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This may be a bit out there but I use a round toothpick, which also doubles as my uncoupler. To clean the track I place it down level on the rail and run it along the top. I can also hold it at an angle and and push the tip of it along the top inside edge of the rail to get it extra clean.

Very neat idea. I like it.

Thanks for the suggestions. I placed them in hot water and that did the trick.

I am working on constructing an engine maintenance facility. Unfortunately some of the walkways included with the model have become warped. Instead of being flat, they are wavy. Any recommendations for ways to flatten them out? I tried putting them under a book for a day but that didn't seem...

Thanks for everyone's comments so far. I decided a plain run around wasn't worth the track space. I would still need to turn the engines if I wanted them facing the right way even if I did get them on the right end of the train. I am still considering using a turntable/run around combination...

Wow, looks exciting. I wish I had the space to model a 4 track NEC. *Sigh* maybe some day. Have you thought about access points for your layout? It is a long stretch from the outside of the NEC tracks to the inside of the auto yard.

Yes it is N. The wide centers are for extra finger room. I want to be able to place cars/locos on the track even if the adjacent tracks are occupied.

I have a small layout so I don't expect to run trains longer than 10 or more cars (40 or 50 ft ones). I was playing around with the "Run Trains" button in Xtrkcad and I can fit those in a 5 ft. yard. I was even considering cutting it down to 4 ft even since the modeled yard on my layout only...

Grew, The alternative to the run around is manually picking up the engines and turning them. Not the best but moving one or two engines beats moving an engine plus cars. I was wondering how other people handled it in their staging yards. 60103, I am worried about derailing the cars as I move...

I have decided to add a separate staging yard to my layout. I recently acquired some new engines, so now I want to be able to be able to run different trains without having to move them on and off the tracks every time by hand. :) It will be 5 ft. long. The tracks will be spaced 2.25 inches...

I like doing the ballast before the greenery. I did it the other way around once and some of the loose ballast got caught in the greenery. It is easier to brush a ball of ground foam off the tracks then it is to pick grains of ballast out of the bushes.

Nice Job. I like the maintenance building. I am looking for a similar structure for my layout. Did you scratch build it or was it from a kit?

Very nice. I like it!

Thanks for the explanation. The loop makes sense now. I would move the Amtrack station away from where the loop is. I don't know how you plan to landscape it but it seems like it cut into the side of a hill or has tracks criss-crossing over top of it. I also agree with Triplex, I don't see...

I am confused with the loops and elevation part. Are there two levels the layout and the loops transition between or have I missed the boat? Maybe two different colors or images would help visualize the two levels.

The first layout I constructed had nails going through the track and cork and into the plywood. Lots of bent nails and broken ties. The second time around I used foam insulation underneath the cork and glued the cork and roadbed down. I had a much easier time installing the track. And not...

Switch Throw Hi, Looks great! I use custom line switches on my layout as well, but I use Caboose Industries ground throws. I would be interested in seeing an alternative to them, especially one that has electrical contacts. Can you post more pictures and details about how you are...

Update So I played around with XTrkCad's feature to let you run trains around. I found out that I didn't really like the short stub on the yard. So I had the bottom two tracks just function as a passing/run around and added a branch of the middle track so I have 3 stubs to sort cars on. I...

Thanks for the feedback! That is interesting take on where to place the interchange. It would be easier if the switcher could grab the interchanges. However I was thinking it would provide more operating interest to send out an engine to fetch the cars from the interchange, and then have the...

Hi I am working on a new layout and trying to finalize a track plan. Before I take the big leap an start to glue things down I wanted to get some opinions and find out if anyone else has a similar sized layout. Some details on the layout: The layout is a 2.5 ft. by 4 ft. I live in an...