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Parts Diagram Lionel 2338 O-Scale
Kerry is having a problem with the horn on his Lionel 2338 and asks readers:
“I just bought The Milwaukee Road 2338 – O-Scale and there is a battery compartment.
When I took the cover off, I do not see any wires going to the battery terminals. The battery sits right under the horn relay. I bought it off Ebay. It runs great, but the horn does not work. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.”
Comment below.
Beginner Derailed With Hobby
Ric is new to the hobby and would like some guidance from experienced readers please:
“I just starting model railroading and did a layout. Two curved tracked before the switch and at the switch the train derails. I have checked for level and it was a little off, fixed that and that didn’t help. I switch curved track and that didn’t help. I’m lost and that doesn’t take much.”
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Slow Trains With Bachmann EZ Command 16 Volt Transformer
David is have problems with power to his HO layout and asks readers:
“I have one track. It’s a big square 30ft by 11 ft track. I run 2 diesel sp engines only with sp pass set all lighted on brass rails. It runs very slow and the engines run off of a bachmann ez command 16 volt transformer. The farther away from transformer the slower they go. I have a sound decoder in 1 engine. Why are they so slow. I have a 3rd sp middle engine but I can’t use it to complete my whole pacific set because then it hardly moves at all. They run better on an older style transformer, but then I will lose my sound and I love my sound so that won’t do. Can someone help. Thanks.”
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OO Gauge Layout Support Structure
John has an OO gauge attic layout and asks readers:
“My attic layout is cantilevered off the roof structure of my bungalow. This keeps the attic floor clear so panels can be lifted to give access to house wiring and central heating pipes without the need to disturb the layout. This gives me an oval 28ft long by 9ft wide. I am trying to make this structure perfectly level by using a spirit level. Building is by clamping, drilling and screwing. There are no nails because hammer blows move members out of position in the clamps. How do I achieve perfect leveling of the baseboards? The hardwood timber framing of the baseboards has been machine cut and is accurate thickness and the baseboard panels are 9mm. ply. But I believe there is about 10mm variation in the support structure throughout the 28 feet run.”
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Ballasting Track Mix
John asks a question of readers:
I propose to use PECO stone ballast and wondered what proportions of glue mix PVA to washing up liquid and water I should use for ballasting track?
Marklin Track
Andy has a question for readers about Marklin track:
“I’m planning a small layout using Marklin HO equipment. As you probably know, Marklin has two types of track: C track which has a built in roadbed and K track which is similar to other HO track. In my yard area the logical choice would be K track but I would then have to ballast it. I wondering if I might be better using C track–which looks like it fits together much more securely–and building up and ballasting the area between the tracks? Any comments would be appreciated.”
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U.S. Military Railroad During the Civil War Siege of Petersburg
Palmer has a question about US railroad history and asks readers:
“I am an HO scale modeler and a Civil War re-enactor. I plan to include a TV set scene from the siege of Petersburg including some rolling stock from that period. All the photos I can find are black and white. I would like to know the color schemes used by U.S. Military Railroad during the Civil War siege of Petersburg.”
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Wiring & Computer Control
Dick wants to get back into the hobby and use technology where possible. He would like to hear what others think is his best course of action:
“I am reactivating my hobby interest after a 45 yr. hiatus. I am on a fixed income. I would like peoples recommendations please on the use of a computer for operation of a HO multi train board. I would be interested in knowing about software for layout designing for getting me back up to speed on current model RR’ing. I expect the wiring for a lot of the board will be difficult after initially done since a major part of the board will be very difficult to access for under board wiring later on (and I can no longer crawl under tables & benches). I’m hoping that with current computer technology that there might be some system to alleviate or minimize some future re-wiring should it be necessary. Also, since I haven’t yet designed the layout, I’d like to get recommendations for some affordable design software. I’m really looking forward to reactivating my long delayed hobby. Any help or suggestions for further investigation will be appreciated.”
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Steps in Laying Track For Layout
Mike has put considerable thought into his questions, so please take the time to read what he has to say, and offer your suggestions:
“Hi everyone, I am at the stage of beinning to lay track on my 3′ x 8′ N scale layout. I plan on using Digitrax DCC for the controls. I have all the track /switches I need to start using code 80 PECO flextrack and electrofrog switches.
My questions are:
1. What is preferred/recommended sequence of laying the track? Lay down the switches first and gradually add track? Prewire the switches before completing the track lay down? Other considerations?
2. How do you wire for DCC at the electrfrog switches? I know one needs to ‘reverse’ the wiring at the frog to maintain power through the switch but does anyone have a detailed ‘How to Method’? I have seems several articles already on this subject but sometimes they are quite lengthy – I am a ‘get to the chase’ type of builder.
All recommendations are welcome and thanking you in advance.”
Comment below using the green Comments Link.
Support for HO Scale Ceiling Layout
Bill wants to hear what readers think about his ceiling train idea:
“I want to build a HO scale tracks around my ceiling. I know it needs to be very rigid. What materials would work. I am thinking of 1″ X 6″ maple with iron book shelve braces. I can see the 30″ radius corners will need special stiffening. Your help would be much appreciated. Thank you.”
Comment below.
Broadway Blueline Engine
John wants advice from readers to help solve the problem he is having with his Broadway Blueline locomotive:
“I have a Broadway Blueline engine running on DC with a DC master for sound, the engine stopped chuffing soon after I got it. I told Broadway and they sent me a new chip, however before the chip arrived it started chuffing again, so I left the old chip in. It keeps doing this on and off. One day it works the next it doesn’t. I don’t want to muck around with the chip unless I really have to. Do you think this is the problem?”
