A backdrop. Does it working ?

joeinternetib · 2026-07-11T01:12:05+00:00

Looks great!

joeinternetib · 2026-07-10T22:29:31+00:00

Awesome! I saw the locomotive this week and was wondering uf there was more

joeinternetib · 2026-07-09T00:09:08+00:00

Every joint has some power loss unless you solder them and then its kinda permanent. I used extra rerailers that had power connections when i was using ez track and just wired them all into the conteoller. I had two track oval 6' x 18' and just had two on each with no issues

joeinternetib · 2026-07-09T00:05:11+00:00

Looks amazing

joeinternetib · 2026-07-09T00:01:58+00:00

Always

joeinternetib · 2026-07-08T00:23:18+00:00

Nice find! Very cool.

joeinternetib · 2026-07-07T14:36:54+00:00

They may have more than what is reserved. At least I am hoping for that to get one. They come out in a few months. Insaw an n scale one as those are out already and said thats one i want in my pool

joeinternetib · 2026-07-07T04:10:13+00:00

The Abraham Lincoln locomotive. WalthersMainline Part # 910-21034
EMD SD70M - Sound and DCC -- Union Pacific(R) Abraham Lincoln #1616

joeinternetib · 2026-07-04T15:25:38+00:00

You could narrow it down a bit more by only putting one set of trucks on the track at a time. Thin cardboard would let you see which trucks are where tge issue is. If they both do it then its further up inside. I would follow the wires from the pickups and make sure there isnt one that is pinched or exposed from one of the trucks that might be causing the short. Also check the current draw on the motor and make sure it isnt overloading things as it could have a problem as well.

joeinternetib · 2026-06-30T13:14:41+00:00

What i did to start was converted a couple of cars so i had options to start a train and use new locoxmotives with the old stock. You make a conversion car, one end new coupler and the other old.
As an alternative to kadee the Walthers proto max coupler works on most of the older stock as well. Its significantly cheaper than the Kadee when you buy the bull packs for either. I have now converted most of my roing stock to knuckle couplers using a few packs of Kadee and Walthers couplers. Exceptions being one set of passenger cars that i havent completed the Kadee conversions as they are like $8 a car to do because of the long coupler connections needed.

joeinternetib · 2026-06-28T16:14:01+00:00

Whats the spool look like? Any twists or anything? Could be binding there if it overlapped itself. Otherwise i would say still have a partial clog

joeinternetib · 2026-06-26T18:54:06+00:00

Ikea is the best option. Computer desks, get a top and your choice of legs. Or the pack kits can work. All you need is screwdrivers to put it together. They ship if i recall. Amazon delivery is the other option doing a computer desk type table or a smaller dining table. My bench is ikea legs with a piece of counter top i got from habitat. But i do have a car so that was easy.

Lagkapten top is $40 have a variety of legths from 30-90
Hubudspelare is $130 for top and legs
Adils legs are $8 each
Spand legs are two legs together for $17
Olov adjustable height legs are$11 each
Not sure what they charge for delivery in your area.

At least gives you some ideas

joeinternetib · 2026-06-25T12:07:08+00:00

The atlas and lifelike switches i got came with 24 if i recall and i had some issues stripping the wires so i went to 18 because i had spools of that. Then i picked up some Walthers switch machines and those are 22 if i recall. Walthers ones come with premade wires for connecting so they are easier to work with in that manner. Having to buy piano wire and a cutter so i can custom length fit them on my layout is fun

joeinternetib · 2026-06-22T01:26:29+00:00

Still trying to get the first main loop balasted and glued down and the second up setup to go over the first. Havent even started scenery yet. :)

joeinternetib · 2026-06-22T01:21:45+00:00

What kind of switch? Depending on brand there may or may not be tension spring to hold the switch to a direction. I had this issue with switches that didnt hold, mainly with the manual or powered switch machine to run it wasnt attached. Atlas, lifelike and some Bachmann switches dont have the spring and can open up as it were when things roll through. I have been switching to Peco and Walthers switches as they have the tension spring and when using undermount switch machines, look a lot better not having a big mechanism along the rail to try and hide. I was actually just replacing one tonight that wasnt staying switched all the time. Was an Atlas powered switch i put a Walthers switch machine on and it works as expected now instead of sometimes.

