Well, I think this is the entrance? Hope it's not the exit... I'm Tony, in the states, and hate to say... been into HO on and off like most... since 1965... so please go easy on me. I still love - and model, the wide stacked American wood burners, and the 1800's in general. My layout is 3 ovals in an 11 by 19 room, with return loops on the first and 3rd level, the mid level is rather dark and just a few scenes- that always looked more 'European' than American. Top level has an old 'Bridge on the River Kwai' and 2 or 3 wooden trestle kits to make one 3 feet long and 1 foot tall. A snow covered Canadian village... yeah, made with mostly European prototype buildings... but they are to remain as is. The lower level is double tracked and with a roundhouse/steam facility? And a passenger station made from halves of a lawn mower grass shoot of never used clear plastic- never will forget the glass covered sheds like York? In my rucksack travel days...agh... so with all that track and confusion- that level will probably be finished in and stay -French/UK/Euro scenes. Yes, I will admit, Bert Lancaster has A LOT do do with it, and being a 2nd war buff helps.. So I'd like to model France in the 1930's (+/-) BUT... the models I took home in excess luggage -30 odd years ago... are very dissappointilg now they are finally on the tracks... Hornby, Branchline... Jouef.... oooooh. Luckily, Rivarossi never disappoints in any model does it? But in my book, they were very limited in French/ Euro prototypes. So I am thinking of -re-powering- old shell on 'good running chassis?' the bad running old timers, and .... OK, North America had NMRA and Kadee couplers, and a very few others to worry about. seems every euro model maker had a better mouse trap- and what a bear to convert most! Is there an option to make this easier? And any tune up tricks for the Jouefs that stall on ANY set of points? Thanks for putting up with me, and thank you for any help in advance! Tony