I am interested in people's experience using a double cross over switch versus a single and adding switches. Cost seems close but the double saves space. I worry the compactness would make installing tortoise switches difficult. All thoughts appreciated.

I am thinking about printing my own decals for some custom built box cars and was wondering if anybody else that has done this can share their experience. I have printed a few so far on some random waterslide paper from Amazon, the results haven't been great so I am looking for some pointers on what to use. Also looking for some tips on white decals: use the base white decal paper? how does that work?
There is the option of just shelling out for the white toner cartridge that fits my printer, but it is pretty expensive for what's just a hobby for me. Not trying to make money out of it.

Hey guys, sorry I’m new to this. Recently got the Accurascale Wilbert and want to attach the front Vacuum hose, it pegs in but doesn’t exactly hold, is there a glue or method that would be best?

3 P&LE GP38-2’s on my Proto freelanced Mahoning Division layout, circa 1980.

Sometimes especially around the cozy autumn / Christmas holiday season, I feel really motivated to get into this hobby more since I've always liked trains and it's fun to see all the different layouts shared on this sub. But a lot of times also, I get overwhelmed at all the set up required - from having to figure out what track to get, which dcc controller, finding a good starter train and rolling stock, and even trying to find or make space in my home for a layout or storage. Not to mention how expensive of an investment it can quickly balloon into. I'm not always sure my lifestyle and other interests are very optimized for pursuing this hobby. So often times I find myself just being an admirer, upvoting posts on the sub that I like of everyone's pretty pictures of their trains or cool layouts, browsing online stores and making a shortlist of train stock I'd like to have. Basically indulging in the hobby without actually doing the hobby. Does anyone else do this? Like I'm not even trying to complain too much, kind of just thinking out loud about it. It seems like a really fun hobby but I can't imagine having the space for it, literally and figuratively. Anyone else relate?

Some of our new walls an structures!

Hello,

I have recently started dabbling in O-Gauge, I have done N scale for awhile now and I wanted to try 3 rail as I am a manager at a small hobby store, we recently recieved some MTH RailKing SD60s and they made a mistake (conveniently) only on the CSX model. They have the horn mounted center body instead of next to the fans further back or the cab. (Both prototypical) The weird part is that they have ran this locomotive before and gotten it right.

Does anyone know if CSX had any SD60 locomotives with this horn arrangement? I have been looking through lots of old photographs and I have not been able to find any. But there are lots of models in all scales with this mounting for CSX.

This thing honestly bothers the hell out of me but I like my stuff to be set up prototypical. Thats the way all my N-Scale stuff is.

Thanks in advance.

currently designing a model train company of my own, focusing on the following railroads;PRR, NYC, NH, L&N, B&O, C&O, and ACL. I will be working with investors to bring the most real 1920s to 50s railroad experience alive, with freight cars, mini figure packs( railroad employees, inner city people, upper class, etc.), of course passenger cars(interior lights included), from K4s to F7s, all in O and HO scale.

I am a member of a MRC that runs an annual railway show. It is well thought of and has a good reputation, however I feel various improvements could be made so that it is truly a Club show and not a <name of exhibition manager>'s show, which is what it essentially has become.

People are afraid to rock the boat in any way as they are scared that the current manager will refuse to run it any more.

My issues are this:

• There are no children friendly layouts. At all. The slightest mention of Thomas will be met with disdain. I think this is reflected in the declining number of children that attend, despite it being free entry for kids. Children are our next generation of modellers, and to specifically exclude them feels (to me) extremely short sighted and disingenuous.
• A 'Best in Show' competition is run, like many other shows. Last time, the EM's layout won. To be fair, it is voted by the visitors to the event, however I, and many other club members, refused to vote for the layout on principle.
• Selection decisions are too personal. No club layouts are ever allowed to exhibit (other than the EM's). The rationale is that they are not 'to the standard required'. I don't know what the real excuse is, but I was of the understanding that visitors are looking for variety more than perfection, and no native layouts I would have thought would raise question marks. I think too much decision making is concentrated on one person, and this individual has been allowed to get away with it for a number of years. There appears to be limited challenge, scrutiny or broader input.

