What is the secret to uncoupling cars for switching purposes?  Is this done manually or is there another method used for uncoupling?  Will appreciate any help and answers.

Just received the Kadee 236 Loco drive wheel cleaner; works great with no work - just hook up to power and the cleaner does the rest.  Bought mine from Walther's - on sale now for $9.98.  I highly recommend.  Can't go wrong at this price.             Les

r.cpmier - Had not heard of Tachikawa since the 50s when I was stationed at Haneda (Tokyo International) during the height of the Korean War when many of the casualties would come through Haneda for air evac to the States.   This reply doesn't have much to do with the Prairie which I do have one - it runs fine.  Les

 Thanks ebtnut for your suggestion of the Kadee brush wheel cleaner - I have one on order; this will make the job much easier.  Les

I had not spent any time with my layout until today since  last spring (golf is about over in Iowa) and to my dismay the trains did not run well (or at all).  I tried different things and finally cleaned the tracks - all went well.  I was quite surprised that so much debris could accumulate over the summer - so keep your tracks clean.  Les

What is the history behind calling them "mountains"?  Were they first used in the mountains?

I am 77 years old and when growing up the was never enough money for an "electric train".  After retirng from the law practice I started in HO about 6 years ago.  I am not into prototype, but have tried to set up what I call a transition era layout -  the 40s - 50s.  My equipment includes 8 diesel and 8 steam locos and about 60 rolling stock cars and have the layout set up to replicate a small midwest rural town.  Living in a small town once served by the Rock Island all my locos are CRI&P.  My one recurring thought is that I wish I knew when I started what I have learned over the years - many mistakes would have been eliminated.  It is a great hobby and one I thoroughly enjoy - especiallhy in the winter when I cannot play golf.

The admission price is $6.00 - well worth it!  A club member at one of the HO layouts said they have an 80 member club and 8 - 10 will show up for a weekly work night.

I just returned from a trip to San Diego and while there I visited the Model Railroad in Balboa Park.
Spectacular!!  There are 2 HO layouts, 1 N and 1 O; in additiion there is a 3 rail layout.  The City of San Diego furnishes the space for the exhibits and various clubs then set up and maintain the layouts.  The club members were very personable and glad to visit about their work.  If you get to San Diego do not pass up the opportunity to see what is billed as the "World's Biggest Modelo Railroad".   Les

DOES ANYONE HAVE A WEB SITE WHERE I CAN GET SOME RI HISTORY ?  THANK YOU.

RAM - you questioned why have more than one power pack; I have four on my layout probably because I do not know how to get needed power to various sections of track without using multiple power packs.  My layout has grown like topsy (and rather large) and has gotten so complicated that I have some difficulty operating it.  Les