Hi everyone! I haven't posted here in a while, nor have I had a chance to work on my layout. Now that schools out, I'm devoting some of my summer to finishing my layout.

Today I went to the train store and bought a whole bunch of track and scenery supplies. I bought some electric switches. One I got all set up then five minutes later, I noticed that it got all melted! Could anyone tell me what might have happened?

Also, my layout (N scale) is made with all flex track. I had a problem with that. One of the curves is too broad to make out of one 3 foot piece of flex track, therefore I have to have a joint mid-curve. This makes an angle in the joint where the train derails all the time. I tried changing the track and moving the joints but that just moved the problem to another spot. How could I make a joint in flex track joint in a curve nice and smooth?

I know every other topic is about DCC but I still just don't get it. I know what it does but I don't know the difference between any of the systems. I asked at an N scale club and they recommended the Digitrax starter sets. I have a 3x6 one loop layout with three turnouts. So which of the three starter sets is right for me? And how does it compare to Bachmann's Dynamis system? And will any engine with a decoder work with any system? And how does the system get set up and how does it work when its up running?

Thanks!
-PRR

Hello all!-
     
     This spring, my family and I are taking the Silver Meteor down to Disney World for vacation. I'm really excited because this is my first overnight train trip. The longest train I have ridden was the Maple Leaf up to Niagra Falls which was 10 hours. We're taking it from New York. We will be sleeping in view-liner roomettes, taking the Silver Meteor down, and the Silver Star back up.
      For anyone who has ridden this train-how was it? Can you tell me how everything went on the trip and any heads-ups I should know of. How are the rooms, are we better off in the larger bedrooms instead of roomettes?
      I have a few more questions: If you take it to go to Disney, how easy is it to get there from the station, are there taxis waiting or do you need to call for one. Also, how long do they give you to get off the train once it arrives. Its says that it arrives at around 10 o'clock, but what if you are still sleeping then?
      Also, if anyone would like to tell of an overnight trip they have taken, I'd love to hear it!

Thanks in advance!
PRRThomas11

I don't know much about DCC. All I know is you can run more than one engine with a decoder. I am looking for a DCC system to use with an n scale layout that will soon have a turntable, round house and yard. What is the best system to use and what is the best place to learn about DCC?

Thanks in advance.

I just got back from my 2 week vacation to the west. In the past weeks I got the chance to ride and see some of the greatest railroads and museums in the US. There is a lot so I am going to do them separately. I highly recommend all of them.

Enjoy,
  PRRThomas11

This summer, I'm going on a big vacation by from New Jersey through Colorado and down to the Grand Canyon the back home a little south through Arizona and Kansas. I'm going to a couple trains, Durango and Silverton, Cumbres and Toltec, Grand Canyon railroad, the Museum of Transportation in , which I think is in Indiana, and various other attractions. Does anyone know of any must sees or have been to any of these places? What did you think?

Thanks for replies in advance!

Look at this CBS news clip. Most of us would give our right arm for something like this.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/23/eveningnews/main4124899.shtml?source=search_story

This is driving me nuts! I'm putting ballast on my layout and no matter how much scenic cement I put on it just comes off. Its really fine. Does anyone have an easy fool-proof way to do this that I wont screw up?

I was at Penn Station for National Train Day. There was a very nice modular N scale layout there called New Jersey Southern. Did anyone see it? If any one here is from that club:

Job well done!

Happy National Train Day everyone!

What is everyone doing for the occasion?

I was in an antique shop near Strasburg, PA about a year ago and saw an amazing find:



This 1925 Pennsylvania Railroad Lantern with the original pot, wick, and clear globe. It still has residue from the fuel that was inside! I bought it far about $90 and displayed it on a shelf in my house. I have always wanted to have a light inside but there's no way I was going to light the original candle so I put this little thing together.



It's a little light bulb hooked up to a 9 volt battery with a push-on push-off switch. I traced the bottom of the globe onto a piece of cardboard cut it out and let the light bulb stick out the top while everything else was out of sight on the bottom. The whole thing sits under the globe and the switch can either stick out or go inside the lantern. I acquired a red globe from my grandfather who worked for Erie. I put it all together and I think it looks pretty real.



The finished product!

My friend, who's isn't really into trains like I am, has an Acela set he got a few years ago from another state and a store that isn't in business anymore. Two of the couplers broke. I tried to fix them but had no luck. When I called my LHS they said I should send it back to Bachmann. How do I send it, just the one car or the whole set and what are all of the polices for repairs?

OK, I have a layout that is wired for conventional control. I'm thinking about making an add-on to the layout and hooking it up up DCC. The problem is that ALL of my engines are not DCC compatible. From what I have heard, you can put a decoder in the engine your self. I don't have the slightest idea how to do that. Could you guys give me some info on this, like how to put them in, what kind do I use, or how much do they cost?

Also, is there any books you recommend on DCC?

Thanks in advance

I looking at this track plan in a book. It is plan n-16 in Atlas' 9 N Scale Layouts. I really like it but my problem is that it uses the atlas trestle set which isn't realistic but if i make it with an incline it will obstruct a lot of the layout. What should i do here?

A while ago Corrie asked me for more photos of my n scale Thomas. Well here they are. I took them myself.

I'm currently putting the ballast down on my layout. This is my first time and its been driving me crazy. I'm using Woodland Scenics fine ballast (n scale layout) and the WS method, drop "wet-water" on it so it doesn't clump and spray with "scenic cement". Apparently it doesn't work too well for me. Could anyone give me some pointers on the best way to do this and/or you're way of doing it? Thanks so much for you're help.

Bach-man,
       Does Bachmann still make the Yuletide Special set with the green and gold engine. I know about the White Christmas set, but I've always wanted that other one.
-Thanks, PRR

Hey, I know most of the guys on this forum are under 16 and I wonder if you guys feel the same way I do. In school I NEVER discuss trains or ever let anyone know I know what a train is. Trains aren't exactly the "hot topic" in teenagers if you know what I mean. The only ones who know I have trains are my closest friends. (One of which is a railfan! He is probably the only one within a 20 mile radius. Who knew!) Do any of you guys have "Railfriends"? What do you guys think about this.

By the way I might get my "Railfriend" to join Bachmann Trains. Hopefully. Till then... have fun!

                                                                                               -PRR

P.S.-Is there any girls on this forum? (Just out of curiosity of course.)

Bach-Man -

I know this has nothing to do with thomas but I have beeen wondering this signed up for this forum. Whats with the profile to the right of every message. It says status: member for everyone but you. Also it has a 1 star while you have 5. Whay is that, can you rate other members?

 C'mon Bach-Man. Its the last day of October! Where are the new product announcements you promised us?