I found some of these at work and they have worked really well , and easy to work with . and build off of .

Was looking and trying to get some ideas for building scratch built Timber Trustles . And came across this template . Having a hard time figuring size and scale . Image said large scale Trustle template and was wondering if it was pretty close .

Redards :Mark f

this is the layout I am replacating . In process now

Has anyone here, had any experience with this controller . And could you please tell me a little about it . I picked one up last weekend . Dirt cheap . All I know is it has different power options for different size scale from G to N . And has some sort of sound option for diesel and steam . It still works for being and older controller . And is like new . Has the box but no manuel .

Regards : Mark F

http://s927.photobucket.com/albums/ad119/mf5117/my%20trains/?action=view&current=photo2003.mp4
this video was from 3 years ago when I 1st started out .hope you like it

I was trying to make a layout with RTS . I can get the pieces on the grid ,flip them ,rotate them.Put them kinda close to were I want . But my question is .If I have a half circle of ,lets say 22" rad curve .How do you move the half circle to the place you want it on the grid . I was trying do a 5ft x 9ft layout and I can't ever seem to get the half circle started centered on the grid when I start . At 2ft 6in . And to the spot from the edge I want.

thanks MARK F

I started a new project today . My girlfriend has been on me about my large scale tweetsie set . So today I extended one of my flower beds 7x20ft . with land scape timbers 3 high , and on the 7ft width came out 4ft and 45'ed the corners to give it some character . Then put 2 cubic yards of sand in , graded it .  I'm laying a 5ft x 18ft half dog bone out of aristo craft large scale brass track .  i took 2x2x8" long red brick and incircled the track with it .then pulled the track and filled with pea gravel for the ballest. then will mulch and put a few plants in ,try to find some g scale buildings .  Maybe a water tower and small station .

I'm going to by one of the rock water falls that Lowe's has and then use the river rock for a tunnel on one of the curves . Was a good day and got alot accomplished . I'm excited about this . 

can someone please explain how to upload or post video's and pictures . I don't think i'm that dyslexic  , but can't seem to get it . my gf has done a great job with sq ft scenery that we are going to cut in .and I'd like to post some things also I have done with EZ TRACK layout wise ....  for a small space 5x9 ft

someone told me that the height of a nmra gage is correct for tunnel clearance . just seems kinda tight . Im at that point trying to get clearance on a 4% grade crossing part of the mainline on my layout . it's tough with only a 5ft x 9ft layout . man I'm struggling with this . I want my basement back .

I got my tweetsie set finally for Christmas. It's a great train . Made it threw the UPS with no problems . I'm not real impressed with the bachmann track that came with the set . I'm buying brass track as I said before . I did not like the tag on the front of the 4-6-0 loco where the smoke switch is I almost broke the loco number off due to there is no slit in the  tag for easy removal .Dear mr bachmann can you put a slit in the tag so you don't break the piece . I due wish there was some way to get the sound a little louder on the chuffing ,I think it's great but I wish it was louder . The break wheel on the flat car was a little flimsy .But over all it's a nice set . My dad liked it better than his LGB set ,and also noticed the 4 wheel trucks on the rolling stock .which impressed him . He's going to buy a bachmann string now . And I can see myself buying a die cast locomotive soon . Thanks Bachmann for another good product       regards    mark f      oh p.s does the light on the coal tender work some how    please let me know

I was sitting at a crossing waiting on a train to go by, and was wondering how do I read what the letters mean just above the wheel trucks . Like on the tank cars some had GATX,MITX,NMMD I saw 6 or 7 different letter combonations and usually a set of numbers below the 4 letter combonations . Are they city and state abbreviations and rail car numbers for that particular rail car   

Im getting a g scale bachmann tweetsie set for christmas , and have been looking at different types of g scale brass track . Is there a certain code type for bachmann g scale , and I have never asked this question . but what makes the different code types of track . I was looking at aristo craft , LGB and USA . I'm looking at buying 60 to 100ft of indoor outdoor brass track at 1st , straights and curves and a couple of turnouts . I see many different prices and discounts on the net .  I just want to make sure I buy the right size track for my tweetsie set . any recommendations ........thanks for the help new to g scale   ....... mark f           

My girl friend is buying me a Bachmann large scale Tweetsie set for Christmas . I'm not sapposed to know . What I can see is I wish it had brass track . I took down my dads LGB 0-4-0 set I was amazed at the smoothness of the locomotive I did not like the single axle trucks on the rolling stock . He has about 100ft of brass track and I had it strung all threw the house .TO see if I would like large scale . I was impressed  . The thing I liked about the Bachmann rolling stock was the double axle trucks on the rolling stock .