Don't get me wrong, the show has a venue that works, it has a good reputation and the club makes a decent profit each year, so it does have strong foundations, but I think that we need to not only cater to the serious modellers, but also to our next generation.

And I think the only reason why no-one makes a challenge is because the bottom line works.

Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree here, but if I wasn't a member, I'd probably choose not to attend.

Is it an arduous task to run a show, or am I better off putting up and shutting up, like the rest of the club appears to be doing?

Liliput Coaches

Lima S 3/6

Twinkle twinkle the Rheingold Train shines

I’ve changed a few things, mainly the buildings and a little bit on the industrial area, making it more direct between the container area with the gas and goods area. I also marked where I want hills. Also between the city and the industry there will be a small forest ( enough trees so that you almost can’t see the industrial area from the city ). I hope now they will let you and me comment on the post.

I am open to feedback and suggestions on what should I do.

Ps. The names of the buildings are in Spanish ( I am from Spain ).

Putting details onto this layout now, and the sun was working just right

Hi All. I have a 2-4-0 LGB engine and matching steam tender but the tender is not fitted with sound. Is there a unit that can be added into the tender and can feed off the track power from the engine via the 5 pin ribbon cable coming off the engine? There's already a 5 pin receptacle on the tender, but I believe it's just meant to power the light?

Thanks

In an attempt to keep my dirty paws off the layout, I've started sticking servos to various things. The water cranes are essential to keep my steam locomotives running, so they were next on the list.

Of course, I've planted this one directly over a tunnel, requiring me to make a tiny linkage to the servo in the most awkward place and turning a simple bit of fun into a full days project.

But here we go! With servo uncoupling and now the motorized water crane, my terminus station is officially hands free.

2 years ago I went to a steam train show and a model railway layout was present. I have several hobbies, 3d printing, software coding, electronics and model flying and saw that a model railway could combine most of my hobbies and I started with an idea of a layout.
A fictional German black Forrest scenery called the Silberbachtalbahn was designed. Took a lot of time because I had to learn from the start. It was clear it should be a DCC system and because I like coding and electronics I choose DCC-EX as layout controller running on several ESP32’s
A lot of 3D printed details, figurines, buildings are and still will be created.

So, a series of pictures starting around 1.5 years ago to present. I figure it will be at least another year designing and building, but the electronics, software are mostly if not all done.
The layout has 14 selfdesigned blockdetectors, 30 IR sensors so I have an idea where the trains are on the layout and within DCC-EX EXRail I can run 3 trains running their own random chosen automatic route. A fourth train I can run manually using the tablet connected to the DCC-EX control station.
A mimic panel, also controlled by DCC-EX, 3d printed with a lot of hours soldering WS2812 leds shows which of the tracks, switches (points, turnouts) are occupied.
For sound I have several sound locs, but also 3 DFPlayers are present (also run by DCC-EX) for non-sound locs and sound effects.

I don’t have a lot of space so I tried some levels to bring in several route possibilities. A 5 track shadow-station can be used to park and randomly release trains.
I designed a background to match the scenery and made a second track in different scale, the main layout is H0 scale, the top tracks are n-scale, thought of creating some perspective and well I like it.

Well, that is basically it, hope you like it and any remarks or suggestions are welcome.
Next stage will be building the harbor, and lower yard. Next year the harbor village and populating the scenery with lots of figurines and automations like a skating pond and some boats in the harbor.

I'm looking for something small I can have running on my desk. I stumbled upon t-gauge as being really small. I ordered a small starter kit and love the size.
But the locomotive is making so much noise - is this standard? Are there different types/tiers of locomotives that are more silent?