I just drove my new Bachmann engine onto a spur on my layout and on the first piece of track (Atlas Code 83 9" Straight) it loses power.. I tried switching out the piece and it still doesn't work... The light even shuts off.

Any help will be appreciated.


Thanks

I have started laying track and just recently finished the yard, When I go to throw the switch between the main line and to go to the yard I have about a 50/50 chance of getting the front truck to go to the yard track then sometimes the trailing truck stays on the main. The frog? maybe doesn't go all the way to the outside rail. Anyway to fix this without spending 14 bucks on a new turnout?

Thanks

A friend of mine gave me a DC power pack today called the Railpower 1300. A couple of questions on this:
1. Who makes it?
2. How powerful is it? (it is only gonna be used for accessories)

Thanks,
Cody

I saw somewhere (I don't know where) but somebody had hooked there model layout up to a computer and controlled it by that. (sort of like the dispatcher diagram with ATCS). I don't have any intention in doing this but it has been on my mind lately... Is ther anyway to connect EZ-Command to a computer and have a diagram of your layout on screen and have it be like ATCS? Sorry if that doesn't make sense, I was having trouble finding the right words to use.

Cody

I got the EZ-Command and the Bachmann Spectrum CSX C40-8W. I am very impressed with the EZ-Command, very nice, and I like the realistic operation how it gradually starts and stops like the prototype. The Dash-8 has very realistic details and runs very nice. Good job, Bachmann. I'm very impressed.

I cannot find the dimensions for the Walthers Cornerstone Built-up Drumlin Forest Lumber:
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-2844

Does anybody know the dimensions for this building?

Thanks,
Cody

My brother and his girlfriend are thinking of going to Chicago for a couple of days over Spring Break and my brother told me to get info on it. He wants to stay outside of the city and ride the train in every day. Any suggestions on a hotel (something like a Red Roof Inn or somethin like that) and the train route. Preferably a hotel close to a station.

Thanks,
Cody

I just bought the CSX version of this on saturday for $70, with the Bachmann price at $165, I think. I got it at a train show that was never opened, still sealed, and everything. But I don't get it for 2 weeks for my birthday because my mom bought it.
I'm also getting an EZ-Command, but that's irrevelant. Is the CSX C40-8W a good loco?

I'm looking for curved bridges. They need to fit 22" radius Atlas code 83 track. I would like them to be pre-built. I've looked around on hobbylinc.com and couldn't find any curved bridges. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Cody

I have recently bought all the track I need for the new layout. The track I need lists a few Atlas switches. (If you didn't know, I'm using Atlas Code 83 track) and I have no idea how to wire the turnouts. In the package is the turnout itself, a 3 inch section of 18" radius curve, a switch machine connected to the track, some screws and a "switch" for remote operation. I looked on the back of the package and it shows a nice diagram that shows a yellow and blue wires connecting the "switch" to the AC powerpack. I am using the EZ-Command and I know how to connect the wires to the Accessory slot on it. But where do the blue and yellow wires come in? The only wires that come with it are red & green that run from the switch machine to the remote switch.

Any ideas on how to wire this stuff?

Thanks

I have recently decided to move from Bachmann EZ-Track to Atlas Code 83 because roadbed track looks bad, Bachmann doesn't make enough variety in their track, and because Atlas is a whole lot cheaper. But anyway, I was looking at how the Atlas terminal track looks and it's connection to the speed controller is different from Bachmann. Is there anyway I can use EZ-Command with Atlas track? If not, is there any DCC system that is easy to use that works with Atlas track?

Thanks

Which is better? The Atlas True-Track or Bachmann EZ-Track? The Nickel Silver, not the steel. The Atlas is 3 dollars cheaper.

I have an open space on my layout and would like to add an industry. I already have a coal mine, a lumber yard and a furniture factory. So coal and wood. Any ideas on a 4th industry?

thanks

Does anybody own this? http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/wrr/wrr2838.htm
If so, what are the dimensions of it? The website does not list them.

