Reading HOBen's post on signals brought back some memories of when I first scratch built my first signals about 15 years ago. Not wanting to hi jack HOBen's thread I thought I'd start this one.

I have begun building an HO scale model railroad on a dreaded 4 X 8, although my layout is actually 4' 10" X 8'. This post is really about the searchlight signals that I have built from scratch. Although I know how to solder electronics I have decided that it was about time that I learned how to work with brass. I have just finished making my first signal and I felt like sharing it with the community.

I mentioned this in another forum and got a less than enthusiastic response, but I think there might be a couple folks here who might like it, so here goes..

Momentum is a great way to simulate the weight of a train.  It makes operation more challenging and thus more fun.  However, it's not realistic or fun to try to switch a yard or industry with a lot of momentum.  The problem is that there's no way to vary the amount of momentum used based on the train or location.

Or is there?  Maybe DCC makes it possible.

Since I have limited experience operating on a double deck railroad, and I am in the process of planning one (see http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/blog/16735), what have you noticed about the upper decks width in relation to the lower deck.

I assume (and we all know what that does), the upper deck is generally narrower than the lower especially if there is a detailed area of the lower deck. But have you seen or operated on one where upper and lower are the same width?