Philip wants to make a steam whistle and would like to hear from anyone in the hobby who has already gone through the process:

“I am looking for a circuit diagram for a steam whistle. I know I can buy them but what is the fun in that. Thank you.”

To help Philip add your feedback using the comments and feedback link below his posting.

Here is a quick question from a reader with an O layout:

“Does anyone know where I can buy mth parts without ordering from the company its self?”

Tim has some 35 year old train cars and wants to hear from others about couplers:

“I have 35 year old cars that have never been out of the boxes. Does anyone know are they worth changing the couplers or just buy new cars?”

Ronald is building an HO sawmill and logging layout and would like to hear from others who have built a similar layout:

“I am building a logging and sawmill layout. There are not a lot of suppliers of equipment that I have been able to find. The piece of equipment I am especially interested in is a lumber carrier used in sawmills. It was a machine that drove over the top of the piles of lumber piled off the greenchain, clamped the load and then drove it to varies places. Appreciate and ideas if anyone makes this machine. Thanks.”

Add your feedback. Click on the green comments link below.

Jerry wants reader feedback on train couplers and asks:

“Do your readers have a preference for couplers? What do they think are the best couplers to use and why?”

Leroy has a question for readers about automatic uncoupling of train couplers and asks:

“My youthful “O”gauge had an uncoupling track, however I haven’t seen any such feature for HO, but metal couplers are available. What have I missed?”

Add you feedback to this blog posting below.

Jim is having a problem with non-compatible couplers and wants to hear from others who have struck the same problem:

“As a newby in the model train hobby, I wish someone had told me to stick with one type of coupler. I didn’t know there were so many and that they don’t match! I bought a conversion kit to make all my units Micro-train compatible, but had no idea it was so hard! Between my lack of experience and coordination and bi-focals, it is more than I can accomplish. Does anyone have a short cut, or do I just go and buy some new gear with all the same couplers? Thanks for the help of your readers.”

Click the green comments link to share your thoughts.

Mike has a question for you about passenger cars:

“I recently purchased 4 used HO passenger cars that light up. Will they do any harm to a DCC powered layout? Can some tell me?”

Bill has a question for readers regarding an LGB Smoke Generator:

“I have an LGB mogul, # 23191, label reads 0-24vdc and the smoke generator has failed. I removed it and now I can’t find it for a reading for a serial # or voltage rating, if so marked. I see that there are several voltages available, 5v, 0-18 and 0-24. Can anyone advise which I should buy? I have read some threads that generally say that a 5v would last longer because of less voltage at ‘dry’ times. But, will it work ok with a 0-24v engine? I dont believe I have an on-off switch that is for the smoke generator, so I would like to get one that will have a long life.”

To help Bill with his LGB Smoke Generator question please click the green link below.

Gerri would like to hear from anyone who knows about G Scale Garden Railroad Crossing Gates:

“Right now we’re buried under about 2 ‘ of snow, so during the winter time I move indoors and work on structures, etc. I am a complete novice at this train stuff, and am finding it very interesting starting to learn about circuit boards, sensors, etc.

As of next spring I will have just a starter train set and about 300 ft. of track laid. Eventually I would like to move towards DCC and computer control.

I built a fish pond and with the dirt removed from it and I made a berm for the water fall. While I was building it I installed two 12″ PVC pipes that will serve as tunnels for the train.

The track will stretch across the back of the yard, around a pine tree and back again, then going through the tunnel, around the pond where it circles through a folded dog bone area with a 30 degree crossing. (this area will then be a townscape and this is where I need the crossing gates) on around the pond and through the remaining tunnel.

I run a G Scale garden railroad out back and I am wanting to put in a crossing gates/signal with bell sounds. I ran into Pro logic sensor system, that sounds really interesting in providing me with what I want, but in conversations with them, the sensors may not work great with ambient daylight interference. I also have seen where they are using a tortoise slow motor mounted under the bench work to raise the arms of the crossing gates. That doesn’t work out doors. So I am totally baffled and at a loss.

Can anyone who knows something about G Scale Garden Railroads recommend a source to purchase the crossing gates/signals and what circuitry I need to make them function automatically from sensors tripped by the approaching train?”

To give Gerri some suggestions click on the green comments link below this posting.

