Model Trains
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John Shares Info On His Trains
John from the UK has sent in this article for publication:
All my locos are either Hornby or Bachmann bought new. There are three exceptions to this:-
1. Airfix GWR Castle class 4-6-0. Castle class locos were the front line express passenger locos of the GWR from 1923 until the end of steam. In the nineteen thirties the ‘Cheltenham Flyer’ was declared The Fastest Train in The World and held the title until 1937. The fastest run of all in June 1932 was hauled by no. 5006 Tregenna Castle (It was always hauled by a Castle Class engine) in which the 77.3 mile journey was covered start to stop in under 57 minutes, an AVERAGE speed of 81.7 mph. A total of 165 Castle class locos were built, the last 38 after Nationalisation in 1948. No fewer than seven Castles have been saved for preservation. Recently no. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgecombe was sharing a 500 ton load in 14 bogies with Tornado no. 60163, the new build Peppercorn Pacific (LNER) over the Devon banks. Here there are sections as steep as 1 in 30. This special train was actually delayed by a failing diesel HST125. The 125 mph modern train was struggling with a deposit of wet autumn leaves on the track. The steam locos had dry sanding gear and made light of it.
My model is an excellent loco with tender drive but I may have to add weight to the main loco body because there is some skidding of the main driving wheels. The pulling ability of this loco is very good and it has taken 20 bogies away no trouble.
2. Airfix GWR 61xx ‘Prairie’ 2-6-2T heavy suburban passenger tank loco. This pulls fine but runs unevenly and I have never succeeded in finding out why. I have bought a new chassis kit, wheels, motor and gearbox from ‘Comet’ Models and will build this new chassis and fit when I can find the time.
3. Scratchbuilt Southern Railway general purpose tank engine type Drummond M7 0-4-4T. These engines were used on empty stock train duties taking empty coaches back to Nine Elms depot for cleaning and servicing. M7’s also brought serviced stock back into Waterloo from Nine Elms Yard in preparation for departing trains for Bournemouth, Weymouth and the far south west (Devon and Cornwall). Some M7 locos were fitted with special gear for running on “push-pull” two coach branch line trains in which the driver operated the train from a set of controls in the end compartment of the second coach. This was done to save the need to “run round”. Thus the crew were together on the footplate when running in the forward direction only. This was done on the Swanage and Seaton branches especially. My model hauls a train of ten bogies or thirty goods wagons and is a perfect runner.
I believe the problem with the Prairie tank is too much side play on the leading and trailing driving wheel axles causing jamming of the coupling and connecting rods. If I can put in washers under the driving wheels on these axles it may cure the problem but I have been told that the Airfix chassis leaves much to be desired and I should build a new chassis. This was a new loco but Airfix no longer exist so I have to deal with it myself.
Roco Trains
Frank has a question for readers about Roco trains:
“Does anyone know what has happened to Roco? Are they still manufacturing? If so, are they still in Austria? How does one obtain their products?”
Comment below.
Special Thank You
I would like to thank everyone for the kind comments and congratulatory emails on the release of my new ebooks. I am thrilled they have been so well received and so helpful to so many. I certainly tried to include lots of different topics to make the new ebooks very different to the already popular Model Train Help ebook. I think I got it right!
New Ebooks Now Available – Early Bird Special Offer
The long awaited release is here. Two new ebooks out now –
1. Model Train Scenery and Layout Construction Ideas
2. 303 Model Railroading Answers
Read full details on what is included in each one at Model Train Layouts.
They are the perfect follow-ons to my best-selling Model Train Help ebook.
Miniature Railways
Jody will be very interested in one of the sections in my new ebook being released soon as it deals with micro layouts (among other things). However, in the meantime, Jody has a question for readers:
“I am a miniaturest working in very small scale. I would like to make a train layout in the smallest possible scale. How tall are the houses, etc for z scale? I cant seem to find any measurements for z scale trains, and I have been unable to see one for myself. Also, do they make any working trains in dollhouse scale? I am guessing this scale would be about a half inch for the engine, but I’m not sure. Anybody out there who can help? Thanks.”
Add your suggestions or comments below.
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Bachmann Baldwin Shark
Andy wants guidance from readers to convert his Baldwin Shark loco to DCC. Andy asks:
“I would like to convert my ModelPower Baldwin Shark to DCC. It has a large can type motor with two wires and the headlight wire exposed. I only want power and lighting; I don’t need sound. Any help I can get to do this will be greatly appreciated.”
