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    Whats wrong with Atlas Turnouts¿

    I have used Atlas almost exclusively for over twenty years. I use both #4's and #6's, as well as a few Snap Switches. Yes I have had some issues, but I have figured out how to tweak them (or learned from fellow Gauge members). I currently have over 80. Filing the frogs (most) and adding the...
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    An Age-Old Railroaders Problem

    I guess I'm closer to prototypical with 450 freight cars and 60 locos. About 7 1/2:1. Now if I add those 150 roofwalk boxcars in storage...hmmm.
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    Flooring question

    To further the point Russ made; with small area rugs, they can be rolled up and stashed while scenery or other messy construction is taking place,
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    Rolling stock kits.

    Nachoman, it's just your LHS. The LHS I go to in a small town nearby, carries 200-300 Athearn kits as well as 150-200 RTR's. He has no problems getting them from Horizon. He has other brands as well. 30 miles away in an upscale Dallas shop they have no kits. The owner there says he can't sell...
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    Siding on Grade

    I did what Goattee said. I drilled a small hole in the roadbed and put a loose piece of copper wire in it. It is just barely taller than the axle and is positioned to catch the axle of a fifty foot boxcar at just the right position. When backing over it, the axle rises slightly but not far...
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    Converting a powered unit to a dummy

    If you haven't already removed them, remove the worm gears.
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    Cars/Trucks/Vehicles size suggestions

    I read in a recent issue of Model Railroad News that Malibu International (the Wal Mart cars) was going to come out with a number of different models this coming year. These are the same cars that used to be sold as Model Power a few years ago at three times the price.
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    Freight siding

    Brakie, I agree but I haven't been able to duplicate this yet!
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    Freight Train Speeds & Train Length?

    Ditto what Russ said. Around here ATSF lines received more regular maintenance before the merger than they received after the merger. I know a thirty-year BN maintenance guy who was amazed at frequency of the ATSF maintenance. They have stepped it up in the last six-seven years and trains are...
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    Freight siding

    We all fret about laying our rail straight on our layouts, but here's a picture of a freight siding next to one of our plants. The line is currently a BNSF line, but the siding has been there since the SLSF (Frisco) days 30 years ago. I know of at least three derailments here in the 30 years...
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    Grandson starting right

    My new grandson is going to be out-of-state Christmas day, so we celebrated with him last night. Here's a picture of him with his first railroad model.
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    Looking for a tutorial on locomotive repair

    If you can fix old VW's, you can fix most Athearns. Mostly taking them apart, looking for (and replacing) worn or broken parts, general clean-up, and reassemble. Andrew, Wayne and David have all given good tips to use depending on your skill (or memory) level. P2K's and Kato's are a notch higher...
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    What season do you model?

    I model late spring. Like Deano said, summer is brown around here also. I have also noticed that many fall layouts seem to overdo it a bit.
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    couplers and uncoupler

    One word - Kadee. #5's work in most situations. The only alternates that I like are Accumates. I was so disappointed with the original McHenry's that I have not tried their newer ones. I have used EZ mates but found that the whisker spring on them is just as weak as the McHenry's
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    Why don't you participate in our photo contests?

    I voted too lazy. It's really not enough time. I have hundreds of photos but I work 50 hours a week, commute 10 hours, and maintain a farm on the weekends. That's why I don't participate. Like others have said, I post occasionally when things click at the right time. Here's my thoughts on the...
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    Magazine choice

    I only subscribe to MRR but I pick up MRC occasionally when I see an article of interest. MRR is hit or miss but it is mostly hit for me. I agree with caellis about Model Railroad News...I appreciate the fact that it is mostly reviews now that I have bought nearly everything my LHS has to offer...
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    Are your trains an escape?

    Like steamhead says, not so much an escape, I consider them an integral part of life also, like sleeping, exercising, eating etc. To me the layout is a giant work of art where I can be as creative as I want when I want.
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    How often do you log in?

    I had to vote once a week because that's as close to reality as the poll allows. I check in 2-3 times a week during the summer, more often in the winter.
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    My first catalog house

    Great link Jac's Lines.
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    Where is your layout situated?

    My 12' x 32' layout is in a room (poorly) added to the backside of my barn. However due to dust, critters, insects, and no climate control, I will be dismantling it as soon as I complete a new 20' x 32' detached building. Like alexbnfan, here in North Texas we just build in the yard (15 acres).
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