Hey Sara, Have You considered  Radio Shack? You can get rolls of wire of various lengths and sizes, electrical connectors and insulation types to add length to the turnout wires. Take care .

Hello, I live about 30 miles from Pittsburh, don't go there much though. I recomend US 22 from Stuben ville oh. I have been to Pitt internation airport a year or so back and construction was atrocious on I-79. You''still probably have construction to deal with on 22, but not as much as on I-79 and US 22 together. 22 will take you through the Liberty tunnel then across the three rivers area of Pitt right into downtown Pittsburgh. As You leave the Tubes( Liberty Tunnel) and cross the river  You will see Heinz Feild and PNC park Ballfields on the left across the the Rivers. The river on Your right is the Mononghela, the left is the Ohio, and straight ahead of You will be the Alleghany River. Good driving and I hope You have a good time here. Take care, gandoff ( Dave)

Thanks fieromike and Brokemoto for sharing the info. I'm going to look at the problem againwith a greater insight to the deal. I read on the General discussion board a suggestion from Mabloodhound about removing a truck from a car and roll it over the frogs and see just what is happenning and then explore my new options. thanks again, gandoff (Dave)

hello all, i have just recently recommited my self to getting back into model railroading. i have been away from hobbies for many, many years. I have worked on Cristmas display's with my father and Grandfathers when I was much younger. things have changed Greatly since then, ( i have just turned 60 on the 15th of nov this year). I have received 2 Bachmann starter kits for Christmas last year. My Wife has encouraged me to take up a hobbie. I settled on model railroading. i have been working on a permanent layout (for now). after reading the forums, and attempting to gain knowledge on the current status of the options available on the net, I decided to go with Atlas code 80 track, for that is the most previelant option i have with my local Hobby shop. I recently spent over 100.00 dollars on Atlas track for more flexability on the layout. Now I am seeing problems with the rerailers and switches. My locos derail after or before they cross the Rerailers and turnouts. I am thinking that the plastics in the above mentioned track segments are the problem. I'm asking, Has anyone experianced this problem and resolved a solution to it? My loco's are: Steam loco's are: 4-8-4 and  a 4-4-0 ( Kits are Empire builder and Prarie Flyer). I will appreciate any and all ideas and all solutions to this problem. because of this problem, my 4-8-4 took a canyon dive off my table, broke the forward truck, casting tab, and Really dinged up the cow catcher and bell, I Thank you all in advance for any and All Advice. Dave(gandoff)

Thanks for the insight. Will B man trains run well on code 55?

Hey everyone, Any recommendations on the best Track code to use with N scale modeling, such as, What works best for operation and what looks best on the layout?

Chipbbald, I have recently purchased a caboose, (bachmann). I also had to change the couplerss. I spent many hours triing, lost 7 springs, got real frustrated as well. After redinding the replies to Your post, I tried it again. Success. I attempted the tooth pick idea, results wer'nt good. Got to remembering the past with Dad, He used toothpicks to apply glue to small spaces. I took a toothpick, placed a dab of gorilla glue to the back of the spring holder, compress the spring and inserted it it, waited for 15 or 20 minutes,  compressed the spring with another toothpick and inserted the new coupler, snaped the assembly back, and ran the car for 2 hours with the loco and other rolling stock. I had no problems. Just be careful with the glue.

Diesals are cool, but Steam is more romantic, the huff and puff creates awe and many dreams of wonder. Deisels are more efficiant all around, steam is more labor intensive. But Steam has probably more reponsible for for Dreams of those of us when We were  youngsters.    gandoff,( Dave)

Great thanks to You Robertj668 and jward, for your replies to my question about min radii for n gauge loco's. after reading both replies, it dawned on me that all i need do is stick with the 11.25" radius. i think all I have to do is follow the norm, whether a full curve piece of of track, or a 1/2 length  track and i think it will not matter if I make an ''S" curve. As long as I use the 11.25" radius as a norm. thanks to both of you for "kick starting" my brain.

Hello everyone. I have a question about the minemum turn radius for an N gauage Northern 4-8-4. I have helped build platforms with my Father many years ago for Christmas with O, S, and later on HO trains. Now,at 60 years old, i have 2 N guage trains that i am going to set up in my basement. Space is limited. i want more than 2 oval tracks . my concern is, how tight of a curve can I use for the 4-8-4 loco.