James River Branch: Using Rokuhan Track

Using Rokuhan Track

Rokuhan is a new Z Scale products manufacturer making a line of sectional roadbed track. Many of the plans in this collection can be built using Rokuhan components; please use the conversion chart below to find out what you'll need to build them.

Although there are a few track items from Micro-Trains that Rokuhan doesn't currently make, overall Rokuhan offers many more different track pieces than Micro-Trains; see the Rokuhan FAQ for more information. Rokuhan is planning to release 30-degree versions of their 45-degree curve sections. This means you'll be able to build any plan designed for Micro-Track using Rokuhan track.

As an aside, you can build any plan right now with Rokuhan track if you're willing to cut 45-degree 195mm curve sections down to 30 degrees; it's not hard to do and there aren't that many of them to cut.

Track Part	Micro-Trains #	Rokuhan #
110mm straight	990 40 902	R001
195mm radius 45° curve	990 40 904	R002
110mm straight feeder (1)	990 40 905	R001
110mm straight uncoupler (2)	990 40 906	R001
110mm 13° left switch, manual (3)	990 40 910	R006
110mm 13° right switch, manual (3)	990 40 911	R007
490mm radius 13° curve	990 40 912	R012
220mm radius 45° curve	990 40 913	R004
110mm 13° left switch, powered	990 40 914	R006
110mm 13° right switch, powered	990 40 915	R007
220mm straight	990 40 917	R009
110mm plate girder bridge, black (4)	990 40 950B	R001
110mm plate girder bridge, gray (4)	990 40 950G	R001

NOTES

(1) Rokuhan does not make a special power connecting track. All of their 110mm and 220mm straight sections have hidden power connectors.
(2) Rokuhan does not make a magnetic uncoupler track. You can make one yourself by simply gluing an N scale between-the-rails uncoupling magnet to the underside of any 110mm or 220mm straight section.
(3) Rokuhan does not make manual switches. Their powered switches have totally hidden built-in machines, which means they can be used anywhere in any track plan.
(4) Rokuhan does not make a plate girder bridge. You can substitute a 110mm straight section for the bridge, and attach the plate girders from a Micro-Trains bridge, if you like, or make your own bridge.
Most Rokuhan track sections come in four-packs; the 490mm radius 13-degree curves come in two-packs.
Rokuhan switches require that one piece of track be notched to fit into it. They do not make a pre-notched track section.

MORE ABOUT SWITCHES

Micro-Trains makes a pair of pre-notched straight sections for use with their switches. This is fine as long as the track leading from the straight leg of the switch is straight. If it's not, you're stuck notching it. Rokuhan does not make pre-notched track parts; instead, they provide instructions with their switches on how to notch the track as needed. It's very easy to do! You'd use the same technique required for Micro-Track. In fact, things are even easier for Rokuhan track: there's no special roadbed connector required.