Looking good Gene. Like to see it sometime.

Tom Blair

As much as it pains a diehard C&O fan, my vote goes to the Norfolk and Western Class J - the ultimate streamlined steam locomotive to ride the rails.

I saw these beauties in service many times in Roanoke in the 1950's and the 611 when she was in railfan service.

Tom Blair

I have run with DCC systems ranging in complexity from simple (EZ-Command) to complex (Digitrax) with a midpoint thrown in (Prodigy Advanced).

From my experience as an operator, each system makes it easy to operate trains in a realistic manner. MRC and Digitrax are more walk around friendly than our EZ Command but that is subjective.

IF you wish to modify CV's and participate in a group as I do, you can always find someone to do this task - this mayactually be somewhat of a sub hobby interest in its self.

Would I like a more advanced system ? I can honestly say I don't know. For the Present, like Bob, the EZ Command fits my needs ( truthfully my old MRC Tech 2 and a few Atlas Selectors could do much of the same.

The most positive about this forum is the more technically inclined users of more advanced systems do not sneer at those of us using the EZ Command like some other DCC forums do.

Tom

WGL,

I've had that problem also, especially with spin cast reels, one reason trains have taken more importance than fishing.

Tom

Quote from: jward on June 04, 2009, 09:21:31 AM
i am fortunate enough to have the ns former prr mainline about 100 feet from my door, csx former b&o/p&le 1/2 mile away at the bottom of the hill, ns former prr line across the river used by trains with high cars and coal about a mile away. between those lines, over 100 trains a day....

and then there's the union rr which is all switchers, a couple of miles away by the steel mill.....

gotta love those trains....


Jeffery are you close to Rochester? My sister-in-law lives not to far from Conway yaerd and I have train watched the yard and the lines on both sides of the Ohio. Pittsburg area is great for railfans.
Tom

Quote from: Yampa Bob on June 02, 2009, 11:46:50 PM
Hello, anyone home???  I had this link in my opening post. LOL

http://www.coalingstation.com/logopics.htm

 

Having nothing better to do, 11:46 EDT and not to sure about Conan as Jay's replacement I checked out that web site.

Super nostalgia time and I had them all! What with various moves and passing years I have no idea what became of them. That $145 would put some sound into the garage. Oh well such is life.

Tom

Quote from: Terry Toenges on June 02, 2009, 11:46:40 AM
Anyone remember when railroad emblems used to come in cereal boxes? In the 50's maybe?

If my memory is correct these came in boxes of what was then marketed as Sugar Crisps. We used to trade these like baseball cards. This was common around 1955/56.

And yes, Bob, I did collect both a C&O and B&O-yet I was very happy to have captured my shield and AT&SF white on blue square.

Tom

I am sorry that you original request disappeared especially as it was for a school project.

I am a big fan of the C&O which should be obvious.

And as C&O controlled the B&O and Western Maryland to form  Chessie System it has a place in there also.

CSX even incorporates the Clinchfield into the mix so I guess I have to say in terms of modern day railroads it would be CSX.

Tom

This was my point exactly in my earlier thread. I have no great complaint with sound as such, I just would rather not be forced into buying it.

Adding sound to the 2-8-0 on your own is not a daunting task ( same goes for the 2-10-0) and can save some money until you are ready for sound.

Tom

Quote from: boomertom on May 07, 2009, 11:18:20 PM

My question is this - is an address set on a Bachmann system to let us say 4 equivalent to an address of 0004 set on a Digitrax or other similar system?

/quote]

Jim,

Do I correctly understand then that a Bachmann address of 4 would equate to an address of 04 on Digitrax?

I am becoming more involved in a modular group which uses Digitrax and would like to be able to run locomotives in both universes without continual reprograming.

Tom

If you are familiar with the E-Z Command system you are aware that we are limited to addresses from 1 -9 (10 if you have an appropriate dc power pack). Or do we ?

The rest of the DCC world commonly uses a four digit address scheme.

My question is this - is an address set on a Bachmann system to let us say 4 equivalent to an address of 0004 set on a Digitrax or other similar system?

Tom

Quote from: richG on May 07, 2009, 10:28:01 PM
There is a Yahoo soundtrax group but I do not recommend them anymore. Spammers have figured out how to send spam and phishing email to many members.

Rich

Also, like the yahoo digitrax group, the answers tend to be very technical to the point of being useless to the more technically challenged among us - like me.

Tom

Sheldon and Bob ( and anyone else to whom this may apply),

Perhaps our Friend Yampa Bob and his two rules define it best.

Thankfully there is no right way or wrong way and mos of all NO my way.

I only have a very limited experience with sound in HO steam with equipment owned by others which I have been fortunate enough to operate- a couple Spectrum 2-8-0 and a Reading T-1. These were equipped with Tsunami and Loksound if I am not mistaken and were fun to operate.

At the same time, I enjoy running my GP-40 just as much and don;t miss the sound effects.

Back in the day, my first trains were Lionel 0-27 with whistle and smoke and diesels with horns so sound has been present in my model railroading life for almost 60 years now. What goes around does indeed come around and I would not be surprised to discover if an economic analysis was done that those Lionel trains make today's sound equipped locomotives seem like bargains.

Tom

Quote from: BestSnowman on May 06, 2009, 12:07:55 PM
I'm not sure but I think Tom was saying he hopes that diesel will remain inexpensive in reference to comments on this board about more and more steam locomotives are available in sound only at a higher cost than the previous non-sound dcc models were available, not that its hard to find inexpensive diesels.

You are 100% correct, that is exactly what I mean. I have nothing against sound equipped locomotives eitherf steam or diesel, I just resent having sound forced on me.

As those of us on Social Security just found out there will be no cost of living adjustments in either 2010 or 2011 this makes my hobby dollars even more dear.

Tom

My guess is a GE Dash 8-P32BWH  based on Amtrak roster shots. Google Amtrak Locomotives.

Tom