Since late 2019 I have had no DC test track. This layout, using DCC circuit breakers is DCC only except for running a DC loco on address 00. This has not been an issue as most of my needs for testing DC equipment is prior to a show and there just hasn't been any since the pandemic started. I have thought of making a DC test track that would slide out like a drawer from under some part of the layout or hinge up or down. Then recently I had a need for a DC test track when a friend asked me to repair one of his DC locomotives. So I looked around my shop and using a scrap of peg board, some stiffing rails and a few C clamps threw together the setup seen below.
After finishing the loco repair I realized that I had been overthinking the design and had a good solution right in front of me. The peg board got cut down to 24" X 30". Then the railing material was cut to size to frame the edges of the peg board. A groove was cut lengthwise on the inside edge for the peg board to slip into and the pieces were glued together. This made for a sturdy enough board that could be placed on a box, or as in the photo below on a pair of modules in storage.
The Kato power pack I am using for this test track will be stored seperately so it is not attached to the board. A frame of strips glued to the board will keep it from sliding around. One hole was enlarged on the board to be big enough for the adapter plug to feed through and the track connector comes through another hole.
That wire to the track is secured to the bottom board by feeding it through a tube that is held to the board with adhesive.
When not in use, the test track fits along part of the short wall that the supports the helix.
Just too clever.
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