Ztrains: Z Scale Basics: Available Track Pieces

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Currnently Available Micro-Track® Sectional Track

More and more we are seeing Z scale users building not just temporary but permanent home and modular layouts using Micro-Track® sectional track. It's a very reliable system and has become a favorite in Z scale. You can have a basic layout up and running literally in minutes or you can make Micro-Track® the basis for your permanent layout.

	Track Description	Part Number
A	110mm Straight Track	990 40 902
B	220mm Straight Track	990 40 917
C	110mm Uncoupler Track	990 40 906
D	110mm Feeder Track	990 40 905

E	195mm Curved Track, 30°	990 40 903
F	195mm Curved Track, 45°	990 40 904
G	220mm Curved Track, 45°	990 40 913
H	490mm Curved Track, 13°	990 40 912

I	Left Manual Turnout	990 40 910
J	Right Manual Turnout	990 40 911
K	Left Remote Turnout	990 40 914
L	Right Remote Turnout	990 40 915

Before we go on I'd suggest you have a quick look at an earlier article we wrote when Micro-Track® was first released in the Summer of 2005. This will give you a feel for some of the features of this track system. Of course since the time of this article new track sections as well as turnouts have been added to the Micro-Track® line.

Read This Micro-Track® Article.

There are a couple of points that are worth noting about Micro-Track® and how it's packaged and sold. Most of the track pieces shown in the diagram on the right are sold in packages of 12 pieces. This makes having extra pieces around for experimenting with, and altering your track plans, simple. The specialty track pieces such as the feeder track and the uncoupling track are sold individually. The turnouts come with a 110mm straight track section as well as a 490mm, 13° curved track section, as pictured in the diagram.

Turnouts
There is a key option available on both the left hand (LH) and right hand (RH) Micro-Track® turnouts. These turnouts are sold as either manual or remote based. The difference between the two is that on the remote turnouts there is a small adapter that is fitted to the side of a turnout (see photo, below). This adapter allows you to change the direction of your trains from a separate and yes... remote, switch controller.

If you start off by choosing the manual turnouts and later decide you'd prefer to use the remote turnouts, no problem! Micro-Trains® produces a 4 pack of these adapters that allow you to easily convert your manual turnouts into remote operation turnouts. One additional item you will need to control these remote switches is a switch controller. Not to worry... this is very simple. The Atlas Model Railroad Company makes a very bare bones switch control box , Atlas item #ATL56, for under $5.00 (see photo, below). Micro-Trains® recommends this switch controller and includes wiring directions right on their turnout packaging.

Connecting Your Micro-Track®
Once you've decided on a basic track plan, if this is your first layout you'll likely use the basic oval or the expansion set, but before you begin to assemble your Micro-Track®, just a quick note on track assembly. Micro-Track® uses a Dual Joining System (DJS). This simply means that each track end has two plastic roadbed joiners for a positive connection to the adjacent section of track as well as two metal rail joiners for both electrical conductivity and a bit of additional physical strength. Overall these connections provide a very positive feel.


	Click to enlarge photo

The best way to connect these sections is to lay two track sections on a flat surface, line up the connections and simply push together. You'll hear a slight "click" or "snap" when the track pieces are joined correctly.

One important note: You'll want to make sure that you apply even pressure when joining track to avoid having one section of rail slide on top of a rail joiner causing a misaligned rail (see photo, below). An easy way to tell if you have a misaligned rail is to run your finger over the sections after you've joined them, you'll feel the end of the rail resting on top of the rail joiner. If you have a misaligned rail just disconnect the pieces and reconnect.

Disconnecting Your Micro-Track®


	Click to enlarge photo

When you want to disconnect track sections you again lay the pieces on a flat surface and gently pull the sections apart while using a very slight rocking, side-to-side motion. This eases your track connections apart while maintaining their shape.

Generally the plastic roadbed joiners and the metal rail joiners are quite strong and will last for the many repeated connecting and disconnecting actions. If your break one of these connectors Micro-Trains® sells replacement packs of each. Never a bad idea to have a few extras around... just in case.

Overall Micro-Track® Thoughts
On balance Micro-Trains® has delivered a very solid performer with their Micro-Track® system. More track sections are in the works and from what we hear, there will be many new track pieces introduced this year and beyond, this is definitely a growing system. Micro-Track® has made working in Z scale a pleasure for new and experienced users alike. In an upcoming article we'll show you how to cleanly modify some current Micro-Track® pieces for even more track plan possibilities. Next up however we'll get started with some very basic track plans to get you up and running in Z scale!