New information for 2009 tours:

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It's on PBS - check your listings...

Returned from the summer holidays with two kits of the following tram, 1:87.

(picture from wikipedia)

Started cleaning the parts yesterday to start constructing it, am planning to build one unmotorized, as per the kit and making one powered. First I'm going to have to decide on whether it'll be more or less realistic running on normal gauge or whether it might be a better idea to reduce the gauge to TT or N (H0m, H0e?) to allow for a smaller little layout should I want to build one at some point (will want to finish the N gauge layout first though)

The pantographs on this kit are plastic (as is all), and those I might want to replace with brass. Apparently there may or may not be a motorization kit available for the model (the instructions were unclear about that, were mainly reminding not to glue the wheels and filing off excess plastic)

I guess a running model would do well with a proper wheels/bogies...will need to shop around for something with 8mm(inside)/10mm(flanges) wheels 22mm apart.

I'll post pictures when things progress more.

First of all, I haven't laid any track yet, but I think it might be worth asking before it's too late.

I decided to add point motors to make the wire jungle under the layout even more of a mess, and now I have a few questions:
1: Is size an issue? Will I be able to use OO point motors for my N points (I'm looking at some British ones to use as they could be hidden under the layout - couldn't care less about having the ugly above-ground mechanisms of my minitrix points visible.)
2: Latching mechanism: I will probably cut away the original hand switching mechanism but I think that also houses the latching mechanism, so would that have to be added to the point motor? Any simple DIY solution employing a spring or something?
3: Would a separate power source be adviseable? (I have two ~0,5A transformers for running the trains) How about utilizing capacitors?

Again thanks for taking your time answering my (newbie) questions...

edit:
4: Point motors under the layout could be introduced at a later stage without too much remodeling, right?

There's a new sheriff on the forum....Cowboy signed up today....

Welcome Cowboy.....Roll up your sleeves and dig in. We are having a ball here....and now & then take our trains seriously...

I just received an email from a fellow member of the modular railroad club asking about this route. He has decided that he wants to do a proto/free lance model of that area for his home layout and has had difficulty finding reference materials on it. He mentioned that he has ordered a railroad atlas and is waiting for it's arrival. The only railroad atlas that I know of was one published by Kalmbach that was a reprint of a 1948 atlas, but I doubt if that route has changed all that much since 1948. I also remember seeing a video on the Amtrak Coast Starlight that featured that part of the route, but I don't remember where I saw it or who the publisher was. Does anyone here have anymore info or know of other reference materials that I am not aware of?

I hate to complain...really I do. I own/design several websites myself, including forums, and I know what a thankless job it is.

I realize that Trebuchet MS is considered a "web safe" font, but I find it to be extremely difficult to read. Have you considered changing the font to something like Verdana, or giving board users the option to change the theme via their Control Panel?

Many of you may have heard about the new series of kits Walthers is releasing. There are 10 all new structure kits in HO scale, as well as a new SW9/1200 and all new freight cars also in HO scale.

I personally am very exited, and i will be getting at least one of each of the new structure kits (most likely more then just one of a few of them lol) as well as both road numbers for the new loco, and a few of the new freight cars coming out to go with the set.

These Structure kits, Locos and Freight Cars are due to be released starting in late October 2009 and continue till late September, 2010. A complete list of whats going to be released and when, as well as other information and pictures can be seen here: http://www.walthers.com/exec/page/ethanol

I see this year that the 29th National Narrow Gauge Convention will be held the 16-19 of September in Colorado Springs.
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Anybody have plans of going? I think I'm going to try and get up there for an overnighter but I'm not sure which night yet. Since it's a 12 hour drive for me, I'd probably end up flying into Denver and renting a car instead.

Mountain Man, I know you live right near there and I've been trying to PM you but my PM's keep disappearing. It'd be neat to meet up with you if your planning on attending.

Is anyone here having problems either sending or receiving PM's? Some people have been sending PM's only to have them disappear. That includes me and even TrainNut. Not to everyone, but to some that I've sent and was suppose to have gotten.

I will ask Pat to look into this, but let me know, and for sure, be put on notice that this could be a problem that needs our attention.

Hi All,

This afternoon i placed an order for Athearn's HO Gas Turbine #58 with tender has anyone done a DCC sound install or seen one with it ?