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Transformer Repairs And Safety Issues
Kermit operates O and O27 and has a question relating to transformers:
“I have two cw 80 transformers that have quit working. My grandson was using one and I was using the other. I believe they shorted out and the braker did not reset or burned. Does anyone know how do I get into the transformer? I tried the Lionel service manual but could find nothing on the “CW” type transformers. Is it safe to open the transformer and work on it?”
Editors Note: Kermit – If the transformer has been designed not to be opened, then it is a good indication that the manufacturer doesn’t want the electrics tampered with. This could be because of potential damage to the unit, damage to other components running off the transformer, risk to safety (electrocution), or potential fire issues. It may be best to check local regulations relating to electrical work as laws and regulations vary from state to state and country to country. Safety needs to be the priority at all times.
Live Steam Locos In HO?
Stan has a question for readers about live steam locos for his model RR layout:
“I have been searching the internet looking for a ‘live’ steam locomotive in a scale that is H.O. 027 etc. – something I can set up inside. All I’ve been able to find are outdoor models most of which are large enough to ride. Does anyone know if such models even exist and can someone recommend a manufacturer(s)?”
To comment on Stan’s posting click on the green comments link below.
Lubricating An Atlas Switcher To Cut Noise
Greg asks for ideas with lubricating an HO Atlas switcher.
“I have had this switcher for about 4 years and it makes a lot of noise and takes a long time to get going. Once it gets running it is okay. Can one of your readers tell me; does it need yearly lubrication, or does the factory lubricate it for life?
We live in a hot, humid South Texas climate.Do I need to disassemble the body, or can it be done another way?
I noticed two white plastic screws in the middle of the body. Is that where the body comes off from the wheels, etc.? Any help from other train buffs would be appreciated please.”
To offer suggestions or comment on Greg’s posting, simply click on the green comments link and have your say.
HO Layout A Big Puzzle
Mike has sent in details about his 14th Street Yard HO layout:
This HO layout represents a small yard in the downtown area of an American city I’m not going to name. The Yard is surrounded by various industries, most of whom use the railroad for delivery or despatch.
The track plan is based on the ‘Timesaver’ concept pioneered over 60 years ago by John Allen. The layout is not only a model railway but a fascinating logic puzzle.
Each industry and freight car is assigned a coloured pin. The object of the game is to match the coloured pins on the tops of the cars with the coloured pins at the industry. (The car with a red pin goes to the industry with a red pin and so on.)
The game is over when all the pins match. The game is restarted by changing the pins on the cars and beginning again.
Other rules:
1) All moves at realistic speed.
2) No touching by hand including uncoupling.
3) The grade crossings can only be blocked for a maximum of 4 moves.
4) Cars are only sent to realistic locations. (A flatcar of timber is unlikely to be delivered to a book publisher!)
Details:
- Locos Atlas & Athearn Lifelike(Mostly sound equipped)
- Freight cars Athearn, Atlas, Lifelike, Roundhouse, Bachmann, Walthers etc.
- Track Peco Code 83.
- DCC NCE (North Coast Engineering) Analogue KPC
- Buildings Scratch built or from Walthers Kits.
- Scenery Woodland Scenics and Polyfilla
Small UK Model Railway Club With Different Scale Layouts
Club member Mike has submitted this info for publication:
The A19 Model Railway Club is a small RR club in Sunderland UK. The club have layouts in N (under costruction), OO, ON2 HO and G.Members of the A19 Model Railway Club meet Monday and Thursday evenings 7-9pm, Sunderland UK.
What Christmas Train Sets Are In Santa’s Sack This Year?
Christmas decorations, the turkey and model trains – they all seem to go together.
Christmas is the time when many of us think about setting up a Christmas scene on our model railroad layout, or running a train around the Christmas Tree. It is also a time when Children and adults alike, get introduced to the hobby of model railroading. It is usually the result of being given a Christmas Train Set.
