MRH is looking for a new DCC columnist to replace Bruce Petrarca. Bruce is retiring as of August.

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Dear all,

I am planning my dream layout. I have two brass SP steam locomotives, one 2-10-2 and one 4-10-2, both

from Westside/Katsumi.

May I expect they would run OK on 24" radius?

Other steam locomotives I have are given for a minimum radius of 22". But these are recent models so I

don't know for my old brass ones.

Any input from experienced users? Thank you,

I recently got a hold of a few lengths of flex track, and within the bunch was a few fiber-tie pieces... Nickel silver!

I grew up with fiber tie brass... and don't recall ever seeing NS... curious how old it is... (Still rather straight, but the ties are dry and brittle.)

The first layout I made had plastic ties - circa 1970... but that date may be a bad guess.

Well I am back at it again. I had a few supplies waiting for me when I returned for my trip and was able to make some progress. As I said previously, I really want to try and scratch build my primary structures. With that being said I didn't want to dive right into my complex manufacturing facility to the far left of the layout. To learn the ways of styrere I have been working on a simple concrete warehouse. I still have to work on the building specific details.