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Tips To Avoid Model Train Derailments
Ryan has put together this helpful tutorial for avoiding derailments on a model train layout. The video includes some excellent layout scenes. Feel free to pass it on to friends. Enjoy!
Ohio Valley R.R. Historical Foundation Inc
The Chairman of this historical foundation has sent in this update for readers:
We are a 501c3 organization and have been in operation for 6 years, since the last update on the web site besides the 0-6-0 Steam Engine built in 1953 from England we have received an L and N Caboose two Jittneys a old antique flat car with wooden brake shoes and the dining car.
We have secured the Old Train Depot for the Museum and we are now working to restore the 0-6-0 Steam Engine and put most of the parts back on because it was to heavy to move by truck we then will sand blast and paint it, there were only four built two have been scrapped and one is still in England so we have been told.
The Museum has Display Cases which are full of antique items but we also have train layouts for the young and old, Lagrange is one of 3 towns in the USA that has at least 25 trains a day going down the center of main street.
Baseboard Materials
Paul is new to the hobby and asks a question:
“Hi, I’m doing my frist 00 layout and I am a bit confused what to use as the baseboard. The layout will be in my spare room so it won’t be going anywhere so I would like your readers views on this problem. Many thanks.”
Tips For Adding Busy Industries To Your Layout
This is the first video tutorial Colin has ever made, and he admits he was a bit nervous putting it together. Personally I think hes done a fantastic job, and it really shows how much he knows about model railroading. That’s not surprising, after all Colin has been a model railroaders for some 32 years.
In this video Colin shares some of his ideas for adding an industry or two to a layout. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this video and want to share it with friends. Thanks Colin for putting in the time to share your ideas.
Soldering Track Wires
It is often wise to solder your wires on the undersides of the track rails when you are actually laying the track. The temptation can be to lay your track down and then add the wiring sometime later, however the result can end up with ugly wires and little blobs of solder protruding from the sides of the track. Track ties can easily get damaged when using a hot soldering iron.
You can pull the tie from the track and solder your wires to the under-side of the rails. The next step is to file before replacing your sleepers. Another idea for concealing wires is to drilling a small hole and then poke the wires through your bench-work.
You can also use some non-corrosive “Plumbers flux” on the rails applied with a cotton bud before you solder. This will help the solder adhere, and will leave you with a smooth finish as opposed to having blobs everywhere. You can then wash the flux away when you are finished so it is not left on the track rails.
When Do Your Work On Your Layout?
The poll results are in. A total of 395 model railroaders responded to the question “When Do Your Work On Your Layout?”
- All Year Round (54%, 214 Votes)
- Mainly In Cooler Months (26%, 103 Votes)
- I Don’t Have A Layout Yet (16%, 64 Votes)
- Mainly In Warmer Months (4%, 14 Votes)
HO scale 1:87 DCC System Compatability
Anil asks readers:
“WI would like to know whether two dcc systems can be used on the same layout of same make or different? For example, a layout using digitrax can Bachman be added? Can two bachman EZ dcc system or for digtitrax be used on the same layout?”
Varney Trains
Tim has a question for readers:
“I know you guys know! What’s the older of the freight cars made by Varney the blue/white box RTR or the red and white box RTR 100,000 miles scale? I can find anything about dates online. Thanks”
World War I Tank Locomotive
Gary sent in these photos of a WWI tank train and wondered if anyone knew anything about this type of model:
“I have been searching for information about a Military Lionel Locomotive with 2 cars. I have attached a couple of photos I took of the train. It was my wife’s grandfather train when he was a boy I have no history and cannot find any information about the train. The tank locomotive has a light that flashes as the turret moves back and forth. I’d would appreciate it if someone might be able to provide more information on this model. There is no serial or model number in the electric motor except information about Lionel. ”
HO Bachmann DCC Turnouts
Dick would like advise from anyone in the hobby who can help:
“I have searched and searched, but have been unable to find a definitive answer (or a solution) to programming Bachmann DCC turnouts with the Dynamis system. I can get them to respond, but the programming does not hold. I was able to get them programmed with the Bachmann base DCC system (E-Z?), but not the Dynamis. Can someone help? Also, I am trying to figure out the configuration for wiring a double cross-over with Bachmann’s reversing loop modules. Thanks!”
16V AC Track Cleaners
Alain asks readers:
“Should I break the rails between DCC and DC and is there a problem with using DC 16V AC track cleaners with DCC locos?”
Layout Space 12′ x 11′
Layton want to hear opinions from experienced railroaders and asks:
“I have a layout space of 12×11. Should I go with HO scale which I have a ton of stuff for, or should I build N scale instead?”
South African Model Scene 1960’s to Present Day
Peter Field from Pietermarizburg South Africa has sent in this article to share:
In later years model trains became my media for creating a small South African village and country side scenery that I so enjoy in my spare time and as we grow older we need to make time to relax and spend time with our hobby.
