Thanks Rusty, Jim & Robert, for your help.  I am left wondering what Digitrax means by a "smooth power pack," & whether or not the power pack that came with my Walthers LifeLike DC train set qualifies.  I will check the Digitrax website.

 If I were to get a Digitrax Zephyr for programming decoders I've installed myself, would I be able to connect my Bachmann 5 amp booster to it, or is it made to accept only a Digitrax booster?

Could I connect the power pack from my DC train set to the Zephyr as a throttle?  I read the Zephyr manual, & it doesn't even discuss controlling multiple trains with the Zephyr's throttle.  I can probably run 5 trains simultaneously with EZ Command better than 2 with Zephyr from one throttle.

With a Digitrax decoder I installed into my Blueline Mikado, I found that there is no momentum; the loco accelerates & decelerates quickly.  Also, the master volume seems to be at maximum, which is too loud.  I would like to be able to program this features, but it might be cheaper to take my two Blueline locos to a hobby shop for programming.

 I watched Trains & Locomotives for the first time.  Both 30-minute programs dealt with Denver & Rio Grande.  Bob's probably mentioned that 6.2 mile tunnel & the 4% grade.  I enjoyed seeing the two Mikados operating.

 One can buy a BLI brass hybrid New Haven 4-6-4 for $330 or pay $1300 for it with a display case in which the engine can be run.   

 $18 is cheap!  Digitrax DN143IP decoders for my Blueline locos cost me $26 (Tony's Trains)-$28.

 Ray & Rusty, thanks for your comments.  The friend gave me a rent RFD magazine, so I'll check for "I Love Toy Trains."

 I was just informed by a country-western fan that the RFD channel has a weekly program on Mondays, "Trains & Locomotives."  Has anyone here seen it?  I'll be checking on it next week, probably at the 3 a.m. repeated showing, because we watch news during its 5-6 p.m. showing.

 TheFavoriteSpot, a "factory authorized dealer," sells the Spectrum DCC 2-10-2 for a BuyItNow price of $85 & Bachmann DCC 4-8-4s for a BuyItNow price of $95.  That's about twice what one can buy a Spectrum SD45 for NIB.

 I've bought a few trees & can't find any much cheaper than $1 each, which would make your forest cost about $4000!  Do you make your own trees? 

 I am overwhelmed by all of your responses!  Thanks, all, for the information, advice & suggestions.   After searching eBay for backgrounds, backdrops, & scenes in vain, I wondered whether or not anyone made them for model train layouts.  I don't recall seeing any in Walthers' monthly flyers.

I did wonder about photographing a local scene to use for a background.  At least, I want to enclose my layout as a separate realm from our basement library room.   

Does anyone sell backgrounds for layouts, something like poster board decorated with HO scale trees & sky above them?  This would be a good opportunity to paint--if I had the artistic ability. 

Congratulations on a fine job!  It seems like more than a year's work just to collect all of the parts to assemble your layout.

ebnut,
Thanks for the information.  I checked Walthers, MBKlein & eBay.  All I found was a Rivarossi on eBay starting at $450!  Walthers being in Milwaukee should have been an incentive for them to offer one.

 I see a lot of 1800s rolling stock in Historic Rail catalog.  I didn't request a catalog; they must have found me on a mailing list.  Here's their website:
www.HistoricRail.com

Thanks, Joe.
I'll check the More library system.  I know Menomonie's library has no model train magazine.  I just watched a video about how to make deciduous trees.  It just showed making the foliage, nothing about trunks or branches.

Bill