If someone can give me alittle feedback on this set and alittle info on the locomotive and the rolling stock .I thank you . peace mark f       HAPPY HOLIDAYS almost and please remember the troops

Went on a nice excursion yesterday threw the Piney Woods of East Texas .

since 1896 , trains have moved across the Texas State Railroad . It was built by prisoners in 1881 with the intent to service the smelting plant inside the Texas State Prison in Rusk . The Railroad was built to ship in raw material from the area's rich iron ore deposits and ship out finished goods made within the prison. The railroad's track crew maintains more than 25 mile of track and 24 bridges.        The Texas State Railroad is one of the only steam railroads in the United states to run 2 steam trains simultaneously on days of operation .

Equipment
five steam locomotives, including No.201, a 4-6-0 built in 1901 by A.L. Cooke & No.400, a 2-8-2 built in 1917 by Baldwin . 4 diesel engines built between 1944 and 1956 Alco   Thanks Mark  F

on a figure 8 can you use insulated rail joiners on the opposing curves with dcc . instead of a reverse loop module .

and if the engine crosses the insulated rail joiners will it switch polarity , and run properly .not try to go into reverse or short with 4 wheel and 6 wheel truck engines .

Are 15" radius curves , rescipe for disaster . I was wanting to add on to the layout again . And wanted to add an L to the 5x9 ft layout . 18" is to large , due to space . I could make it . But would have to put a fold up with 18" radius on the L part . I could do what "I would like todo" with 15" radius . But I'm not sure if 50ft stock could handle the curve's and my sd40-2's .         What are the smallest rolling stock ft wise and engine that can handle a 15" radius                AS you know , I have gp 40's , ft-a , gp-35 and sd40-2's not worried about the switchers .  also pulling a 6 or 7 car string would it get pulled off around and threw the curve . "derails"    thanks    Mark f

I have a HO 5x9ft layout , and use EZ TRACK . I am  thinking of doing away with my upper 18" rad oval 36"x60" . I'm just not satisfied with the way it looks , and the way i constructed it . And also due to scenery problems . I don't want just the 18" and 22" inner and outter half dog bone loop flat track layout . have good industry started etc.

I know on grades the max at the least is 2 to 4 % . How can you make the transition of a piece of flex track , "somebody told me to use code 100" . from the EZ track at the start of the incline and then at the top  look good. I heard use cork road bed and paint it grey . but , does it look the same .      I was thinking of attempting to heat a 9" straight in the middle to what equals 2 or 3 % . I tried just using the ez track ,but at the rail joiners  , the start of the incline is a somewhat angle .and a 6 wheel truck ,as on the sd40-2  loses pickup from the rails and stops .  any suggestions will help. I have just been experimenting

I finally got my HO mdt plymoth sante fa #32 back . ok here i go i hope i post this right .

no mods to the chassis . the engine was not dcc ready so the motor had to be insulated . the decoder that was installed was a 1006 tcs m1 decoder .a new wire harness "plug and play . if the decoder goes bad just unplug and put in the new one like the dcc ready locomotives .it is installed inside the body and not the cab like was talked about in the previous thread . this guy does these all the time , like clock work put a sound decoder in a thomas ,more than once , also he put a rotary beacon  in the mdt as well . I was so excited . I got it home and was pushing and pulling 2 40' flats around the layout no problem . he did say they are tuff but it can be done . total cost was $38.00 ,but was well worth it to me . I will use him along with the 70 tonner in the yard moving pulp wood cars and coal cars .

his name is jason at larry's hobbys in houston texas . I also just took a gp 40 I'm having a decoder installed # 5 of the gp 40's now plus a dummy gp-40 #6 so 6 total sante fa's gp-40's                peace to all