Question 1

How Old do you have to be to become a member?

Accepted Answer

18

Question 2

Do you have a DC Block layout

Accepted Answer

No. Our entire HO mainline is DCC, there is no DC only layout.

Question 3

What kind of DCC System do you use?

Accepted Answer

Our primary operating system is Digitrax, augmentted to run phone throttles via JMRI and use a mix of Digitrax and TCS decoders in club engines. There is one sound engine, a club member's but wearing a club locomotive shell, that uses a Soundtraxx decoder.

Question 4

What Memberships do you offer?

Accepted Answer

The NWR offers a Single Person Membership with additional "Rider" Options for family.

The Base Membership dues are $30/mo or $360 a year. This grants 1 Voting power, a key to the building, and 24/7 access.

For Parents with children, there is a $5/mo add-on for children under the age of 18. For Children over the Age of 18, the add-on is $10.

Question 5

Do you offer a "Family" Membership?"

Accepted Answer

Family Membership is treated as a Single Person Membership. With the Board's approval, a membership may be shared by parents, but only the "primary member on the account would have voting priveliges.

Question 6

What is WiThrottle

Accepted Answer

WiThrottle is an app that can be downloaded to a smart phone or tablet, and via a wifi connection with a computer, will talk to the Digitrax (or other compatible DCC system) and allow your phone to operate like a throttle.

Question 7

How do I join as a member?

Accepted Answer

Membership starts with filling out a form and introducing yourself, your interests, your skillset, and any goals you may have. Probationary Members are required to attend 2 Meetings, 2 Operating Sessions, and 3 Worknights, the latter being our regular Monday/Thursday nights. After completeing those requirements, Probies will be voted in by the Club during the next regular Meeting. We used to require a 6 month period, but that has been lifted in 2019.

Question 8

Can I run a DC engine on a DCC Layout?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All NMRA compatible DCC Systems reserve cab number "00" for a DC engine. However...

Question 9

What is the Probationary Period

Accepted Answer

Six Months, give or take. Probationary Members are required to attend several Busienss Meetings, Work nights, and Operating Sessions. However long it takes for you to achieve that is largely up to you.

Question 10

Is it true that running as DC engine on a DCC layout is hard on the DC engine?

Accepted Answer

Yes and No. A DC locomotive runs on ~12v DC power, and DCC layouts tend to use ~14v AC power. (that's why a DC motor hums on DCC) if the locomotive does not have a decoder in it, that AC power CAN harm the motor, but it is over a period ot time and is NOT instantaneous. If the engine is running (usung that current) and only out for a short period of time, it should be fine. 
 
1. several places have devices called reversing units that reverse the track power polarity on turnback loops. (one current being put into the path of another current running the opposite direction like two creeks meeting) on a DCC locomotive, the decoder senses this reverser and inverts its inputs to the motor automatically. a DC engine, lacking this decoder, will start to try to go the other way. If the engine behind it has not hit the reverser yet, they will end up pusjhing against each other until you stop both engines or burn out the motors. One reversing unit is located under the Monon Junction track coming out of Staging.

Question 11

What are the Dues

Accepted Answer

1. Probationary Period
   1. $15/month
2. Full Membership
   1. $30/Month (360/year)
3. For Family additions
   1. $5/Month under 18
   2. $10/Month 18 and over

Question 12

I have an NCE (or other brand) THROTTLE, can I bring it?"

Accepted Answer

No, only Digitrax throttles will work on a Digirtrax system. We have a few spares.

Question 13

What do my dues cover?

Accepted Answer

We own the building, so the good news is there's no rent. The bad news, is that there are property taxes, electricity, heating and air, and general building maintenence to cover. The balance of the collected dues go into a general fund for "layout stuff".

Question 14

I have an NCE (or other brand) THROTTLE, can I bring it?"

Accepted Answer

No, only Digitrax throttles will work on a Digirtrax system. We have a few spares.

Question 15

I want to work on a project will the club buy the materials?

Accepted Answer

That depends largely on the project at hand. Usually, no. We will foot the bill for small things, and gneral scenery materials, and on some caseswill split the costs, but more extravagant pieces will fall to the membership putting in their time. For example, there is a recent signalling project in Possman, the controlling systems were paid for by the club, but the signals themselves were bought by the member undertaking the project.
 
RELATED: The club may choose to buy rollingstock, as that is a general scenery peice and enjoyed by all members, however much of it is donated by the members of the club, not bought

Question 16

I have an NCE (or other brand) DECODER, can I run that engine?"

Accepted Answer

Yes! All NMRA standardized decoders are cross compaqtible with th evarious control systems.

Question 17

I have an NCE (or other brand) DECODER, can I run that engine?"

Accepted Answer

Yes! All NMRA standardized decoders are cross compaqtible with th evarious control systems.

Question 18

I have an MTH DCS engine, can I run that on your DCC layout?"

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is perfectly harmless to the engine, however, in the past, early MTH locomotives have been shown to be sensitive to fluctuations in track, DCC current, and gremlins. I have chased several around the layout because they stopped communicating and went supersonic into a curve. The more recent releases (particularly their SD70s) have not shown the same tendencies, but it is worth noting that DCS=/=DCC

Question 19

I have an MTH DCS engine, can I run that on your DCC layout?"

