| Terminal Track Trick |
| –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– |
| By Armando Saldana |
Note: Follow the steps, with pictures, top to bottom, left to right.
As I began the task of wiring the HO setup and wasn't to thrilled about using the standard stock terminal tracks and with the size of my layout I'm expecting to use at least 5 per lane which is not a problem I have plenty, so I came upon this idea that eliminates the stock terminals and without the fear of soldering onto and melting the track.
For the Tyco Lok-Track and Aurora/Afx crowd here's what I did,
You'll need some N-Gauge train track rail joiners,
After cutting them in half, (I used a Dremel with a cut off disc as trying to just snip them in half pinches the ends tight making them harder to work with) then you'll need to solder the wires onto the joiners, two per lane I used speaker wire for the controller side and some common light cord wire for the power sides
After soldering the wires now just slip them onto the track ends the flat end of the joiners should be facing out, I used a stock terminal for reference, now it should look like this,
Now you can join both pieces, even though my track will be tacked down I still threw in a repair clip just for insurance ( Hint: AFX repair clips work great on Tycopro Lok track just cut them in half with a pair a tin snips) and they go into the normal area, the arrow points the way.
Now just test to make sure it works, I use a wall pak hooked directly to each lane, A little careful measuring and with a small hole bit I bore to holes where the wires will hang down for the finale hookup underneath.
Ok now for the Tyco Quik-Clik and Tomy crowd, you'll need some HO train rail joiners this time, carefully unfold them so there flat, it should look like the one on the right afterwards,
Now with a pair of tin snips cut the flattened rail joiner into four pieces like this,
And soldering them to the wires like shown,
Now just carefully slip the ends next to the rails from under the track,
(Hint A: before hookup take a look at how the track rails slide over each other to know on what side of the track rails to place the soldered wires.) Now test out your handy work.
(Hint B:) I would also recommend some hot glue here to secure the connection to the track to avoid any wire slip off as the vibration of the cars could cause the wires to break loose.
This should give the track a much cleaner look and I also avoid having to cover up all those stock terminals.