So what could be in Santa’s sack this year? Have a look through the stores and search the Internet and you’ll find a good range of Christmas Train Sets to choose from in N, HO, O, On30 and G Scale including:
N Scale Christmas Train Sets
- Bachmann – White Christmas E-Z Set N ScaleMicro-Trains – North Pole Village set 12 Piece Set N Scale
HO Scale Christmas Train Sets
- Bachmann – Grinch’s Whoville Special Set HO
- Bachmann – Yuletide Special Set HO Scale
- Bachmann – Shrek’s Holiday Special HO Scale
- Life-Like – Nostalgic Heartland Express Train Set – HO
- Model Power – All Metal Holiday Spirit Trainset – HO
- Bachmann – HO Thomas Holiday Special Train Set
- Life-Like – Holiday Rails Trainset HO – w/ knuckle couplers
- Model Power – HO Christmas Train Set w/EZ Track
- Mickey Mouse And Friends Christmas HO Electric Train Collection
O Scale Christmas Train Sets
- Lionel – Polar Express Train Set – O Scale
- Lionel – North Pole Central Passenger Expansion Pack O Scale
- Lionel – North Pole Central Freight Expansion Pack O Scale
- MTH Electric Trains – 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler R-T-R Christmas Train Set w/Proto-Sound
- MTH Electric Trains – Trolley R-T-R Train Set Christmas O Scale
- Lionel – North Pole Central Christmas Train O Scale
G Scale Christmas Train Sets
- Bachmann – Night Before Christmas Train Set G Scale
- New Bright – Holiday Express G Scale Set
- Bachmann – North Pole Special Set G Scale
- Aristo-Craft – 0-4-0 Christmas Passenger Set R/C G Scale
- Lionel – Holiday Tradition Express G Scale Set
- Bachmann – Wonderland Flyer Set G Scale
- Lionel – The Polar Express G-Gauge Battery Operated Train Set
- New Bright – Sleigh Bell Holiday Express G Scale Christmas Train Set
- Aristo-Craft – 0-4-0 Freight Starter Set R/C – Christmas G Set
On30 Christmas Train Sets
- Bachmann – Jingle Bell Express On30 (Jingle Bell Express set includes a 2-6-0 steam locomotive with operating headlight, coal tender, box car, tank car, gondola, bobber caboose, 56″ x 38″ oval of nickel silver E-Z Track with 12 pieces of curved track, 3 pieces of straight track, and 1 plug-in terminal rerailer, E-Z Track couplers on all cars, Spectrum power pack, and VHS format video with assembly instructions.)
- Bachmann – Northern Lights Limited On30
- Rudolph’s Christmas Town Express Electric Train (Individual train cars are On30 scale and run on HO train track)
- The Thomas Kinkade Christmas Express Electric Train Collection (On30 scaleruns on HO train track)
Range Of Model Railroad Questions To Tackle
Model railroading is a fantastic hobby especially when we all help each other solve problems. Here are reader questions you might like to help out with. To comment on these questions, simply click on the green comments link below this posting.
N-Scale Couplings Cause Problems
Doc is having problems with his model train couplings and asks:
“I am have trouble with my car couplings staying together while running my units. Is there anything anyone may know about this and is there one better coupling than another?”
Multi Level Dream Layout
Douglas asks:
“I am looking for a multilevel layout 8X16 design to run 3 or 4 O trains. Do your readers think this is a feasable dream? Any ideas?”
Track Removal
Marty has an N scale layout and asks this interesting question:
“Can anyone guide me in the removal of old “Glued” down track from styrafoam as im afraid I might ruin it. Any ideas from your readers please.”
Pacific and Southwestern Layout In Garage
Alex share information about his HO Pacific and Southwestern layout.
“My layout is about 20×20 feet. It is located in my garage and stretches around the walls and has double decked layouts. The benchwork is from the idea of the great lionel strange of odel railroader. It is 1×4 in L shaped and meatal L brackets for support. I used 2” thick extruded pink foam for the base. Ho cork roadbed is used for subroad bed in certain areas and otherwise track is laid straight to the foam.
The track is atlas code 100 for main line and atlas code 83 for sidings and yard. Ihave 30″ radius on all my curves for eaiser transitions for my longer cars. My layout is the era of the late 70 to late 80.
Club members at my RR club have also put time and effort into helping me build this HO layout (which has been in progress for two years now). I use woodlen scenics ground foam for scenery and also real dirt. my son and myself have made all the trees from scratch. A really good friend and club memeber has built most of the power plant and also the mountain and bridge in the corner scene.
The yard is named after my grandfather. Most of the structures are named after either family members or friends. Another good friend has detailed all of my locomotives and even sctach built my santa fe sd-26.
I weather all my cars and they all have kadee metal wheels and kade couplers before the can be on the layout. I use dcc from digitrax. Another friend has done a great deal with helping in the wiring dept.
