Activity Stream

I just saw the video as I sit here in my living room, looking at a Bachmann Spectrum box, knowing that inside it is a beautiful HO, undecorated Mountain that mysteriously won't run anymore and is simply waiting on me to send it to Bachmann for repairs. I just got motivated to finally get around to finding my way to the post office very soon. - Your 1522 looks incredible. Awesome video as well. It brought back a childhood memory of my own from...

Got a little work in today. 1. I wanted to touch up the green paint before my first ever ground foam attempt. I wound up going over everything that was green again. 2. Also, the far end of the long board on the left side was rounded off for a previous layout consisting of a sheet of plywood sat on a folding table with ez track and powerlocks track for a temporary layout. When the weather was nice, my girls and I would set it up in the...

Quite frankly, I am glad about that. My credit card can't handle it right now. Paul

They sure didn't fool around about it now did they! I also think you're right about the red tape they would encounter now a days. Those two comparison images were cool to see. Very good post:) Thanks.

Joe, I picked up one of the Tobys from Joe Collias via Don Wirth. It is in the detail and paint shop getting backhead details. I hope mine turns out as beautifully as yours has.

If your Sent Messages are not being kept, then you will need to change your Profile Settings. You can download and print these instructions below. 1. Click on Notifications at the upper right of any page 2. Select Inbox. 3. Now you are on the Private Messages page. 4. Scroll down the page, looking at the left column. Locate General Settings under the My Account section. 5. Click on General Settings. 6. In the General Settings dialog box,...

Brandon, most train power packs have a variable DC output for running the locomotives and a fixed voltage AC accessory output. It looks like you are planning to use the Atlas Switch Machines that come with their Snap Switches (assuming you are using Code 100 track). They can be controlled with AC or DC voltage. The AC Accessory output is intended for use with switch machines like the Atlas Switch Machines. The key to using them is...

In response to the questions about the use of the DPDT toggle switch, common DPDT toggles are of the break-before-make (non-shorting) variety. This means the connection between the common terminal and one of the switched terminals is open before making contact with the opposing switched terminal. A make-before-break (shorting) toggle switch is not common; most shorting switches are of the slide switch design. Interconnecting the DCC...

Actually a dc loco on a dcc track will just set there and buzz with the lights on, not take off. What i was talking about is what if you had power from both sources connected to the same circuit?

How do I view sent messages (the ones I sent to other people)? When I click on "sent messages" it says there are 0 sent messages in my folder or something to that effect.

Other than the green smudge on the left...that is drop-dead gorgeous! Thanks for showing your handiwork.

Probably wouldn't be pretty. If you have a DC loco on the track and hit the DCC power your loco will race off at full speed with potentially ugly results. I would be afraid to make it too easy to switch back and forth.

Keith is more of an expert on this than I am, but a DPDT should be on-off-on configuration. I have no idea what would happen if you crossed power from a DCC system with a DC power pack. Ethan

Thanks, both the ones I bid are DCC and Sound. I don't think I would attempt a install on these, their way over my head. William Jackson

Perhaps Keith or someone could elaborate on this, but if Craig wants to switch back and forth, shouldn't the DPDT be center off? Don't want to get even momentary connections between them?

No doubt, had the Frisco-Rock Island alliance survived the Frisco would have gone on to become a major railroad in Texas and with the RI all the way to Chicago, the Twin Cities and out to Colorado. I imigine it would still be with us today having acquired other roads over the decades. It tried this in the early 60s with the Central of Georgia but lost out to Southern Railway. As a condition to the merger between the ACL and SAL that formed...

Thanks for asking these questions, and thanks to those answering... these bite size lessons are excellent. I am relieved to know that I can use both my factory DCC prepped locos as well as my older DC equipped ones without too much difficulty.

