Modeling topic
Turnout on grade
Somewhere I got the notion that having a turnout on a grade was bad for reliability. Is that so? Assuming the grade is constant through the turnout, so the turnout is flat, just not level with respect to the floor.
In my track planning, I'm looking at a choice between:
a) shortening a grade so it lies between turnouts, resulting in a 2.5% grade when I was trying to stick to 2% or less,
b) moving a turnout, resulting in shortening my yard,
How to Accidentally Weather a 40' Boxcar
This is an Athern 40' Boxcar I purchased at a show in January for $5 and have since weathered. It was an assembled kit, however the previous owner had painted it a color that had more red in it than brown, however, it did have the decals on it.
Smelly ATF for loco lubrication?
I'm taking the advice I picked up here in the MRH forums and looking to use automatic transmission fluid for lubricating a couple of locomotive. I picked up some Valvoline fully synthetic, Dexron II compatible ATF, but this stuff really smells.
I recall someone indicating that the red lube that came with the old Aurora HO slot cars was nothing but ATF, and I recall that having a unique but fairly pleasant smell.
Freeelanced wood water tower
After becoming the proud happy owner of 18 feet of yard modules, I realized I have a number of buildings I am going to need to build. The group I am with is modeling 1923 steam operations in southern Ohio. I can go into that more in another post. This set of updates is to document my adventure in building a water tower.
To start, I found a kit from Suncoast Models - No 3010 and a set of plans from Model Railroader for 1870s water tank ( published 2015)
Layout Feedback - Phase 1
I’d appreciate any feedback you can offer on my initial layout design. In summary, my goal with this is a switching layout, set in midwestern city, during the transition era. I do value simplicity and realism of a design.
Long Y Turnout on a Mainline Track
I think I know the answer to this question, but I just want to confirm my thoughts
I'm putting a long 'Y' turnout at this point on one of the two mainlines that are entering my external helix structure. The 'Y' turnout is allowing the train to 'recirculate' around the bottom of the room, rather than going up the helix. The trains might be entering this 'Y' either from the points end OR the frog end at particular times.
Cat out of the Bag
I wonder if there is something Mountain Goat Greg aka Gregory Baker would like to tell the community ?? Hmm??
Wiring Switchcraft 160324 Telelever switches
I have some Switchcraft 160324 switches (3t4p?) that I am using for block wiring, switching between 2 cabs. They work great for this and wiring was simple.
I am working on my sawmill area that is on a branch line and has 2 yard areas (rec/ship). Separate switches for each. All will be on the same cab.
How do I wire these switches for reversing? Wiring the same as 2p2t does not work.
Pops.
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