We are finally moving into another home . My folks house to be truth full . Tore down my HO layout box bladed my Garden Railroad . All that hard work . But anyway . I want to do a ceiling layout . I have looked and looked on-line saw some acrylic fixtures , wire looking stuff some shelf looking stuff you might put books on it looks like . does anyone here have one and could you give me some ideas . I see them and know what to do ,but I can't make my mind up . Will be for my Large scale trains .

The PB11 uses a 3.6V 2/3AAA NiMH battery pack . Will they leak or could they leak . And do I need to remove them If not ran for extended period of time .

is there a new version of the r/c big hauler other than the one from the late 80's . I found one but not sure if I want to buy it, so many don't work. they say this one does but hmmmm . and will bachmann ever make a newer version .

I live near by an asphalt plant . They get alot of rock in by rail . What I'm wondering is ,at times I hear about 10 to 15 short blast or sometimes it just seems that the engineer keeps blasting those short horn blast . Does this mean there is people on the tracks around the train or signaling the breakmen . Sometimes it goes on all day . I'll hear the diesels rev up and slow down then here the couplers all mating up then the diesel engine die down .Then will be quite for awhile then the short blast again . Just wondering my son works nights and it wake's him during the day .

I haven't ran my HO layout in about 6 months . I cleaned the rails ,took the eraser and cleaned the rails " it's nickle silver EZ Track . I was running 5 Locomotives off my EZ Command and my FT would stop in certain places ,on a curve on the outter loop and on the back straight on the outter loop . I was pulling 9 cars with the FT , I would tap on my bench and the FT would pick back up .The wheels didn't look dirty on the FT so hmmm .

Also when I was running, I never have had this problem before but everything would stop and the EZ Commander would be on address 1, then have to re-address and everthing would run again where it left off . Didn't think I was over loading the controller as I have never had this problem before . Plug wire tight to terminal railer and feeder wire to other loop to terminal railer plugged in tight . So Thinking I'm getting good voltage .

Has anybody here used this company or know Don Sweet that does the installs .I'm looking at putting Remote control and battery power in my F-3 diesel . And will have to ship my Locomotive up to I believe New Hampshire from Houston . I looked at their website and prices . http://www.remotecontrolthrottles.com/About_Us/about_us.shtml

I saw an NW-2 Installation in one of the pictures on the installation page . I also have an NW-2 and can't decide on which engine to convert . Due to weight and size ,and the F-3 having Phoenix sound PB-11 board installed already . worried about it possibly getting smoked due to running battery power . Any info will help

Why hasn't Radio Controlled Trains equip and installed taken off here in the US . I looked and looked and looked and see you can buy and do expensive installs or you can by some cheap Lionel flyer set or some thomas set for kids . I saw the Newqida G-scale Bullet Train and they also have a steamer , a knock off LGB at our LHS the other day ,I was somewhat Impressed for what it was . they were selling it for 250.00 US and found one online , the Bullet Train. The only one in the US for 150.00 US aniline. I did see different type's in China and Europe that were available mostly steamers but they looked so cheap .
But what I'm getting at is why can't Aristo or USA or even Bachmann put a good quality radio controlled loco steamers and diesels on the market for the consumer . This bugs me as I'm getting a major surgery Wednesday and was looking for something simple, so I could run on my outdoor railroad so I wasn't having to bring my track in all the time . And just go out on the patio have my wife put the loco on the tracks and be medicated and run trains to pass time . My USA GP40 I was looking at equipping it for radio controll and a battery car almost 700.00 US plus sound another 240.00 US for sound . MY F-3 AB unit with sound loco's and phoenix sound little over 800.00 US . If anyone one knows where I can get a good R/C 1/29th large scale loco let me know ...

In the recent Walther's Flyer , on page 67 in the scenery page . There is "Hemp and Poppy" flowers ie weeds if you want to call it that . Now some of us know what Hemp and Poppy is . Would they model this due to the ERA 1940's to 1960's when rope was needed and morphine was needed due to WW2 . I thought it was unusual to see this in a model railroad flyer . Or was one of their illustrators trying to be funny .

regards MF5117

Was there ever any actual single axle rolling stock 20ft in length . Or was it something they just come up with to run around your Christmas Tree on a 4ft radius circle .

