I don't know how many folks get a Sunday paper with Parade Magazine included, but yesterday's issue had on the cover "America's Greatest Train Rides. For those who are interested, but didn't see the article, here is a link. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.parade.com/trains">http://www.parade.com/trains</a><!-- m -->

One of my teenage hobbies was electronics. I used to make small electronic gizmos for use on my railroad, including transistor throttles and crossing gate flashers. I used to use a small 8-pin integrated circuit to build simple oscillators to control LEDs.

For a recent (non railroad) project, I learned they now have blinking LEDs! Basically, you just hook wires up to it, and it blinks! for all non-electronics whizzes out there, there are a few possibilities for some basic model railroad eye-catchers. Perhaps FREDs, a blinking light on a tower, signals, highway signs...

I am looking for a H0 CN RS-18 in green/yellow I can order online. The shop must ship from stock to Germany and accept payment via credit card or PayPal. I do not want to do an advanced reservation for some model that becomes available in the future (or not...).
Could some one give me a pointer? I could find an N model only.

Norfolk Southern dumped a coal train on Friday night in Waterloo, Indiana which mixed up my Saturday railfan plans. The day was filled with surprises and I eventually shot twenty-one trains in less than seven hours.

















More photos from Saturday are available on flickr.

Hi all, not living in the USA but modeling it is proving a little tricky from time to time. On my layout (set in California) I want to add a station platform that can accommodate the occasional MetroLink or even Surfliner passenger train. Of course I want to get the details right. If anyone has any pictures of platforms of a smaller station (prefer an open and 'airy' location with palm trees etc (bit like Fullerton or similar), no big suburban surrounds, to get that californian flavor, I'd love to see them. I am particularly interested in pics that show the platform height, benches, other passenger facilities, signs, billboards,lights, fencing etc. that would be fantastic. Links, photo's, personal e-mails with details etc are all very welcome, thans very much everyone!

Can I mix Floquil and Polly Scale paints together with water??? I plan to mix up a wash to weather wood. The technique requires mixing 3 or 4 different colors with water, then soaking separate pieces in three separate containers for 12, 20, and 30 hours to achieve varying shades of weathered wood. I only have on hand some of the colors in Polly Scale and some in Floquil. Just trying to avoid spending more $$$ on a technique I have never tried.

Let the debate begin.........

Yep!
Its that time again. Time to get on my hands and knees beg.

No...Not for that.

For articles.

We are starting to put together the next issue of the E-Mag. And as always, we need all your'e folks help.
Layout tours, favorite railfan sites, favorite prototypes, railroad history, model reviews, how to articles..anything model and real related.
Oh yeah...Lots of pictures.

Don't worry if you're not a pro at writing. We'll fix, fluff and spel chek for ya.
But there are a few rules.
Article must be railroad related, prototype or model.
Any sexual content(real or inferred) will not be accepted. Ask your self. Would you want your kids seeing it?
Oh...Did I mention.....Lots of pictures.

So get that gray matter thinking. Come up with some ideas and put them to megabytes.
You can PM them here to me, or my e-mail addy(<!-- e --><a href="mailto:ed.gagnier@yahoo.com">ed.gagnier@yahoo.com</a><!-- e -->)
And remember..Everyone gets in.

Dead line for submissions is May 8th. So you have a month or so to get them to me.
E-Mag will be realeased at the end of May............
And many Thanks.

Still needs switchs, indicator lights, and meters installed in the door, then have to wire the whole thing...

fellas,

Is there a practical way that I can readily measure the individual current draws to each of my four power districts, all being supplied from a 5amp booster? My layout has grown and even though voltages are running at about 12.5 in each district I was wondering if one or two zones are drawing most of the current.

Thx
Eric

I got more than I bargained for when I picked up this Cast kit of a Ford LNT tractor, good thing it was only $2

The casting molds weren't tight and spewed a lot of flash out, which was in terrible spots (the door handle) so filing it off was a pain, the roof didn't have enough material on top so i had to file much of it down to make it even, the instructions don't make sense, the picture diagram is horrible, the frame was bent to hell, I could keep going but I still worked on it, but it was the worst so far. Had to make a lot of modifications to it so things would fit and I'm still not done! I actually contemplated throwing it out a few times







So what was your worst model you ever built?