Hey all, although unforeseen financial circumstances (A power surge blew my PC Monitor) Have forced me to delay my plans until summer, I am going to, essentially, redo my layout. I'll be selling off the EZ track and using flex track on cork instead (I just feel like the lower track looks nicer). It will be set on foam board. I'll also be using a slightly wider radius (22 and 20 inch on the double tracked mainline) And # 6 turnouts which, while they take up a lot of space, will allow better operation and looks than the standard 18 inch drop in. Here's my questions:

1. the two main features aside from a few sidings will be the yard and the mine. the yard will retain the #6 turnouts however space is tight and I was considering using #4's on the mine. My question is how hard are they to navigate? It would get the standard Hoppers (so 40') and smaller steam (2-8-0, Russian 2-10-0, 4-4-0, Chinese 2-8-2) The 2-8-4 won't enter it. Will that work or are #4's too sharp.

2. While most places would use the corkbed for realism, A part of my brain is nagging me and saying that  the mine and maybe the yard shouldn't have corkbed, that they would be ballasted flat on the ground instead In real life. If this is true (I'm doing a lot of research) then how do I get track off the corkbed and to ground level?

Just for your information, the layout is set in Northern New Jersey/New York/ Eastern PA area in late 40's to early 50's

Okay, so, Function 0 is headlights. Well, I accidentally pressed the bell function on my NCE remote and it dimmed the Headlight. Testing the appropriate function (1) proved that it did indeed have this function. I'm wondering, is that intentional? It wasn't listed in the documentation. And if so, do the Tsunami's that come in the preinstalled Spectrums have a corresponding function?

Hey all, So, i was just curious, of all my locomotives, one of my 2-8-0' has a ridiculously high requirement for motion. My 2-8-2 and 2-10-0 (sound) will start crawling between 2-6 speed steps w/o a load. the 2-8-4 needs 19-24 and another 2-8-0 needs around 27-32. But my other 2-8-0 doesn't start moving until it hits a whopping 57 speed steps, almost half throttle. It still retains the original starting voltage CV (though I don't recall the number at the moment) and I just think that's unusual, anyone know why that would be?

Hey all, what's the coupler on the tender in the SY 2-8-2? The springs dropped from mine so I need to replace and It's unusual in that the shank is lower than the coupler meaning it rises up, like a stair shape.

Thanks!

Hey all, Real quick, How many degree's offset it the divergent of a #5? I'm adding a small mine yard and I want to bring the divergent back to parallel.

Thanks!

So, before I install sound in another Locomotive, I Obtained a Spectrum 2-10-0 with sound (I mentioned in another post having two decapods , this is the second). Anyway, I love it, Sounds Great, One thing though. To the best I can tell, It has a medium steam decoder, odd choice for a class Ye but I digress, my question is, Do spectrum's come with non-standard Tsunami's? I ask because it seems to have fewer functions, and only 3 whistles (the Tsunami site lists 7)

Hey all, Time for some routine Maintenance on a few Locomotives such as cleaning (I have to check for pet hair daily!) and an LED headlight conversion if I can get the parts. The 2-10-0 Needs significant Work. The chief issues I will be resolving are it's occasional loss of power which is probably related to my messing around with the pickups to resolve a short, and the fact that it runs rather rough and noisy, almost grinding. I figure the first step on that road is to Lubricate it, as it's long overdue on that front. Here's the question, How do I get the shell off? I thought it would be similar to the 2-8-0 (which I have opened and worked on) but the shell is still stuck.

Thanks!

Hey there, So, I am thinking I want to convert One of my Locomotives to sound, Although I haven't decided which one (I am leaning towards the SY 2-8-2 if I can fit a speaker in that tiny tender), one thing is very important to me if I go ahead with this. Can the Chuff rate be matched to the revolutions within reason? I know it seems small but I am bothered by models without proper chuff rates synced to the revolutions. I would be Using a Micro Tsunami or Regular Tsunami Depending on which Locomotive I choose, Is there a CV that adjusts and does it compensate well for grades and loads?

Hey all, so, in spite of all warnings against it compared to newer systems, I purchased an EZ command system, brand new and everything. Well, I plugged it in today as usual, same setup and everything, and the power light flashed once, turned off, and I smelled the trademark electronically burn smell we all know too well. I have had this item for all of 36 days, not even a month and a half, is there any hope for it? I know in truth the answer is no but I couldn't let this go without asking...

In the past few years, we have seen many a model removed from the spectrum line, either moved to standard as was the 2-8-0, or dropped completely like the mountains, pacific, mikados, and Decapods. I have to wonder, is this a trend? at the moment spectrum s limited to very small Locomotives, and Very large ones. Their most recent Standard line Locomotives weren't bad, As an owner of the standard 2-8-0 and 2-8-4, They are pretty nice, but I hope we see Spectrum Return to steam.

