How to Read and Post Comments on this Blog

February 17, 2015

For those who don’t already know, it is easy to read the comments and answers to questions posted on this blog. It is also easy to add your own comments or answers to questions. You don’t need to register, but to maintain a high standard; ALL COMMENTS ARE VETTED BY THE BLOG MODERATOR PRIOR TO PUBLICATION. This to ensure relevance, and to eliminate the kind of SPAM and ABUSE that is unfortunately so prevalent on the net.

To Read or Add Comments

Just click on the blue wording under any posting to read or add comments. If no one has already posted a comment, the wording will read “CLICK TO ADD A COMMENT”. If comments have already been posted the wording will read “1 comment”, “4 comments”, to indicate how many comments have already been published.

The Blog Moderator receives all comments and will publish them if they are relevant, well thought out, and free from SPAM or ABUSE. This can happen within minutes, or at least within 12 hours (depending on the time zones).

How to Post a Question

There is always a link in the right hand column where readers can post questions for others in the hobby to answer. To be approved for publication by the Blog Moderator, a question needs to be well thought out and provide enough information, so that other readers can provide quality helpful answers. The old saying “Garbage In – Garbage Out” applies. The best questions usually get the best answers! Questions are usually published on the blog within 12-72 hours after approval.

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Len Jacobs says:

February 18, 2015 at 5:05 am

This is a great community service for railroaders you are running for free. I think many of us take it for granted and forget to say thank you, so I’m saying it. THANK YOU.

VINCE says:

February 24, 2015 at 12:23 am

I HAD PRIVIOUSLY POSTED THAT NY LOCOMOTIVE WOULD START OFF OK BUT THEN WOULD SLOW DOWN AND STOP, THANKS TO A FEW SUGGESTIONS RECEIVED HERE IT SEEMS THAT IT IS RUNNING THE WAY IT SHOULD, UPON INSPECTING THE LAYOUT I’VE COME TO REALIZE THAT I DIDN’T TACK DOWN THE TRACK COMPLETELY I NAILED JUST A FEW HOLES OF THE TRACK SO IM THINKING THAT COULD PART OF THE REASON OF THE PROBLEMS..

SO I’VE PULLED OUT THE NAILS AND READY TO TACK DOWN THE TRACK,,,AM I BETTER OFF USING SCREWS INSTEAD OF NAILS AND DO I HAVE TO PLACE A SCREW IN EVERY HOLE OF THE TRACK,,ON THESE 027 TRACKS WHAT SIZE AND TYPE SCREW SHOULD I USE,,,AT 83 IT’S LIKE BEGINNING ALL OVER,,,BUT IT WILL BE A GOOD WAY TO STAY ACTIVE IN BODY GOING UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS TO THE BASEMENT AND FOR THE MIND SETTING UP LAYOUT AND MAKING THE SCENERY..

Frank says:

February 25, 2015 at 6:34 am

Hi Vince,
Well done for joining the world’s best engineering hobby ! Please turn off the Caps Lock on your computer keyboard !

If you are using regular pre-formed sections of track, two small nails or screws per section will be quite adequate. O scale flexible track will need fixing about every six inches.

But the problem you have is bad electrical contact somewhere. If the loco is slowing down on particular section or track, such as when it is further away from the controller, the problem is voltage drop due to the resistance of rails and joiners. Rail joiners are not that brilliant at electrically connecting rails.

Take an extra pair of wires from the controller to the other side of the track circuit, possibly even connect to the track at several places (depending on layout size).
(Observe consistent polarity, connecting the same wire to the same rail !)

Let us know if this fixes the problem.