What do you guys use to cut a driveshaft to size when installing a new motor and gearbox?


Mark

I have a new HO DCC GP40 that I need to get apart. For the life of me, I can't seem to find the combination. Any help would be appreciated.

Caught up with WPMA-19 as it was working the Galloway Industrial Track. This is a Monday to Saturday job that signs on at 7 AM. 9617 was switching Mid Atlantic Waste Paper.
  wpma19 9617 1.jpg (Size: 125.39 KB / Downloads: 1706)
  wma19 7527.jpg (Size: 155.84 KB / Downloads: 1713)

Then set out two cars at Galloway Cold Storage
  P1020545_edited-3.jpg (Size: 145.12 KB / Downloads: 1698)

They moved up the line to switch the ACME CO., this required the engineer to shut down 9617 and walk back to 7527. They then spotted a tank car at ACME and after coupling the engine back on the train secured 7527 and again walked up to 9617.
  wpma19 mawp.jpg (Size: 121.91 KB / Downloads: 1722)
  wpma19 9617.jpg (Size: 130.71 KB / Downloads: 1701)

Once everything was ready they would proceed back down the line to switch Garden State Paper and Seaside Foods, then head back to the yard.

Bruce

I recently returned to railroad modelling after a 14 year break, and at first decided to build a small switching layout. To shake off the cobwebs and learn what had changed as well as new skills, I decided to join a model railway club. This proved problematic at first with none of the ones I tried at first even working in N scale, and all their interests being British Steam Era. Eventually I was ready to give up, until I thought about trying one last club in the nearest city to where I live - imagine my surprise to find that not only did they have a large N scale layout being worked on, it was American too!

I signed up straight away, and after working on the club layout for a few months I've decided to start up my own home layout again.

After learning a heck of lot from the other members of my local model railway society, I have scrapped the switching layout and begun to build a larger, more organic layout based on the design philosophies of the leader of our N scale section.

I have no plan, no design to work to, other than that it will be continuous with switching potential, and at least double track with a shortline thrown in for good measure. I have a tapering space, 10 feet long, 6 feet free at one end and about 3-5 feet free at the other. Starting on one side with a freight yard, which will be my visible staging, adjacent to which will be a double track main line, as well as an elevated shortline, which will include a section of street running and an intermodel yard in the top left corner of the upper level, as well as potential other industries for switching interest.

Where it goes from there... time will tell.

I am building more framework between times when I am working on the club layout. We shall see how it progresses.

Here are photos of the progress so far, apologies though - it is pretty messy!

Putting a Digitrax DH165AO decoder in my early Atlas RS3. I understand I will have to totally rewire the loco. Being brand new to DCC and a long time electroincs guy, when I got the decoder I started lookinng for a connector for the 4 tabs on each end of the decoder board. I asked a friend is is very familar with DCC and he tells me there are no connectors for these decoders. He also told the that you push the wire through the hole in the tab on the decoder and then pull the little black box wire retained over the wires and tabs.

I have scoured the Internet and I cannot find these little black retainers. I am prefectly capable of soldering the wires to the tabs but I would prefer to use the standard retainer.

Does anybody have a source of the things?

I fooled around with some different materials for open top loads the other day and came up with this. The whole thing took about an hour to put together, and overnight to dry. I'll post some pics to see wach y'all think.

First up is a scrap metal load.
  003 - Copy.JPG (Size: 224.13 KB / Downloads: 1663) It's made from a foam board base painted light brown with rust glued to it. The rust came from cleaning out the ARHS F-3b a few weeks ago at Steamtown. I felt that the rust would be a fitting load on my layout.

Next is a load of real anthracite coal .
  002 - Copy.JPG (Size: 213.13 KB / Downloads: 1672) This car has a shaped block of foam painted black, and covered in Blue Coal from Ashley PA. That there is the real stuff, so it better look good. Compare it to the load in the next car.


  004 - Copy.JPG (Size: 224.04 KB / Downloads: 1665) This one is constructed the same , but I covered the foam core with glass beads used as a sand blasting medium. It is some what more shiny and a deeper shade of black then the real stuff.

All of these loads have a washer imbedded in them so that they can removed easily with a magnet.

The World's Greatest Hobby Train Show will be in Oaks PA next weekend (Jan 18th & 19th)

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.wghshow.com/philadelphia.html">http://www.wghshow.com/philadelphia.html</a><!-- m -->

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/theyre-multiplying-3-d-printers-go-big-small-2D11876898?ocid=msnhp&pos=7">http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/theyr ... snhp&pos=7</a><!-- m -->

Hey everyone! The Lansing Model RR Club Train Show and Swap Meet is this Sunday from 10 to 4 at the Michigan State University Pavilion. Here is a link to more information about the show: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://lmrc.org/trainshow/index.shtml">http://lmrc.org/trainshow/index.shtml</a><!-- m --> This is typically a 500+ table show with 10 or more layouts on display from clubs around Michigan from Z to G scales. It looks like we are going to have decent weather, so come on out and bring the kids or grandkids. Stop by the club table and say hi -- I would love to meet fellow "Gaugers." Keep warm!

Chuck