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64ft plastic pellet cars are standard on the UP near me - they drop at two injection molding facilities. I've not seen any longer than that. This pic is from the walther's catalog

The LHS has all sizes of corrugated styrene - big ripples to very, very small ones. I like re-purposing other stuff but when I can't find it this works great and is not too expensive.

Modified Track Plan Here's the track plan: square = 1 foot

I've now re-drawn the track plan to address these issues. Main goals here: 1. stage trains outside the train room 2. have a double track mainline where none of the return trip is visible (it will be routed beneath the layout near the front edge for easy access). 3. flawless train running...

I've been running trains on the track for a week or so and have discovered significant issues despite my best efforts to put down smooth running track. Vertical easements, actually, the lack of them, hurt me in several spots. I had transitioned from 2% grades to flat before and had few issues...

Planeshavings - the laptop is for my real job - I was on the way from upstairs to the downstairs office and stopped off in the train room to snap the photos. In the long run I would like to have automated train running but it is a few years away. What benefits are you looking for by doing...

Would it be possible to avoid the cost of a larger power supply by paralleling smaller power supplies into the dcc controller? I have a 5 amp 12/volt Radio Shack power supply and an MRC prodigy DCC system with a 3.5 amp power supply that puts out 16volts. WOuld the voltage difference be a...

I have an old MRC diesel sound decoder in an HO Proto2K SD50. While the sound quality is not superb, it runs very well as long as I keep my track clean (much better after I powered much of the track via power buses). I was went from no sound to this one engine and I LOVED it. I have a new...

Any pictures of the project yet?

We have one in our house located in the basement. I just used it to pick up sawdust from a small project in a bedroom two floors up. It is a pretty straight run from the basement to the upstairs outlet via 3" pvc. The suction was not what I had hoped for but it did pick stuff up. It is no...

I have a 12 x 7 space in a room adjacent to the train room where I'd like to stage long trains (30 cars - 2 and 3 engines). I'm giving thought to a double track helix going down 3 or 4 loops and a single track loop within that coming back up. I'm trying to maintain 32 inch minimum radii...

The video of the container crane was very cool. There's something about loading an entire train though that sounds more like work than a hobby and $750 is soooooo much.

Can I pay off the $1000 I already spent and put on the credit card?

There's quite a story behind the naming of the Kate Shelly bridge. It involves Kate, of course, a washed out bridge and her heroic efforts to save an oncoming passenger express. I thoroughly enjoyed it: http://www.desmoinesriver.org/kshelley.html

What an awesome thread! I'll throw some recent photos in that I shot for ideas on the home layout . . .

I have to agree. Tell me about the blue behind the trees. What was your intent? Did it work as you wanted it to? Any after thoughts/recommendations for those of us wondering what to do where the 3D meets the 2D.

I like to paint straight wood glue on the sides of the subroadbed before flooding with fine ballast. I press it down and leave the excess in place. After the glue sets, I finalize how I want the ballast to lay beside the track and in between the ties. I use an old car with a piece of foam...

It sounds a bit like a suicide - I would think even the deaf would feel a train approaching as would anyone impaired for whatever reason if they could still walk. No matter, my heart goes out to the train crew that was involved.

Prime moment - my son (age 8) and I went for hair cuts last night and on the way home we saw the Dump Train had moved next to a great railfan spot. We pulled up and walked to a small hill just 25 yards away or so. This Dump Train had two 15-car hopper/conveyer cars and was off-loading...

I have a ton of respect for Thomas, even though he's not very useful on this layout. It was my son's interest in Thomas that helped get me back into model railroading. I sold all my radio control car racing items (what do you call the stuff associated with your current addiction?) and we've...