I also have one, great engine. Beware, if you run DCC and go to put a decoder in there is not a lot of room. I had to clip off the top of the pins on a NCE D14SR to make it fit in there. Ethan

I know I'm a little late with this, but I'll throw in my 2c. I'll echo Richard, Don't get EZ command. It lacks the ability to program and decoders do mess up sometimes and need a reset. NCE and digitrax are both great, but my opinion: go with NCE. It's walk around from the start and it's easier to understand (has a better screen) when programing. I have a couple videos on programing using the power cab and I know there's some videos out...

Brandon, your assessment that you could connect your track to a DPDT toggle switch to change from DC to DCC and back is correct. Before you make the switch to DCC, you must set up your power distribution through a bus and feeders connected to every section of rail, no matter how short for reliable operation. I encouraged Jim James to do so with his layout and he is speaking from his own first hand experience.

Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, this is just the raw initial base. Weeds, debris and all the other subtle scenic tid bits will be added. That lush appearance is caused by the fact that its still wet from getting soaked with wet water and diluted white glue. These are just preliminary photos. I do have a photo of this very spot and it's posted here somewhere. It's a poor quality image though. Here it is:

Hey Jim, Once again, I really enjoy your work. Think about this for a moment. Have you looked at any prototype photographs of this junction? I'm not so sure that that area would be so lush, and green. You have two railroads crossing at grade, and a connection. There would be a lot of crap there. Yes, some grass, but I'm not sure that much. I'm not picking on you, but having worked those areas that are just like that when on the C&O, the...

For now I only have wires soldered in one place from the power pack (that senario on each track) but I plan to improve with the "bus" system to eliminate some "hesitation" spots. It's good to know I could go back and forth from DC to DCC fairly easily. Seems like I could possibly have a DCC system and a DC system going into a toggle switch to switch back and forth between systems. Thanks for the earlier reply.

These are older photos now from older posts but take a look at the outer oval and the long siding that goes all the way around the near end in the photos. I want to install some turnouts and extend that siding all the way around the other end to create a 3rd oval with crossovers to the middle oval. I just watched this youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iDUkaXA_t0 to find out how to wire 2 remote switches I bought on ebay for...

Long story short: Hook up the two wires (black and red) from the NCE unit to the two wires coming from the track. Just like a DC power pack. That's basically it. If you want to run your DC engines just unhook the NCE and hook up your power pack. Easy. Now I don't know how your track is wired now but it's best to have feeder wires soldered to each track section and join them with a "bus" wire. This ensures bulletproof electrical continuity. I...

Thanks everyone. Not what I was hoping to hear due to price but I got the info I needed which was also what I had anticipated. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Can someone describe the steps (proceedure) involved in installing a NCE power cab system on a pre-existing DC layout? - no "power districts" involved. I was about to buy some plastic rail joiners and create some power districts but that was before I...

Busy evening. I added a curved section to the west end of Brownwood (towards Puxico) to not only add functionality to the wye by allowing trains to actually turn around but it also lets me stage a train on it if I want. The east end (towards Cape Girardeau) will likewise have a section added for the same reasons. This beast is growing! I also began adding my fake fur scenery base to Brownwood. Here's the first section so far. Ignore...

Actually, it was the demise of the Frisco-Rock Island Era under Yoakum and WWI that did in the Frisco's ownership of the St.L.B.&M.RY. By 1925, she was firmly in the hands of the Missouri Pacific. Yoakum's interest in so many Southeastern Texas Railroads should have locked the Frisco in and dealt a fatal blow to the SP. However, poor fiscal management and other issues forced the sale of smaller routes to consolidate the Frisco and she lost out...

I just started using the NCE powercab and love it. Easy to set up, ergonomic throttle and the 7' cable allows me to follow my trains all the way. You can recall up to 6 cabs and customize your throttle settings. Got mine on eBay for about $149. I did a bit of research first like you are doing. It's fun reading about all the options but I finally chose NCE. it's also expandable and has a wireless throttle upgrade available as well. I also use...

