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!
Athearn Bachmann Parts
Mike has a problem with getting model train parts and asks:
“I’m retired operating engineer (Heavy Equiptment Operator) 67 years old. My question is why is it so hard to get replacement parts, I have bought a few Athearn, Bachmann locomotives and you call to get replacement parts and the first thing they tell you is there are out of stock and they no longer make that part. It seems to me that the manufactors sell these locomotives with on problems why can’t they make sure they continue to supply the required parts we need to keep our trains running? In the Caterpillar world you can still get parts for tractors made in the late 50’s, and I think the Model train business is as demanding as the Caterpillar world. I really enjoy the modeling world of the HO gauge trains.”
Join in. Comment on Mike’s blog posting using the green comments and feedback blelow.
Track Gap Between Connecting Rails
Al is new to model trains and would like help from anyone with some experience in the hobby and asks:
“I am new to this great hobby and having purchased a used layout from another train hobbyist I encountered a slight problem with a bit of track gap. I seem to lose some electrical power where this occurs which causes my locos to stutter before continuing on around my layout. My question: is there something that can close this small gap between the 2 connecting rails. Is there some kind of filler, connector, or insulator.”
To help Al, use the green Comments link below to register and add your feedback and help.
Operating Multi Train Control Systems
Nader is wanting to operate multi train control and asks readers for advice:
“I’m looking for a computer/electronic multi train control. I’m trying to build an outside railroad (G sacle) and would like to power and control the train via remote control. Would anyone have a few suggestions? Thanks!”
Click the green Comments & Feedback link, register and then add your thoughts to this posting.
Homasote on MDF Board
Stuart has two questions for anyone who has used Homasote and asks:
1. I plan to lay on Homasote (compressed paper) supported by MDF boards. Should I use cork underlay as well?
OR
2. If I mark parallel lines just outside where the track will lay and paint glue between the lines, could I lay track then ballast in order minimize the use of track pins which will not hold very well in the Homasote?
All opinions very welcome – I am old but “beginner” status.
Definition: Homasote is a pressed paper construction board often used for model railroad roadbed.
Rail Weight And Crossings In Question
Al wants to hear from anyone with experience with tracks and crossings and asks readers:
“My last layout was made back in the 70’s and it was torn down for a move. I am starting a new layout and wonder what weight rail to use and, once decided, if there is any problem matching it up with turnouts.”
To advise Al, click on the green comments link, register and then add your feedback.
Scratch Built Crossing
Here is something really interesting. Subhash is a keen model railroading enthusiast from India, but the problem is train supplies are expensive and hard to get. So, Subhash not only manufactures his own rolling stock, he also builds his own track.
When you think about it, most of us would never dream of scratch building track, let alone a locomotive. We simply go out and buy it. So, Subhash is to be congratulated for his efforts and persistence. He is an inspiration to us all!
Subhash tells me his whole train layout is scratch built including scratch built tracks and crossings. He has made dies for sleepers, and aluminium strips for tracks. Subhash admits it is difficult as he has to search hard to get the raw materials.
Subhash builds to TT scale because he says you get more space work in TT than HO.
For the tracks Subhash has used Aluminum sheets 4ft x 8ft, gauge 1mm, trimmed in 3mm height. He creates rails of 3mm x 8ft. He has also made a die for sleepers for HO & TT now he can make as many sections of track as he wants.
Subhash uses normal tools as he doesn’t have any high end tools. He just uses whatever tools he has available at home. He says if you have diagrams the track is easy to build. And, the important thing is; the track and the trains work!
Subhash has two locos and some passenger carriages, different kind of wagons, a caboose, and two suburban EMU trains and all are scratch built. I’m sure you’ll agree they look very authentic.
I’m sure Subhash would welcome your comments and questions. Click on the green comments link, register and then add your feedback.
HO Layout Track Planning
Dick wants to build an HO layout and has a question for other HO enthusiasts:
“I am just starting to research things before buiding an HO layout. I am an experienced 64 yr old modeler, but have not done railroading in many years. I built highly detailed wooden ships from scratch for years. I’m in to detail. I want to do a train layout with similar detail. I’ve looked at track and some of the combination track (with roadbed) looks toy-like to me. Can someone please give me some specific advice about track ie. Manufacturer, 83/100, track alone or roadbed/track combination, type of roadbed. Thank you.”
LGB Garden Railway
Bradley has an LGB garden railway and wants to hear from others in the hobby and asks:
“I wish to find a product for my LGB Garden railway layout. Prior to this I have charged my track to run my trains. I want to look into a battery operated remote control system where I might put a battery in a car behind an engine in order to run the trains. This would eliminate the use of my transformer. Can anyone involved in garden railways help me please?”
If you have an LGB garden layout and would like to advise Bradley, simply click on the green comments link, register and then reply.
Will All Model Train Manufacturers Survive The Recession?
We are all guilty of taking things for granted. We think that because a brand (or stockist) has been around for many years they will continue to be around forever. However, we live times of change and we can’t always take things for granted. These are testing times for all of us and we need to try and stay positive and work as a community and help each other.
Here are some things you could do:
1. If you can afford it – keep up your interest in model railroading and continue to support stockists of model train supplies. If the stockists stop selling, then they stop buying from the manufacturers. If the model train manufacturers stop selling, they stop manufacturing and could potentially go out of business. Model Train manufacturers are unlikely to get a government bail-out!
2. Encourage others in the hobby particularly newbies. We need new people coming into the hobby all the time to ensure this hobby not only survives, but it prospers! Beginners often spend the most money and will help the industry survive these difficult times.
