I live along an old Illinois Central line. It's time I took some more interest into that. I've never been a whole Illinois Central railroad fan, but I've found some neat things. I never knew the whole story... I definitely knew the song, but if you have the time, it makes for a decent read.

http://www.watervalley.net/users/caseyjones/cj~long.htm

Enjoy! Makes me wish Bachmann still offered that Casey Jones set. 

Cheers,
Joshua

Hi all,
I would like to announce I've just started in N scale due to room limitations. I have started by buying the simple Bachmann train set, "Thunder Valley". It just includes an ATSF GP40, Penn Salt 3-dome tank car, Lehigh Valley 50ft boxcar, and a matching ATSF extended-copula caboose.

I'm surprised how small the E-Z Track circle is. I plan to upgrade to KATO Uni-track when I get the layout going.

My question is this... how can I install a DCC decoder into the ATSF GP40 to allow me to use a DCC system with it? If I can, I would like to have sound as well.

Cheers,
Joshua

I never really left, I just decided to wonder off aimlessly. 

I love the new look! I already see new faces, and old ones.

Bring peoples up to speed, I hope to purchase my first FM H16-44 for N&W.

Cheers,
Joshua

I still remember him, and how he helped us all as a respected member of Bachmann... Even how he hates quotes. 

Anyone know of his whereabouts? How is he doing? I know he's too bad to use the computer. I hope it's not the worst... anyway, I made a video that I wanted to dedicate to him, and so I did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiTAQJgJGnE

Sincerely,
Joshua

Hello everyone!

I was looking at an issue of Model Railroader, from May 1949. It is in an almost store bought state. I was reading, and many thoughts passed through my head. Model railroading was nothing but true craftsmanship. An article is about making a 2-8-8-4 mallet from parts common found. Another article was about how a club had found a solution to track dirtiness affecting their locomotives by scratch-building a sprung contact shoe. I did realize you can just buy contact shoes, but then I realized it would be twice as fun to make one. There were more diagrams. Lots more. All of how to scratch build that building or car they've featured and included drawings for. I really want to make that grain elevator now.

So, I guess I just wanted to post a topic about talking about the craftsman side of model railroading. Specifically, we should discuss and share ideas and tips about making things that we could buy, but would be funner to make. For instance, why buy kits when you can buy the raw materials?

Yes, tools are necessary, but that's just a given.

So, I'll start off. I had this idea for a steam tender.

http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH73790

Doesn't it look like you could chop that tank car up and putty it up to help form the rear of a Vanderbilt tender?

Cheers,
Joshua

Hello all,
I just got my hands on a never used Pennsylvania GG-1 in Tuscan scheme. Obviously, by the title, it's made by Riverossi. It works just fine, and it's great! The only thing is the couplers. Understanding they're not an American company, and this not being used, has those Riverossi couplers. I want to know if I can convert it to knuckle couplers. I was thinking on snipping the coupler shank from the truck off (seeing sure that anything held by the coupler shank isn't snipped) and just placing a coupler box that lined up with the opening. Or is there a conversion kit out there?

Anyone tried this? I love this GG-1, it appears you can run the positive polarity through a live catenary and run the negative polarity on the left side rail. I got it for $25.00, and it's a real snag from a great friend of our family. I feel real bad for him. I got great pricing because not only do we know him, he trying to get rid of his collection. He's had to tear down an entire basement layout based in Chicago's steel mills. He's had three heart failures, and is currently threatened by kidney stones. I say it's great, considering it says he paid $100.00 for it when it was out and in production.

Back to the point, can I convert it's couplers? I'm going to try, but no until I discuss and review some ideas with you guys.

Cheers,
Joshua

Hi all,
I wanted to see what we had here. I decided to start a topic about showcasing your best model pictures. I can be any model whatsoever, but showcase your best. Let me start us off.

I seriously want to dedicate this picture to Yampa Bob. It made me think of him when I finished it. I call it "The Workhorse of the Union Pacific".



So, let's see what you guys have! 

Cheers,
Joshua

Hey guys,
I'm trying to settle on something. I have some Details West MU cables, and I don't know if I should either remove the default Athearn template and drill a hole, or just remove part of the template and drill a hole to attach the MU cables. Anyone here use or didn't use the template?

So, what's the advice? 

Cheers,
Joshua

?!

I read (more like looked at the pictures and captions) the article in the March Model Railroader and I saw those Kato Superelevated curves and an idea popped in my head. Why not see if Bachmann would consider doing that for E-Z track?

Sounds reasonable. Let me know if I'm just having a moment of sudden excitment and I should call the men in white. 