Tim is having problems with his 35 year old couplers and would like advice from a reader:

“I have just got started into model trains. I am using train engines and cars that were made 35 years ago. The couplers on them will not stay hooked. Can these old style couplers be changed to something that will not cost me an arm and leg?”

If you have had experience with old couplers and want give Tim some advice add your feedback below.

Leslie wants to hear from others in the hobby about n-scale automobiles:

“I am having difficulty finding classic and modern n-scale automobiles of all American makes and models.I am getting started in n-scale railroading and at present I have 6 sets of trains and plan to create a small town as part of my model railroad display. I have found kits at Michael’s Hobbies and Crafts to create mountains, streams, and waterfalls about this town. Now I face a dilemma of finding nicely detailed classic and modern American automobiles of all makes and models, with rolling wheels, to populate this town scene. I also wish I could find more variety of n-scale fire rescue vehicles. Can anyone suggest websites of companies that produce the items I am searching for? It would be greatly appreciated.”

Suggestions from readers can be posted using the green comments link below.

William needs to hear from someone who can help with his IHC tender:

“How can I finish separating the tender wrapper (both sides, front and rear) from an IHC 2-6-0 tender and its underframe. I have successfully removed the fuel oil bunker top from the top of the this wrapper. I need to re-attach the rear tender truck to this tender; but cannot get my grossly (not HO scale) oversize fingers to fit inside the tender wrapper in the space available. I have examined the tender and it appears that this should be possible; but it does require that two mounting lugs have to be released simultaneously.”

William adds:

“I have not yet figured how to accomplish this task. Has anyone done this? How did you do it? Did you break any thing while doing it? I got into this prediccament by attempting to add a semi-scale operating coupler to the rear truck of the tender. I have since acquired a second identical engine and will need to convert it as well and that means in my case that I plan to modify both the pilot on the engine and the tender ends of each model. Any help from a reader is gratefully appreciated.”

Suggestions from readers can be posted using the green comments link below.

Donald has a question for Lionel fans:

“I recently purchased a Operating Flagman’s Shanty from lionel / k-line. The wiring instructions call for insulation of one rail. Then connecting power to shanty via transformer. The remaining wire to insulated rail. When the train enters this section it just stops. I believe this wiring information is for 3 rail lionel. Does anyone have any idea on how to wire on 2 rail? I may need a track trip? It has 3 wires. 2 for power and one to activate man with lantern. I tried contacting Lionel but without success.”

Mike has a z scale layout and shares some information on his progress:

I am building my first and only 99 percent totally automated layout in z scale. Everything will be loading/unloading,movable, working, playing, and awesome!

I am starting my z scale layout with a 5 foot by 5 foot open pit mine. I have made a rotary digger that actually digs into the cat litter like walls of the pit. There are other smaller diggers moving all over the place shoveling the ore back and forth. The ore ends up on long conveyors that are movable to the four rock crushing stations, finally into the trucks, and train cars. The trucks have their own area to go up and pour their loads, which actually works. The trains take it straight to the 23 spur lines to be taken to the foundry.

There are just to many things being loaded and unloaded to tell about them all. I have 3 ships at a shipping yard. One ship loads ore which is silently vacuumed back to the mine loaders, the other two are container ships.

The container cranes actually work. I designed a laser system for turning on a very small electromagnet on the end of the crane. I molded over 1800+ containers, each with a small metal disk in the center. As the magnet connects, it turns on, picking up the container. It moves to where the 4 – 25 car spline cars I made are located. It moves slowly so its ready to receive the load.

Everything on the layout is connected to a main computer I built. Some master boards I had to build from scratch to do the things I wanted it to do. I have over a terrawatt, and 6 Pentium2 chips, making sure everything once it hits a reed switch does what it is suppose to do. Over 500 small lasers keep everything running smoothly. If you lose a car, that area stops until it is fixed.

I am still designing the layout as it grows. I am constructing new buildings daily and adding every detail. I am also trying new things with smaller motors, getting the fine tuning on things. I still need a full city with transit stations, moving cars and trucks with the lights, and I am even playing with moving people around a block. This gives the effect that every time you look there are different people on every street. There is still lots of work to do. I don’t have any pictures until I am finished.

Jon asks a question on signals for his British Southern Railway layout:

“Where is the correct place to put signals on a British Southern railway 1930’s layout?”

Reply to this posting if you would like to help Jon.