Place your pictures of MODEL Railroad Engines here

When visiting the gallery, I don't see any button that allows me to post pictures.
Is the gallery for the moderators only ?

Jacques

I see the avatars are back on the left side now!
That's much better! Many thanks.

Well after 6 months in the new house it was time to make a mess

Here is the start, Tried to use a little of the last layout.
   
   
   

We'll here's an update, and a start to the construction thread here.

I've started ballasting the one module that has track, though I only plan to do about 3/4 leaving room to solder on a feeder.

The reddish brown is real dirt I picked up from Julian CA. Dried, sifted, mized with a 50/50 mix of 70% Isopropyl and Elmer Glue All. Makes for a good muddy reddish embankment.

Attached Files

Thumbnail(s)
           

OK, I know it's sentimental and all, but the colour scheme here is really hard on my eyes.

Would it be possible to get something with dark text on a light background? *edit* nevermind about this, I can fix most of the extraneous stuff from the user CP... except the colour scheme.

The hard-to-read-and-way-too-busy factor is mainly why I don't go to Trainboard anymore.

Thanks.

This is the “Givens and Druthers” that the late John Armstrong used when designing layouts for people. It’s a very useful way to clarify your thoughts about what you want to do with your model railroad.

Givens and Druthers

(Railroad Name)
Scale:
Gauge: (Std, Narrow)

Prototype: (the railroad you want to model)

Era:
Region:
Railroad:

Space:

Describe Space e.g. basement. Provide diagram showing Overhead clearances and any obstructions or limitations.

Governing Rolling Stock: (Biggest planned)

Relative Emphasis: (move the V)

|______________________V_______________________|
Track/Operation .................................................. ..Scenic realism
|_________________________V____________________|
Mainline Running .................................................. ........ Switching

Operation Priorities: (rearrange as required)

1. Passenger Train Switching
2. Helper District Operations
3. Main-Line Passenger Train Operation
4. Long Freight Train Operations
5. Engine Terminal Movements
6. Local Freight Operations

Typical operating Crew: ______

Eye Level (Owner) ___In.



Add to this any features required or intolerable (e.g. duckunders, multiple levels).

My one dealer held something for me since it was PRR, my first reaction was whoa! never seen/heard of it before...







Only thing I've found is that Walthers bought them out in the 80's

I really like the Scratchin -n- Bashin section. I've never been able to build anything the way the kit manf. intended , so everything I do is bashed or scratch. Some folks say cobbled would be more apt tho.
Here is a couple pics of the Ramona Bay Fishermans Collective that I scratched for the S.N.O.B.'s Tule Springs & Western Railroad.
I used Scribed wood over a stryene core. The shingles are cedar cigar wrapper , applied one by one, windows are Grandt line with microscope slide glass panes. There is an operating wall clock in the office on the left side, the screen door has actual screen in it .( It was made out of the filter screen of an old GM auto-transmission --super fine stuff!! They don't use it anymore now they are some kind of foam stuff, try an old trans shop they may have some old ones left -thats where I found this one)
The open door on the right side has a simulated Arc welder working inside , not flashing lights but a rig that puts out sparks like welding slag along with the welding arc.
The last thing I'm gonna mention is the working brass carved weather-vane, a swordfish. Hope I haven't bragged too much.
I'm sorry about the quality of the pics, I had them on a disc but I lost it so I had to lift them by reshooting them from another forum I put them on a long time ago. The Toole Springs & Western was dismantled after Frank Burke passed on & the building now is residing on a friends layout ---for now-- It WILL go to Colorado with me next year.

Dave    
   
   

I have seen many posts from various members about this subject. It is difficult to trouble shoot via the inter net, because trains are dynamic models, and it is sometimes necessary to actually see what is happening to cause the derailing. This will be a long post, but I hope that I can put in a comprehensive tutorial that anyone can use to trouble shoot derailing problems on the railroad. By the way, I model in ho. I think the same dynamics apply from z scale to LGB, but I have no experience with scales other than ho, so you guys modeling in other scales will need to scale up or down accordingly.

First off, I'm going to suggest that there are three areas where we can find the cause of the derailing of our cars and locomotives.
#1 tracks.
#2 incompatibility between rolling stock and radius.
#3 rolling stock problems.
I've found the problems will generally fall into one of those areas, and the plan is to put up a comprehensive post to cover all contingencies if possible. On second thought, I think I'll do a general over view in this post and then do the detailed analysis in each area in subsequent replies.

How to figure out if a problem is track related, rolling stock related, or incompatibility between rolling stock and track radius.

First, does all rolling stock derail regularly at the same place on the layout? If the answer is yes, you probably have a track problem.

Is the problem section curved or straight track or is it a switch?

Does only some of the equipment derail at the same place, but other equipment works fine there? If the answer is yes, does the rolling stock that has problems have something in common? For instance, do 40 foot and 50 foot cars work fine, but 60 foot-85 foot cars have problems? Yes? Probably a radius problem.

Do you have one or more cars that derail in a particuar spot if they are coupled directly behind a specific type or size engine, but seem to work fine when hooked to other engines or with other cars between them and the engine? Yes? Probably a compatibility problem between radius and equipment.

Do your 4 axle Gp & f type type locomotives and 4 axle freight cars work fine through a section of track(maybe even a straight section), but 6 axle diesels, steam engines, and 6 axle passenger car trucks derail? Yes? It could be tight radius problem or a bump or dip in trackwork that knocks the long trucks off the rails.

These are all of the questions I can think of to ask to help narrow down the source of problems. If anybody thinks of other questions that should be asked, post them and I will edit this post.

I am now going to do 3 replys to this post discussing track problems, radius incompatability problems, and rolling stock problems respectively. If I overlook anything that should be included, just post it and I will add it to the appropriate post.

My goal is to have a thread in the tips section with 4 posts that will be comprehensive instruction on how to trouble shoot, find, and repair any problem anyone might encounter in keeping their trains on the tracks.