Thanks,
Cody

I know places like Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps and Bing Maps have updated so that they only show current train tracks. I am trying to find where the train tracks went after they passes through St. Clairsville, Ohio, I know where they went on the north end of St. C and I know where the branch went to W&LE's biggest customer, the Saginaw Mine before it closed. The tracks is now a bike trail but I am wondering where the tracks went on the south end of St. C, I know they went to Bellaire. Anyway, where can I find a site like Google Maps or Bing Maps that shows "old" train track?

Thanks,
Cody

I will be making a railfanning trip to Fostoria this Saturday and was wondering if anybody knew of the line that ran through there so I could get the frequencies? Or any other info you might have about Fostoria?

Thanks,
Cody

Well I don't know where I saw this but I read or saw somewhere that there are like 14 colleges in the US that have locomotive engineering programs. I think Penn State was one. I know I'm a long way from college, I'm only 13 and in 8th grade, but this is really bugging me. But does anyone know where I can get more info on these programs?

Thanks,
Cody

Facebook said that I would have a 96% chance of seeing foreign power on Monday and they were right.
I was in Columbus with my brother for the weekend and we had decided to head up to Marion, OH where three rail lines converge. Two CSX and 1 NS. When we arrived in Marion the crossing gates on the NS started to go down and we were first in line. I saw yellow on the nose so I thought it was a CSX loco, so I didn't attempt to take my camera out. My brother spotted it out saying it was a UP with a CN following. So I had to open my Ohio State bag then my camera bag, then turn on my camera and roll down the window. I got shots but nothing good. We then proceeded to park and get out. A couple trains came, nothing of significance. Then my brother heard a northbound on the NS so I stayed in the tower and he crossed the street. He then texted me saying "Mow" So i got excited and since I was up high I could see it before it reached me, as it got closer I saw it was a Herzog so then I ran down then I ran down the steps and across the street (the gates were down) and realized the train stopped. I got some shots then saw a CSX was coming so we crosses the street and set up. The Herzog started moving and I got some shots and a video. The track crew then started working on the diamonds while we were standing on the steps of AC Tower. Then the door opened and one of the volunteers offered to show us around. It was awesome. Then the NS crews lit the CSX track on fire to expand the rail to put the bolt in. Some trains passed and we heard L38 or 38L coming up from Watkins Yard (Columbus) on the NS to do some work near the scrap yard. We set up for shots and when it got closer realized it was a high-hood GP38-2 of Central of Georgia, the second engine was a GP59 OPERATION LIFESAVER of Southern heritage. It did some work which enabled me to get shots of both of them, even a shot of the OL and the track gang. Some more trains passed but nothing quite as special. It was a great day.


Herzog




BNSF logo on grain car on NS 304 through the handbrake of an EL caboose


NS 304 through the EL Caboose.


Operation Lifesaver spotting cars on a spur track

These are just some of my pics.. hope you like them

Since we have monday off, my plans for the long weekend are to stay overnight in Columbus with my mom in a hotel and eat dinner with my brother around 11pm after he gets off work. Satuday morning my mom and I are going to go to Portsmouth for a day (the point of going down to portsmouth is not for railfanning but the NS Columbus District runs right along US-23. After Portsmouth we will head back North to Columbus where my mom wil drop me off at my brothers apartment. On Sunday I am going to hang out at my brother's place when he works from 12-7, I'm not sure of the rest of the plans for that day. On Monday we will be going railfanning in Marion which is about an hour north of Columbus. My grandpa is bringing my other brother back to Ohio State monday evening when he will take me home.

What is everybody else's plans for the long weekend?

What is the ratio of inches to percents for HO grades? Sorry is that doesn't make sense. Maybe: How do you measure HO grades?

Sorry, for not making sense I'm not exactly sure how to word it.

Thanks,
cody