Frisco Fast Freight - a Frisco Big Hoss! Ken

Here's the post card that was the exact basis for the artwork on the Frisco's public timetables in the later 1950's and 1960's. Only problem was - they did not tell the artist who modified this pic that the SLSF had no E8B's! Ken ps - Come on folks! ..... Nobody has any other Frisco post cards to offer up?

Would highly recomend going with another system besides the Bachmann EZ Command. it is limited to setting engine # and direction. If you want to change any other CV's you'll have to take the engine to another system. Both Digitrax and NCE make good systems, that also allow for expansion and the ability to use JMRI to help with setting up decoders. JMRI is not required to change CV's with these systems, but it is real handy! JMRI is a free...

Bill - Good luck. I only have one, SLSF 364, DC only, HO, runs like a Swiss watch and looks great. I agree with the others - the red/orange color is dead on. Atlas has done the best of any of the manufacturers in getting the correct color, though others are getting close. I pair it sometimes with my Atlas B30-7 (SLSF 866). Not real prototypical, but an awesome looking set! Ken

Thanks, to all that replied, my bid is in, well will just see how high it goes. William Jackson

Joe, the real story to the Frisco, was the same as the Rio Grand. After deregulation of freight rates and routing a bridge railroad could easily be run around, hence drying them up. Frisco just did not originate enough to compete with the mega railroads. BN though was the best choice, they was great, until the Krebs machine came. William Jackson

I really do not know about other systems. I would say to go the extra dollar on the system. I have the small NCE power cab, but my layout is small. I have not had any issues with running 5 engines with DCC. I would say NCE is Great. William Jackson

Looks like a good book to get. I hope that that one will have some pictures of rail cars in it. But the buildings are what is needed. Thanks for the info.

I too have three, one with factory sound. The other two are Digitrax DCC equipped. They perfrom as well as all Atlas products and as far as I'm concerned the color is spot on. I highly recommend these units

I can verify that at 2:15pm CDT today, my anti-virus defintely blocked something bad on the bachman site. Anti-virus is a must these days. If you have a computer, you need to have updated anti-virus software. There are simply too many people out there with nothing better to do than create viruses.

A pity the MAR is in the process of moving their equipment from Dallas to Frisco. I bet I saw this SD45 work unit trains of coal into the ATSF E. Dallas Yard which the L&A moved on to Lone Star Steel in E. TX. She sure would look good on display in Frisco, TX! Joe Toth

In 1931, J.L. Allhands published a book titled GRINGO BUILDERS which is a history of the opening of the lower Rio Grande Valley by rail. I don't have this book but it can be found at www.abebooks.com and though not cheap by any means it appears to be a concise history of the St.LB&M. I am selling my non-Southwest related railroad books and hope to generate some $$$ to purchase a copy. Like Manny says, the Frisco should have kicked the SP...

The finished model on one of Ken Patterson's spectacular modules.

Howdy Folks! I got the Trojan Horse trip several months ago trying to visit Bachmann's US site. I went to their site in the UK without any problems. I agree with Manny, Bachmann isn't listening to what model railroaders want. My daughter wants me to build a small HO layout and I plan to use Kato diesel locomotives and the older models from Atlas, Con-Cor and Stewart that have the Kato drives. So it is back to the drawing board afterall and...

Manny, that was my first laugh of the day. Thank you. Karl, that will be a great operational aspect for authentic train movements. Great. Tom, I will add the bell rope and some weathering. I'll post pics.

Looking good Jim, You gonna weather it up a bit maybe? I got a couple steamers I want to try and weather up some day, diesels I get but steam is gonna challenge me. Anyway gotta do a little work before that happens. Thanks for sharing.

A paragraph inserted into the Special Instructions of your ETT should do the trick... Hoxie Sub, Bloomfield Br Engines with a Bridge Class between E-27.5 and E-42 must stop before crossing bridge TC-167.9, and then using a light throttle proceed at 3 mph until engine is over bridge. Cars exceeding a gross weight of 70,000 lbs must be separated from engine by at least two cars whose gross weight does not exceed 30,000 lbs.