I haven't ran my HO layout in a few months . My Gp-40 when coming down the incline threw the curve part of the turnout to the mainline throws a spark . I thought I saw a spark from the front trucks . I turned out the lights and sure enough ,one of my GP-40's is throwing a spark and then it sends the address to # one on my EZ commander .it doesn't short out but switches the address and hasn't hurt the Loco .right after the turnout the incline starts . looked but nothing jumping, coupler not interfering not sure why this might be happening . ran my FT-A up and down the incline doesn't make the spark .but the GP-40 sparks after the rail joiner as it goes on the curve part of the turnout and threw the frog. I can't see what might be causing this . haven't had any problems before until now .

On the Bachmann 1:20 scale is there a big difference in coupler height to 1:29 .Will it pull or would I have to change out one of my couplers on my Bachmann rolling stock to couple up to lets say an aristo box stock car and some wooden reffers ...

My Tweetsie set is over at my daughters . I have been wanting to run the steam engine and tender . And as you know I have alot of off brand rolling stock ...

Does anyone have any experience with this Loco . I'm giving a co-worker friend of mine some EZ TRACK and a transformer I'd like for him to have a turnout  I have some #5 turnouts, will this Loco pass threw them with out derailing . I just don't want him to get disappointed . it's a UP DD40AX I think his grandpa was a engineer and he just has it on a shelf with a few pieces of rolling stock . And has been wanting to run it .

regards mark f

I have been looking at alot of pictures of Garden Railroads , and I am amazed at the sizes and what looks like alot of money people "Hobbiest" put into them . Then I look at what I'm building and contructing and it's not near what I see on alot of different web site's picture gallery ,and I'm always asking myself am I going to be happy with what I have  . Did alot of you start out small and grow over time and did you keep adding . Or did you get an idea and go for it . I look at the built up landscaping, river rock , scenery , length of track work . Sometime I know I will be moving into another home . But while I'm where I am at I just want to be content when I unbox my Loco's and rolling stock and run them for a weekend .

regards mark f

Has anyone here ever used pavers for ballest . I was thinking of using 2X8X16 inch grey pavers and using a tile brick saw to cut bevels on the 16" long side and for my curves cutting miters to make the radius . I know its alot of work but have access to a tile/brick saw and what would be the best way to anchor the track down or should I let it float . I bought brass rail joiner clips ,the ones with the screws to hold each rail together ...removing the pea gravel ballest as we get to much rain here and is always a hassel filling and releveling making grade and such .Just asking getting opinions .....

ie: for outdoor garden railroad

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/default.aspx

On a large Oval , what's the most rolling stock you can pull around the radius without derailing . Or will it . I bought 8ft to use on the main L shape but was thinking of putting a 4ft oval on the inside of one section of the L . Being pulled by either a center cab switcher , F3 unit or GP30

I dropped off my G scale F3-A unit tonight to get the sound board installed . I was checking the board out loose on the bench the past couple of days . Going to let the Hobby shop install the speaker ,board and reed switches .But why do I feel like one of my kids left home . Its just a Locomotive

I bead blasted this track this morning , thoughts and input before I do the rest .thanks  mf5117

I bought a Lot of LGB brass G scale track . The brass rails are discolored and not conductive . When the locomotive pickups hit these pieces of track the engine stops . I had enough extra and changed out these sections of track ,and was able to run my trains outside today . The track eraser just doesn't do it .I was thinking of maybe taking a dremmel with a soft wire wheel to bring the luster back .Or we have a fine bead blaster at work and thought of bead blasting them .Or should I just put the conductive oil on them . Its not corrosion just discolored . I do know I need to change out the rail joiners on these piece's as well . just looking for some different suggestions on cleaning and bringing this track back to life ....

regards: mf5117

I don't want to sound like I'm not sure . but was looking at buying 200 brass rail clips with the 2 screws in them that keeps the rails joined together . the brass aristo-craft track I have has the set screw that goes threw the rail joiner . but I have alot of LGB track that has no way to join. only with the plastic clips , I don't care for those . don't like the look . just wondering if their worth the investment .

thanks Merry Christmas Mark f