I have to wonder if anybody has heard a rumor, I know that many modelers would love some of the harder Locomotives to find such as NYC Hudsons, 4-4-2's, Maybe even a C&O 4-8-4 greenbreier (that one might just be me). Regardless of the model, I think many of us here can agree, a return to more accessible Steam Locomotives from the spectrum line would be well loved.

Hello, I was just wondering. Do any turnouts, either alone or with spacers, serve as a decent Drop-in replacement for a piece of 22inch radius track? Thanks.

Alright, After placing a new Bottom plate and therefore brand new contacts in my 2-10-0... It still shorts out randomly as it runs. I know where the issue is, because when using the base plate without the driver contacts and therefore just the tender contacts, it runs fine. But I cannot figure out what is shorting with the Driver Contacts. Does anyone have ideas?

So I have been having some trouble with my 2-10-0, I managed to figure out the pickups that lead to the drivers were causing the Locomotive to short and after removing the bottom plate to check on it, I blundered and tore the pickups and wire out, ruined the part... don't ask me how, luckily the parts department had some despite the locomotive being out of production. Anyway, while the part Is on order, I also figured I would drop a decoder into the Locomotive since I plan to go DCC soon and the fewer times i disconnect to Engine from the Tender, the better.

Anyway, While looking at the board in the tender, I started wondering... What are the various components for? The resistors are for lighting I presume, But I can't figure out the Capacitor and Inductors. Having been inside other Locomotives, I know they all have em, But i can't figure out why! Does anybody know what they do?

Hello, as I am now seriously considering the switch to DCC, I have a question. I have two Locomotives that lack DCC, a 2-8-2 and an F40

the f40 I may just leave DC since I dont run it too often and DCC conversion of Diesels is tricky when there is not a lot of room but the SY 2-8-2 I really want, problem is, I can't figure out how to remove the tender shell (I don't know if it is DCC ready or not, if not I'll figure out something but if so, that makes it really simple.

Hello, I am in the process if repairing my 2-8-0 that lost it's plug and I have a question:

THe part i recieved has two differences, one, the bulb is different but that is not an issue, but number 2: the part has colored wires, which would be great, except the model's wires were black so my question is:

Which of the two motor wires, red and orange, go to which motor lead?

Well, I had the wires fall out of my 2-8-0 plug.... Always hated that thing. Anyway, is there a way to fix it? I really dont feel like spending 50+ bucks on getting bachmann to do it.

Edit: I should mention that I have plenty of experience soldering.

To any of you who work on locos out there, figured I'd ask. I am ordering various parts for my IHC Heavy Pacific restoration and wondered if anyone has any recommendations on the following parts i need:

Smokestack
Pilot
Headlight
Tender Light
smoke box cover

Thanks in advance, I shall keep searching in the meantime.

Do any sound decoders carry a NYC 5 chime or a CNJ 3 chime? I couldn't find one. I am considering putting sound in my SY and of the whistles i know 142 carried (NYC 5 chime, chinese 5 chime, CNJ 3 chime, reading 6 chime, and SP 6 chime) Those two are my favorite.

Hey there, so I just wanted to ask the opinion of you guys regarding the fate of The LHS. It seems that Model Trains just aren't as prevalent in them as the used to be.

Several Years ago I used to visit a small hobby shop nearby my hometown. They had some of all hobbies, and a rather nice Model Train area. As is to be expected, the prices were easily beaten by online retailers, nonetheless, I visited them many times. The people in that shop were always friendly and helpful, and among my favorite things, when ever you bought a locomotive, they would place it on a small track for you to see and test it right there. Unfortunately, they were forced to close five or six years ago.

I have on occasion been to a larger chain shop that has Trains, but the selection is less varied and the employees don't seem to have the same friendliness of the smaller shops I have visited. I do get that, as a much larger store, each employee not only has more on their plate but is much less involved with the shop that a few people who are basically the entirety of the business but  I have bought just two things there, I never really felt it was worth the price difference between them and the online retailers.

So let me ask you, Do you see Actual shops as  being something that will stick around? Do you mind going to larger, chain stores? Do you like the smaller shops better? Just wondering how the community feels.

Alright, so a while ago I mentioned a 2-8-0 that wouldn't move. Well I finally got around to taking it apart and found the problem almost instantly, the axles have some kind of fiber/thread/hair wraped around them, almost like the previous owner ran them on a dog!anyway, it is tough to get them off (i have removed the wheels from the Loco Frame) I was wondering if anyone has discovered some trick to cleaning it up. If I can get it working, I'll just disregard the broken pilot truck and Use it as an 0-8-0.