3. Help each other by adding feedback and comments on this blog. It is a great way to share ideas and I am putting my time and effort into this to keep it as a FREE service – so please use it.
4. Please help me too. If you haven’t already bought my Model Train Help ebook, then please do. I need to earn a living too.
5. Keep a smile on your face (it’s contagious!) and enjoy life. Despite all the bad news, the trees will keep growing, the sun will keep shining, kids will keep laughing and life will go on.
Beginners Need Your Help
Do you have some experience in this wonderful hobby of model railroading?
Do you have your own model RR layout or are you in the process of building one?
Do you belong to a model railroad club?
If you answered YES to any one of these questions, then you probably have some knowledge you could share with others in the hobby. Please don’t just keep the information to yourself. There are lots of beginners who need mentoring and guidance from others in the hobby.
You can help by adding feedback and comment to their postings on this blog site. If you think you can comment (or even answer) some of the questions posted on this blog, please add your thoughts below each posting (use the green Comments and Feedback link).
This blog is a FREE service but we need your help to keep it going.
Note to anyone asking a question. Please ensure you supply plenty of details to help others help you. The better the question – the better the answer is often what happens. So, if you want a detailed, focused answer – make sure you compose a detailed well thought-out question.
HO And OO On The Same Gauge Track?
Michael has a question on HO compared to OO and asks:
“I would like to own one of the American Locos but all of the ones I like seem to be HO scale. My question is are HO scale locos compatible to run on a OO DCC track?”
Robert comments – HO (USA) and OO (British) are not the same scale (the difference between HO and OO is 12.5%). Most people would find it hard to spot the difference at first glance.
HO has a ratio of 1:87 and is 3.5 mm to the foot with a standard track gauge of 16.5mm or 5/8″.
OO has a ratio of 1:76 and is 4mm to the foot with a scale track gauge of 18.83 mm.
Most model train manufacturers have made their wheels fine enough to work on HO track.
Perhaps some of our readers could comment on their experience with running OO and HO together and perhaps their thoughts on mixing OO and HO buildings etc.
Add your feedback using the green comments link below.
Switch Problems
Jim is having a problem with switches and asks for reader feedback to help:
“I’ve had O 3 rail before but never had this problem. I am building a new layout powered by and MTH 4000 transformer. When I come out on the throttle enough for the engines to move, it throws my switches (Lionel 042). They are r/c switches, but I do not have them wired in yet, so presently they are being used manually. As soon as I give throttle, they start throwing whatever the opposite direction is from what they were before I throttled up. Does anyone have any idea what’s causing this?”
Help Jim and add your feedback using the green comments link below.
Wiring Reed Switches
Martin wants to hear from others in the hobby who might have ideas and opinions on wiring reed switches and asks:
“I have recently purchased some reed switches I would like some help as to how to wire them to my turnouts and can I activate two turnouts to one reed switch. Thanks Martin from Australia.”
Broadway Limited Blueline Engines With Decoders
Don has two Broadway Limited Blueline engines without decoders and asks:
“I have two Broadway Limited Blueline engines that will not run. They both have sound but no decoder for DCC. The have a plug that is difficult to plug in. I thought that I had not properly inserted the plug but when on a live track you get headlight and rear light according to the direction indicated, but they will not respond. This occurs after installing a remommended decoder. Does anyone have any thoughts on why?”
If you have the experience to comment on this problem you can do so using the green comments link below.
16 Year Old Needs Help With Layout Landscape And Ballasting
Sixteen year old Adam needs some help and ecouragement from others in the hobby and asks:
“Hi, Iwas planning my layout and I have got no idea how to ballast or landscaping at all. I went to a model show a few days ago and watched a fellow modeller landscape but not ballast he used some specialling builder’s plaster but I don’t know what it is called. Its seem pretty simple to landscape but I have had many tries ballasting and I just can’t get it right.
All my locos keep derailing on it. Would any one be able to help me?”
To help Adam you can add feedback using the green comments link below.
The Model Train Help Ebook has many good pointers on landscaping and track ballasting.
Converting DC to DCC
Milton is converting DC engines to DCC and wants advice from anyone who has gone through the process:
“I am in the process of converting all of my DC engines to DCC and I am begining to plan a layout of an early steam era SP freight yard. It has 81 turnouts and a round table that I want to run as a prototypical layout.
I have chosen Digitrak as the DCC controller, but to date, I have found out there is only a mobile decoder for engines and nothing that I have found out to identify rolling stock cars as too layout location or car idenity. Stationary decoders might work but need to have a power source or contact to the track to communicate and power. RFI chips might work but will require censors in the layout specific enough to identify specific track locations.
Finally, there needs to be a last car identity as a consist is built such that every car that becomes a last car identity as they pass through turnouts. Without this identity turnouts will not indicate passage of a consist and a turnout that needs to be switched back to normally closed or normally open.”
Give Milton your feedback. Use the green comments and feedback link below.
N-scale Big Boy Locomotive
John is trying to locate a N-scale Big Boy Locomotive and asks:
“I am interested in purchasing a N-scale Big Boy Locomotive. Does anyone know where I could ask about purchasing one since they are discontinued?”
Electrical Flow Problems
Richard wants to hear from anyone who can help him solve his electrical problem and asks:
“I have a problem. Electrical! To the point, I do not understand and know enough about the electrical flow. I have looked, examined, etc. As you may see, I have made contact points through my ohm meter for continuity between the center of the rear set of wheels and with the center point of forward wheels. The meter pegged out. In my thinking, this should not happen?
Does anyone know? Can anyone help?”
To help Richard you can add your feedback using the green Comments and Feedback link below.
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