Trackwork
Ballasting for a logging railroad
I just finished ballasting the first section on my logging railroad. After looking at countless books on some of my favourite logging companies in the PNW, I realized that most track ballast was pretty close to dirt with the occasional rock thrown in. The secret became not being overly neat and make it feel almost seamless between the track ballast and the surrounding area. The "mainline" is the centre track so I gave it some more rocks to help make it feel different.

Micro Engineering turnouts
I am gathering supplies to start on my first layout and was wanting to use ME track, as it looks much better IMO than any of the others I've seen. However, I was having a hard time finding code 83 #6 RH so I did a Google search and came across an old thread from the forum here talking about QC issues with them.
Has anyone bought any turnouts from them recently and can tell me if they have sorted those issues out? I would appreciate any current insight that is available. Thanks!
Nate
Installing a turnout (prototype @ La Plata MO)
I have to admit, this was 20 minutes of fascinating movement. BNSF track gangs were repositioning a prebuilt turnout from near the Amtrak station further west along the sub. How they did it is interesting, as I've never seen this before. Enjoy the choreography of multiple Cat 33X hydraulic excavators (one with a nifty trick up its sleeves)
Large Assembled Switch Movement (c/o Virtual Railfan)
Tim B.
Installing Tortoise on the top of the benchwork?
Hi everyone,
I am about to make some revisions on my trackplan and this involves having a couple of turnouts leading to spurs/sidings off the mainline, placed on areas where installation of the tortoises is not possible below the benchwork. Is there a preferred/recommended way of installing the tortoises on the top? I can figure out scenic ways to disguise the motors themselves using structures.
Tri-ang 1960 vintage sets 00/HO with no switch or crossover tracks
Hello,

WIP UPDATE. CN Intermodal Yard on my Trenton Subdivision in N Scale.
Taking advantage of “Go Home/Stay Home” I have been able to make some progress on my Intermodal Yard. I have finished painting the caution and traffic lines in the yard and stenciled Traffic control points on the concrete pad. More details below.
Using Arduinos for total layout control / operation
Hi all,
We (2 club members) are constructing an n-scale layout, a 7.5 scale mile folded dogbone with continuous running, a lower deck with staging (complete) and an upper deck for some switching interest (in progress).

N Gauge Peco Finescale code 55 and Bachmann Locos
Having spent a year or so messing about with Marklin 3 rail HO, I am coming back to US outline modelling. This time - as before so often - in N Gauge. As I only have a tiny space at the back of my desk - 52" x 10", I would like to make it as good as I can. This means that I am looking at using Peco Code 55 (I am in the UK).
However, I am limited by budget as to my equipment and I am currently looking at getting my first loco - a Bachmann GP-7. Has anyone used this combination of loco and track? If so, does it work OK?
David
Rail Joiners - an AHA moment, or just a mental pfft?
Okay, here's a question for those of us who use caulk for tracklaying. My track is held extremely well by the caulk. A recent otherwise award-winning picture on one of the forums had two bright, glittery track joiners in the image; I thought "gee, wouldn't that have looked better without them?", and I suddenly realized that, once my caulk has set, there's no earthly reason for those joiners to be there. Which leads to, why not just use a track alignment tool to hold the rails until the caulk has set, and do away with the joiners completely?
Walthers Layout Control System -- Switch Machine Horizontal Mount
I am not sure if this is failing to plan or planning for failure ..
I am using the Walthers Layout Control Systems switch motors that arrived yesterday. I looked them over..built the system to test out how they worked and put them back in the box. However something didn't seem right
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