I wonder how many members qualify for that Social Security stimulus check which is coming in May & what business they will stimulate with it. 

 I just saw a video of someone running his Hiawatha F7.  Until then, F7 meant streamlined diesel to me.  Is anyone currently making HO models of these streamlined 4-6-4s?  If sometimes find the lettering & numbering of kinds of locos puzzling.

Joe,

Thanks for the help & encouragement! 

I did talk to one of the ticket sellers, Linda Harvey, who lives in Menomonie.  She said Menomonie hobbyists meet at each other's homes, rather like my wife's book club--when they aren't meeting at a restaurant. 

Today, I worked on anchoring the 4 deciduous trees I bought into a strip of plywood covered with green felt.  They are top-heavy compared to the evergreens I have.

Bill

Erik,

You should see my two folders on the left side of the page.  "Model Trains" contains the pictures of my layout.

Bill

Joe,

Congratulations!  I forgot to register for Sunday's door prizes.   

Did you see the man selling 100s of trees he made?  I didn't see him back on Sunday.

I'm glad you enjoyed my pictures.  One exhibitor thanked me, so others who exhibited might like to see them.

I tried going to PhotoBucket without signing in & searched for wlaine.  It worked for me.  So you might like to see my Model Train album, which is all photos of my layout.  It's not recommended for rivet-counters, just folks with a friendly interest.
                                                                 Bill

 I have EZ Command & a BLI Heavy Mikado DC with sound, into which I installed a Digitrax DCC decoder, one BLI recommended in the manual for my loco.  I left it on Address 3, because that address was not being used.  F! rings the bell; F2 blows the whistle.  F8 mutes the sounds, but if it is pressed twice rapidly, changes the volume of sound.  Since my Mikado came set to maximum volume, which vibrates in the tender, I use that method to decrease volume.  I chose to connect the decoder so that it would control the lights, so I press F10 to turn them on & off.

 I'm glad a returned to the show on Sunday.  I didn't see everything yesterday, & more vendors came on Sunday.  I brought my Canon digital SLR & took 26 pictures, which are available for public viewing at my (search for wlaine) site on PhotoBucket.

My wife almost came along, but it was a good thing that she didn't.  I spent another 2 1/2 hours there & quite a bit of money.  However, I met a man who buys old trains "any condition / any kind."  He came to our house & bought my entire 027 Marx train collection, circa 1950!

Since YampaBob couldn't find my pictures by searching for wlaine, I'll try this link to my album for the train show:  http://s547.photobucket.com/albums/hh465/wlaine/Model%20Train%20Show%20Menomonie%20WI2009/

Joe,
I didn't realize how big the train show would be.  It was fun, & I enjoyed meeting you.  I thought I'd take my smaller camera to carry less, but it failed to work.     I wish I'd budgeted 3 hours, instead of 2 for the show, because I didn't have time to buy anything except some deciduous trees.  I will probably return tomorrow & bring my better camera.  They said I can't use my ticket again.   

  I still didn't find any other hobbyist from Menomonie.

Joshua,
Although PBS's website says the series continues from January, 2009, I searched a week of programming on my DirecTV guide & could not find Tracks Ahead.  Searching the Wisconsin library system yielded little, also.
Bill

Joe,
I'll be there on Saturday afternoon.  I'm planning on 1 pm to 3 pm.
  In searching the More library system for DVDs about trains, I discovered that there is one featuring this show & the Eau Claire one.
Bill

Bob, your pun reminded of what William Bendix used to say in his 1950s TV series, "The Life of Riley":  "What a revoltin' development this is!" 

 I have EZ Command with the 5 Amp booster.  I used only one connection from the booster to an EZ terminal rerailer to supply power to 3 ovals of 42', 39' & 36' linked by turnouts.  Then, a turnout failed to transmit current from the outer to the middle & inner ovals. 

  I was advised on this forum to connect feeder wires to all 3 ovals.  I got a terminal strip from Radio Shack & later learned that I had to install jumper wires to each pair of terminals on one side of the strip.  I connected my booster to the terminal strip & connected a pair of terminals to each oval of track.  I chose not to use more than one pair of feeder wires for each oval, since the layout worked well until a turnout failed to conduct.  I had terminal rerailers on the outer & inner ovals, so I used them.  For the middle, I was able to hook wire around where two PowerLoc tracks connect.  I didn't feel ready to make permanent connections with solder.  The 2 black wires at the top are from the booster, dividing the terminal strip in half, one side for each rail.  At the top, also, are the jumper wires I had to install.  On the bottom of the picture, the wires go to the 3 ovals, one from each rail's side of the terminal strip.  Solid wire is easier to work with than stranded, because, when it is bent, it stays in that position & doesn't fray.



  I have 3 DCC with sound locomotives, including an F7A-B consist.  I can run 5 trains simultaneously, but that is asking for a train wreck.   

 I haven't read a mention of this PBS series here.  A new season of it began in January.  I hadn't heard of it until I just saw DVDs of the programs for sale in Historic Rail catalog.
http://www.tracksahead.net/

 My Bachmann 5 amp booster didn't boost my EZ Command HO layout (3 connected ovals = 117') until I switched it from 14 volts to 18 volts, on advice I received in this forum from Jim Banner.

Watching people who know much more than I about model trains & electricity diametrically disagree is disconcerting, if not disillusioning.