I am currently very frustrated with trying to design and layout the engine terminal on the new layout. I have a bunch of structures with their appropriate uses. It is where and how to arrange them that is driving me nuts.
 
After some contemplation I realize that perhaps my understanding of how things work may not be the correct way or the best way. Thusly here is my question:
 
When a steam locomotive comes into a terminal for servicing is there a set way of doing things? By such I mean does he dump his ash first, then get water, then coal, and lastly sand if needed? Or is there some other method to the madness?
 
I believe once I have a better understanding of how this works I can complete the terminal and yard.

Hello,

in 2019 i had the chance to purchase 2 Athearn Genesis EMD GP38-2Ws in CN stripe livery out of an estate:










Unwrapping the locos appeared they were unused, like new and came with all papers. Both were DC analog.
Both had still the traditional wheat of grain incandescent 1,5V microbulbs. (Glad Athearn has run out of stock with this stuff and is now forced to install LEDs instead )





My intention was to convert both of them to DCC with sound.


Lutz

Hello,
I have recently bought a https://www.walthers.com/emd-gp9-phase-2-w-chopped-nose-standard-dc-norfolk-southern-2000-black-white
I want to add ditch lights to the circuit board and have bought these:
https://rapidotrains.com/products/ho-scale/rapido-bits-ho-diesel/rapido-bits-ho-operating-ho-scale-deck-mounted-ditch-lights
Can anyone please provide some guidance?

Dock Street's RS3m on a chilly May day from 1990.

Bruce

   

Sorry guys.  I wanted to delete my last answer but deleted the thread.  

Some one asked if those were flat kits.  The answer is that they are cast bodies.

Sorry.

to let there's a new scam that says amazon just charged 399 $ to your credit car push one if this is incorrect . think there trying to get credit card info.
Jim

WPMA-19 works Absegami Plastics with a GP10 for power.

Bruce

   

Just trying to finish up my latest "do something" challenge and it would be nice to put a few vehicles on the streets and parking lots. I looked through what I have and I'm ashamed that most of it looks like lumps of plastic toys, even 10 feet away. It's hard to show a lot of detail in N scale, but there are vehicles available that are better looking than what I have, so I pulled out the current Walther's flyer. Yup, there's a few N scale vehicles in it, lots more choices if I was doing HO though. As a matter of fact, I would have a heck of a lot more choices of anything if I was doing HO. Just as an example, in the flyer:

Vehicles in HO in flyer - 55
Vehicles in N in flyer - 11
New items in HO - 65
New items in N - 5
Pages of HO on sale -23
Pages of N on sale - 5
Scenery items on sale in HO - 80
Scenery items on sale in N - 9
Parts on sale in HO - 21
Parts on sale in N - 0

I'm not knocking it, I chose N scale for a reason, knowing that I would be in the minority, and that HO was far the most popular scale. I feel for those in any other scale, I thought I saw a few items in O or Z, but I couldn't fine them again. I'm just pointing out one of the downfalls for working in N scale. It's not enough to make me want to change, way too late for that, even though my eyes and hands wished that I would.

I was looking for a good primer in small quantities and found this video about decanting rattle cans. I think this could be very useful as did many commenters with a lot of ideas to add. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqVnb7_FDrE
Charlie

WPMA-29 making a pickup at Acme Products.

Bruce