The Ruphe and Tumbelle Railway has a complete hodge podge of couplers on it's fleet. There is the Bachmann EZ Mate HO couplers that come with their stuff (although I do raise them up to the proper height), Kadee On3 couplers and a few other various and sundry models. The reason I'm in this mess is that all of these fool couplers actually couple! Though sometimes getting dissimilar ones apart is a trial. Because they all "work" together I have just left whatever came with the model on.

This is a work in progress.

The main structure is built following Earl Smallshaw's 1/87 scale drawings that were published in the December, 1974, issue of Model Railroader magazine.

Here are some current progress images of my build  ...

this trackside elevation (below), including the roof, remains to be completed and detailed.

I have a thing for little Porter locomotives...and when Bachmann announced their Tsunami sound-equipped models, I was delighted. Once running my 0-4-2 and 0-4-0 locos, however, I found they tended to stall and cut out to the point that they simply remained on the shelf.

I explored cleaning track using several high-tech options...I added pickup shoes underneath added brake detail...on and on. Nothing seemed to a) consistently solve the pickup problem while b) not adding any new problems or issues. I was stalled just like my locomotives.

If you've been reading this blog then you'll remember that I've been trying to reclaim portions of an elderly friend's HO layout but in On30. Much of his railroad isn't my style - mainline spaghetti bowl loop (big loop) and when I brought it home in huge chunks only the strong survived. Since On30 tie sizes and center-to-center spacing is som much different, portions of the layout are being used where you can't really tell that the rails is so out of scale. Some of the switches have come up in pieces so I am re-laying them on new ties and PC board ties from FastTracks.

Is there anybody out there who knows how to replacement power trucks for a Proto 2000 E7B locomotive

I have a Part # 584818 that I found in the box. But I think that's for a unpowered E7B. I have contacted Walther's and I have not gotten a satisfactory response yet. Is the any source for these trucks?

I had the opportunity to visit with Brian Earl and talk to him about his N Scale Great Western Railroad.  It is a freelance railroad and he gives us a great tour of the train room pointing out highlights and providings unique insight about operating in a small scale.

It's been a light winter.  The plow still needs work for next year, but is ready to go away because of more pressing needs.  I think Erie is done dumping her "Lake Effect" for the year.  "Push me - shove you."

I have just started a freelanced HOn30 Class A Climax build--my first serious scratch-build project.  I hope my successes and (many expected) problems will help others, and that some ideas will come my way.  Main post below, so there isn't a huge first post repeated again and again.