PD,

I was in a touch of trouble until I took her out to dinner.  Of course, it didn't hurt when I explained that she had spent more than me.  She's getting into this train stuff and I love it.

Clif

My wife told me it was time I started playing golf again.
That was on the way home from the Train Show.

Clif

Sorry for the delay in responding.  I haven't had my computer on all weekend.

Thanks to all that offered up suggestions.  All are good.  I just have to make the decision on which way to go.  My current layout is coming down due to our moving.  At least now I will have  a train room and the CEO of the railroad will have her spare bedroom back.  So, I have a month or so to figure out my best solution.

Thanks again,

Clif

Thanks ABC and Jonathan,

All positive answers so far.  Maybe I won't get too many negative ones.  I plan to make all my transitions on straight track to eliminate as many problems as I can.

Clif

To all track laying experts,

In an attempt to widen my curves, I'm thinking of getting code 83 24" radi curves.  Everything I have now is code 100.  I know I can get the Atlas connectors to join them together.  What would be the negative effects, if any, of this transition

Thanks,

Clif

full maxx,

What are those pictures on your walls?  They don't look like train room pictures to me.  My CEO has been going to train shows with me and she is in charge of the decor in my room.  AND, your layout is not near cluttered enough.
BTW, my layout will be looking a whole bunch like yours, with the "L".  My track is right next to the edge right now, but I will add an extension on each side as preventitive maintenance.

Clif

Big Al,

Norm would have used his handy plainer (sp?) to get the boards the same size.
I was always amazed that you never saw him change blades or bits or screw driver sizes.  No telling how many tools he had a set up to do the job and someone to hand them to him as he worked.

I suppose we are getting a little off base here.

Good luck again,

Clif

Big Al,

By no means am I a master carpenter.  I cannot remember ever getting a perfectly straight piece of lumber.  Seems we always have to figure a way to make it work.  You will find the way that works best for you.  I brought up the bisquits because I saw it on the New Yankee Workshop years ago and decided I just couldn't live without it.  I have used it ever since.  Good luck on your project.

Clif

Big Al,

Seems to me that you need to use bisquits.  You can get a pretty inexpensive bisquit cutter at Lowe's or Home Depot and they will show you how to use it.  I can do it and I'm not real good at carpentering either.

Clif

JWARD,

Thanks for the input.

I am needing a total of five "B" units and I figured they would be considerably less expensive than five powered units.  The "A" units will only be pulling 4 to 5 passenger cars and they do that very well now.  I figured one more car won't hurt.

Clif

Thanks for the info ABC. 
No wonder I couldn't find them.  So maybe my searching is not as bad as I thought.
I suppose we will have to think about the Athearn dummy units.  By the way, the F7 was a typo.  It should have been F9.  Anyhow, thanks again.

Clif

Hey guys,

I'm needing a bit of help here.  Last weekend I went to a train show and picked up some "A" units,  but they had no "B" units.  My searching skills are not the best and I can't find what I'm looking for.  Where are those grand kids when you need them.  I'm needing a dummy "B" unit for an EMD F9 Union Pacific,  An EMD F9 SP Daylight and a F7 SP Black Widow.  All I want is the shell and frame it's mounted on.  I can find the powered "B" units and they are pretty proud of them.  By the way, the EMD-UP and the SP Black Widow are both Bachmann and the SP Daylight is Life-Like.
Any help will certainly be appreciated.

Thanks,

Clif

waxboss1,

Put some straights between two of the 33.5 curves and you can get out to the 46".

Clif

Great work Sheldon.

What I would really like to see is pictures of these locos on your layout.

Clif

One piece of straight track between the two turnouts certainly would be a lot cheaper.  It will alter the inner track though.

Clif