I am not happy with Bachmanns grade crossings.  They are too steep and have that unrealistic pocket in the center whether or not the crossing is being used as a terminal or not.

It was suggested that I use a product called Durhams Water Putty to make my own crossings over standard track.

I am wondering if anyone has used this product and what it is like Seems like I can find it in Home Depot.

Can anyone give me the measurements of Crankys Base?  Thank you

What is the diameter of this Turntable?

Is anyone else going to the parade of trains at Grand Central Station this weekend?

Hi All:

I would like to re-use some of the EZ track from my old layout on my new layout.  Would soaking the NS EZ track in water or Alcohol Remove the ballast from the track without damaging the plastic roadbed?

I am looking for an economical way of populating my layout with HO scale cars trucks etc.  Seems as though even on Ebay you could spent like $10 for a car.  Hot wheels matchbox etc are too big and toy like so I removed most of them (some of the trucks are ok) any ideas?

Just wondering when the rest of the fall issue and the winter issue will publish?

Next week I am taking Amtraks Empire Service from New York City to Syracuse NY.

This is my first train trip in many years and I was wondering if anyone has had any experience traveling this route as to what to expect.  I read some reviews of Amtrak in general and there were a lot of complaints about dirty rest rooms and sometimes rude employees. So I thought I would ask here since we are all about trains.

As I promised a few weeks ago last night I finished my evaluation of this Steamer.
Bottom line I am impressed for about $100 this truly is a sound value.

Pluses:
The SoundTraxx decoder is far superior in terms of out of the box running characteristics then the non-sound Bachmann Standard Line decoder.  It has good low speed operation and unlike the DCC on Board locos it actually has momentum on stopping that requires careful planning of stops (I know I ran into the back of a stopped train on my mainline de-railing a caboose).
The sound is great however I was informed by my cousin that the chuff rate was off.  I guess he is a bit of a rivet counter.  I doubt the casual watcher would notice.  Also I like that F8 Mutes the sound, great for late night op sessions.

Minuses:

As with most Bachmann Steamers the tender is a bit light and it is hard to add weight in small tender.  This could cause derailments when backing up.
Speaking of which this loco is a little more fussy in terms of picking the points at turnouts.  However a little filing on the turnout in question cured that problem.

I ran a pulling test on the loco it pulled 7 NMRA weighted cars before it started straining on the eighth.  This was on zero grade probably would pull less on a slope but as my tracks are flat so this was not tested.

All and all a great loco hope to see more of the Sound Value line on my layout in the future.

I just aquired this loco on Saturday and am breaking it in.  So far it seems like a nice runner and for $95 I cannot beat the value.  Seems somewhat better than the other Bachmann Steamers I have.  I'll post a full review in a few weeks I hope

I have noticed that the coupler height on both my 2-6-2 Prarie and 0-6-0 slopeback are too low compared to the rolling stock they pull is this common on a lot of Bachmann tenders and what coupler should i replace the stock coupler with?

Can anyone supply me with the length of this turnout?

I am looking at a new project.

Running my Proto 2000 subway set point to point around and in front of some new shelving my wife wants to put up (to display our Hess truck collection around the perimeter near the ceiling of our train room.

OK so Here is my question:  Since I already have the subway a power pack and a lot of spare EZ track I was wondering if I could just buy a pack of auto reversing and put it at the ends of the line and use regular track in between or must all the track be auto reversing?

I am Throwing this out for advice suggestions comments etc:

                         Name Staten Island West

Era Freelanced but 1980 with liberty to allow me show my container collection No Actual Harbor scene but New York Container Terminal to be in the background

1.   Must fit in 4 x 8 Space (HO Scale)

2.   Must use all numbered turnouts (no curved turnouts derails too much)

3.   If EZ track is used ballasting will NOT be used if ordinary track/road bed used Limited Ballasting may be allowed  I have two many problems with stray ballast

4.   Must Have 3 sidings One for waste removal  two for Container Service three for storage and if possible a fourth siding for a 3 car excursion set to be run primarily during the holiday season.  While the container service will modeled I prefer not to run actual trains.

5.   After much thought normal max train length will be 4 cars (Loco + 2 cars + Caboose) Primary motive power will be two GE 70 ton switchers and one 0-6-0 dockside switcher for the excursion.

6.   The Storage track will house the 2 GP 40s (Conrail, Chessie) and excursion train consist), for longer consists as assembled.

7.   The main line will be an oval Preferably not parallel to the sides of the layout IE offset long consists once assembled will run around the oval to represent trains leaving/arriving  the layout.

8.   Budget: No more than $300 for new track I already have needed rolling stock buildings DCC people and landscaping supplies much of which to be recycled from existing layout. I think the track will not survive demolition.   

I have a very short shopping list this time:

A small passenger car for the tourist train.

Some HO scale vehicles to replace out of scale ones

4 turnouts to keep in the shop as spares

Anyone else planning to go?

Joe

One of my turnouts is balky no matter which way the frog is set the train continues on the main line even when I need it to diverge and enter the yard.  It seems as though the train is jumping or ignoring the switch point when it is in the diveregent position.  I tried straightening the points did not help.  Looking at the turnout it seems like the stock rail is higher the point.  and I am thinking the wheels are jumping the frog.

I was thinking of grinding down the stock rail to see if that solves the problem.  Anyone ever had this problem and if so how did you correct it? Replacing the turnout is a last resort.

I was asked to review this Loco I bought 3 weeks ago

Locomotive ran well once broken in and tuned, However smoke does not puff (No big Deal I can do without the mess) and the tender needs more weight on the back wheels to prevent derailments espicially in reverse.  However it is fine for pulling my one car tourist train, which is its purpose.

Although I am here visiting family, it turns out there is a Model RR meet going on here in my hotel. I'm going to see if I can find out what is going on.

The National Train Day site went live today Nationaltrainday.org

Amyone going to the WGH show in Edison NJ this weekend?