Pictured is the Bachmann HO Scale DCC Pennsylvania RR Baldwin RF-16 A Unit Shark Diesel Locomotive from Bachmann. The distinctive nose contours of Baldwin’s RF-16 diesels earned them the name “Shark”. These powerful freight hauling locomotives were built in the early 1950s and saw service hauling coal, ore and other heavy loads.
LNER no. 2001 Cock ‘o the North, Gresley P2 class 2-8-2
Above: Painting by Ian Cook Cock o’ the North on the Forth Bridge in watercolour and gouache. John has sent in this wonderful contribution that I’m sure everyone will enjoy:
The photos were taken by my friend Ian Cook who is making his name as a railway artist. I have seen some of Ian’s paintings and you can almost catch a whiff of that unmistakeable smell of smoke, steam and hot steam oil.
The locomotive is LNER no. 2001 Cock ‘o the North, Gresley P2 class 2-8-2, a very powerful machine indeed.
Doubtless you recognise the location 
– it is, of course, the mighty Forth Bridge in Scotland. Sadly none of the P2 class were saved although the enthusiasts have begun to build new. The Peppercorn pacific Tornado no. 60163 is the first of these new generation locos and because it uses modern construction techniques like a welded boiler and roller bearings in place of white metal journals, is proving itself a great mainline contender.
As Ian is nearing retirement from his career as a sales engineer (for which he travels Britain and Europe) we must hope that his talent burgeons as he will soon be able to give himself totally to his art. Ian is no longer a railway modeller but is concentrating on railway photography and art. At present he is working on a painting of the Royal Albert Bridge, Saltash, the last great work of that doyen of railwaymen, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Ian’s painting is being done in the golden light of an Autumn sunset. This bridge joins Cornwall to England. Perhaps I should tell you that the Cornish consider themselves a race apart and are as elite and separate as the people of Wales.
His photos that I sent you were in fact taken at Pontrilas, just over the border into Welsh Wales coming south from Hereford on the Welsh Marches line from Shrewsbury via Church Stretton, Ludlow, Leominster, Hereford, Pontrilas and Abergavenny to Newport (Monmouthshire). At Pontrilas the line crosses a shoulder of The Black Mountains, links up with the Great Western main line at Newport and then heads into Cardiff.
The sole locomotive in the photos is King class no. 6024 King Edward I shortly to be withdrawn for overhaul. But never fear because no. 6023 King Edward II is nearing completion of a total restoration so our heritage trains will not be bereft of a King for long.
The double headed train seen crossing the viaduct and at the lineside at Pontrilas is hauled by Kinlet Hall no. 4936 (not Hagley Hall no. 4930) and Nunney Castle no.5029.
There is one other King saved and that is no. 6000 King George V. It is kept in the ‘Steam’ museum at Swindon along with no. 4073 Caerphilly Castle. Sadly both are static exhibits and will not run again. It was no.6000 which, when new in 1927 was exhibited at The Baltimore and Ohio railway in the USA. The American engineers found it quite unbelievable that a locomotive which was dwarfed by theirs could be so powerful and free running. King George V was therefore presented with an inscribed brass bell which even today is bolted in position on the front buffer beam. If there is anything else you want to know about the railways, locomotives and rolling stock of Britain please feel free to ask. If I don’t know all the answers, I know a man who does!
There are about eight Halls still running or in overhaul and about six Castles. All will run from time to time when in possession of a boiler certificate. Steam locomotive operation on “Heritage” trains with fare paying passengers on board is a tremendous business now here in the UK. British Rail have realised the earning potential of steam trains and all the old barriers to operation by restored steam have been dropped.
Ian used to own the heritage Daimler bus pictured here.
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Recommend model train ebook.
Marker Lights For Front Of Locomotive
Nel wants some advice from experienced model railroaders and asks:
“I am lookling for a source of marker lights for the front of a locomotive boiler and piping details for under each side of cab for Williams by Bachman N & W J as found on top of line 0-gauge J models. I have added similar details to my Lionel N & W J but that source (MTH) can no longer help . It took guts to drill holes in the cab of a $1000 model cab in order to mount the marker lights and the piping details had to be modified slightly in order to fit but God is in the details!”
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Getting Started In Model Trains
Mary Beth was inspired by the earlier posting on adding people to a model train layout and asks:
“Where I can get scale model people for my train layout?”
