Quote from: Yampa Bob on January 14, 2009, 01:28:50 AM
Joe,
I thoroughly read all your posts, usually several times. I'm beginning to think that some just skim my posts and miss the details, or don't read them at all. 

I think you're correct about the minimum length to preserve the locks. The pockets are not staggered enough for shorter lengths.

I just tried some Testor's #8872 on the back of a piece, seems to dissolve the plastic, so it must be some form of styrene.

As for separating the track, The Bach-man stated the ties are permanently bonded to the roadbed.  I tried removing the track from a damaged piece, and the result was not a pretty sight. 

Wish we lived closer so we could visit in person, I would enjoy that. 



:DGREETINGS!! BOB, I agree with you... I wish a lot of us lived closer! For their own reasons, I guess, the local club seems to just snub their noses at me. It's much like what was said in another post about some hobby shops that don't want anything to do with you because you are "financially challenged"! I'm sorry, but I can't afford to do DCC (can you imagine what that would be with over 100 engines??), but I still enjoy playing with my trains! 
                                                                                     THANX!!
                                                                                    Ernie
                                                             (western)   North Carolina
                                 

 :DGREETINGS!! Yes, they definitely have something to do with it, for without them, you do not have a completed circuit! The electricity must have a complete (clean) path, and those "rail joiners" complete that circuit!!
                                                                                                 THANX!!
                                                                                                Ernie

GREETINGS!! About 3-4 weeks ago, I won an auction on Ebay(A nice train!). The final cost was $30.85, so I went and got a money order and sent it off (Dec. 22). Well, the person on the other end never got it. I learned that it will costs $10 to trace the MO, but they can only tell you if it has been cashed. They do not do stop payments or do refunds. What should I do?
            1. Do the trace just to see if it has been cashed.
            2. Swallow my loss and get another MO (From the POST OFFICE!!).
            3. Just forget the whole thing!
            4. Any other suggestions?
                                                                                            THANX!!
                                                                                            Ernie

 :DGREETINGS!! I've also cut a piece of EZ TRACK and fixed it so that I could incorporate it into the layout with regular track, and thereby use both of them together.       Hope this helps!!!
                                                                                                THANX!!
                                                                                               Ernie
     

Quote from: bevernie on January 11, 2009, 05:57:21 PM
:DGREETINGS!! You could subscribe to MODEL RAILROADER!
   They've got a BUNCH of layouts, but you have to be a subscriber to access and download them. Their regular subscription rate is $42.95, but the little card in this month's magazine says $32.95!!
                                                                                          THANX!!
                                                                                          Ernie
 



    GREETINGS!!
               TALK ABOUT IRONIC!! Last night I had written a letter to MODEL RAILROADER, via e-mail, explaining why I had let my subscription lapse; today, via "snail-mail", I got a card entitling me to a free issue, if I'll just renew my subscription! Is that ironic, or what? PLUS the fact that we're discussing the advantages of said subscription on this thread!
           I really can't wait until they reply to the letter that I sent them last night!!
                                                                                            THANX!!
                                                                                            Ernie
P.S.
      According to an ad, there are over 400 track plans on their web-site that one would have access to as a subscriber (@ $32.95)!!
                                                                                             THANX!!
                                                                                             ECD

 :DGREETINGS!! The train he is talking about is "The All American POWERTRAIN". The caboose says, "THE ALL-AMERICAN TRAVELING THRILL SHOW", and the box car says, "THE ALL-AMERICAN TRAVELING THRILL SHOW THRILLS/CHILLS & SPILLS". All are painted in a RED, WHITE, AND BLUE theme with stars on top of the boxcar and caboose with stripes along the side. The engine has stars and stripes along the side and stars in front. The number of the engine is "215".
     The engine is diesel, with one large turbine and three smaller turbines, with a screened box behind them. (Probably an "F" series, but I'm not familiar enough to identify which one!!)
     The bottom of the engine says, "BACHMANN  HONG KONG"
      I think it also came with some "trick autos" that had a loop track that they drove on and did their acrobatical stunts.
      I've got the train, but not the "trick cars". I incorporated it with some other circus rail cars, making a nice "CIRCUS TRAIN"!!
                                                                                              THANX!!
                                                                                              Ernie
P.S.
     Mine is HO, so I hope that's the one he is talking about!!
                                                                                                  ECD

 :DNo, but I did ask if there were ANY marks on the bottom of his train. Certainly, Tyco and Mantua, AND Mantua/Tyco marked their equipment- be it an engine or a car. Athearn wasn't so easily identifyable... plus it has a reputation of running better!
                                                                                         THANX!!
                                                                                         Ernie
                                                     

 ;)Hmmmm. That does look like the engine that he described, GG, but MANTUA and TYCO, both, were very good at SPECIFICALLY identifying their workmanship!
    DTW??                                                                           THANX!!
                                                                                         Ernie

 :DGREETINGS!! You could subscribe to MODEL RAILROADER!
   They've got a BUNCH of layouts, but you have to be a subscriber to access and download them. Their regular subscription rate is $42.95, but the little card in this month's magazine says $32.95!!
                                                                                          THANX!!
                                                                                          Ernie

 :DGreetings!! Does this engine have ANY markings underneath? If it's not planely identified, it's doubtful that it's BACHMANN. It sounds like an Athearn, or maybe a Varney. I have seen an Athearn UNION PACIFIC with that number, but I've seen Varney trains with that color scheme.
     I don't know, exactly how to describe the Athearn "mark", but it is a triangle of inverted "V"s with "cicles in the middle of each of them. (You'd probably have to see it to understand!!)
      ;DHope this helps!!
                                                                                           THANX!!
                                                                                           Ernie

 :DGREETINGS!! Just send it to BACHMANN with $10, and they will  determine whether it should be repaired or just simply replaced, then they will take care of it!!          Whichever they do, you will receive the engine back in "new" or "as new" condition!!                                                                  THANX!!
                                                                                 Ernie
P.S.
    If anyone has a steam engine in likewise condition, then it costs $15. to have it replaced/repaired!!                                         THANX!!
                                                                                   ECD
                                                       

Quote from: RAM on September 11, 2008, 10:43:22 PM
Six inches of tread will save a million kd springs.  When replacing the springs, run a tread in the spring.  If it tries to fly it
can't take off.  Once the spring is in place just pull the tread out. Slowly.  It works every time.



GREETINGS!!
        In the given context of this writing, it would appear that "tread" should be "tHread". Is my understanding correct?
                                                                                          THANX!!
                                                                                         Ernie
P.S.
        If my understanding IS correct, then it is a very good idea, and I appreciate it!!
                                                                                              ECD

Would that be one track, or two??

 :DGREETINGS!! :oThe "rubber linings" are called "traction tires", and they produce that exact result- traction. They are available at any train shop (SHOULD be... they may have to order your specific ones!!).
You won't have to replace the axle, nor in most cases even remove it!!
                                                                                                THANX!!
                                                                                               Ernie