I still have a long ways to go and I truly believe the layout is never finished but that is the enjoyment of the hobby. The layout is mostly based on the union pacific but I do have interchange with the santa fe, southern pacific and the rio grande.
Most say I should model the csx because I live in Florida, but I grew up in California and this is from my childhood memories.
To comment on Alex’s posting click on the green comments link below.
Scratchbuilt Buildings On John’s Layout
John has sent in these photos and information for publication.
At 77 years of age my wife and I are working on our first model railway layout. It does not attempt to follow any real railway system but is being made up as we go. While it is possible to purchase kit set buildings etc. we decided there would be more fun in manufacturing our own, so apart from a couple exceptions everything you see we have made. We are running Marklin HO rolling stock for no other reason than one of my relatives had some parts stored in his attic.
Bachmann Power Booster Causes Concern
Harsh is a model railroading enthusiast from India and asks:
“I want to buy a dcc controller to use with my n scale layout. What options do I have? I have a Bachmann power booster. Is it possible to use this Bachmann booster with a dcc controller of another make, or would I have to buy a new power booster which is the same make as the dcc controller? Here in India our power supply is 220v and 50 hz. I hope one of your readers can advise me.”
Click the green comments link below to comment on this posting.
Train Hobbyists In CAMRC Encourage Family Involvement
Daniel President of the Central AR Model RR Club has sent in this photo and story for publication.
Photo shows Father and Son enjoying the Central AR Model RR Club (CAMRC) layout at
Festival of Lights, 2007
Central AR Model RR Club (CAMRC) members are train hobbyists dedicated to the advancement of the world’s greatest hobby of model railroading through designing, constructing, and demonstrating train layouts at public sites and events, building local community awareness of the railroad history of this area, and sponsoring educational activities about railroading. Members enjoy traveling by train as rail fans, learning about railroads in this region, and sharing the fascinating history of railroads.
Club members are engaged with many railroads and are involved in several different scales of model railroading – including HO, O, N, and G. The Central AR Model RR Club welcomes new members, and “newbies” (newcomers to the hobby) are welcome at monthly CAMRC club meetings and club-sponsored activities.
Meeting time at the CAMRC is invested in sharing club news, planning future events, orienting newbies to the hobby, and arranging train layout learning/working sessions on selected nights and weekends. There is always plenty to do and learn in the world’s greatest hobby, so join the fun!
Families are welcome participants, and parents are expected to accompany their children to activities, become “coaches” to them, and learn about the hobby together. CAMRC is a club of active “doers” – not passive watchers – and there is hands-on work to do for adults and kids. Actually, we believe the work is “play.”
The Central AR Model RR Club is located in Conway, AR.
If you would like to tell others about your model railroad club go to http://www.model-railroad-resources.com/train-club.html
Small RR Club Operates Analog And DCC
The Longview, Kelso and Rainier Model Railroad club is a small RR club located in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington USA.
The club layout is modular 9 x 6 foot sections in a dog bone configuration with 2 mainlines of 40 feet and a branch line with 8 track staging yard. The layout is both analog and DCC. Most of the members are analog but once an month club members dedicate a meeting night to DCC.
Club members of the Longview, Kelso and Rainier Model Railroad Club meet every Tuesday night a 7 PM at the club house 303 3rd. St, Rainier, OR. USA.
If you would like to tell others about your model RR club go to http://www.model-railroad-resources.com/train-club.html
Four Model Railroaders Reveal Their Plans
On this blog model railroaders are welcome to share their ideas and tell others about the projects they are working on. Readers are welcome to comment on these postings by clicking on the green comments link below this posting.
Martyn tells about his model railway project:
“Hi, my track work is based on a 1970’s Peco plan that gives a lot of scope for train display though this is my first true lay-out attempt. I have had to go from modeling in n gauge to ‘OO’ for my disired track effect and I am in my forth rebuild to achive this due to a lack of spare time. My deck work should be finished in the next two weeks give or take a week [thanks to work and other commitments].”
David has an HO layout and share these thoughts on his project:
“I started my model RR project two years ago. It is kind of just going along as I can do it . I am retired. My layout is far from being finished. Next project is wiring all those switches. I will be setting up a power station too. Sometimes it is pretty slow as the finances are small.”
Jerry is working on his N scale Mountain Valley RR and tells about his progress:
“I haven’t started my layout but I have several N-TRAK modules. I have a 2 six foot modules that make a 4′ corner and a 4′ straight that resembles the New River Valley. It is not finished. I also have a 4′ corner that is not finished. Both are being worked on at this time. Buildings are a combination of laser kits and plastic kits. I hope to have the inside corner ready by the GTE in Jan.09.”
