In preparing to ballast my atlas code 83 track I have been reading old topics on this forum and others on ballasting. I have seen a ballast spreader for sale on e-bay that has a hopper that you move along the rails to spread the ballast. Has anyone used that and does it work? opinions welcomed, thanks, david

Suppose a guy had a dc layout up and running, what would he have to do to convert it to DCC? It is it pretty simple or pretty complicated. I know about converting the engine or purchasing a new one. What about wiring, controls etc. Same ppk's ? Just wondering. thanks, david

I will be up in Williamsburg Va. and D.C. areas in a few weeks. Are there some good model train shops in those areas that someone goes to that are good for HO scale stuff? thanks, david

 RUNNER,
Thanks for the link, it was helpful. Thanks to everyone else for their help also. There is no crying in model railroading, is there? david

Thanks again, old timer! I finally found my problem, at least the one on my train. I had a bad connection with a switch on my track at another location which was killing my power where i was placing my spst switch. After correcting that my switch works just like you said it would. I had it wired up right before, just wasn't aware of the short. See, i can follow good directions! I appreciate all of you guys sharing your expertise, which is why i asked in the first place. Thanks,a very happy rookie

I'm not doing something right. My track is wired to a pp and powered up. Old timer said to run a wire from each side of the gapped rail to the switch. Didn't work. Do i run the wires from the same side of the track or one from each side? Do i need to hook the switch up to the pp? Does the switch get it's power from the track without being connected to the pp? If the track already has power how does running only one wire on each end work? I'm not an electrician but i' not a complete idiot either. Well, okay, maybe mostly! I have already wired up my other switches. Sorry, didn't mean to write a letter. Just need clarification, at least i can spell correctelly.....hee hee

You know, things on a model rr track would be a lot simpler for me if i could just make everything out of wood........but there is no such thing as a wood electrician now, is there? thanks guys

thanks very much

Help! I am trying to isolate 2 short sections of track. One is to park my switcher while train is in operation and one is to park my loco while my switcher is making up trains. I have a single outer loop track with an inner turnout with sidings for cars. I have wired up a test track and connected the spst switch in between track and power pack but i can't get it to change direction. How do i wire this up correctly? Will i need to use separate switches for each section? thanks in advance for responding, david

Well, from your moniker i suppose this could be from one old timer to another. You see, i have flying ho trains and here is what happened. It was right in the middle of a flying leap that........ Just kidding! I dropped my engine and of all the dumb luck it hit on the 2x4 table supports. Apparently it hit right smack dab on the wheel and bent one of them. Probably wouldn't happen just like that again but it did this time. thanks for the advice, david

What size wheel do i need to get to replace a bent wheel on my Emd bachmann loco? It's the Mckinley Alaskan Exployer model. I think some are 33 and some are 36 for freight and passenger? Are all ho engines the same on the wheels? thanks, david

Do you guys operate switches off of the same power source as your track? thanks

Thanks Jim. By the way do you nail or glue your track down? Also, since you explain in detail for rookies, how do "you" isolate a section of track in order for a switcher to operate in a rail yard and keep the main engine from running at the same time? thanks,david

ABC,
I do have some flex track. Do i take your advice to mean that i should solder every section whether it is 9 inch or 36 inch. I am leaning toward using more flex because it is less joining. Do you glue your track down also or nail it? thanks, david

I wanted to know from you guys, when you lay regular track do you solder every 9 inch section? Do you solder then at all or do you just glue then to the roadbed? thanks