I actually found out what's going on . I know somebody that works for Huntsman Chemical and called and asked them why all the horn blast . While the rock load or string of tank cars are going threw the switching part of the tracks that lead into the yards . The engineer makes those short blast to let workers be alert that the train load is moving into one of the yards in route to the loading and unloading platforms . Also I've noticed the engineer makes the normal horn blast when crossing public crossings such as street and road crossings .

I saw that site NM and a couple of others . But was wondering why 10 to 15 like I said in the previous post . And some times they just keep doing the short blast . I know there is a standard .

edit : and there is a chemical plant just down the road from them with about 4 crossovers going to different locations of that plant

I live near by an asphalt plant . They get alot of rock in by rail . What I'm wondering is ,at times I hear about 10 to 15 short blast or sometimes it just seems that the engineer keeps blasting those short horn blast . Does this mean there is people on the tracks around the train or signaling the breakmen . Sometimes it goes on all day . I'll hear the diesels rev up and slow down then here the couplers all mating up then the diesel engine die down .Then will be quite for awhile then the short blast again . Just wondering my son works nights and it wake's him during the day .

Take a small thin blade screw driver and pry off the fuel tank . You will see 2 diagonal screws ,remove those 2 screws and gently pull the shell up and forward  . You do not have to remove the trucks...

I haven't ran my HO layout in about 6 months . I cleaned the rails ,took the eraser and cleaned the rails " it's nickle silver EZ Track . I was running 5 Locomotives off my EZ Command and my FT would stop in certain places ,on a curve on the outter loop and on the back straight on the outter loop . I was pulling 9 cars with the FT , I would tap on my bench and the FT would pick back up .The wheels didn't look dirty on the FT so hmmm .

Also when I was running, I never have had this problem before but everything would stop and the EZ Commander would be on address 1, then have to re-address and everthing would run again where it left off . Didn't think I was over loading the controller as I have never had this problem before . Plug wire tight to terminal railer and feeder wire to other loop to terminal railer plugged in tight . So Thinking I'm getting good voltage .

Well this is good to know .I remember about a year or so ago some questions being asked and didn't seem like it was possible . But I see now .is this been recent in the development of these products . Jim the item you posted in your first link would be some thing I would be interested in .

Glad to be schooled again , thanks

Hey checked out the jmri page so maybe on DCC but I see you will have to build a panel for you accessories for the LOGIX to operate  it. So maybe something to look in to . Thanks for the info

where can you find this at

Are your locomotives DC or DCC . If your locomotives are DC ,  On the EZ commander by Bachmann address 10 is for DC locomotives . also make sure the red 2 wire cable is plugged into the terminal railer properly for the right polarity . If you also have Locomotive's that say they are DCC ready you will have to install a decoder

I have seen it asked here before . I was looking threw the search option in the forum . I think it would be possible .But you would probley have to write the logic for the program and then have a PLC for your I/O's to operate your turnouts ,isolation blocks ,lighting , scenery etc. for a DC layout .For a DCC layout for multiple train operation . I don't find it plausible as the circuitry would be so elaborate you would need a data room for all the wiring for everything.

ummmm the dc loco will have to run on address 10 and I wouldn't run it for long periods of time as the motor will heat up and could possibly smoke the motor . so take caution when running dc locomotives on a dcc layout .glad you gave a little more info .

Hey Merry Christmas and yes it can . If you have 2 separate loops you will need another terminal railer and a red 2 wire extention cord that Bachmann sells . This is the easiest way to do this . Where your red 2 wire cable hooks into the terminal railer there should be 2 prongs on the other side of it . take the other red 2 wire extention cord to the other railer of the other track loop . . Make sure there is no other Locomotives on the rails . Then power up and if the power light starts blinking showing a short . Power down then unplug the plug on the inner track and turn over and plug back in to the railer . 

If you join your loop with a crossover of somesort #4  #5 , #6,  Standard turnouts you will not have to do any special wiring . Just do not make a reverse loop this will cause a short .



hope this helps   

Got a very informative Email from Mr Sweet on the RCS systems and talked with him about installing R/C and battery power in my F-3 A unit with the PB-11 sound board .says everything will be installed inside the Locomotive itself . And advised me of thinking about a battery car for longer run time . So after the holidays will consider doing the install . He had said that the sound board will actually operate better on battery power opposed to track power . And would do away with the rechargeable battery that the sound board come with . He had also said, that I could have a battery by-pass that would also allow me to run track power if I wanted for indoor use as well as outdoor if needed .And when I was ready to give him a call so I could ship my Loco up to them . my goal is no track power on the outdoor layout .

One question didn't Bachmann make a Big Hauler Steam engine that was R/C at one time . And is it available .

How are you configuring your string , gondola first then box car then caboose . Have you tried switching the gondola's direction or putting the box car ahead of the gondola car . Do you see the little tiny springs in the knuckle part of the coupler and if it is a circle are the cars actually locking together when you couple them up . If it is the gondola ,try putting a couple of penny's to keep the tention on the couplers . When going around on a circle track ,coupler swing and momentum can be a factor . I had a CN coal car that came with my Digital Commander set that gave me fits . Uncoupled no matter what I did . I finally had to weight it down with some coins under the coal load and move it to a different location in my string of cars . Try pulling just the box car and the caboose and see if you have the same results . Also make sure your track is flat and all rail joiners are made up to the rail correctly . Check the simple things first ....

And one time I had uncoupling problems . Did everything changed couplers ,changed wheel sets ,weighted cars to standards , then I finally got mad and pulled up my track and found a under track magnet I didn't know was there from a previous change in track layout design . I was like hmmm that was stupid of me . Fixed my problem when I removed the magnet .