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Just what I need! Travel 2000 miles to see ex-VIA units! :mrgreen:

I don't use DCC so I can't advise about it. But we did model railroading for over 70 years without it. DC still works. The coupling (or coupler) is the device that joins 2 cars together. I you buy a train set all the couplings will be the same, but a different train set (different manufacturer)...

That is unfortunate. We have been planning an RV trip and one stop as to be the campground at the end of the GC railway.

Is there a plate on the bottom of the frame holding the drivers in? If you unscrew this you can clean the slots that the axles turn in. This should improve contact if there's decades of old oil, grease and dust in there. Lube with a light oil, preferably a conducting one or LaBelle grease...

Is the difference in the rail or rail + tie? If it's rail+tie, then you should shim the lower one. If it's rail (code 85 vs code 100) it'll take a bit more effort.

Marklin is by itself as it's AC and uses 3-rail track. Everything else in HO is compatible -- runs on the same track with the same power. There may be differences with couplings but this can be overcome. There is also a control system called DCC (Digital Command Control). This requires a chip in...

Homasote (tm) Homasote is the brand name for an insulating board material that is made from recycled paperback books or magazines. It's a grey board, commonly 4'x8' and about 1/2" thick. It retains somewhat the feel of layers of paper. The board is a bit more flexible than plywood. Homasote has...

There is a set of curved tools made by Tracksetta and, I believe, distributed by Peco. Both HO and N. Unfortunately, not a large choice of radii -- I have 24, 36 and 60 and straight, maybe one more. They're longer than the Ribbon Rail tools but Ribbon Rail may have them in 2" increments.

How permanent do you want it? :mrgreen: I use the green (water-based, non-toxic, solvent-free) contact cement. This has the downside that you have to get it right the first time. I've also used that scenic paste that's like thick latex paint. Haven't done this for a while, but it is good for...

Is this the President's Choice train set? Further to Wayne's comment, with cheap motors with few poles you get an effect called "cogging" at very slow speeds as the motor zips one pole to the magnet then holds a bit and then zips another pole to the magnet. (very simplified explanation). This...

I now have 3 pin vises. 2 are Xacto; the other something else. The Xacto ones have a big and small end and I kep them loaded with the pilot drills and taps for 2-56 and 00-90. The other one has a rotating top end and a variety of chucks (or those things that go in the chucks). For years I...

I was inspired by someone's post who didn't have a DC pack for testing. From what I've seen, running as loco 00 on a DCC system does not give you a good idea of how the loco wold run on pure DC or after chipping.

I once drove from Oakville to Brampton with sheets of Homasote on the top of my car; now was that the Mini or had we bought the Honda by then? It was before the 403, I'm pretty sure.

I don't think I've heard of this before, but... Has anyone rigged up a DC test track on a DCC layout using a spare decoder? I keep seeing DCC users saying that they couldn't test a DC loco because they don't have a DC power pack. So wire a disconnected length of track through a decoder to the...