Walter has a question for readers who know about MTH Scale Wheel Engines and asks:

“I did not know that MTH made engines, etc with ‘scale wheels’ that came without couplers and the couplers that were available would not work with regular Lionel and MTH couplers. Is this true, or is there a coupler that you could put on these engines that would work with regular ‘O’ gauge cars?”

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Ken would like your help please:

“My HO train layout was shut down for about a month due to building a mountain which three trains and a trolley run through or over it. I cleaned the track, but on one line I can’t get the loco to run at all and on another line the loco goes in reverse only. I tried two different locos and both would only run in reverse on this line, but would run normal on a different set of track. Can someone advise?”

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William is hoping someone with experience of making steam engines smoke will be able to help him. Unfortunately William hasn’t given any details of what he has tried so I imagine any answers from readers will be guess work.

“I would like to know why some steam engines smoke really well and mine do not. Both the steam and the diesel do smoke but not like real steam.”

William if you can provide more details it may help you get a more accurate answer. Use the Comments link to add your comments.

Skip has a question for fellow railroaders and asks:

“In a lost/misplaced issue of CLASSIC TOY TRAINS, there was an article depicting the Lionel Disappearing Train layout. I believe that it was a dealer display with a Scout set. The article went on to show not only the track plan, but also listed the required track pieces and the basic directions to re-create this amusing layout. Could someone please provide, or at least direct me to a source for this plan? I’m sure that I could manage to figure this out through trial and error, but I want it to be done CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for anyone’s assistance in this matter.”

Sherry is building a Z layout and wants to hear from others who know anything about building Z layouts:

“I am doing a small Z layout and have the basics assembled. I am disappointed in the Marklin track in that I think it is hard to get a smooth joint. I am wondering if I would find the Micro-Track with the attached road bed any better/easier to work with?

I don’t live near a store that carries Z supplies and don’t know anyone doing Z so I am just going by pictures. I have worked with all the other scales….this is my first Z layout. Would appreciate any in-put on this question from those who model Z scale….or any other hints from anyone.”

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Jeff recalls the rattling, clanging and squeaking of trains and writes:

I grew up in the Bronx and the memories of trains that I have are of the elevated passenger trains. They use to shake the house as they went by. I would hear the rattling and clanging and squeaking of the metal brakes.

I sinced moved away from there to a peaceful quiet place and in my heart I do miss those trains.

Now I am in my my late fifties and I have moved again. I moved about a few hundred yards away from tracks carrying freight. I now hear the trains and feel the rattling and the objects in the house shaking. I love it! I run out sometimes and count the engines and see which way they are facing.

What memories I now have old ones and new ones.

Roger has sent in these great memories of watching Pennsy 2-10-4 double headers hauling hoppers:

The steepest pull in Ohio was from Westville west to St. Paris in Ohio.

In the early 1900’s brakes were poor and thus many wrecks occurred in the eastbound lanes. Westbound there was the long, hard pull up the hill and almost always had two 2-10-4’s on the point pulling about 100 loaded N&W hoppers.

I remember the hard chugging which was at times synchronous and at others not.

When diesels came on the scene you could tell they were coming because the ground would vibrate. Also the soot from diesels would not brush off the car but would smear its blackness into a nasty smear.

I do have one picture of a 2-10-4 on the point with a three-unit (ABA) diesel running second. Sadly I have no photos of the double steamers but the memories persist.

As a side note all the Pennsylvania tracks were removed approximately early 1990’s. The old DT&I (aka Grand Trunk) is still active running from Detroit to Springfield which passing under the Pennsy.

My father operated a grain elevator located on the old DT&I. I think he developed railroading in his blood and passed it on to me.

Jim has sent in this info about a Model Railroad in Germany:

The “Miniatur Wunderland” model railroad in Hamburg, Germany is the largest in the world, covering 16,146 square feet of space with more than 10,000 train cars running around its 6.8 miles of HO scale track.

Now, the makers of this huge model RR layout have created a video that gives you a jaw-dropping look at the vast scope of this intricate work of art. Its construction started in 2000, and is still underway, with a tiny airport due for completion by the end of 2009. This is just the beginning — there are plans to double the layout by 2014.

I especially like the Las Vegas portion, complete with dazzling LEDs lighting up the night. You have to watch the new video above to get the full impact of this remarkable achievement, which has taken in excess of 500,000 working hours to build. There’s good reason why this is Germany’s most popular attraction, already visited by more than 5 million flabbergasted tourists.

