Hello All,

I really could use some expert advice on how to use the ESU LokProgrammer. I have three Kato EMD SD40-2s equipped with LokSound DCC decoders. I would like to upgrade them to the Full Throttle feature and I would also like to adjust the speed tables and acceleration and deceleration values. I've watched the ESU videos on YouTube but I really could use a step by step guide to walk me through what I need to do to update a unit already programmed.

On a previous blog Trevor Marshall brought up subject of what makes an operating session satisfying and many pointed out that it didn't involve a great deal of work or time. And during the comments particular methods of operations evolved including the use of Fast Clocks. I was thinking about the actual operating session itself and what makes it enjoyable. Many people who operate layouts on a regular basis use a car card system for routing and handling car movements to and from industries on their layouts. Especially those who model prior to 1990.

I see a lot of interesting loads out on the railroad. I always thought it would be cool to depict some of these loads on my layout. One day I happened to come across a website dedicated to producing some of the most realistic loads I have ever seen. After contacting David Ward with Protoloads I sent him some of my cars to weather and add loads to and also purchased some of his that he had for sale. So far I have managed to accumulate a lot of these fantastic looking cars.

Way back in 1986 before the Internet and cell phones I was a 16 year old teenager who spent a lot of time chasing trains in my hometown of Cartersville, GA. My first vehicle was a 1971 Chevy truck that was customized with a big block engine and nice chrome wheels. In 1987 Buick came out with the GNX Grand National and it became my official dream car. Of course I could never afford one and settled on a black 87 Buick Regal Ltd but to me it was an awesome car. I only had both vehicles for a short period but they will always hold a fondness for being my favorites.

Here we see Seaboard Central Train 442 waiting to depart Griffin Yard heading north to Carrollton, GA. This train makes a turn returning later in the evening with cars for Industries in and around Griffin. The train normally ranks three former BNSF ex Santa Fe SD40-2s for power. As a professional engineer the SD40-2 has remained one of my all time favorite locomotives and they are a fixture on my Seaboard Central set in Apriil 2015.

Hello MRH 

Will the new Allagash Railfan Series downloadable videos be released in DVD format and/or be found on TMTV anytime soon?

Thanks!

Tim Garland

For some time I had always kept my Seaboard Central layout set in the present day. One advantage of being a Railroader is having access to the UMLER database which allows one to check the validity of a car number. However, as time went on some of my rolling stock which had good car numbers a few years ago when I purchased them have either been restenciled to new numbers or perhaps even scrapped! To complicate things further over the past year I have been contracting out work on some of my equipment to match current photos.

As a Locomotive Engineer there is hardly a trip I make on my daily run where I don't see a deer. Often they will cross the tracks right in front of my oncoming train. Sadly, some don't make it in time and become meals for vultures. I wanted to make sure I had deer represented on my layout. Of course, mine remain motionless in a trance. If you look closely you can spot the buck just like the crew on my HO scale Seaboard Central does everyday.