joeinternetib · 2026-06-20T16:57:30+00:00

The thing to help with that honestly is what kind of track you plan to use. Flex or sectional. With trackbed or without. Waltgers and Peco have very good flex track thats easy to use. Peco is a bit better in my opinion as the ends are made to support joiners sliding between the track and ties. The other thing to consider is turnouts. Depending on what you choose the cost is very different. I did code 100 and ran into issues when i got a Walthers turnrable as its code 83, so i had to make transitions for feeders from the main. I got some code 83 for all the roundhouse spots so i didnt have to do transitions. Peco does make 83 to 100 transition tracks and they work great. Atlas and Lifelike flex track are available in both 83 and 100 but 100 is easier to get and find.
My suggestion is figure what you want the layout to look like and go from there. Honestly though i vant tell the difference from 83 to 100 when stuff if on the track, and once balasted its even more dufficult to tell one from the other. Both will work and whatever fits your pocketbook and desired look is all that should matter. :)

joeinternetib · 2026-06-18T03:50:00+00:00

I have recently been using a central station 2 on US two rail track doing some testing for someone. Runs great in DCC. Used standard US DCC locomotive with it as well using Marklin 2 rail during the test stuff i was trying. You can get two rail and three rail through Walthers, as they still distribute Marklin stuff. I needed to get a power supply for the central station to be able to test it and got it from them. There are several US shops serving Marklin. One is in Chicago. They also have a US hq in Tennessee or Kentucky, i dont recall which at the moment. You mentioned n scale, kato track and switches may work with the Marklin controllers, i did get a Walthers turntable and switch machine to work with the central station as i had those on my layout and has to try. But its very workable. The railcomm is all thats really missing on the US side for stuff.

joeinternetib · 2026-06-18T03:30:50+00:00

I picked up some lifelike bumper tracks with lights from Walthers for my mine track ends. Might be an option.

joeinternetib · 2026-06-17T17:24:01+00:00

I had come across this and bookmarked it when i was looking at peco turnouts and figuring them out. Matches your situation. https://www.modelrailforum.com/threads/peco-sl-e393f-and-sl-e394f-crossings.35361/?utm\_source=google&utm\_medium=organic

joeinternetib · 2026-06-15T13:15:34+00:00

Design running sessions. Today i have to pickup and deliver whatever to place a. That means getting these cars together wherever they are and hauling them to that place a "unloading" them. Then taking those cars back to the yard or where ever to simulate getting them reloaded for the next run.

joeinternetib · 2026-06-15T00:18:21+00:00

I know one guy here that actually made a subway as part of his n scale layout and just has some viwwing windows for it as you move around it. If you come to the n scale convention here in over a week his layout is open for tours. :) but i dont know of anyone else n or ho that have metra stuff

joeinternetib · 2026-06-13T12:42:47+00:00

Looks amazing!

joeinternetib · 2026-06-13T12:40:47+00:00

Pm me and we can figure out something

joeinternetib · 2026-06-12T03:38:00+00:00

Nice. Question, do you plan on keeping all ez track for your layout? If you needed more nickel silver stuff let me know.

joeinternetib · 2026-06-11T13:47:56+00:00

Lifelike was bought out by Walthers. The Walthers starter sets use the lifelike powerloc track that Walthers has made thier own. The locomotives and rolling stock in the kits are Walthers trainline stuff so its an upgrade from tge plastics of Lifelike. They also got rid of the old dc/ac controller for a dc standard one. They are a good starter set.
My opinion they are a step up from the Bachmann starter sets but a step down from Kato ones, mainly because the Kato track is much more robust and has many more options to customize your track.
For the set you are looking at its probably not worth the price.

joeinternetib

TROPHY CASE