John has an HO layout and tells of his plans:
“Iam thinking of making a layout based on what I have been collecting over the past few years. I have approximately fifteen engines, a large amount of rolling stock, around twenty four yards of track, and around 40 points and cross-overs. I also have been building houses and shops. Some from kits others I have scratch built. I was thinking of DCC but will find out what it entails plus the expense of it before deciding on DC or DCC.”
Grandma Builds HO Layout With Grandson And Needs Advice
Natalie is a 66 year old Grandma and is building a model RR layout with her grandson and would like your help please. Here is what Natalie has to say:
“My grandson and I have been attempting to build an HO model railroad layout. We have the platform made and covered and are experimenting with making our own hills, mountain and rocks from plaster. We are now at the point where we want to realistically paint the items.
Any suggestions from your readers would be helpful. We did make a tunnel successfully but the painting of it does not look real at all (tans, browns and green paint).
Also, I have read on line that people use Photoshop to acquire buildings and houses copies and was wondering if this is a free site? Any help from your readers would be most appreciated by me, a 66yr old grandma and her grandson.”
CPR 4-6-4 Royal Hudson Steam Loco
Elbert is planning a 1950’s layout and needs guidance from readers:
“I am just starting an HO model train layout and wanted to do a 1950’s era scene with steam locos. I am however, having a difficult time locating a 4-6-4 hudson with cn or cpr markings. So far the ones I have found are way beyond my budget as they are generally custom built brass. Also, I am researching what type of loco would have been pulling passengers when my parents emmigrated to Canada from the Netherlands in June of 1952. If anyone has any relevant info or pics on this they would be greatly appreciated.”
As a note to Elbert, Accucraft has produced 150 live steam CANADIAN ROYAL HUDSON 4-6-4 locomotives in 1:32 scale and 45mm gauge. They are handcrafted from brass and stainless steel. Production is limited in 150 models.
TECHNICAL DATA CPR 4-6-4 Royal Hudson Steam Loco
- Width – locomotive 110 mm/tender 100 mm
- Length – locomotive 560 mm/tender 375 mm
- Height – locomotive 155 mm/tender 155 mm
- Cylinders – 15.9 mm bore, 25.4 mm stroke
- Minimum radius – 8 Ft
- Operating pressure – 100 psi (6.9 bar)
- Boiler capacity – 520 ml
- Equipment – Tender pump, axle pump, blower valve (alcohol version), throttle valve, pressure gauge, quadrant reverser, whistle & valve, water glass, cylinder drain cocks and alcohol or gas firing.
If you have some comments on this posting click on the green comments link and have your say.
1700 Ft Track 6 Years In Making
Model Railroading enthusiast Richard has sent in these photos for publication. He has a 1700 feet track he has worked on for 6 years.
Club Operates DCC Control With Digitrax
Bart is Secretary/Treasurer of the Kane County Model Railroad Club and has submitted this information for publication.
The Kane County Model Railroad Club has 13 members with one permanent. The club has a model RR layout and one portable layout.
The Kane County Model Railroad Club has been in the same location for approx. 15 years. Club members enjoy a very laid back comeradery and is always looking for new members. The club runs D.C.C. control with “Digitrax”.
The Kane County Model Railroad Club welcomes questions and new members.
The Kane County Model Railroad Club is located at Dupage Street Elgin, IL.
Gordon Tells Of His Elevated Side By Side O/027 Train Layout
Gordon has built an elevated side by side O/027 train layout running around his son’s room. Here is what he has to say about his project:
After a couple of trips to our local grocery store, Wegman’s and seeing the standard elevated train circle above the juice and milk cases, I was inspired to build an elevated train tressel around the perimeter of my son’s room. The room is 12′ x 16′.
Last year I completed a single loop using tubular track cut to size. This year I am in the process of completing a second loop. The track sits on 3/4 x 3/4 x 5.5″ ties supported by 1 x 2’s on edge spaced with 2×4’s. This arrangement provided the best viewing of the train and track from below.
I hope to finish the installation of the second loop and add a few accessories, i.e. a water tower, overhead bridge signal, target signal and a semiphore. The tressel is supported by wall brackets.
If you have an elevated train layout and would like to share your ideas with others, simply click on the green comments link below.
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