CVSNE

You just need to find the right stick!

I can't remember the last time I uncoupled cars with Kadee magnets on any layout. A pointy uncoupling pick means you can couple and uncouple the car anywhere. No need to install, then disguise the magnets and no need for the somewhat strange "offset" move to push the uncoupled cars. From what I gather magnets are rather common over there?

Thanks Pete. Only two books in print at the moment - the aforementioned Locomotive Servicing book and "N Scale Railroading, An Introduction to the Hobby." The first volume featured the Carolina Central project layout, the second edition features some significant updates to the original, most notably the larger (and I think more interesting) Androscoggin Central. Both are published by Kalmbach. I have been one of a series of rotating columnists (well, we don't actually rotate, but the columns do....) for a column called "Getting Real" in Model Railroad Hobbyist. My fellow columnists include Tony Thompson, Mike Rose, Jack Burgess, and Nick Muff. I have been working on and off on a couple of ebooks - one on scenery techniques and the other on freight car modeling, but neither of those projects are ready for prime time. When the time comes I assume they'll come out under the MRH or Kalmbach brands, but I'm not sure which! Marty

Thanks for the kind words. I made a commitment to myself when I started it that I was going to show the good, bad, and ugly of building of a layout. Not only the things that work out, but perhaps more importantly addressing those that didn't work as planned. It's been a lot of fun. Regards, Marty

Aw, shucks.... Thanks! Marty

Layout looks great! And nice start on the locomotive servicing terminal - can't wait to see it all gritty and grimy!

Um, with all due respect, your club chairman is wrong. From 1853 until 1909 it was most certainly the "Western Maryland Railroad." Name was changed when the line was reorganized after coming out of receivership in December 1909. A not at all uncommon situation. Marty

Just like the prototype cars of that era........

Phil, No, I don't. The WM was an east-west line - part of a system of railroads commonly called the "Alphabet Route" between the interior of the country - basically Chicagoland, and the eastern seaboard/New York City. There wouldn't a logical reason to route auto parts bound for Florida over the WM from Detroit - there's simply other, shorter options. And carloads of coal weren't shipped to Florida as a rule - especially anthracite. Sorry to be bearer of bad news, but you DID ask./.. Marty

Although 11.5" will work (I had no issues with it on the Androscoggin Central) some longer six-axle diesels, rigid frame steamers (I tried a brass PRR 2-10-0 as an experiment) and body-mounted couplers on longer rolling stock like passenger cars can baulk at 11.5" curves.) I think an ideal operational minimum radius for N scale might be in the neighborhood of 15". Any N scale equipment should be able to negotiate such a curve with ease. "Cosmetic" N scale curves of course, are a different matter. I'd love to see what an N scale train would look like on my HO layouts 38" minimum radius curves! Marty

Saw Lance the other day - he sends his best to all on this board.

Whether or not I worked at MR more than a decade ago is not germane to this discussion. I merely relayed what my experience with QSI-type decoders have been over the years. In a word, it's been troublesome. I've also known a number of other modelers who've had issues with them as well. I, personally, don't care for the way they sound - but that's a personal preference- and at least they're not as awful as MRC sound decoders. Glad to hear you're happy with them - As they say, YMMV.

Craig, The Paragon 2 engines have OEM "QSI" decoders - basically decoder is made in China to some sort of "QSI-based" design. Just like Bachmann's "Tsunami" - which are actually made in the former Sanda Kan electronics factory under an OEM agreement with Soundtraxx. Also the reason the Bachmann Tsunami's don't have the same functionality or programming options as Soundtraxx decoder purchased at the hobby shop.

I can't say unequivocally that it will not work well. Based on my experience, and those of a number of friends, I'd say you're going to find the thing just doesn't work well, or consistently. I've seen these things work fine one day, and the next not go forward; or jump start to high speed; or not run in reverse. Replacement seems to be the best way I've found to prevent operational issues, especially with the OEM "dual mode" decoders.

Broadway used a OEM version of the QSI decoders in these engines. They are, in a word, troublesome. Any time you try to "Get the best of both worlds" with a product (in this case DC and DCC sound) you usually end up falling short of the mark. Same decoder was used in the True Line Trains CN 4-8-4 - perhaps the nicest plastic steam engine ever introduced to the US market - until you try to run it. Everyone was trying to rebuild pickups, wipers, and the like on that engine - the solution was simple, but pricey. It involved a pair of nippers, a trash bin (for the QSI unit), and a new Tsunami decoder. She runs like a champ now.

... as per Sir Lance Mindheim's writings, it can take well over an hour to switch just a few spurs - Wow, Lance has been knighted - does he know that? I'll have to give him you-know-what about it next time I see him....

Ray, Layout is looking wonderful - enjoying following your progress! Not sure if you meant this literally - and you likely know this - but a sign reading "For Let" wouldn't produce any takers . . . since that's not a term we use in the US. Help your landlords out and have the sign read "For Rent"!!!

Very neat layout, thanks for sharing it!

Neat pictures, but industrial truckage isn't really "street running" now, is it? How about Ashland, Va., (between Washington, DC and the capital of the Old Dominion) Here's a link to a neat shot: http://www.railpictu...d=383750&nseq=0 OR if you're street running tastes are a little more vintage in nature . . . and RF&P set: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=371899&skip=1