Can someone explain why NS just remodeled several older GP units into RP units? If I understand it correctly, these are units without motive power. So why are they needed at all? I haven't been able to find a good explanation on line as to what these units are used for and why. Thanks guys!

The last I heard, there was a dispute regarding this railway (about track maintenance or something) and the steam engine was being offered for sale.

Well, today, I heard it advertised on a Toronto radio station! (The ad was actually for tourism in Ottawa and the steam train was listed as one of the Ottawa region attractions).

I just went to the railway's website and the images and graphics looks the same as they did several months ago. Just curious, does anyone know what happened? Were the issues resolved or did someone else buy the railway? Here's the link for their 2009 operating schedule:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.steamtrain.ca/horaire_en.asp?onglet=4">http://www.steamtrain.ca/horaire_en.asp?onglet=4</a><!-- m -->

So this gives me an incentive to organize a possible family trip to the Ottawa/Hull region!

Rob

Well I am putting one of these on my layout.
   
I decided that it would only make sense for all four points to either make both tracks run straight though or all four set to make both tracks cross over.

I experimented with some thin soft wire to see if I could move both points at one end.
   

This worked well, so next I bent some .032 piano wire to the same shape.
   

This one didn't work all that well. Pushing on the center of the bent wire took a lot of force to move from the closed (straight through) position to the open (cross over) position.

So I made the bent two pieces to make my shape. Each had a small loop at the center position.

Ok guys put your thinking caps on,I am in search of a 2 or 3 bay fire house,not the plastic ones,but a good quality craftsman kit.
Can you help?

Thanks

Mike

Hi guys, im looking for tips on making molds and such.

I was thinking of making some molds for bridges (bridge piers, bridge abutments, and the actual bridge themselves) modeling some modern highway bridges. I know there is stuff like it out there, but there plastic and from what i have found, most of them are not that modern, and only 2 lane bridges (BLMA Modern Concrete Bridge is the only thing moderately close to a nice looking concrete bridge for the modern era for highway traffic in my opinion)

Can anyone point me in a direction on how to cast your own parts? I was thinking of using Hydrocoal to cast parts out of. Yes? No? What would you guys suggest would be good to cast good pieces? I might also try the Anchor Bolt Cement (although the parts may get a little heavy but will be more stronger and durable i think)

Is there any casting tools that i should get to help?

I was also thinking of making the molds from styrene, and making a couple master molds for a couple different style bridges i see on the highways around here. Ay suggestions on other materials to cast parts with or to use to make molds?

Thanks in advance for any help guys, i appreciate it alot

This is an area in the back of my house that gets muddy when it rains. It rained hard yesterday.

Gentlemen,

A friend of ours has an old Lionel standard gauge train that belonged to her husband. The engine is a Lionel 402. She asked my to look it over and clean it. The cleaning will be pretty straight forward but I have found that the insulation on the wires has hardened and much of it has fallen off. Before I get too deep into this I would like to have a wiring diagram so I don't make any errors when I replace the wires I hope to replace them one at a time but I have to remove the motor units and that means disconnecting several wires at a time. Does anyone have a decent wire diagram for this engine? I really want to take good care of it and get it done right the first time. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Kevin

http://pix.motivatedphotos.com/2009/2/5/...nament.jpg

Edit: Pic removed and link added instead...

I thought that I should just have my own thread with these question in it then starting up a new thread each time.

So for today....

Where can I buy small steel rod?
The kind that I would poke up through the layout to move the points of my turnout (HO). I looked all over at Home Depot, no luck.

Kent