I have a brace of Kato SD40s in Algoma Central colours that of course I always run together (which is not only prototypical, but necessary to haul a heavy train up my 2% grades). Both are equipped with Digitrax DN163K1C decoders, which is a drop-in replacement for the factory light board. Then one day, one of the locos stopped running. The lights worked, but not the motor. After a little experimentation, I determined that it worked fine running solo, but the minute I consisted it (using Advanced mode), it became no more than a pretty decoration.

This week's video looks at what to do when you've already done your static grass and it needs a revamp.

WWS are bringing out a new layering spray which will enable them to ship it to North America.

To All: A bit unconventional is today's offering of a South African Railways Boxcar. I decorated this car in honor of my friend Arauna Palm, a USA transplant from South Africa, now living in Sweden. Herald art work and photo by Elvin Howland. Yours, Elvin Howland/E. St. Louis Rail Group Layout.

So this evening has been spent redesigning the layouts fascia control panels.  The previous design was done in Microsoft Excel to try and use the cells as a guide to get the panels the same and I'm quite proficient with doing neat little tricks with it too.

One of the things I want to do on the Office Park Zone is have large-scale switch stands on along the front.  Back in the 90's I picked up one of the Alder Models G-scale remote switch stand kits with the idea of some day installing it on a layout.  Last year I happened across Trevor Marshall's blog where he did just that.

The past couple of weeks have been spent completing the front fascia profile boards, and subsequently flushing them off, and painting.

Last weekend, my wife offered to paint the backscenes and fascias - now I truly hate painting, so I don't turn down an offer for help - the photos show the improvement.

With painting complete, the freshly manufactured station signage was able to be installed at Mt Lofty also.

Siskiyou Line 1 had its LAST operating session. Here's a few highlights from the session.

The photos follow ...