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!
Tips for Building a Modular Railroad
Hank has a question for readers:
“This is my first attempt, I want to do a module in N scale. What I’ve got is a roundhouse with 6 compartments and a non powered turn table. I am open to suggestions on how to plan and then start putting this together. Please keep it as simple as possible, do not send me any complicated diagrams for I’ll give up and my train collection will be just that a collection to show and tell. I would like a main line to the round table and then to the roundhouse.”
Hank there is a very good manual on building modules called “Confessions of a Mobile Layout Builder” available as a bonus here http://www.modelrailwayscenery.org/model-railroad-scenery.html
How to Program DCC Circuit Breakers
Dennis asks readers:
“Can I use HO NCE EB1 CB’s with the Digitrax DCS100 & 150? Will they trip before the DCS100/150’s? Can I program them with the Digitrax DT402 throttle? Are there any specific programming settings when using the EB1? I have 20 districts and 5amp supply.”
How to Mount a Camera to a Model Train
Here’s a question from Don that will interest many in the hobby:
“Hello, I have wanting to put a camera on my HO train but have no idea what kind to buy or were to find them on the internet. I live in the USA if that makes any difference of any kind.”
Adjusting the Weight of Cars
Bill has a question for readers:
“If the cars were heavier, or some of them heavier, would it help the whole lot of them stay on the track better? Or is it generally going to take track cleaning or adjusting to solve most of these issues?”
How to Fix Sparking Under a Locomotive
Eddie asks readers:
“I was giving all my Marklin HO locos a run and one of the older ones started to spark from the slider. It ran a little bit, but not very good and then just stopped. Is it just a matter of changing the slider or something more serious? Thanks.”
Trolley to Run on Separate Track
Les asks readers:
“I’m setting up a train table. I like to know how to set up a trolley that will run on a separate track. That it will go so far and when it get to the end and it stops and goes back where it came from. Where can I find out about that?
Scratch-building or Ready-Made?
The results of our latest poll are in. The question asked was:
Which of the following do you prefer to build yourself from either a kit, download, or from bought parts & accessories – RATHER THAN purchase a completed “ready-made” manufactured product?
A total of 613 model railroaders voted with some selecting multiple answers. Here are the results:
- Buildings (338 Votes)
- Mountains (304 Votes)
- Scenery Foliage e.g. trees (266 Votes)
- Tunnels (218 Votes)
- Car Loads (182 Votes)
- Bridges (179 Votes)
- Switches/Turnouts (53 Votes)
- Signals (51 Votes)
How To Prevent Locomotive Wheel Slippage
Gary asks readers:
“I have an HO Athearn GP-40 (non-DCC, RTR) that went from running GREAT to running poorly basically overnight. It runs, but there’s a significant loss of pulling power. At first I thought it was the loco, but when I put another perfectly-running loco on the same track, it has the same problem. Then I thought the problem was in the electrical power to the track (such as reduced voltage?), but I can’t find any problem there either. I also tested the power pack; no problem there. The loco runs perfectly fine until I’ve added about 4 cars; then I start to notice it’s having trouble pulling them. But I still can’t figure out how a loco went from running GREAT to running poorly just like that (in other words, there was no gradual decline in performance). Have also cleaned the track and checked the wire connections; so that’s not the issue. Any thoughts?”
Trains From the Civil War to 1930
Danielle asks readers this question:
“I am looking for old wood burning HO locomotives and accessories for my future layout. I would like to concentrate on the era from the Civil War to about 1930. Does anyone out there have any ideas?”
How To Make Gutters
Roger asks readers:
“I am building some houses from scratch and was wondering, what is a good material for making gutters? I have tried hard paper but I could not make it look real. I am constructing the building from 1/16th wood. I tried finding something on the internet but all I get are ads for real gutters. Does anyone have a suggestion?”
Can I Run DCC Locos Together?
Tim asks readers:
“I have two HO DCC locomotives that I want to consist together so that can pull/push up a 4% grade on my layout. Both locomotives travel in different directions for forward & reverse. Can I change this in one of them using DCC or do I need to hard wire the change in the loco”
How Do Kato #6 Turnouts Compare?
Peter asks readers:
“I bought a Bachmann train set prior to Christmas. I then expanded the layout with extra track and turnouts. I personally have found the turn outs to be extremely unreliable and I am considering buying Kato #6 turnouts instead. Are the Kato turn outs remote as I would like to run to engines and isolate one at a time on a siding?”
2015 Hallmark Lionel Train Set
Sue asks readers:
“Did anyone see the 2015 Hallmark Lionel train set? It’s the red one that’s around 400.00 dollars? Has anyone mentioned whether this was a good set to buy, worth the money? I thought it was pretty high myself but not knowing how much train sets are going for i thought I’d ask. Thanks for your help!”
Turnouts and LED Lighting
Frank has some questions for readers:
Hello everybody, fairly new to model railroading (had Plywood Summit Lines layout for over 20 years when father built it when I was a kid), but I’ve seen a major advance in technology since the layout was first constructed. I’m looking to start the Oregon Pass Lines, and here’s where the questions come up:
- On HO turnouts, would it be easier running above table switches for the yard, and under table switches for mains? Or leave them all above table? Tortoise available?
- Regarding turnouts, I’ve got a general idea for my control panel, but I’d like to use toggle switches instead of the Atlas switch. Is it possible to add a 3mm LED into the equation for each leg? I’d like to be able to tell which way the train goes
- If I’m using the Atlas turnouts, basically same as #2, can I add an LED to the panel, if I run the Atlas switch as well? (2nd choice if toggle isn’t an option)
Thanks for any and all help.
Locating Specific Building
Dan asks readers:
“Hi was looking for an N scale Santa workshop building and/or village for my layout. Does anyone know were to buy theses items? Thank you.”
One option for Dan would be to simply adapt another building by adding a festive theme to it. Even something such as one of the barns seen here could be adapted with snow added, decorations, glitter, and maybe colored leds added http://www.modelbuildings.org/Barn-and-WC-B444.html It really comes down to whether you can find something ready-made, what it costs, or whether you need to get creative and design your own.
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