Peco offers both electro and insulfrog turnouts.  Can someone tell me the difference between the two?  I assume the wiring is different in some way.

Thanks, Bill

I know the forum does not allow the bashing of a competitors products, and if my question violates this rule, I do apologize. However this issue has previously been posted on this board and I would like a clarification.  It concerns the running quality of their 4-6-2 Pacific. I understand from previous posts that this engine has problems with the running gear but I don't know if its a fixable item or not.
Question 1: What is the nature of the problem?
Question 2: Do all of the engines in the product line have the same problem or are there now current runs that do not have the problem?
Question 3: Does Athern offer any kind of fix to the problem even though the unit is out of warranty? (It's used)

Mr. B.  If I have violated your rule, I certainly apologize and you can delete this thread if you wish.

Thanks, Bill

Jim,

Over the past several weeks I have been putting lights in my town.  I have connected about 20 lights in parallel, all of which run under my board to my 12v power source. The power is a dedicated transformer to which I plan to use the AC terminals.  Although I have not connected the circuit to my transformer to test it, I am worried that I have not placed any resistors in my circuitry.  Based on other posts you have made about the need to place such resistors, I am concerned about burning out my bulbs and/or excessive heat build up. Most of the bulbs are miniatronics grain-of-wheat 12v. I don't recall the mA value since I have thrown away the package in which they came.

Question 1: What is the danger of operating the circuitry without any resistors, and
Question 2: If I definitely need resistors, would it be possible to place one in the feeder lines so that the whole circuit would be protected?

Thanks, Bill

I have an old Riverossi electric motor in which I need to clean the rotor. I'm undecided whether to use alcohol or LaBelle #107 oil.  Before I mess up anything I thought I would ask someone on this board for advice.  Will the Labelle oil coat the brushes and rotor preventing them from making contact, or should I use alcohol?

To anyone who has a Peter Witt Street Car,

I've just finished laying track for my Peter Witt in which it comes down the middle of one street in my city and turns a 90 degree angle to go down another street. I believe Bachmann advertises that it will negotiate a 9 inch radius turn. Well, good news! In two of my turns it negotiates what I would estimate a 71/2 inch to 8 inch radius. I used code 83 flex track in which I slowly bent the track to connect with the other. Although the ties are somewhat eskewed, the guage remained well enough to prevent any track jumping or derailment.  I've run over a dozen times with no problems yet. 

So, for those who are attempting to use the PW on tight radii, go ahead and try it. Now I just wonder if it will negotiate a 7 to 71/2 inch radius.

Bill

Does anyone know of a commercial manufacturer that makes barbed wire or wire fencing in HO scale?  If not, does anyone have thoughts on how to make it?  I've tried using black sewing thread, but it just doesn't have the look I'm trying for.

Thanks, Bill

I have a P2k 0-8-0 in which the right rear driver is slipping causing it to become out of sync and bind the drivers.  I've tried to add a small amount of CA to the end of the axle to bind the wheel to the axle, but it hasn't worked.  Does anyone have any other idea how to secure the wheel?

Thanks, Bill

I bought a Peco curved turnout at a train show and the previous owner did not know if it had an electrical frog or insulfrog.  After hooking to my layout the power transitions from the main rail through the turnout with no problems.  When I throw the switch to the diverging rails, all power stops. My source of power is from my main line coming through the frog towards the points.  I assume from this behavour I have an insulfrog.  My question is this:  Should I provide power to the diverging rail and through the frog, or should I connect power from the main line, through the points and on to the frog anddiverging rail?

I hope I have adequately exlained this.
Thanks, Bill

I have a P2K 0-8-0 in which one of the driver wheels has gotten out of sync with the others causing the rods to bind.  I understand there is some type of wheel tool that can re-syncronize the driver with the others.  I don't know the name of this tool and was wondering if anyone can help?  Also, if I were to reposition the driver wheel, would CA hold it in place on the axel?

Thanks, Bill

Part of my stocking stuffers for Christmas was a pair of Bush operating signal crossings.  There's only one place that I can place it on my layout at this time and it is on a street crossing a double main line that runs into the far wall.....the street, not the main lines.

