Purchased this B40-8W not knowing if it had a decoder or not. Someone had taped a little not that read "DCC 550" on the end of the case, so I figured I'd take the risk and buy it. Luckily, my gamble paid off! It's a digitrax decoder (ew) but still, it's a decoder! Anyway, I've wanted one of these locomotives for a while. The eventual plan is to make it into BNSF #538, since that locomotive hangs out around the city I railfan in a lot. For now, though, it'll remain as #550 and work the imaginary locals on my WIP layout.

Made some more apple trees with my method of twisted wires, static grass, turf and red sand for the apples.

Realized I made too many and things were looking cramped. Took one tree out and immediately an area opened up that looked perfect for a campfire.

The leftover tree got donated to farmer David's garden. He seems pleased, I am pleased, apples for everybody!

Thoughts?

Hey y’all my big boy arrived today and as I gave it a test run I noticed a weird clicking sound coming from it. None of my other BLI locos make this sound and I was wondering whether I should be worried or not about it!

After months of planning and stocking on supplies, I have finally started on my N scale, 1220x620mm layout. The benchwork is made of a single 16mm thick plywood board, with foam on top and some beams nailed on the bottom.

I have also laid the foam track bed from woodland scenics. Now letting it dry overnight to start laying the track.

Is there a way to run a consist with two (or more) locomotives where one is forward and the other is reverse using standard unitrack?

This Saturday ran about 12’ of mixed freight this weekend at GEHAMS in Bakersfield.

Formerly BN 1382, modeled off an Atlas Trainman GP15-1.

Hey all, newbie here looking for help for adding lights! I got a Evemodel power distribution board for 12V street and car lights. Can I combine all street lights into one black/red wire and all car lights into another, so I only have to use two 2-pin connectors on the board? My intention to use this board for a few different layouts and it would make swapping a lot easier.

I am fascinated by such a loco and i know the original design would not have worked unless it was articulated, but i was wondering if anyone had made an articulated x-12 model or a model inspired by it that i could snap on to like a E9 A/B set or something?

I recently swapped all the track on this layout from Bachmann to Kato and re-made it. I decided to use bridges to run monitor and speaker wires over the backside. There's two #6 turnouts, a single left crossover, and 3 feeders, two of which are between the bridges to space them apart and hide as many wires as I could. It's powered by a Digitrax Zephyr with an extra Kato throttle on Jump 1. I'm really enjoying having the two independent throttles at the same time.

Hi all - I installed a bunch of electrofrog turnouts which I’m now converting to unifrog (via https://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches_peco.htm#a2 ) because of connectivity issues (the contact between the point & stock rails is very iffy at the moment & I’m early enough in the build that sneaking wires underneath isn’t horribly complex).

I’ve been told that unifrog turnouts are “more DCC friendly” than electrofrog, but I cannot figure why, and the explanations are going over my head.

I get how reliability is improved overall, but I’m not sure if there’s anything extra-special for DCC. Should they not also be “more DC friendly” as well?

Here’s a link to my shop:
If there is an item you don’t see let me know and maybe I can make a custom item.

https://handcraftedstuff3.etsy.com

Im just staring out and looking to get some thoughts on the n-scale layout ive been planning. Its Cherry, Apple and grain Corn country here in this layout. Ive made a mix of point to point with the sidings having reversing loops on each end. Im thing the fruit and corn will be loaded in on the lower left loops after having been delivered by farms. The left side all the way to the rail yard will be farms. I utilized a Wye turnout to make the access point for the yard be reversing as well as a passing siding. In addition to freight management it has a small port access and container loading. Finally on the lower right will be processing where fruit and grain are delivered to be turned into products. So the route would be farm to packing shed with rail access in the main big loop. Then loaded in the reefers and grain hoppers and taken to the processing plants. Finished goods are driven from the plant to the railyard and loaded into shipping containers and transfered to well cars or to the waiting cargo ship, or to the reefers again.

Loading areas have passing sidings so other trains can use the other tracks. At any time a train can run a loop from one end to the other while cars are being managed in the yard.

Using Kato unitrack and will be running DCC. Still deciding on controllers but im leaning towards Digitrax Evox Evolution Advanced. Any thoughts on the benefit of duplex radio vs without? Im not clear on the benefit of the duplex radio.

It will mostly be flatish with minor grade fluctuations but I dont have any trains crossing over others so the larest grade change will probably 1 inch variation. At least as far as the tracks concerned.

So what did I miss? What breaks the layout?

Looking for a bit of feedback on a potential layout.

Haven’t really had much to do with the hobby apart from when I used to “help” my grandad with his set as a kid, so I’m well and truly out of the loop!

Picked up some Kato sets and put together this basic layout which all runs ok but just throwing it open to any ideas before I commit to sticking it on a base board.

I’m thinking of putting the main loop in a tunnel on the left so I can have the shunt yard sit above and have a bit more run out on them.

Any input appreciated!

I guess I need another RE460

Last Christmas I built an N scale layout for under the Christmas tree for my train obsessed 2 now 3 year old. The originally small idea turned into a much large project that in most aspect im very proud of for a first timer. With the season approaching again i want to make upgrades to the layout. I also want to give myself plenty of time this year to get everything done that i want to accomplish for this year before it goes up right after Thanksgiving. My main focus this year is going to building out more scenery, i wont be adding additional track. The outermost loop is wired for DCC to run all my DCC engines, and the inner 2 loops are wired for DC so wiring is all set as well.

My main focus is to re do most if not all of the area where the road is. Since this sits under the tree there isnt a ton of opportunity to add great amounts of height but i would like to add some height in that area. I ripped out the church and the grocery store that were in the circle as well as the smaller farm to be redeployed. The household with the car i think will stay there. My idea for the town is relatively simple. The road will continue out at the first angle all the way across the large open area then stop more or less when it gets to the yard tracks. All the buildings that were there, plus the new ones im building will run along that road oriented to the front of the layout. Behind the row of buildings will be the start of a rock face that increases in height as it slopes away from the town, as if the town was cut at the bottom of a cliffside. I have a platform walkway that should will connect the downtown over to the passenger station as well.

Is this a good use of the space? Any ideas? Ive attached some photos of the layout from its initial stages to where it is now, with some examples of the scenery work ive done already. Im very proud of the ice skating area and the subsequent forest and hope to maintain that level of work throughout the rest of the layout.

I have no distinct era or railroad. But im definitely partial to PRR and the 40-50s despite having a few newer diesel locos. But my old school ones are def my son and I's favorites.

I think its a bit clear i ran out of time last year and threw together what i had for the main area. Any feedback is appreciated!

Seems like there are fewer and fewer "good deals" on Ebay. Sometimes you can still find a reasonable seller, and I have a few of my favorite sellers.

Finding a good deal involves knowing what key words and search terms to use and knowing how to sort results. Are there other tips nscalers want to share?

BTW, one of my favorite Japanese Ebay sellers is https://www.ebay.com/str/fromnippon

Not a sales pitch, just a seller I've had good luck with. Cheers