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Hi Jeff' Central California is Visalia for me. Goshen is on the west edge of Visalia and thats where the UP/SP mainline runs through. Thats also where the local shortline San Joaquin Valley Railroad meets the UP and heads west to Hanford and the BNSF mainline. About 15 miles east in Exeter is...

I have to agree with Jeff, a SP without the "patch" would be a rare bird. Here in central CA all the engines seem to be in need of a good wash, is this the case all over? I seem to recall UP engines always looking like new even though they may be several years old. Did they stop washing them to...

Hello and welcome to the gauge, You have come to the right place my friend. While I do not currently model in HO, I can point you in the right direction. The flex track is the best as it allows you to do more custom track plans and less joints between tracks. Less is more in this case, less...

Hi again Wiley, I wanted to clarify a few things that others have posted. First of all, LGB and Aristocraft track is compatible with one another. Aristo has screws thru the rail joiners where LGB does not, but you just leave the screws out where you join the two brands of track. I used all LGB...

Hi Wiley, Welcome to the gauge. I guess I would be one of the big guys the others mentioned since I have a G gauge layout set up in the yard. As for books on G gauge, I agree with Vic, search amazon.com or a similiar website. Garden Railways is one of the top magazines for G gauge. Finally, if...

Hi Michael, I have used oil absorbant from auto parts stores for years for ballast on O and S gauge layouts. HO scale ballast would be smaller but you could crush it into smaller pieces. There are some problems with kitty litter such as: some of it has green crystals and it clumps when wet. I...

Brakie your club is awesome. My hats off to your club. I got a little choked up at Jons offer and your response just about knocked me over. I started a new job this year and now make twice what I used to which was not much over poverty level. We used to live check to check, so I know how hard it...

I have to laugh because I am going thru this right now. About 10 years ago my Dad and I joined a new club just starting and really got the club going. They had a 20' x 50' modular HO layout that had never been put together. We took it home spent 100's of hours and got it running. I also helped...

We took our layouts to a NMRA regional meet in Bakersfield,CA one time. My friend stayed in his motorhome behind the hall right next to the BNSF/UP mainline that leads to the world famous Tehachapi Loop. I unfortunately stayed at a friends house. He didn't sleep much either, too busy jumping up...

Hi Jeff, It's me again and in case your curious I operate G, O, S, and N guage and have a little bit of Standard, HO and Z gauge. American Models has some great stuff. S-Helper Service is another company making some very nice S gauge equipment that rivals anything in HO. I just got aUP woodside...

Hi Jeff, Always glad to help. Since TMCC uses a constant 16 volts to the track, old non-TMCC equipped engines won't run on it. At least not while you are using TMCC. I have heard about guys using a switch of some sort to switch from TMCC to regular power to run your old stuff on the same...

Hi Lawnchoker, Welcome to the gauge first of all. Second, you have chosen a great scale. There are good reasons to chose either MTH or Lionel. The biggest difference between the two is compatibility of the control and sound systems. Just about every company that offers engines with "control"...

I have read threads about this somewhere also. Some people have said it is hard to carve for rock castings, etc. I have also heard the problems of E X P A N S I O N. I use a specially designed for railroading foam. I know I have mentioned this before but I can't say enough about how great this...

I have never had a Xmas without a train under the tree, just isn't Xmas without one. We always had O or G gauge running with presents in the gondolas. Now that I'm married we sort of have our own tradition. The living room is all decorated in eskimos, pengiuns, etc. so the train is Lionel Alaska...

David, I think e must live out in the tullies, eh! If you don't have a Dremel and you do just about any hobbies, you're doing things the hard way. I have a Black and Decker motor tool and want to get a Dremel now. My B&D works great but I want the Dremel deluxe set that has the flex shaft, tons...

OK I tried to vote but my computer just got that same deer in the headlights blank stare as the last time I tried to vote on a poll here. So heres my vote: 20 to 30 years. Although I am 32 I have been modeling and playing with trains all my life. My Dad put trains up on display in the family...

Hi Fan, I forgot to comment on your space concern last night, thats what happens when you work 10 hours a day on swing shift. O gauge tinplate track comes in two styles if you will O and O27. The distance between the outer rails is the same but the difference is noticed most by the ties. O27...

Hi Ravensfan and welcome to the gauge. Here is a website designed for people just like you www.greatesthobby.com I answer this same question at train shows all year long. No offense to other postings here but HO scale isn't the best to start out with. I suggest you get a starter set in O or G...

Hey Jeff, I've been to it many times, nice show. In fact a few years back I built my canyon module there with Bragdon Enterprises, we used the module for Joels clinics. Some good friends of ours have taken their American Flyer layout to your show several times. Hope you guys got the use of all...

Hey Wolv, I hope you were kidding about Tom ALLOWING his daughter. My wife is almost as crazy about trains as I am and knows more about trains and modeling than alot of guys we know and have met. Unfortunately there are alot of pigheaded guys who think since she is a woman she doesn't know...