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!
Train Track Mystery
Daniel wonders if readers can solve his mystery:
“I have a mystery (for me). Have about 17 feet of what appears to be 027. Three rail in stainless. However, the pins have one end that fits the 027 and the other end fits O Gauge. Doesn’t appear to be handmade. What do I have? Thanks.”
Switch Machines and Power
Ethan asks readers for advice:
“Hey guys. I have been thinking about starting up my own model railroad in either HO or N scale and including a switching yard and a few sidings. I got to looking into the wiring for switch machines and decided that I want to use toggle switches with indicating lights. However, I noticed that most toggle switches will constantly power the switch to whichever line it is switched to. Will this not burn up the motor by constantly feeding it power trying to get it to move even after it has switched the turn out?”
Drawing Curves
Des asks readers:
“I am looking at the possibility of a model rail system in the future and I would like to draw the track layout first. My question is when drawing curves and the diameter is quoted at 20 ins – is that measured at the center of the two tracks or the inside or outside rail. I will most likely go OO.”
Spot The Difference
Remember as kids playing “spot the difference” between two cartoons or drawings… well, why shouldn’t we have the same fun a few years on?
The two photos below of a model layout scene look the same, but there are actually 6 subtle differences between the two. Can you spot them?
If you want to be the first to supply the 6 answers, you can submit them using the “Comments” link below.
It would also be good to get your feedback (using the “Comments” link). Would you like to see more “Spot the Difference” photos added in future weeks?
Reader poll results since posting these photos showed 84% wanted to see more “Spot The Difference” photos in coming months, so YES will bring you more.
Congratulations to Carl, Ron, Mickael, Lou, Ken, John R, Gordon, William, and Newman who were the first to correctly spot all 6 differences. You can see their answers in the comments (see below).
Problems Lining Up Track
David asks readers:
“My attempts at laying the base cork using the track centers is roving problematic, because I’m finding it hard to mark the actual line with my track in place on the plywood. I think I need a tool to mark the center line. Trying to line it up by eye is near impossible. I thought maybe attaching a pencil to a two wheel truck might work if I could mark a dot through the mounting hole of the truck. Does anyone have any brighter ideas? What do other use to solve this problem? I hope my question makes sense. My scale is HO.”
Questions about Using LED Lights as Locomotive Headlights
Aaron asks readers for advice:
“I have heard so many good things about LEDs, so am thinking about upgrading my N scale DCC diesel loco headlights, and maybe using them for ditch lights and markers. Does anyone have any tips for powering them independently, what type to use for each function, how to get a constant intensity from each light, other uses for LEDs etc. And any other tips appreciated. Thanks.”
How To Protect Points From Ballast
Club member Trevor sent in this tip to share:
Laying ballast can be a tough learning curve, because once it’s in place it is difficult (if not impossible) to remove. Particular care is needed around point-work to stop ballast from interfering with railroad operations. If ballast finds its way into places it shouldn’t, then there is the potential for mechanisms to seize up… I know, because it’s happened to me. The stuff is so fine and if it’s not glued down it will move. Also, when glue is added – well, that can cause problems too.
To prevent problems, I now apply a small amount of locomotive oil around all the moving parts on each point. This stops the glue adhering to the moving parts on the points. I also use a small hand water sprayer/mister to dampen the ballast. This helps the glue flow between fine particles of ballast. This also restricts the ballast from moving whilst applying the glue.
Voltage Drop Can Cause Trains To Slow Down Or Stop
Club member Ashley sent in this tip to share:
If you spot your train slowing down or stopping only in some places the problem may be caused by voltage drop. It could be that the distance to the nearest power source is too far or that perhaps the quality of the joints between track sections has weakened the flow of power.
Begin by tightening any loose joiners and if required, add a second set of wires from your power supply to the track in the problem area. Take care to connect each wire to the correct rail.
On larger layouts, especially with DCC setups, it is suggested a bus wire (with feeders) to multiple track sections be used. Keep in min
d that using a heavier wire is more reliable than using the rails themselves. You can attach smaller feeder wires between the rail and the bus as often as required. Generally, feeder wires are attached every 6 to 12 feet or so.
Another option is to solder the rail joiners themselves. Doing this should minimize any voltage drop, as well as help get rid of any kinks that could potentially cause a derailment. Also consider leaving some joiners open to compensate for contraction or expansion over time.
Why Do Trains Derail on 22 inch Curves?
Andrew H asks readers:
“I bought a new HO scale diesel loco with 6 trucks. However, it keeps on derailing when crossing the turnouts. I originally had 18 inch curves and changed these to 22 inch curves, but I didn’t replace the turnouts. My question – Should I replace my existing turnouts with #6’s (22 inch curves)? Will this reduce the likelihood of future derailments?”
