Until a couple of years ago, my mainline had 18in curves that were handled quite well by both big engines and passenger cars. It surprised me since some of my engines (Atlas U34CH and Athearn C44-9W)  and most if not all of my passenger cars were recommended for bigger curves. The upgrade to 22in curves did pay off when engines found their pulling power increased. My HHP-8 hauled a 6-car train around my layout with ease back in August when it used to strain with a 4-car train.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDGSGdRp5Zo - HHP-8 hauling 6 cars.

It looks like the light fixture was coming into contact with something near the back of the cab wiindow insert. I removed that part of the cab window insert and no more sparks. It had been sparking with the shell on, but not with the shell off.

I got the sideframes already, installed them last night. I went to test run the engine and found this problem. It's 2 Athearn engiines that I paid less then $100 for that I'm gonna have to spend $500 that I don't have right now to replace. I have an AMD-103 that's only taking power in the rear truck.

I guess nobody here cares that I have an engine that could catch fire for all I know.

I'm about to quit myself since I can;t get any help with an engine that looks like it wants to catch fire. There are sparks coming out of the damn cab.

Well, I have a new problem with this engine. It takes power, but will not move.

EDIT: The engine was moving, but there are sparks coming from the cab. I do not want to use the engine in that condition. I need a reply ASAP.

I did that, but I didn't feel comfortable running the engine with that fix in place Now I have to see what fix can be found for a slow AMD-103 since I don't want to take that truck apart for fear of ripping out wires and making the engine unusable. They still use the BB design on the Geeps, but the AMDs are DCC ready.

And there's a lack of willingness to help in this hobby too. I may have to throw away a perfectly good Athearn chassis because one truck needs a new sideframe and I can't get part of the old sideframe out. If no one wants to help me with that problem, maybe they can just buy me a brand new engine to repalce the one that I can't use anymore.

I got it. Anger increases my strength which enabled me to push the screwdriver and old peg through the hole.

The problem I'm having is that the peg from the old sideframe is jammed into the slot for the new sideframe and I can not get it out at all.  Does anyone have any ideas short of buying a new engine. I'd hate to have to bother Athearn again for a new power truck for this engine when I just asked for new sideframes.

Great Dome will need lowered head couplers. I just checked it on a level surface and the Dome's couplers sit halfway up the Amfleet's coupler. Unfortunately, I do not have access to an LHS to get the proper couplers for the dome and I am not paying $9 Shipping for a $3 pack of Kadees to fix the height issue on the dome and at least one fo the Horizons.

The cars are uncoupling on straight sections.

My "Phase V" Amfleet I Cafe (Bachmann) will not stay coupled to the Walthers Great Dome at all.

I use 22" and have no problems with my full-length passenger cars. But, I did install Kadee #46 couplers on the Walthers Heritage Fleet cars since I use them for just about anything from LD Trains to Corridor Trains to a Late 1990s version of the Adirondack.

Ok, I've decided that I am going to part with the Bi-Levels. They don't fit in with my operations at the moment.