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Xiong - There are a couple of different approaches mentioned in this thread. You started off with the mathematics: geometry and into calculus. As an engineer (civil/environmental, not railroad), I fully appreciate the appeal of working it out this way, and if you were laying rack for a real...

Soldering irons are not all that expensive. Certainly under $20. It's a basic tool for the model railroader. I sympathize with your turnout power woes. I am in the midst of tearing up every turnout on my layout (about 24 of them) and rewiring it, with crossover wires, wires to the points, and...

It seems like you should be able to make that up using some plastic round stock. Not too complicated... Good idea!

Do you have access to a photocopier? I photocopied turnouts, made several copies, and cut them to size. Then I could lay out a full scale layout and play with it. That worked pretty well. OF course, I had to HAVE the turnouts first...

Be very careful when machining or even cutting uranium metal, depleted or not. The metal is pyrophoric, meaning the fine particles can ignite spontaneously. While that is kind of cool, it creates an inhalation hazard, and the one thing you do not want to do with uranium (or any actinides...

Stock up on that leaded solder. The world is going lead-free! Now, here's a really big rail-soldering machine, being used for the installation of new tracks for our local New Mexico Rail Runner: Rail Runner Express: One smooth ride - SantaFeNewMexican.com Here's a little video they put...

What do you mean by "moving rail"?

That's exactly the one! How cool is that? Thanks loads -- with this I think I may work on it more myself. A very neat collection, there.

Well, it's time for a followup, now that I have finally dug into the turnouts and seen how they are wired and how they need to be wired. It turns out that I have been overenthusiastic in my support of the quality of the Walthers-Shinohara code 83 DCC nickel-silver turnouts. From those that I...

All - I have an old Gilbert New York Central Hudson 4-6-4 loco that I have owned since the 1960's when I was a kid. It is still a good runner, and with new rubber tires can haul anything. But it has seen better days. The front truck and cowcatcher, for example, are missing. I found what seemed...

I love the GIANT air conditioner in the first pic! :) I'll be having a park very similar to this, using my old (but still very strong) Gilbert NYC Hudson 4-6-4 as a centerpiece. It's at the end of a yard ladder, and can be pulled into service on a moment's notice. What you have looks good, but...

Meaning that s/he is not an American Indian, I presume. :)

Do the math! You've got 60" to play with, minus a couple of inches on each edge for clearance and safety, bring it down to maybe 54". That'd be the diameter. Halve it to get the radius: 27"

Yes, that would be a good fix for the problem. Now - why didn't I thinka that?

I'm really sorry to hear about that, riverotter. Damned shame, warping on you like that. I would strongly suggest using foam for the refit. It's just sooo stable during changes in humidity and temperature.

I know it must have been painful, but i think you did the right thing starting over. One thing I noticed in the original layout that looked like a potential problem was the curve and especially the crossover inside the mountain. If you do something like this again, be sure to provide yourself...

I recently purchased the whole set painted in the New Mexico Railrunner scheme (very attractive, by the way, as well as of local interest). That is, one F59PHI loco, two coaches, and one cab car. These behave quite well on my layout, though the 22" curves a just a bit tight, making the accordion...

Thanks for the idea! I have a whole wood stove full of ash and charcoal bits that needs to get cleaned out. It would be enough for a lifetime of weathering! :)

I have my DC layout set up with common rail, 11 blocks, and four separate controllers (two dual power packs). No problems. I use 6-position dual pole rotary switches, with one pole switching the power (since only one lead is needed in common rail) and the other pole switching indicator LEDs so...

Excellent idea with the Legos. I can engage the kids with that one!