Cheers,
Joshua

In the Model Railroader Special Issue, How to Build Realistic Reliable Track I noticed he used a spike head made from flattened wire for a feeder connection. That was pretty ingenious. I came up with an idea I wondered if anyone would could try. I don't have the supplies. Here it is:

Remove the ties from a section needed to be soldered. Use a fair gauge wire (Lowest possible you can use.) and solder it to the rail for a feeder, but have it run directly under that rail, with nothing but solider coming out the sides. File down the sides to perfect shape were they look like they should. Then, test your connection. If it works perfectly, great. Then go to Details West. They sell joint bars for jointed rail. They are plastic, apply them with CA to the rail side over your solder area. On both sides too. Make sure you filed the inside if necessary. Paint the rail, and test the connection. Even better, paint the joint part before installation. If all goes well, your feeder is now a joint. Slightly file a cut in the top over the joint middle to look like connected rails if needed.

Cheers,
Joshua

Hi all,
I went to the Train Fair that was this weekend in Chicago Ridge, Illinois at the High School! It was incredible. I loved every second of it. I saw at least 20 Athearn Genesis locomotives, most were Tunnels (EMD SD40T-2s.). I had a lot of firsts, which just pulled me into the hobby further. Good Lord, I'm into the railroading for life! Here's a list of the layouts and what I saw:

Table 1: An M.T.H. O scale layout running on DCS with various locomotives from Norfolk Southern GE locomotives pulling an Intermodal freight. A Norfolk and Western Class Y3 Mallet pulling a N&W passenger train. An A.T.S.F. 4-8-4 Northern pulling a freight, and was traded for a Conrail diesel later on. The Norfolk Southern units went from a GE Dash 8-40C + SD40-2 to a Dash 9-44CW + SD40-2. They gave control of a cab to the Class Y3 Mallet to kids for fun, which was nice. I quote one kid, "Why doesn't the engine start up fast, I have it on full." I commented for him saying to a man next to me that it's very nice momentum on the locomotive, he nodded. (My first time seeing M.T.H. locomotives of such class in operation.)

Table 2: A large HO scale layout with many, many locomotives from Athearn. Running trains were a Conrail EMD SD60I + SD70M Flared Radiators pulling an Intermodal freight with a hidden camera in the last top containers showing the roof of a flat caboose and whatever was behind. A small television displayed the camera's footage. Then there was a BNSF manifest freight headed by an older Athearn BNSF GE Dash 9-44CW + BNSF EMD SD60M, another Athearn, newer. No camera. Lastly was an Elgin, Joliet, and Eastern manifest pulled by a EJ&E EMD SD40-2 + EJ&E SD40-2 both Tsunami Sound equipped. This train waiting in a third track yard until the two track mainline was clear enough for it to run through. The yard was filled with cars and locomotives with complete scenes. (My first time hearing HO scale sound.)

"Table" 3: A LGB on-the-floor set up featuring equipment from High Railed cars too Amtrak commuters. All complete with automatic signaling.  Great for people watching trains, a lot to see too. The P42s were very spiffy, but a few sound equipped steam, not many sound equipped diesel locomotives. (First time seeing G Gauge in action in real life.)

Table 4: A Milwaukee Road small N scale layout at eye level. This layout featured stunning scenic and locomotive detail. Featuring static grass, high detail trees, and with locomotives stationary at the station with mars light on full tilt and sound equipped DCC locomotives. It also had a few C&NW locomotives, but a sound equipped 2-6-2 Pacific had a lot of trouble operating on the layout. It found good track at Table 5. (First time seeing N scale mars and lighting with detailed scenery.)

Table 5: This giant N scale Union Pacific layout featured a new Athearn Tsunami Sound equipped 8,500 H.P. turbine. A KATO SD70ACe pulled a Manifest just like the Turbine. The layout featured complete scenery and backdrop. The yard and the rear side was complete and featured a new Bachmann DD40AX with it's strobe on. A Union Pacific passenger train was sitting with a complete A-B-B-A E unit set. This was inactive for the entire time there. They operated some steam locomotives (Including the C&NW 2-6-2.) later in the day. When I first approached the layout, I caught up (By power-walking.) to the Turbine train. It was going very fast since it hit a high voltage power block. Then disaster occurred, which scared me. As the train was going, very fast, a Gulf tanker car hit an uneven joint in the lift up section. It derailed, and ran for awhile. I was in shock, and soon at the high speed it was back on layout ground. It decoupled and the coupler hit a tie. The car jolted, and decoupled from the rest of the train (Mindful it's on a grade of 1.5% track and slopes on the right-of-way.) and tipped on it's side on the slope. The top hatch kept the car from disaster. I quickly hurried by best to get the the attention of an operator on the other side of the layout by yelling. I yelled, "Excuse me, excuse me! You have a derailment and wreck!" He walked over, the rest of the train was still powering on. He changed addresses and stopped the turbine. Called over some more fellows. They got the car on, leveled the lift, and coupled in no time. It never had anymore trouble after that. (First time for hearing N scale sound and seeing such a big N scale layout.)