My question is this:  I will naturally place one of the signals facing towards the front, but should I place the other signal on the oppostite side facing the wall?  No one would see the lights operating, but it would look un-real to have an operating signal on one side and nothing on the other.

Well, I realize this is a minor problem, but I can't make up my mind.  So I thought I would let members of this board decide for me.

Thanks to all,
Bill

hi my name is justin and im 11 years ild.  my gramps said i could ask questions while he is in the hospital.  im trying to hook my old train set up. i have a ho desil and 2 steam engines. that i know to hook up to dc. i also have 2 of his old buildings that have lights in them. do i hook these up to the ac on my trainsformer.  what is ac used for.  thanks justin.

Twice a year I have the drudgery of cleaning my layout, dusting my structures and removing cobwebs from my scenery.  This year, more than ever, it will be a tedious task.  My question is this:  How do some of you clean your layouts without damaging fragile scenery?  I have an abundance of trees, some of which have the first vestages of cobwebs forming on them and all my structure roofs need dusting.....and that's not to mention my streets.  I would greatly appreciate some ideas.

Thanks, Bill

A friend of mine just called and asked the following question.  Will Elmers white glue cause a short while it is still wet?   He says he was putting down some ballast and used Elmers full strength. (no water as I understand)  This particular branch worked fine before and after the ballast was placed between the rails he turned his transformer on and a short occured.  He runs DC.

I suggested he just wait until it dries and try it again, but I told him I would ask this board.

Thanks, Bill

Do any of you old timers recall what color were stop signs and highway stripes back in the 1940s or 1950s?  I'm thinking the stop signs were yellow with black lettering and the highway stripes were all white but I'm not sure.

Has anyone removed the top mounted headlight on the Bachmann K-4 and placed it in the middle of the boiler face? If so, are there any unforseen problems in doing that?  e.g. Wiring?  I love the loco, but really don't care for the top mounted headlight.

Thanks

Mr. B.
I noticed today that we are up to 995 members. Do you have any figures on how that compares to members on the old forum?  Or did you keep track of the numbers back then?

It's a great board and thanks for making it available.

I was wondering if there is any type of cleaning spray that you can spray on the bushes and rotors of an open frame motor?

Years and years ago when TV viewers used to have to get up and manually change the channel selector (Auuugh!), there was a spray our TV repairman used to spray the contacts.  They were made of copper back then and every so often a slight film of corrosion would form.  He would spray the solution, rotate the channel selector a few times, and viola, it worked!

I have been tempted to use alcohol, but as bad as my motors are sparking, I'm afraid of a major conflagration.

For anyone that doesn't know, daylight savings time will change the second Sunday in March.  Back in August of 2005 President Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 into law. Part of this law is a change to how Daylight Savings Time (DST) will be observed beginning in March 2007.  DST used to begin the first Sunday in April and ended the first Sunday in October.  Starting in 2007, DST will begin the second Sunday in March and end the first Sunday in November.

Since many computer applications and systems automatically adjust for DST, they will have to be updated.

Bill

I would like to ask any Bachmann European forum members a question about rail travel in the UK and Europe.

My wife and I are thinking of taking a trip to Europe either late this year or next year.  I would love to go through the chunnel from England to France, but on the websites I have looked at there is no mention of that route.  The sites describe the Europass and the countries you can visit and the Britrail pass mentions only travel in the UK.

Does anyone know how one goes about purchasing a ticket for chunnel travel and can you direct me to a website?

Thanks, Bill

This Spring and Summer I plan to construct a building in my backyard to house my new layout. In order to have the track plan I want I'm going to be compelled to have a double track liftout. I'm concerned about the expansion and contraction of the track during the winter and summer months.  Although the buildling will be heated and cooled, neither utility will be running constantly.

Does anyone have any experience with a liftout?  And if so, how do you address the problems with track alignment? Or, is this even a problem?  I've talked to a few guys who have connected modular sections together and they don't seem to have a problem. I plan to have the liftout section constructed with two 2x4s screwed together with my roadbed and track running across the top. The distance will be approximately six feet.

I would appreciate any advise.