Technical
Everything on model trains, model railroads, model railways, locomotives, model train layouts, scenery, wiring, DCC and more. Enjoy the world's best hobby... model railroading!
Above Bench Turnout Motors
Pete asks:
“I have a few turnouts that are over a ledge where there is no room for my preferred under bench Tortoise motors. Two turnouts in that location are hard to reach so I need to use a track-level turnout motor. I see there are several HO brands available such as Atlas, Peco, and Piko. Some reviews indicate they may be subject to burnout. Suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Which Couplers?
John asks:
“ I recently bought some older rolling stock for N scale. They all have Rapido couplers. Can I stay with those as I develop a more modern train layout or should I find a modern coupler for the rolling stock that I want to use? If so, what kind?”
How Many Boosters Do I need?
Kenneth writes:
“I am building a DCC layout 5 metres by 3 metres around the room layout with an electric lift bridge at one end for access to the room. The layout will consist of the main station (up and down line) and adjacent branch line station and in this general area will be a wheat silo branch, works and way branch and a goods/cattle branch all interconnected.
The branch line runs to a terminating station with an adjacent fuel depot. Off the up and down lines on the opposite side of the layout will be two fiddle yards, with one off each of the up and down lines. Off the back of one of the fiddle yards is a line to a turntable and loco house.
I wish to break up the layout into power districts for short management control etc. The districts will be up line down line, wheat solo branch, goods/cattle-yard/works and way yards, branch line station and fuel depot, turntable, the electric lift bridge and the up and down fiddle yards. Each power district will be isolated from the other by insulated rail joiners on both rails and will be powered through an electronic short management device and powered by separated sub buses off the main bus line. I only propose operating two maybe three DCC sound-equipped locos at a time. I am using an NCE Power Cab. Do I need a booster for each power district?”
NCE Power Cab
Alvin models N scale and asks readers:
“How do I reduce the sound volume on my DCC locos with sound by using my NCE Power Cab?”
See the comments and suggestions below.
Locomotive Only Runs Backwards
Christine models N scale and asks readers:
“I just bought Kato track cause it’s pretty…so that tells you about my expertise. I also got a double crossover and it is not connected to any transformer as I only have it to go in a permanent figure 8 like configuration. My loco stopped running forward. I can turn it around but it still goes backwards. I do not see any switches on the loco. Did I short it out? I would really appreciate help. Thank you!”
Engine Lunges Forward
Bob models N scale and has this question:
“Whenever I turn the power supply off (MRC train power 5) it lunges forward. How do I bleed the power supply?”
Solder Feeder Wires
Jonathan models OO and asks:
“How do we solder on feeder wires on a portable layout as I am terrible at electrics?”
Steam Engine Piston Seals
Daniel models HO scale and asks:
“I have an old steam-driven engine that the piston no longer seals. Does anyone know of a way to refresh the seal on the piston?”
DCC Engine Conversion
Marty asks readers:
“Does anyone know of a reliable company or companies that would convert non-DCC HO engines to DCC? Thank you.”
DCC on Older Engines?
Kerry posted this:
“My Grandkids found some 20+ brand new–not out of box high-quality HO engines and full consists for each, that I purchased some 10-20 years ago but never built another layout until now. I am building one now but am not familiar with DCC at all. I have built several layouts before but have no experience with this DCC stuff. How would I know if these engines are convertible to DCC? What is a good guesstimate on the costs of converting them? Can I do this or should I just build it as DC? Thanks.”
N-gauge 5 Car Hong Kong Kowloon – Canton Railway
Hambal posted this question:
“I own a Hong Kong Kowloon- Canton Railway Kit Double-deck Through Train (Hong Kong – Guangzhou) Precision Motor Train Model N-gauge 5 car set Item No: 99044 Special Limited Edition. It seems that the motor is no longer functioning. I am just wondering if you can suggest a way to solve the issue.”
Losing Power with DC
Jim needs answers to this question:
“I lose power around my HO layout using DC power with a MRC 280 controller. I have added two lead feeds from the track to the controller to boost power but did not get the desirable results. Any advice would be appreciated.”
Power Supply For Layout
Peter submitted this question, and it might be helpful if would add some more details in the comments area below:
“Can someone recommend or suggest a power supply to power accessories only on a layout?”
If you can assist Peter, please add your suggestions below.
Engine Slows
Keith models HO and writes:
“My engine slows dramatically in two sections of the track. I have cleaned the track. I thought it might be out of gauge, so checked that. It seems to be O.K. This happens on both my engines, but more dramatically on the older one. Has anyone experienced this? Any suggestions would be appreciated.”
Add your comments and suggestions to help Keith using the link below.
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How To Slow My Athearn RTR SD40
Tom writes:
“I have an Athearn RTR SD40 which won’t slow down. I’ve tried speed table programming without success. It has a soundtraxx Tsunami decoder. Anyone else had this happen?”
Add your comment, and view answers sent in by others by clicking ADD A COMMENT below.
DCC Locomotives Go In Opposite Directions
Roger is puzzled with this:
“After installing a decoder in my Atlas C425 it goes in the opposite direction to my other DCC loco. Strange, I thought both DCC ready locos would run the same way?”
If you have a question you would like published, send it to the Blog Moderator using the link below. If you have a photo or drawing to include, then simply advise the Blog Moderator when submitting your question. He will tell you how.
LED Lighting for an Old Style Country Train Station
Victor writes:
“What lighting should I use for above the doors of an older style ’50s country train station I’m going to build? I want the lights facing downward, and be in keeping with the scene. Would yellow 3mm LED’s above the doors under the overhang work? I know I’ll need to allow space for wires and resistors. I’m fishing for ideas if someone can help.”
Engine(s) Drawing Too Many AMPS
Allan writes:
“First I would like to say I’m actually asking this on behalf of my Dad. (he doesn’t know that I am doing so) I don’t really know much at all about this specific issue or the entire hobby to be honest with you.
So the issue is that three of his engines are drawing 3X the amps that they used to and therefore and either are not working properly or at all. Now I believe he was told to (or suggested to) add a second power supply to the layout being that the layout was quite large. Now, Dad (Bert) has done so now but that did not fully correct the issues he was having.
So my question to anyone that would like to offer some advice is …. What is it that’s causing this high amperage issue in these engines and how can it be rectified? The brand name of these engines is Athearn I believe and please forgive me if I have miss spelled this. All three of these engines previously did run perfectly fine. At that time apparently, they were drawing 1 amp and are now drawing 3 amps each.
Thank you very much in advance for any help or direction in this issue. Thanks again Allan (& Bert too).”
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