Ron sounds like he urgently needs to read the Model Train Help ebook that will all of his questions and more. However, in the meantime, maybe someone could give him some helpful pointers to get him started:
“I am so new to this hobyy and am not sure were to start. I have two old N scale trains from my youth and also some new track, given to me. I have a limited space in the basement and not sure if I want to stay with N gauge. I am not sure what the new digital stuff is and what it works on? What is needed to make it work? How do I find out what I need to know? See I told you I am a rookie.”
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N Scale 6 Wheeled Bogie Diesel Engine
Roy asks readers:
“What is the smallest radius for a six wheeled bogie diesel engine in N scale.”
Add your feedback below.
oo Engine Ringfield Motor
Kim has a very brief question with not a lot of details and asks readers:
“How do you take the ringfield motor out of the frame of the tender please?”
Perhaps Kim could use the green comments link below to add some more details to help reader answer the question.
0 scale MTH with Lionel Trains
Scott wants to mix 0 scale MTH with Lionel and wants advice from others in the hobby:
“Is it worth it to wire my new layout to be able to run mth trains with my lionel trains since I have not started laying my new layout yet. I have all lionel and no mth stuff yet, but I am thinking about setting up to run both. Mth does have some nice stuff and I like the feature of being able to add my voice to the engines and to be able to play music through them, especially for a christmas train layout. I need input on this please.”
Comment below.
DCC Digital Command Control Train Operation
Mike Williams (a regular reader) contributes…
DCC or Digital command control is a type of train operation that involves a fully electrified railway system. Essentially there is always electricity running through the rails, whether the train is moving or not.
A digital command control system allows model trains to operate independently. A layout can have multiple locomotives with multiple functions controlling the train speed, sound, lighting, direction, and movement. Decoders are small pieces of electronics that gets fitted within each locomotive. The decoder listens to information in the track.
DCC Decoders can be purchased from many different online retailers and in stores. Typically you will want to purchase a NMRA or National Model Railroad Association certified DCC decoder to ensure you have a high quality device. There are several choices of DCC decoders worth considering.
Mike is a keen model railroader and enjoys his model trains.
About N Scale Layouts, Scales, and Gauges
Mike Williams contributes…
In the beginning these three phrases probably confused you to no end. You had no idea what an N scale layout was, nor did you have any idea what the term ‘gauge’ meant. Now that your beginning stages are over, you have to decide what type of layout you actually want, as well as what types of locomotives. N scale is ideal for most collectors and modelers, especially if you have only limited space available, and are someone that enjoys vast scenery and intricate detail.
N Gauge trains have been quite popular for a very long time. One of of the earliest companies to adopt the N scale was Walther, a company founded at the beginning stages of the great depression. While many people at the time preferred the HO scale, they quickly recognized the usefulness of the N scale when they realized that it could operate in confined spaces and harbor much more detail.
The type of train that you ultimately choose is up to you. As I’ve said before, the N scale train is a great choice and you will enjoy many hours of fun with it. The hardest part will be setting up the track. There are a few different types of track, from bridge track, to standard track. You also have flexible track and standard track. What you choose will depend highly on your layout and your level of experience. If you are unsure, then make sure you consult with an expert at your local hobby shop. Ask them what they have in the way of N scale trains and accessories.
Mike is a keen model railroader and enjoys his n scale model trains.
Good Questions Please
I’m sure most people will have heard the old saying “garbage in garbage out.”
Well, unfortunately we get lots of questions that fail to qualify for publication because they lack enough thought and/or details.
In order to maintain quality, we just won’t publish a question that says, for example, “need info on dcc.” Believe it or not, we get a lot of questions like that, and then we get follow-up complaints when the questions are not published.
The point is it is not fair to our readers who contribute answers. Often they take considerable time crafting a good quality answer and it is not fair to expect them to try and guess what the questioner wants to know. If the questioner doesn’t consider it important enough to construct a well thoughtout question with supporting details, then in our opinion they don’t really deserve an answer.
So, if you are submitting questions, please put some thought into what it is you are asking. All questions have to pass through a moderating process and only about 50% will get published.
Are You An Experienced Model Railroader?
If you answered yes to that question, then perhaps you are able to help others by answering some of their model railroading questions on this blog? On the other hand, you could keep all your knowledge and experience to yourself and not share it with those who could really benefit from your thoughts and who would appreciate your suggestions. It is really your choice, but please remember this blog is operated as a free service and it does rely 100% on the contributions from people like you. We want to keep it free, but to do that we need regular contributors who are prepared to answer some of the many questions that get asked. The alternative is for us to pay someone to answer all the questions, but then we would have to charge a subscription to the blog and we don’t really want to do that.
So, if you can help by answering some of the questions on this model train blog, then please do.
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