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is perfectly harmless to the engine, however, in the past, early MTH locomotives have been shown to be sensitive to fluctuations in track, DCC current, and gremlins. I have chased several around the layout because they stopped communicating and went supersonic into a curve. The more recent releases (particularly their SD70s) have not shown the same tendencies, but it is worth noting that DCS=/=DCC

Question 20

I’m a question. Click here to edit my style or click Edit FAQ to customize me.

Accepted Answer

I’m an answer. Click here to edit my style or click Edit FAQ to customize me. I’m a great place to answer the questions your visitors ask most. My text is rich, so you can change my color, font and add inside the FAQ editor.

Question 21

I have an NCE (or other brand) THROTTLE, can I bring it?"

Accepted Answer

No, only Digitrax throttles will work on a Digirtrax system. We have a few spares.

Question 22

I have an NCE (or other brand) THROTTLE, can I bring it?"

Accepted Answer

No, only Digitrax throttles will work on a Digirtrax system. We have a few spares.

Question 23

When are you guys open to the public?

Accepted Answer

We're open on Mondays and Thursdays, excluding Holidays, and during our three Train Shows at Manual High School, plus our Father's Day CookOut and other events as announced. Please Note, Thursdays are typically "Work Nights" and trains may not be running. But we are glad to have ya!

Question 24

I can't make that night, what other nights are you available?"

Accepted Answer

If the first Monday doesn't work for you, there is usually SOMEONE there other Mondays as well. If THAT doesn't work for you, Thursday nights are our usually scheduled work nights. We cannot guarentee that anyone WILL be there, or that anything is running, or that anyone is available to offer a tour, but we'll do our best.

Question 25

I see cars out front, may I knock on the door?"

Accepted Answer

We endeavor to be friendly, but one of the perks of being a member is that you have the freedom to show up whenever you want and enjoy the layout in your owen privacy of friends. And sometimes those members may not feel safe opening up the layout to strangers unannounced. And other times, we may be hosting a private tour group, such as a Historical Society, or the NMRA, or a school group. As a general rule of thumb, if you don't see the Crossing sign, or our own sign out, we ask that you come back on a regular date.

Question 26

I have an NCE (or other brand) DECODER, can I run that engine?"

Accepted Answer

Yes! All NMRA standardized decoders are cross compaqtible with th evarious control systems.

Question 27

I have an NCE (or other brand) DECODER, can I run that engine?"

Accepted Answer

Yes! All NMRA standardized decoders are cross compaqtible with th evarious control systems.

Question 28

I have an MTH DCS engine, can I run that on your DCC layout?"

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is perfectly harmless to the engine, however, in the past, early MTH locomotives have been shown to be sensitive to fluctuations in track, DCC current, and gremlins. I have chased several around the layout because they stopped communicating and went supersonic into a curve. The more recent releases (particularly their SD70s) have not shown the same tendencies, but it is worth noting that DCS=/=DCC

Question 29

I have an MTH DCS engine, can I run that on your DCC layout?"

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is perfectly harmless to the engine, however, in the past, early MTH locomotives have been shown to be sensitive to fluctuations in track, DCC current, and gremlins. I have chased several around the layout because they stopped communicating and went supersonic into a curve. The more recent releases (particularly their SD70s) have not shown the same tendencies, but it is worth noting that DCS=/=DCC

Question 30

I have a collection I'm trying to sell.

Accepted Answer

Thank you for thinking of us! We'll try to do what we can to send someone out, get some photos, and make some contacts with our vendors. We can'ty guarentee they'll bite, however. As a ckub, we typically do not buy collections, but we'll be more than happy to consult,

Question 31

I have a collection I would like to donate

Accepted Answer

Thank you for thinking of us! We'd be more than happy to go through what you have however we are going on 50+ years and hve quite the collection ourselves, so we may not be able to accept everything that is offered.

Question 32

I have an engine that doesn't work, can I bring it to you?"

Accepted Answer

We would be happy to consult. Several of our members are very good with eltectronics, but we do not as a club offer an outright repair service and are not responsible. You are more than welcome to enter into a private arrangement with a club member.

Question 33

I have an engine I would like to add a decoder to. May I bring it to you?

Accepted Answer

We would be happy to consult. Several of our members are very good with eltectronics, but we do not as a club offer an outright repair service and are not responsible for anything that miht happen. You are more than welcome to enter into a private arrangement with a club member.

Question 34

When are your Train Shows?

Accepted Answer

We host three personal shows at Manual High School in September, December, and March. We also host a Father's Day Weekend openhouse. For specific dates please watch the homepage and the Facebook page. The clubhouse will be open during the shows.

Question 35

What other train shows do you attend?

Accepted Answer

For that information, please check the calendar page and watch the Facebook page (It's on the right hand column, and open to non-Facebook members). Usually, we'll have a table at GTE as well. However, as a club we recently decided to limit ourselves severely on what shows we attended. It's nothing personal, its just that as a club, we were committed to so many shows that it felt like work and the actual layout was not getting any attention. It stopped being fun, and that was kinda the whole point.

Question 36

I'm a vendor and wish to reserve a table

Accepted Answer

Please visit our "Shows" page (naptownrr.org/Shows), download the relevant Vendor Registration Form, and mail or e-mail the completed document along with payment for the required number of tables.