Recent content by RioGrande

I ended up using 3.5 inches so my double stacks would clear on one layout. I recommend 2.5% max grade too if you want to run trains of any length.

You could probably use some alligator clips purchased at Radio Shack. I have a set of 6 heat sinks which are spring loaded and clip on to rail nicely. 3 small and 3 large. I've typically soldered rail joints on flex track, especially on curves. I put one heat sink on each side of the join...

You could probably use some alligator clips purchased at Radio Shack. I have a set of 6 heat sinks which are spring loaded and clip on to rail nicely. 3 small and 3 large. I've typically soldered rail joints on flex track, especially on curves. I put one heat sink on each side of the join...

Get a set of heat sinks and some liquid flux. Make sure you use a tinned clean soldering iron. Clip on the heat sinks on either side of the are being soldered. Brush on some flux. Heat up the reil and flow some solder on.

From RMC magazine (August 1990) article on the Trailer Train corp listing the TT markings: ATTX - 75' all purpose flatcar (center and side tiedowns) BTTX - 89' flatcar equipped with bi-level auto rack) CTTX - 89' low level flatcar equiped with partially enclosed autorack DTTX - 265' Five...

I figured I would post the list of Trailer Train reporting marks since I found my article from RMC (August 1990) magazine listing: ATTX - 75' all purpose flatcar (center and side tiedowns) BTTX - 89' flatcar equipped with bi-level auto rack) CTTX - 89' low level flatcar equiped with partially...

Hmm... not sure about the viewing angle thing, but all the pictures I saw of several different layouts with photo back drops looked sweet. I don't think all were straight on shots but I could be wrong. Some were room shots taken from a distance so you got a sense of what it would look like if...

Doug Tasold went to Colorado and took pictures in Denver and on the Front Range of the Rockies that he made into poster prints. He uses them as backdrops and it looks awesome. I don't think anything as ever looked better than poster prints properly scaled and used.

Yeah, S-curves are a problematic track geometry problem that John Armstrong warns about in his book "Track Planning for Realistic Operations". Combine an S-curve with sharp curves and then couple a long car to a short car (Long engine to short freight car) and you have the recipe for pulling...

Thats good to know. Your list reminded me I have a GP60 as well. So thats still 12 loco's (11 GP30's and 1 GP60) which potentially need gear replacements - the most numerous versions I have of course! Does Walthers need any proof of ownership? Atlas required I send photocopies of the ends of...

I've got a bunch of LL P2k diesels that have never been out of the box... I wonder if I should just contact Walthers and get sets for all these diesels? From what I"ve heard the percentage that need gear replacements is very high, almost all at some point. -11 GP30's -2 SD7's -2 SD9's -1 PA...

Yeah, it really helps to know popular brands, items and roadnames. And they aren't always what we like but what sells out. I've found for better or worse, that Rio Grande is actually pretty popular and much of the items produce don't hang around long before getting scarce. I found that to be...

Yeah, its too bad but true. You see alot of older train cars at train shows and they don't sell for much. Most of the older stuff is seen as "junque" to many modelers who are up on the hobby. I've sold off a great deal of my older models including Athearn, Model Die Casting (Roundhouse) and...

Yeah, some people make this blanket statement and brag that they only "bottom feed" and never buy things when they are fresh out on the market. Well, there are examples of things that don't fit that mold and if you don't get them when they are instock, sometimes you have a very hard time finding...

That can be a challenge to assess the value of such items. The value of older items isn't probably as much as some may have been led to believe. Even brass isn't the "investment" it used to be. I purchased individually brass California Zephyr passenger cars in HO for prices ranging from $169 to...