I will talk more later, but I have more to say. I feel that is enough to keep you thinking for quite some time. Please let me know what you think. While I was there, I purchased a CB&Q 4-Bay hopper with Kadee sprung trucks on it. Then my first Proto 2000 piece, and undecorated caboose with full interior, grab irons modeled on (Looks nice really.) and interior lighting. All for $4.95 for the hopper, and $6.00 for the discontinued caboose. 

Cheers,
Joshua

   After a day of helping my dad with roding out a rented house's sewer, I got some hobby shop time thereafter. A trip to Hobbies R 4 U (http://www.hobbiesr4u.com/) led us to a closed sign posted, showing they closed at 2pm on this Saturday afternoon. It was only 2:15pm too, we just missed them. So, the second store in town is Hobby Lobby, this one is half of the old Wal Mart building. I've been to a Hobby Lobby up North, and they didn't have much, so I was somewhat doubtful of this one. After their grand opening, I discovered the whole aisle of train products, and with experience, I power-walked to the aisle last Saturday. I instinctively grabbed a tube of Testors' Putty product ($2.29 not on sale), (Keeping my locomotive project in mind.). After a whole half-hour of examining the newest products coming in and the new restocks, I picked out a few things. I was also very happy to see they had a majority of Woodland Scenics's products. I picked up a bottle of Hob-E-Tac ($6.99 plus 30% off), a self adhesive cutting mat for my workbench ($9.99 plus 30% off), pack of brushes ($6.99 plus 50% off), and Woodland Scenics's Track Bed ($11.99 plus 30% off).

   Now, if you read all of the previous paragraph, or not, I have a question to ask. Does anyone have some experience with Testors's Putty or have some tips for using putty? I'm new at putty, and a few first times with just dealing with the product have lead me to have some doubt about my ability to skillfully use the product. Tips and/or techniques are more than welcome!


Cheers,
Joshua

I found this footage when looking at these DVDs my uncle gave me. It happened back then, it's happening today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N8Hpd8iQ6k

Bob,
I'm going to upload it to Photobucket so you can view it.

Joshua

EDIT: Here you go, Bob:

You guys know I live right next door to Kankakee, IL, and look at this:

http://daily-journal.com/archives/dj/display.php?id=442054

Kankakee is VERY close to Bourbonnais, so if this goes through, it will likely mean that local trains for me will be fast ones. 

Joshua

http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=3302

Joshua

I'm converting my Alaska GP40 to a Burlington Northern GP40 No. 3019. For some reasons:

1. It's one of the locomotives Burlington Northern modified by moving the horn back.
2. Another modification is the lower headlight, and the headlight patch should pach up the area I'll try to cut out.
3. The weathering is both simple and complicated, so I can try various skills.
4. I've already have plans to order the 3 cabled MU houses from Walthers, lucky me that only the 3 cable style is on sale.
5. It's BN, a good scheme for a new painter!

My prototype photo I'm using:


I have some questions to ask:

1. Can someone find some more pictures of 3019 if possible?
2. Is there a place I can get a new nose, or will I have to alter the curent one?

That's all for this forum, I'm off the the Horns & Whistles board to seek infromation on what horn that is, if anyone knows, don't hesitate to tell me.

Joshua

Right now, I'm on Ryan's computer. I'm not going to see you guys unless I can use someone else's computer... My own whining computer kicked the bucket... Hard. So I have no computer, no Internet, and no more access to Bachmann of my own.

I'll check in when I get the chance, and the School year will help, since I stop by the local library after school. Thank God they have Internet computers.



Joshua

http://santafebuff.synthasite.com/

I don't have the money for my own domain name.

Enjoy, and tell me what you think. (I know, the Trainz pictures are hard to load... I can't get around that.)

Joshua

After seeing my hopes and dreams of a layout, and confronted with the size given, I set out with much excitement to see if I can meet most of those dreams with HO scale... Simply too big for what I would like. I love how it's easy to work with and the amount of supply's available. It's perfect for a first-timer like me.

Great, isn't that wonderful?

WAIT! I have and industry that won't fit on an simple 4x8, so, should I simply downgrade my largeness of the industry or the... the, scale? Well, seeing my newly found passion, it simply turns away from HO, although I do love the many advantages and equipment offered that I do own, I have a more smaller love...

From now on,
Santa Fe buff is modeling N scale.

I wanted to tell that, this allows for my thought of double track layout with a fair yard... Including a good sized town, with a thriving industry.

Negative and positive feedback is something I'd like, I don't care if you don't like; tell me. It still won't change the choice, but let me know so I at least have a good opinion on how others think.

I'm going to sell some of my HO, a give a way some to a few people, but I'm keeping most so I can use it for running on other's and the local museum's layout(s).

Sincerely, with the love of small little trains and towns,

Joshua

I've had this on my head for some time... This is simple "I wonder what's the..." question. Here it is:
"Wonder what's the cheapest scale and/or gauge?"

I am wondering that... I think G is knocked off already! ()

Joshua