This was posted on Atlas

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rrstar.com/news/x135719492/Train-derails-One-dead-nine-injured">http://www.rrstar.com/news/x135719492/T ... ne-injured</a><!-- m -->

I always wonder about this possibility when I am sitting there counting cars!!
This is a real matter of the-wrong-place-at-the-wrong-time, I guess. Quite sad.

Here we go now.I chose to bash a Walthers Carfloat apron in HO scale.It was a partially assembled (poorly) and damaged kit I picked up some time ago for a steal, Perfect kitbash fodder. I will have to "unglue" most of the kit somehow to get all the parts to line up properly. The Headhouse and steal pear will have to go,They will be back dated to some thing a little less modern looking. the apron rail will be electrified and a system for getting power to the barge will be added because I intend to move some small locos over the water also.    
Because of the nature of this bash I'll need to build it in place. So first up is to prep the layout where it is to be installed.    
That is the future site of the Susquehanna river. I first figured out the height of the "high water mark" and build the river bed from 1/2 inch ply wood. It was then covered with a layer of Durham's water putty and painted a dark green.    

Well, last night I attempted to install an MRC sound decoder (diesel) into an Athearn F-7 (not DCC ready). Things were moving along fairly well and I had the two power pick up wires and the two motor control wires installed, checked and double checked. The front head light was the only connection left. I also had to figure a way to mount the speaker. At this point I decided to test the decoder on the program track. It checked out fine and I entered the engine number for the address. I then placed it on the track and gave it a try. It immediately sounded off, engine rumble, bell, horn. WOW! Cool, I did it first time. Then I moved the throttle a little and SNAP! When the engine moved forward ever so slightly the blue wire, the hot lead for the headlight, touched something on the frame, sparked, and that was that. It shorted out the entire decoder. All I could hear was a buzz-click, buzz-click. The buzz was the short, the click was the dcc system circuit breaker kicking out. From that moment on the decoder is toast. It gets hot to the touch every time I try to run it. Well, I will salvage the speaker anyway. The $67 decoder is now history.

Lesson learned; if you have any loose wires be sure to cover the end with tape before applying power for testing. Guess I'll install a non-sound decoder for the time being.

Later,

KT

Yep, June 21st... Have a

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

SUMMER SOLSTICE

BIG BLUE STRUCTURE CHALLENGE.

As you may know, I am modeling roughly 1917-1920. In looking though period photographs, I notice nearly all of the men are wearing hats, and all of the women are wearing hats. That means, when placing figures on my layout, they all should be wearing a hat, right? Has anyone done historical etiquette research who could enlighten us when wearing a hat in public became less commonplace in the USA?

The small details... Has anyone ever added a hat to a LPB that didn't come molded with one?

I stuck with the old Gauge for a long time. Guess I don't like change. But now it's finally changed enough that my discomfort exceeds my addiction.

So... I'm back.

Here are some awesome pix of the CNR Northern that was recently moved to the John Street Roundhouse aka Toronto Railway Heritage Centre.

It sure looks good sitting on the turntable!

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.trha.ca/news.html">http://www.trha.ca/news.html</a><!-- m -->

Hi All,

Join in the fun here with an N scale structure combining two kits that have been in the box for too long .... i went for WS Baxters Hardware (Corner turret building) & Kitt Transfer (Gripps luggage Mfg) to combine a retail outlet with the warehouse adjoining it the basic walls are up but making decisions on its final look.

I started wiring my layout with cab control to facilitate two trains running simultaneously. I have two controllers (DC) and all the track sections are supplied with dpdt switches, so I could isolate the sections on both sides and wire them with two wires running from each dpdt switch to the track but somewhere I remember reading, that it is enough to isolate only one track which would be connected to the dpdt switch while the other track (in all sections) would be connected to a common wire running back to the controllers. Apparently this would still work with two trains, but I figure it might have some problems which would make the fully separated sections preferable. Does anyone with experience with cab control have any opinions on this subject?

Hopefully this wasn't too confusing...