Model Forum / General / Railroads / March 2005

Can anyone tell me what the height of a Tortoise sitch motor is? I'm
asking on behalf of a friend without internet access - she's curious to
know how much room she'll need under the benchwork.
Thanks,

Being new to the newsgroup and to railways, I have probably made one of the
first of a number of errors regarding couplings!
I have bought a number of individual wagons and sets off ebay and have now
discovered groups of them are not compatible.

When making a WYE or a turn around, what is the best way to avoid a
short circuit and keep the train moving with the least amount of hand
work necessary?  I can insulate the track and run line feeds, but still,
how do I keep the short from happening when the engine goes over the

I'm looking at the Class 110 DMU's, but the only ones I can find are the
Hornby ones, and the motor is highly visible in the window.
Is this the norm for DMU models, or should I be looking at other
manufacturers. Bachmann don't seem to do a class 110.

Does the Bachmann 1 amp DCC decoder have overload protection to the
motor output terminals?
Are the decoders any good?
Regards,

I'm aware of Shinohara's new 'DCC-ready' turnouts which will no doubt also
be sold by Walthers since they market Shinohara's code 80 HO scale track
under their own name. I haven't tried those yet, but I've used standard
Shinohara turnouts, suitably modified, with DCC without a ...

Now see Challengers popularly advertised at $225. Are they clearing-out all
existing stock. Surely not preparing to retool in face of Bankruptcy.

I'm looking for recommendations on the appropriate decoder for a Atlas
Master Locomotive Series Dash 8-40BW locomotive.  Atlas #7238, DCC ready
(includes NMRA 8-pin plug).
I'm looking for decoders with best bang for the buck, basic features, low

Ok. You have $250 to buy "one" model railroad item. It may not be used
towards something that costs more than $250. What will you buy?
I would buy a Lenz Set 90. Bruce

I have an MRC Command 2000 ... the buttons on the right have kinda
stopped working (they don't spring back) and I hear a rattle when I
shake the unit.. I'm thinking the screw holding the circuit board up
dropped out....

Does anyone know where I might be able to find a container carrying ship and
dock-side crane in N scale.  My searches on the net have proved fruitless.
Thanks in advance.
Matt

I'm looking for a drawing that I remember seeing in an old Roundhouse/MDC
catalog back in the late 70's/early 80's.
It wasn't a picture, but a drawing of a train that featured cars like their
Overton cars.  What made this unique was that the engine appeared to be

On the front cover of the 10/04 issue of MR is a picture of Rio Grande
diesel hydraulic locomotives. The article refers to them as Krauss-Maffei
diesel hydraulic locomotives. I have never seen anything like them available
here in the USA. Can anyone tell me more about them - were ...

Quick question, has any experienced any "weird" issues after installing a
decoder into the new Atlas dash 8 silver series?  Here is my issue, in that
I have two of these units (very nice) and went to install the NCE D15SRP's
into them.  After programming them, they are running in ...

I am looking for a source for OO station lighting that actually works. I am
targeting the late 50's, does anyone know anyone who might supply suitable
styles, thanks.