Comments for Model Train Help Blog https://blog.model-train-help.com/ Model railroads and model trains Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:09:41 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Comment on Train Keeps Losing Power on DCC Layout by Dale https://blog.model-train-help.com/2026/01/train-keeps-losing-power-on-dcc-layout.html#comment-87035 Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:09:41 +0000 https://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=7142#comment-87035 If it always happens at the same spot(s), and cleaning the track doesn’t help, I would look at the nearby rail joiners. Soldering jumpers across the rail joints might help as would making sure that your power feeders aren’t too far apart.

If it happens randomly around the layout, I would open and examine the locomotive with an eye for poor connections. If it is only one loco, I would suspect the decoder may be failing.

If you have more than the one loco, try running a few at the same time. Do all of them stall at the same time? If they do, I would look for something that may be creating a short and causing a DCC reset.

Next, I would look at the rolling stock on the track to see if any may be causing a momentary short circuit. You might try running the locomotive without having any cars on the layout to eliminate the cars from the problem.

]]> Comment on Railroad Inventory Data by Dirk https://blog.model-train-help.com/2025/12/railroad-inventory-data.html#comment-86989 Tue, 16 Dec 2025 04:51:54 +0000 https://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=7090#comment-86989 Hi Nelson,
first, your daughter is right but why re-event the wheel?
There are tons of samples and ready-to-use templates for that all over the web. What I suggest is to pick one and give it an enhancement i.e. new columns or include pictures or – better – links to them. For example years ago I adapted a LibreOffice-Calc-Sheet for my needs.
Because of the possibility for extending or even creating tabs and maybe forms I would suggest Excel/LibreOffice rather than ready “.exe”-solutions.
Even MS-Access or MySQL database solutions are possible.

Happy railroading from germany
Dirk

]]> Comment on Railroad Inventory Data by Peter Farrington https://blog.model-train-help.com/2025/12/railroad-inventory-data.html#comment-86988 Mon, 15 Dec 2025 15:38:15 +0000 https://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=7090#comment-86988 I have used Model Train Catalogue now for a number of years, it was a free download and contains all the files and directories for listing all your railway loco’s rolling stock and infrastructure items. It also provides the ability to write comments on any mod’s you do to your models. I have found it to be an excellent register for my railway equipment.

]]> Comment on Why OO Scale Is So Popular – And Where It Really Shines by Paul Owens https://blog.model-train-help.com/2025/10/why-oo-scale-is-so-popular-and-where-it-really-shines.html#comment-86276 Thu, 30 Oct 2025 18:39:09 +0000 https://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=7051#comment-86276 Pendon is actually built to 4mm which is the same as OO but the track is 18mm which is closer than the 16.5. There is an even finer system which is P4/S4 with track at 18.83mm which is exact at 4mm to the foot

]]> Comment on Keep Your Trains on Track: Why Model Train Derailments Happen (and How to Stop Them) by Ananda https://blog.model-train-help.com/2025/10/keep-your-trains-on-track-why-model-train-derailments-happen-and-how-to-stop-them.html#comment-86247 Thu, 30 Oct 2025 03:50:07 +0000 https://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=7067#comment-86247 I find that there is another important culprit for derailments. Those are the rail joiners. Just today I was helping a friend with this issue. What it was, is that, at just one place in the track there was a rail joiner that had its end curled a bit ( I have seen this in some European made joiners-can’t remember the make) which interferes with the wheel flange as the wheel goes over it. It was very easy to fix with a flat blade screw driver and a small weighty thing to hammer it down.

]]> Comment on Kato Coupling Problems by Dale https://blog.model-train-help.com/2025/10/kato-coupling-problems.html#comment-86024 Fri, 24 Oct 2025 18:42:55 +0000 https://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=7047#comment-86024 In reply to jonathan Berman.

Russel is on the right track but in the wrong gauge. The Micro-Trains couplers were originally Kadee but Kadee decided to focus on HO and sold the N scale line to Micro-Trains several years ago.

]]> Comment on All Aboard! Discover the Magic of Model Railroading by Robert Anderson https://blog.model-train-help.com/2025/10/all-aboard-discover-the-magic-of-model-railroading.html#comment-86004 Thu, 23 Oct 2025 23:43:21 +0000 https://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=7024#comment-86004 In reply to Jerry Caldwell.

Sorry, the buildings are only available for OO, HO, and N scale.

]]> Comment on Kato Coupling Problems by jonathan Berman https://blog.model-train-help.com/2025/10/kato-coupling-problems.html#comment-85991 Thu, 23 Oct 2025 17:46:01 +0000 https://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=7047#comment-85991 In reply to Russell Fowler.

Im surprised by your response: there are no Kadee couplers available for Nscale. I have gone to microtrains

]]> Comment on Kato Coupling Problems by Ralph F. https://blog.model-train-help.com/2025/10/kato-coupling-problems.html#comment-85989 Thu, 23 Oct 2025 17:28:37 +0000 https://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=7047#comment-85989 I agree with Dale. The easiest way to replace them would be to buy Micro trains trucks with integrated couplers. Just swap out the trucks and you are good to go, assuming you are replacing truck mounted couplers. Pay attention, though, to any passenger cars or exceptionally long freight cars. Those will need long shanked couplers.

]]> Comment on All Aboard! Discover the Magic of Model Railroading by Jerry Caldwell https://blog.model-train-help.com/2025/10/all-aboard-discover-the-magic-of-model-railroading.html#comment-85988 Thu, 23 Oct 2025 17:04:12 +0000 https://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=7024#comment-85988 My scale is O and I have used some of your model buildings when I was HO scale. How do I get O scale buildings ?

]]> Comment on Kato Coupling Problems by Dale https://blog.model-train-help.com/2025/10/kato-coupling-problems.html#comment-85944 Wed, 22 Oct 2025 04:12:08 +0000 https://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=7047#comment-85944 While there are several brands to choose from, probably the most commonly used are from Micro Trains. They are readily available from any reputable train store. Whichever brand you go for, it is usually best to have all your locos and rolling stock using the same ones. To ease the costs, keep one car with a ne coupler on one end and the Kato coupler on the other end. This ill give you the “link” so you can still use all your cars.

]]> Comment on Best HO Starter Train Set for Someone Planning on DCC by Frank B https://blog.model-train-help.com/2025/07/best-ho-starter-train-set-for-someone-planning-on-dcc.html#comment-85942 Wed, 22 Oct 2025 02:07:33 +0000 https://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=6995#comment-85942 Look on Youtube for some videos on “DCC for beginners” or “DC vs DCC” and similar. You will get a range of views and the info to make up your own mind.

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