Thanks Yardmaster. It will be nice to see what the Chuggington line will have to offer us in ways of new members and ideas. I'll be sure to stop by and check things out at the Big E show this weekend! Thanks again.

Quote from: PasqualeCS96 on January 20, 2013, 01:08:41 AM
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P9N48BRSGBo official trailer

The video is private, cant see it. :-/

  EDIT: found new link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiCQ61IJrKo

Hey guys!

  Just want to let you all know about the biggest train show on the east coast! It boasts around 50,000 in attendance! It is the big E train show, run by the Amherst railway society. The coolest thing about this train show is that it has a U16 layout building contest! I will be going there to compete, and to check out the displays. You guys should come too!

  Location: The show is located in the Better Living Center and the adjacent Young, Stroh and Mallary Buildings at the Eastern States Exposition Fairgrounds, 1305 Memorial Avenue, West Springfield MA. 01089

 Tickets: Adults: $10.00 per day
Children 15 and under: FREE Accompanied by an Adult
EASTERN STATES EXPO PARKING: $5.00 per day

 Its only 3 hours from New York City! Hope to see you there. For more info, visit: http://www.railroadhobbyshow.com


   To enter the contest, visit these two links (dont worry about the due date!) http://www.railroadhobbyshow.com/files/files/2013.U16%20National%20Layout%20Building%20Contest%20Rules.pdf  
http://www.railroadhobbyshow.com/files/files/2013.U16%20National%20Layout%20Building%20Contest%20Entry%20Form.pdf

  SO remember, January 26th and 27th are the days of one BIG model train show!

Hmm, not a bad idea TheRailwayInspector.

  Here is a size comparision (Thanks to LSOL)



  Just seeing the size of Emily (31 inches long, almost 3 ft), and remembering that Gordon and Henry would be bigger, I can't imagine a child ever having fun with it. Children will like the fact that its big, but with size, comes bulky"ness", and putting an engine that size back on track would be tough. I don't doubt for a second that Bachmann can't do it, but I just think it might be too much for little kids to, literally, handle.

   I do agree, however, that Bachmann could make a great large scale Toby!

Hmm, I have a Bachmann Gordon and he has an occasional squeak, but i would always lube my models. Bachmann sells lube for the driveshafts of the engine, which is most likely the problem. It is product code BAC99984



   Light gear oil should work fine in this application. I cannot recommend WD-40 because it's too abrasive, and could cause major problems.

*******Just to Clarify, that was Bulgy Rides Again, not "Bulgy" *************

The deputation

   "Silly hens, silly passengers. You can have them both."

A Scarf for Percy

"Do you go to the horizon?"
"Yes and beyond."
"I didn't know there was a beyond."

As far as readily available, local hobby shops usually carry both. Pricing varies, but it can be said that both are expensive. Atlas track may be a little more costly, because you would need track, gravel, and roadbed, where ez track is just the track. I use code 83 flex track, and let me tell you, it is much nicer than ez track by far.


   

I would agree. Gordon and Henry would just be too big, and by the time they get scaled down, they will look inaccurate. I can see toby, bill, ben or Mavis too, possibly edward and the scottish twins, but nothing bigger would work.

A better view for Gordon

   "An honest Steamie can beat a pouty puffer ANY day!"

Exactly, jward put it perfectly. I have been doing track work for 5 months now. My layout is quite large, but I go slow all the same. If your trains don't run properly, then the whole point of building the layout (in most cases) is kaput. So, yes, be careful. Everyone has their own ways of doing things, as you see here. And you will eventually have your own ways of building a railway.

Trouble in the shed


       "If you can't push trucks properly, Henry, why not talk to a tree instead?"

1. I use flex track, but never solder the track prior to positioning and gluing it. Solder is very annoying to "desolder", so I solder only when my track is all laid out.
2. Whenever I solder my track (not often) I don't solder near the switches. Just my "Safe, then sorry" method.
3. 40 ft of track is honestly not that much. I would say 2 feeders is safe.
4.I do not personally connect feeders to the usual spdt switches. I just never found a need for it.

Emily's New Coaches?

   "My doctor has forbidden me to push!"