2021 Mik's Build Challenge Has Begun This Year We Have 20 New Builds   You can follow along and watch the progress   Click this link:   http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/39/annual-build-challenge   It only lasts for the next 30 days,   Better hurry!  

A reader who thinks I know more than I do about this stuff contacted me about an LGB track bumper he acquired that he is hoping to use.  His comments are here:  -------------------------------------------- So can you please get in touch with your LGB people and please please can you identify what LGB piece of track equipment I have here. I  think it's a relay for one way back and forth moving trains like a cable line car or a trolley car. But on the trolley car relay , the gre...

car hauler vs train

Any truth to it that vinegar and salt are good weed killers ?

(As it's a bit late for Spring photos, I started a new thread.) Here's C&S #22 (Aster) blowing off at the Paradise East steam-up in Newark Valley, NY.  Thanks to Jerry (Naptowneng) for the loan of the cars.     Then, on my return from NY State, the loco went to Jerry's for a spin with my new C&S cars, plus one or 2 or Jerry's to adapt the couplers!     My Mogul with my new (to me) Colorado & Southern cars. It is apparent that, as I don't have any EBT cars, the...

This coming weekend, 15-17 Oct is the scheduled October Operations session.. We would appreciate that if you are coming, please respond with a RSVP so we have an idea as to how many folks to expect...   Much appreciated, Thanks...

It's probably been 2 months since I've used JMRI to create a switch list. During that time, no thanks to LSC & Facebook, I have acquired quite a few more cars.  Being a mostly rainy day today, I wanted to run a train on the indoor division. JMRI refused to build a train with more than one car. A quick look at the build logs showed why: There is only one open car spot at each end of the railroad. JMRI has tons of cars wanting to move, but no where to put them!   So, it's time to a...

Someone asked me what size traction tire to use on their LGB 20542 Aster Hudson #71 Steamer.  I found the locomotive's User Guide online, and believe it or not, it doesn't mention the traction tire in the list of common repair parts like the light bulbs, etc.  All the LGB locomotive user guides I've seen always list the traction tire in the list of common replacement parts.  What an oversight!  Anyway, I am guessing that the locomotive's large wheels requires the 54mm tractio...

Reworked part of the backyard to get rid of an old fountain that we discovered was a mosquito factory. Added some raised 2x6 boards and gravel and moved the Aristo circle of track and 2x4 buildings from the wine barrel layout. I replaced the wine barrel with some HLW circle track so I'm hoping it will be more durable now. This is now a permanent fixture in the yard. Going to relocate the wine barrel layout but I have to transfer it to a better roller base. This is the same raised bed planter tec...

Aloha,   2021 is fast upon us, and I am busy evaluating options and budgeting the casbh for the main push in 2021, the "Rehabilitation of the Missile Sponges," the upgrading to near-model status of cheaper motive power we acquired to let the youngest visitors and crew interact with the Triple O.  To that end: Has anyone tried / used the motor blocks from Smallbrook Studio (link)? Will they hold up to the elements, namely rain, high humidity, high temperatures, and proximity to th...

  Since I use the Freight Shed option to host my pictures here I have been reluctant to start posting this build addition to my railroad because of the warning by the site owner that all will probably be lost when he upgrades the site. This seems to be coming true as most of the photos I have posted over the last dozen years are already gone from the threads, making the information they contain pretty much useless.  However this may last a while and maybe someone will enjoy it while i...

Wanted , USA Single Dome Tank Cars . Any Road name or convention car 2003, 2004  

Hi guys. Just dropping in to see whats up and share why I have been inactive. I have been taking a break from trains and most everything else and have been spending some time fly fishing. Call it a much needed mental health break. The head has been feeling decent this summer so I decided to get back to fly fishing. N Idaho is home to two excellent "Blue Ribbon" Westslope Cutthroat trout rivers; the Coeur d'Alene and the St. Joe. Both are about an hour to an hour and a half from my front door to ...