In the past few years I’ve built a number of layouts 4 to be exact some very basic whilst others have been quite complex in design, however the basic point was to operate model trains.
I had now started my new layout (back in the garage) number 5, on a board that was used for the 2007 Model Railway conference in Westville which has also been used for the Bisley Miniature Live Steamers hobby fairs over the last two years, which has been modified somewhat from the original board which is now mounted on a steel frame table.
My present board was started as a demonstration board of 1.80m x 1.20m the idea was to show people that you could operates HO on a small board and still enjoy what was on the board, however there were plans afoot to add another board to this also being 1.80m x1.20m in the near future which will give me a straight run of 3.6m on each side and the other side will represent a Karoo scene with on or two farms and a very small village a three to four houses and a shop and a garage.
At present my new board houses a replica of Hilton Station built by Eric Tucker and a factory some houses a Wimpy and Service station, working farm with a combine harvester and animals on the farm with a windmill and a real country atmosphere, a church scene and two shops, the layout has a tunnel, some cuttings two signals still to be connected and a spur that runs to the factory and the engine sheds and a staging line.
All houses are lighted as well as the streets etc.
As the board is wired as such I can operate one train on small we call it board A in a loop formation whilst on board B we can shunt or make up another train whilst the train on Board A is running it’s section.
When I am ready I close all the points and the train can now go from board A to board B in one big loop as long as the pints are all closed on board A. Then again when it’s finished it run I can close off board B and open the points on board A and revert back to two operations on separate boards.
Once again it’s fun to spend time operating the layout, seeing it change every so often and make improvements. As when is necessary.
As previously mentioned there is always some thing to do be it track maintenance, fixing this or that improving or changing a building sorting out wiring beneath the board etc.
And so 2011 dawned and it was time to add another board to the layout which was duly completed which now gives me an additional a total length of +- 16 meters to operate trains.
I still operate trains most Saturdays which I find very relaxing and gives me time to recapture those memories of the past and of my child hood riding behind those “giant steeds” of the past.
Well in November 2011 I had to go to Cape Town on leave and collected my Class 25 Condenser and returning home put it on the board and after running well suddenly ground to a halt on the one corner the reason being the radius of the corner was only +- 24 “ and as the size of the locomotive dictated that a minimum of +- 32” was needed and after considering this it was decided to alter the boards yet again by adding on 1.2 meters to cater for the wide radius of the wheels.
This meant rebuilding sections of the board and changing scenery which was duly done and the Class 25 Condenser can now negotiate the corners quite easy and lovely to watch going through the corners.
The board is now completed with a game reserve with elephants, giraffe, rhino, and hippos and other animals imagine going through the game reserve by rail and seeing these animals.
With that came a game lodge and two small farms and thus the layout was completed in six months time.
Now I can run a Class 25 Condenser or Class 34 diesel through my board be it a passenger train, container train, fuel train or a coal train.
It still looks spectacular going around the board with what ever train is running.
N-Scale Digitrax DCC Layout
Horst asks others in the hobby for advice:
“I am installing a Peco Double Crossover Turnouts with electro frogs in my N-Scale Digitrax DCC layout without a reversing loop. (Parallel tracks only). My plan is to use two or four servo motors with decoders to operate the turnouts. Which components do I need to achieve a flawless operation including to electrify the two frogs alternately for the correct polarity?”
O Gauge FasTrack
A reader asks others for advice:
“I have just switched over to FasTrack. So if it’s possible could you someone give me some ideas for FastTrack. I am limited to a 4×8 board at this time. Thank you.”
DCC Interior Lights
Steve would like some advice from DCC railroaders:
“Hi, I brought an HO Roco train and carriages set which is dcc. I put Roco interior lights in the train set. It has wire going to the axle but no light seem to be working. Would I have to program them into my dcc unit? Any help would be great. Thank you”
To add your answer to help Steve, simply click on the title link “DCC Interior Lights” above this posting, and you’ll be redirected to the comments page.
DCC and Tracks Setup
Francis wants advice from anyone with DCC experience and asks:
1. How do I start an HO DCC setup lets say for a 16x 8 ft layout?
2. How many boosters and transformers do I need?
3. What brand of locos can be combined to run on the same tracks?
4. Can Marklin, Atlas and Bachmann locos run on the same tracks?
Click on the BLUE title of this post to add your answer(s) to help Francis.
Making A Waterfall Appear Natural
It is usually best to start waterfalls above eye as they will have a more realistic and dramatic effect, as well as providing the illusion of extra height. 
When making your waterfall try not to make it too perfect as water never falls down in a perfectly straight line. In real life, water will flow naturally around the rocks and possibly split out into yet another waterfall. It’s best not to make the water appear too still or smooth, as it will usually look more natural if it has ripples or splashes.
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