Making Crushed Autos For Transporting By Train
Here’s a clever idea sent in my Mike:
“When trying to make up loads for flat cars I came up with an idea for making scrap cars being crushed and sent to be recycled into new steel. I take a scale model car (I model in HO) and cover it with aluminum foil and press it to form the shape of the car and trim the excess foil off.
I then remove the foil and paint it with a rust colored paint and then repaint in another color that is common for that vehicle leaving some of the rust showing. When the paint dries I flatten the shape slightly to make it look like it wash crushed down so more can be loaded for shipping.
I use silicone caulking to fasten the car shapes together then tie them on to a flat car.”
Thanks to Mike for sharing.
What Caused This Tank Car To Implode?
What caused this steel tanker car to get crushed like a thin aluminium pop can?
It was air pressure.
There was enough difference between the air pressure inside the tank car and the pressure of air surrounding the tank car… enough to cause the steel in the tanker to implode inwards.
Fortunately, that won’t happen on a model railroad!
Isolating the Motor from Chassis in DCC
Reg asks readers:
“In reading all the info on DCC I keep reading of the necessity to keep the motor isolated from the chassis. They go into quite a bit of detail about cementing the motor in being one way of insulating it from the chassis, or using black plastic electrician tape or other methods. I’m questioning this.
Surely if your motor windings are isolated from the chassis it won’t short out the decoder no matter if the chassis and motor casing is connected to one side of the track. Surely all you need is to ensure the motor windings are isolated?
The windings connect to one side of the decoder and the other side is connected to each side of the track no matter how its picked up. What does it matter if the motor case, and the entire chassis of the locomotive connected to one set of wheels acting as pickup for one side and is electrically isolated from the set of wheels connected to the copper pickup(s), you still have 2 separate pickups. Neither is connected directly to the motor winding. “
South African Model Railway To Be Proud Of
Peter Field from Pietermarizburg South Africa sent in an update of his model railway to share with readers.
Looking up along the layout at the bottom is the farming area, middle are the factories and top end of the board is the village.
He’s what Peter has to say –
In an article some years ago I built a board which was basically a demonstration board of 1.80x 1.20m that was portable for model train shows.
A class 25 Condenser hauling the Trans Karoo passes the Anglo Boer war block House on route to its destination.
The next phase of the building plan was to make it a permanent layout still being 1.80x 1.20m and broke the board up somewhat to modify it and to extend it at a later stage.
In 2013 I started to expand the board and added another 1.80×1.20 board to the existing board which was now 3.6meters in length, this took almost a year to complete and add the scenery etc. Then at the end of 2015 I extended the layout yet again by 500cm making to the total layout 4.10x 1.20meters in size.
The layout was built to represent the South African railways in the early 1960’s up until the mid 2006 period.
When steam and diesel were working side by side on many of the SAR lines. There were the mighty Class 25 condenser locos to the Class16E a Pacific grey hound and the 15CA on many lines mixed with diesels of various types from the Class31, 34. 35, 36 and some SAR electric locos Class 6 E1.
The layout is based on a rural area of the Midlands in Natal with a general dealer, Hotel, Church, Garage and some factories and farms on the one side of the layout all served by rail.
The Hilton station with an EMU on the adjacent line whilst a goods train hauled by a Class 34 diesel glides past the station.
The village has plenty of action with people doing what people do taking dogs for walks people shopping at the grocery store ride motor cycles, people getting married at the church people working on the roads, offloading containers in the container bay area. Plenty of motor vehicles and trucks and farming implements on the farms.
The track in total is +- 8.20min length plus all the sidings along the line which is operated off a dual controller which powers the rails and the 16V supply to the towns lights and street lights etc.
A Coal train being hauled by a Class 34 diesel past the factories with a wine farm on the left.
The trains can vary from the Crack Trans Karoo express to the Blue train or mixed goods trains Coal trains or container trains or even a fuel train as the operate in block trains over here for say coal.
We also have a 1940’s balcony coach train of wooden stock to represent that era with the first diesels imported into South Africa the Class 31 or a fast passenger train hauled by a Class 25 condenser or a pair of Class 34 diesels. There is also an EMU suburban train that operates every so often. Trains are made up in terms of the periods when they would have operated on the SAR. The whole idea was to show what the South African railways looked like in the respective periods.
I call this layout “My world” as it was in my young years to the mid 1970’s when I saw the railways in the period of my life from a young boy to a young adult . There nothing more relaxing than to go into my train room and sit operating trains shunting and making up trains for the next session and to repair trains that are damaged or broken.
Road-Rail Vehicle from 1935
A “road-rail” vehicle is one that can run both on both rail tracks and conventional roads.
Although these vehicles are generally used for railroad maintenance, they often need to be driven on roads near the site, and then converted into a rail vehicle to reach the actual work site.
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