway show, and you will see plenty of examples of joining arrangements in the layout displays.

Kimball


Thanks Kimball, this is something I've been experimenting with as well. Since it's only one track that's being connected over 4 feet I need to find an easy way to slide the sections together smoothly and seamlessly. Thanks for the response.
Peter
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Offline MartinWalkabout  
#7 Posted : 07 September 2022 10:44:37(UTC)
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MartinWalkabout

United Kingdom   
Joined: 06/01/2021(UTC)
Posts: 7
Location: Broadwy
Originally Posted by: kiwiAlan Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: MartinWalkabout Go to Quoted Post

Has anyone ever tried this and is there a simple way of doing it? Some kind of home-made magnetic connector? Or is this a problem that has no simple solution.
I've never posted here before but have gained a lot of guidance from the many dedicated members. Any help or input would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Peter


The process listed by Kimball is how Marklin do their display layout that they take to all the shows to display new products. The only part of the problem I see is that the track needs to be 'bent' when dismantling it (as illustrated in the C track booklet) to get the plastic clips to disengage, otherwise they break off. But in some ways it would be good to break them off on the joining piece and the end pieces on each module, then use rail joiners to connect the track pieces together. Marklin do sell packets of rail joiners for C track, I suspect for exactly this purpose.

But the other question is how are you going to align the two modules? The modules will need to be accurately alighed each time you set them up, and to do this I would recommend you get what are called 'pattern makers dowels' (often available from traders at MRR exhibitions here in the UK. They come in two styles (as evidenced by these particular eBay offerings): -

This is one version which I don't like as I suspect it will be too easy to get the hole in the wood at an angle and they won't mate properly when the modules are pushed together.

I prefer these ones which require a recess in the end of the module so the faces of the plates are flush with the end of the modules.

The modules are then held together by bolts through other holes in the modules.


Thanks Alan. I've actually tried breaking off the connecting clips and that has so far worked well. The precise alignment is the challenge to avoid the metal conductors from breaking off but these EBAY connectors may do the trick. Thanks for the response! Peter
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Offline David Dewar  
#8 Posted : 07 September 2022 10:52:28(UTC)
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David Dewar

Scotland   
Joined: 01/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 7,342
Location: Scotland
Jeans idea of having both sides of the layout as individual layouts and insulate the joining track for me would be the best solution. As you only need to join on C track should not be difficult to line up the two sections.
Take care I like Marklin and will defend the worlds greatest model rail manufacturer.
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Offline rhfil  
#9 Posted : 07 September 2022 15:29:57(UTC)
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rhfil

United States   
Joined: 05/09/2014(UTC)
Posts: 427
Location: NEW HAMPSHIRE, Somersworth
Our ETE-ENE club layout consists of a number of independently wired modules which when connected have male plug wires connecting the sections and providing all the power sources. The modules have metal male and female plugs to align them properly and clamps to hold them together. It is not a perfect solution but has worked successfully for many years. Oh, the legs have adjusters to compensate for uneven floors. This has allowed the layout to be shown, over the years, at well over 100 different shows. The design also allows the modules to be changed out.
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