I did a quick search but did not see this topic. What is YOUR ideal operating duration.I was just invited to an operating session on an O scale layout. The schedule is 10AM to 2PM. I am assuming a lunch break so actual operation time is probably 3+ hours . Our club is about the same.Many sessions are longer.Maybe it is my age but I think a two hour session is my ideal time. Many times the travel time sometimes up to 2 hours either way makes longer session to me too much. 

Hello All
Merry Christmas!  Need to ask of ppl who have driven trains in the steam era when both a bell and whistle were used and available. Apart from OLC (Open Level Crossings) and signed Bell & Whistle posts.
When else was the BELL required?

I ask as I often see movies and real prototype videos  where  the bell is sounded when moving along a car (bitumen) road to reach a siding, near railway employees working on mains  and in some areas of yard work.

I have the usual assortment of McHenry, MTL, Kato, Accumate, and even some Rapido couplers on my locos and rolling stock. I haven't yet performed a fleet-wide coupler upgrade yet. Meanwhile, there are certain locos and rolling stock I would like to keep permanently attached (though, ideally, the method would be semi-permanent so they could be uncoupled at some point if desired). What are some of the best methods for doing this? Thanks!

Thank you to everyone that contributed to my little survey regarding the university project that I am pursuing. I have expanded my ideas as a result of the responses. I am still a long way from finalising the proposal and some 40 weeks away from having to complete a 10,000 word report on the project so there is some way to go to get this really sorted out before I start.

Any way, the blog entries are in two parts.

Part 1