Hi Guys---I am getting ready to put together an N scale "learning" project layout, using Kato sectional track. It will initially have an NCE PowerCab for its command station/booster, but will probably eventually be upgraded to an SB5 SmartBooster. I plan to use PSX and PSX-AR circuit breakers and autoreversers, so I have been looking at those manuals.

One thing that seems strange to me is the recommendation that rail gaps between power (and reverser) districts be offset by 0.75" from one rail to the other. I have read several discussions on MR forums that argue whether this is necessary or not, with some saying they operate fine with aligned gaps and others claiming to have fixed problems with aligned gaps by off-setting them.

Because sectional track does not provide a means to off-set rail gaps by as little as 0.75" with insulated rail joiners, I would need to make special "gap sections" by sawing rails within sections. And, gaps for the rails to engine stalls where they abut my turntable would be especially difficult to offset. So, I am wondering if this is really necessary. I do not understand the reason(s) for the 0.75" offset recommendation. Would you be so kind as to explain to me why you make that recommendation? Steve L.

Steve---The issue is that there is a point if the rail ends are perfectly aligned where the engine can shunt the short circuit current around the PSX-AR. Some track folks try to perfectly align the gaps,n so we tell them not to do it. In general, there is enough slop in the rail ends that even if they are "equal" they are not aligned so they have no problem. Not aligned means the engine wheel can't bridge both gaps at the same time. In electronic time, this rarely happens.

We recommend that you go ahead and not worry about staggering gaps. We use Kato N scale track on our demo layout and it works fine. If you have a problem at a particular point, then you can try staggering the insulators. On our layout, we simply stagger the rails by one straight section. Left rail has an insulator on one end and right rail has an insulator on the other end.