I have been mulling over my track plans for the last month or so and have come to the point where I would like to solicit opinions from the MRH community at large.

To quickly set the stage:

•  I have a shelf area that is eight feet wide and fourteen inches deep (243 by 35 cm).
• I will be using DCC.
• I will be using a 'pick' to uncouple the cars.

Druthers:

Ok, things are looking more concrete. I am still in the sketching ideas stage and have nothing really ready to show here yet, but, here is how its looking for the layout.

These are some photos taken at Lansing Legacies layout tours. Some of these layouts may be on the NMRA National convention 2012 layout tours. These ones shown are maybe 50 miles or more from Grand Rapidsbut well worth a visit.

I've recently returned from holiday. What on earth does that have to do with a (model) train related forum? Well, as the trip was centered in part on an across Africa train trip,  thought folks might have some interest!

We've all seen them, we've all used them, and many still use them all around the layout, even after going DCC.  

It's the ubiquitous Brick the power pack we all know but rarely mention as anything more than a bench tester, power for a bus line, or simply a good chuck against the wall!

So just WHAT IS the Bachmann Wallwart?

Benny takes you inside...

Well, I've been home a total of 4 days in the last 30 and am off again tomorrow for another 7 before I get to spend 5 straight at home.  However, while its been exhausting, while in Connecticut this past week I got two offers to visit layouts.  Unfortunately, I couldn't make one due to scheduling but on Saturday I was able to visit rfbranch's layout and take part in my first ever ops session.  

I didn't always mind it so much. Over the years though, as I've built more and more layouts, I've come to despise it. I've tried all different types, including some of the varieties with two inch foam, but if I had to pick a so called favorite it would be L-girder with plywood sub roadbed which is what the new one is.

This is the second part of my adventure of installing DCC in my brass K-27 2-8-2. The first part involved installing a four function decoder in the smoke box. This decoder controls the headlight, classification marker lights, cab light and firebox light.

Mike Palmeri sent me these interesting points on the Poydras Street Yard.