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ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.


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    Repowering old brass locos?

    I have a few old, mid 60s to early 80s, brass steam locos that I would like to repower with can motors and then set up for DCC. Can anyone here recommend a good source of can motors? Thanks Jim
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    It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

    The clear, quiet Christmas Eve is disturbed briefly as an ABA set of C&O F-7s rumble by, the crew anxious to get home to their families. Folks are arriving for the annual children's Christmas Pageant at the Episcopal Church and across the street Bill is pumping his last tank of gas for the...
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    Athearn Blue Box Baggage Cars

    I have been doing some simple kit bashing to upgrade the looks of some old Athearn baggage cars, to represent cars rebuilt by the C&O in the 1950s. The cars are close on length, but the doors are too far apart to be C&O cars. However, the main spotting feature for these cars is the newer...
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    Soundtraxx Sperry Car Recommendation

    I have a Walthers Sperry car I am planning to add a decoder to and was thinking of going sound. Any recommendations on something that might sound like an old Sperry car? I didn't see anything specific on the Soundtraxx site, except possibly the "Baldwin and other Diesels" since it includes...
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    Athearn HO Six Wheel Passenger Car Trucks Problem

    I haven't purchased an Athearn passenger car in many years, so this may be a question that has been asked and answered before. A couple of members of my club purchased several new Athearn passenger cars. They are the same cars Athearn has been selling for decades, but of course now they are...
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    What was your first brass engine/rolling stock?

    My first brass was a United/PFM C&O K-4 2-8-4. I purchased it as a young Spec4 in the Army back in 1980. I still have it and it still runs great. JB
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    Replacing Athearn axle gears?

    I picked up some Athearn axle gears to replace the gears in a couple of PROTO GP9s I have with the common clunk, clunk, clunk sound of cracked gears. The only Athearn gears I find are sold in sets of six and labeled for SD locomotives. My question is, are they the same gears used in Athearn...
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    iPhone I6 speaker question

    I got a couple on line, about $4.00 each. I'm sure they are not actual OEM. I am however pleasantly surprised. Plenty of volume and very clear. A little weak in the bass department, but overall, pretty darn good. At about 5mm thick they are easy to find room for. I'll be operating them at...
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    iPhone I6 speaker question

    I am putting a Tsunami decoder in an old Athearn F7. I was thinking of using the iPhone I6 speaker that a lot of folks have used with sound decoders. Any pros or cons you can share? Can the little plastic appendage be removed if needed? JB
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    Esso Station

    I haven't built anything model train related in over a year, it feels good to be back at it. Still a work in progress, converting a Walthers Al's Victory station into an Esso station. Roof sign is 3D printed based on photos of Esso stations in the 40s and 50s. Using Woodland Scenics LEDs to...
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    Athearn Tank Car

    I was going through old stuff in the basement and ran across a couple of Athearn 40 ft chemical tank car kits. I couldn’t remember what I got them for and didn’t have current any planes for the kits. I remembered a modeling buddy saying he wished someone would make a model of the tank cars...
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    Soundtraxx TSU-1000 Question

    Sorry if this is a newb question. I installed a TSU-1000 in a brass steam loco. The sound and operation is good but I have two issues I need to work through. Apparently my motor leads are reversed as the loco ran reverse in forward. Not a big deal I changed that in the basic configuration...
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    LEDs and Grain of Wheat bulbs with DCC

    Is there a relatively simple formula, or even better, a chart, to help those of us that are math and electronically challenged to know what size resistor we need to use when using 12v or 1.5v bulbs or 1.5v LEDs, which are powered by the 14v track output? Soundtraxx recommends starting with a...
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    Lake Wobegon Mills-Powdermilk Biscuits Box Car

    I used an Athearn car for my model. like I said, I purchased the decals well over 20 years ago and I have no idea where I purchased them from. I think it was from a small ad placed in MR or RMC magazine at the time. I wish I had another set so I could try to do a better model. This one shows...
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    HO roadbed question

    I belong to a club building a new 30 X 40 foot HO layout. The bench work is going together as open grid with 18 inch centers on which the roadbed and scenery will be built. We were planning to use 3/4 plywood, with 1/2 in Homasote topped with cork for the road bed. However, we have an...
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    help with identification

    I'm pretty sure that is the old Con-Cor GP-38. Google Con-Cor GP-38 and you should find any info you need. Jim
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    Lake Wobegon Mills-Powdermilk Biscuits Box Car

    I have a car lettered like that. Someone was selling the decals sets about 20 years ago, I don't remember who. I haven't seen the decals for sale since I purchased mine a couple decades ago. Jim
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    SIGNS for your layout

    Tomkat, Thanks for sharing, this is a really great resource for modelers. Jim
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    Faller Car System

    I am interested in the Faller Car system, but I am looking at replacing the modern European vehicle bodies with vehicles more suited to my mid 50s C&O layout. I think I will start by trying to convert one of the trucks or buses, using the new Classic Metal Works Greyhound Scenic Cruiser bus...
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    Brass - Worth It Or Not?

    Once upon a time most brass was all about looks and generally ran poorly, especially brass diesels. A lot of modern brass runs great as well as looks good. That being said, in my opinion, if you are a model railroader that enjoys running trains, and an engine you are looking for is made in...




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