Keith sent in this story of climbing aboard a loco at age six:

I remember as a small child stopping at a RR crossing in the car and watching this monster go by shaking the ground. The loco was the hissing, there were huge clouds of black smoke, and the train wheels made a clacking sound on the tracks as the train went by. When the cars passed by, it seems as if they would never end. I would always watch for the caboose.

It was during WW2 and there were few places to eat. When we did eat, it was with friends and it always seemed to be near a RR track, and when the train passed by the place would shake and rumble.

The highlight of my young life was the day I got to stand next to the biggest (to me) train that I had seen in my life. I didn’t stand to close as the heat from the loco was to much (ouch!).

One time I was about to leave my Mother and she stopped me and said that the engineer was talking to me and was asking me if I would like to climb aboard and see what goes on inside the cab?

I think at that point I nearly wet myself with shock and excitment ,but I didn’t, or my Mother would have said something to me. Anyway, up I went in to the train cab. I just stood there in amazement ,not knowing what I was looking at. The one thing I did know was that I was hot(ouch ouch), but I stood there asking questions and not understanding a thing the engineer told me. I was only six at the time.

Roger has sent in this “Class Trip ’54” story of a train journey with school friends:

We had graduated from Johnson-St. Paris High School and were on our way to Washington and New York. Our power was two Pennsy 4-4-4-4 steam engines. My fellow students immediately turned the seats facing each other so they could chatter. This act infuriated our conductor and the battle was on.

I then struck up a conversation with said conductor and asked him when we would hit Horseshoe Curve. He then wanted how I knew about the curve so I shared some railroad stories my father had shared with me.

Having reached a common ground I then suggested that this is our last outing together and if it did not break any big train rules, it would be a fond memory for us if he would suspend the seating rules just for this trip. He agreed to do so and made the announcement to a cheering group – and behaved very well the rest of the trip.

The conductor wakened me at about 0230hrs to let me know we were approaching the legendary horseshoe curve. We watched it excitedly as we could see both ends of the 25+ car train especially the two engines, the 2 4-4-4-4 Pennsylvania streamlined steam engines passing through the curve at night – a sight I will remember forever

Al has childhood memories of operating an 0-4-0 Switcher and writes:

I grew up along side a team track, was carried up to the main line by a friendly engineer and fireman, and learned how to run the little 0-4-0 switcher. One day when steam was up and they were in the diner having lunch, I stole the combo and ran it solo to the main line and back. Needless to said, I was scolded.

Roy also has fond childhood memories of trains and shares this story with readers:

My best memories of trains come from the days of my child-hood. We lived within sight and sound of the North coast railway line, from Durban to Empangeni, in Zululand, Africa. I would be all tucked-up in bed, and listening to the Class GL Beyer-Garretts (articulated) working hard up the bank from Greenwood Park station, to Red Hill. In winter, these big locos would “lose their feet” when the tracks were frosted over, and it is an awesome sound, to hear these big engines slipping the two units, and slowly pulling back in step as they got going.

To share your railroading memories use the link below http://www.model-railroad-resources.com/memories.html

Ralph has sent in this question for readers:

“Does anyone know of N gauge that is to N track what on30 is to HO gauge to represent narrow gauge on a HO scale layout.”

Larry asks readers for help:

“Does any one know where I can find a good repair manual for marx engines 666 999 333”

Colin wants to hear from any reader with a Joef Railway and asks:

“Does anyone have a Joef Railway system? I have had this Model Railway since the early 60s. I just want to know if anyone else has a similar setup?”

To communicate with Colin use the green Comments and Feedback link below.

Warren has a question relating to trains and ‘The Sound Of Music” movie, although I must admit I can’t remember seeing a steam loco in the movie or in Austria or Switzerland when I visited. I know rack railways are found in the area as they are idea for steep mountain climbs. Perhaps someone else can help Warren:

“I would like to construct mountain scene with a rack railway in OO or HO gauge. Can anybody advise me where I can purchase the rack line, loco and carriage. If possible I would like to have a steam loco and carriage like the one used in the movie ‘sound of music’?”

A rack railway is a railway with a toothed rack rail between the running rails. The trains are fitted with cog wheels, or pinions, that mesh with this rack rail. Trains can then operate on very steep gradients like the found in mountain terrain.