Background info: BlueLine Locomotives come DC Sound Equipped and DCC Ready. Sound effects in the DC mode can be operated by the PCM DCMaster Analog Control Module. For DCC operation, a simple 2 function decoder must be added. Adding any two-function decoder will give access to the DitchLites or Beacon funtions, all sound functions and programming so the locomotive will operate like any Sound Decoder-Equipped engine.
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EuroStar Ashford International Train Station Kent UK
David plans to build a new layout and wants advice. I presume he has used the free Google Maps service in his initial planning? Here is what David has to say:
“I am gathering information for a new model railway layout and am going to base it on Ashford International in Kent UK. I have tried one company on the internet but only received a standard reply with none of the listings included Ashford.
Having spoken to Stanfords OS mapping service and obtained a screen print, I am not convinced they will show all the detail I need at 1:1250 and the number of standard A4 sheets needed it will work out to be quite a lot of money.
Can someone recommend any companies that would talk to me about this or supply plans. In fact would the rail track company have original plans that one could purchase. Where does the detailed track information come from?”
Readers can offer suggestions below.
Polar Express Set and Pennsylvania Flyer Freight Train Set With MRC Transformer
Fred is having troubles with his model train sets and asks readers for help:
“My new ‘Pure Power Dual’ MRC transformer will not activate my Lionel engine’s whistles that came in the Polar Express set and the Pennsylvania Flyer Freight train set. The whistles work fine with the 80 watt Lionel transformer. The Lionel transformer has a ‘whistle’ button verses the MRC having a ‘horn’ button. I’m using the center rail and the inner rail for my connection. The train store suggested changing to the outer rail. I don’t think this would make a difference, right? I’ve tried switching transformer posts on the MRC, but no help. Does the MRC ‘horn’ button not activate whistles? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.”
Comment below.
Athearn GE U33B, EMD GP35, GP38-2
Ken has put a lot of thought into his questions so hopefully someone will be be prepared to give him some good answers. Good questions usually attract the best answers.
“I have a couple of old HO locomotives brought back to the living from boxes in the basement. They are both Athearn. One is a GE U33B, and the other is an EMD GP35. They were purchased in the 1970s.
I built a new layout using some old type 100 track and turnouts, along with some new.
Both of the old locos run on my track better than a new Athearn GP38-2 I just bought. The GP38-2 derails all over the track, and I can’t figure out why, since I don’t have the problem with the old locos.
As best I can measure, the flanges on the old units seem to be larger than the new unit. Can anyone confirm that?
Can I change out the wheels on the GP38-2? If so, to what?
I also have several Bachmann passenger cars that appear to replicate the wood clad cars from the 1930s give or take a decade or two. I would like to re-truck these cars and upgrade the couplers from horn hook. Can anyone suggest trucks, wheels and couplers? Would 36″ wheels help my derail problem with these cars?
I also have several boxcars, probably mostly Tyco, that I would like to re-truck and upgrade couplers. Can anyone suggest trucks, wheels and couplers?
At this point, I am more interested in function than realism, and not necessarily looking for the cheapest way to solve these problems.
Thanks for any help”
Comment below.
Cleaning Track
Mike asks a question that is fully answered in the Model Train Help ebook:
“How do you clean the track and how do you keep it clean?”
Comment below.
Baseboard Construction In Loft
John has a question for readers on baseboard construction. He is planning to build his layout in the loft so will need to be fully aware of the load capacity of the loft. Safety always needs to be the number one priority when building layouts in an attic or loft space. John asks:
“I am just starting to build layout in my loft. What is your advice on baseboard material, chipboard, plywood, mdf, fiberboard, or something else.”
Comment below.
N-scale Kato Unitrack
Dick has a question for readers with any knowledge of N-scale Kato Unitrack and asks for advice:
“When switching consists into trains, I often have cars derail, seemingly easily to derail, as I push them through turnouts. This problem can be pushing against the points of the turnouts or with the points. My Kato Unitrack turnouts are all No. 6, and some cars just do not like staying on track with a push, but the assembled trains can be pulled through theses turnouts fairly consistently.
Some of the wheels with larger flanges, as with Micro-Trains cars, have the flanges riding up on the frogs or the points of a turnout. This inconsistency makes prototypical operations a bit difficult, and I’m willing to accept that I may not have flawless track work. It has been on the base for about three years now, so some joints are not quite flat across the rail joints. I am aware that there are causes and effects related to how well the wheels follow the tracks through all these situations. Left to my own devices, I will eventually re-work the tracks into flawless roadbed so train operations work as they should. What suggestions might readers offer. Appreciatively, Dick”
Comment below.
Copper Wires
Paul has a question (but I am not sure exactly what he wants). Someone might like to offer some suggestions and maybe Paul could use the comments link below to elaborate on his question so he can get a good answer instead of just a guess:
“Ten to fifteen years ago (I had no interest in trains at the time) I ran across a mint HO steam engine that was really nice. I bought it and another engine that was also new that was used to move other units around the yard. Now, the larger of the two had two stranded copper wires on the undercarriage (I assumed to somehow supply the power needed). The little one had no wires as I recall. Could someone offer an opinion about getting them moving.”
Comment below.
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