Looks Like I'm About To Become A T Scaler!

[MountainMan]

I...will...never...complain...about...N...scale...again. hock:

[Cannonball]

The main addition I'd want for t gauge is the ability to move the trains at a slow pace. The aforementioned 0-100-crash speed scale isn't too appealing. Not being able to do switching isn't a problem, not being able to slowly accelerate and decelerate a 10 to 50 car train is. Imagine 50+ car freight trains on a *moderately* sized layout snaking through the landscape.. Yep, that would do it for me. Easily convertible engines and cars would be next on the wishlist.

Supposedly the new 9000 series fixes both issues. They run better and the mechanism is entirely housed on the chassis so kitbashing other types of locos and rolling stock is beginning to take off. A guy over on Talking T Gauge has actually kitbashed an original 103 into a GE Dash 9 which is pretty impressive.

There are switches available now for the molded trackbed but nothing to match up to the flex track without adapters.

I really wish I had researched these a little more and held out for a 9000 series but mine will be a 103. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it won't have a lot of the QC issues I've been reading about. All things considered, T gauge is relatively inexpensive to get started in. After looking at Z for awhile, I was surprised by the lower cost of T gauge.

[Cannonball]

I...will...never...complain...about...N...scale...again. hock:

Dude!
This isn't even the smallest!

There is a guy who does 1/700 scale! :o

And this:

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[MountainMan]

hock:

[Steamtrains]

What he said.....

[Cannonball]

My T gauge 103 set arrived today! After some tweaking with the trucks a bit and lining up the powered cars so they are running in tandem, it's running like a top. It runs noticeably better counter-clockwise than clockwise for some reason. I haven't quite sorted that out yet. I think it's probably because the faster of the two powered cars is in front going counter-clockwise and there is too much pushing and shoving going on when I reverse directions. (Yes, one is quite a bit faster than the other.) As it stands, I've had it running for about 20 minutes without a derailment so far. (Aside from my daughter getting overly excited and knocking the tail car off..... hock: )

Some Random Thoughts:

1) It's very odd having the powered cars in the middle instead of in the front. I wonder if this contributes to some of the derailment issues?
2) Dave K. got it right in his blog. No picture in relation to size and scale totally prepares you for how small these things really are.
3) I really love the fact that it can run on batteries or with the power adapter. I'm surprised this feature isn't talked about more. It makes it the perfect portable train set.
4) I wish they had American locos and rolling stock. I can't kitbash to save my life.
5) A rerailing track section would probably be far more effective than this big, yellow stick.
6) I think I will definitely upgrade to a 9000 series when I get ready to do a full blown layout.

[Cannonball]

A short video of my T-gauge train running.

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[tv_man]

Ordered a set of these as well now, also a length of flex track to see how well that will work. Looking forward to kitbashing some cars, as I don't care about the Japanese prototype. Dreading the stories about the quality of the 103 set, but let's see for myself first. I've seen some videos of a slow-running controller for these trains which, if it eventually will become generally available, might make running these trains a pleasure. Stay tuned for a message like Cannonball's in a bit when the set arrives

[Catt]

To give a size perspective,this is a T scale car on my 60' Z scale flat car.The Z scale car is 3 5/16s " long.



Personally I think T has a viable future once the line is expanded so that there is more available.

[viperman]

I had to say something, but I don't know what to say.

[tv_man]

So here is my T gauge layout, not too dissimilar from Cannonball's..
   
I also happened to scratch-build a tanker. It isn't a very fine piece of modelling, but next to a Russian sleeping car (N gauge) it shows it's small size..
   

[P5se Camelback]

I bet they'd do pretty well representing a 1 1/2" scale model railroad club on an HO scale layout, with lots of LPBs standing around and riding on them! :mrgreen:

[tv_man]

There is actually a garden railroad set available/coming soon. Apparently it is a rideable garden railroad for G scale.