My wife has control of the TV remote. If I try to change channels, I get a "shock"...from her. 

Oh well, she likes NASCAR, Monster Jam,  Football and Western movies, so I can't complain.  Make that "don't dare" complain, I don't want to be optically isolated from the dinner table. 

There is a thread about the "ugliest", how about your nomination for the "World's most beautiful locomotive"?

For me, it's a no brainer, Rio Grande PA # 6001, 6003, 6011 and 6013. They were used for the Yampa Valley Mail and other routes in Colorado.

http://www.drgw.net/gallery/DRGW6001/drgw6001_2
http://www.drgw.net/gallery/DRGW6001/drgw6001_3
http://www.drgw.net/gallery/DRGW6011/drgw6011_3

This is very close to home:
http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00011005%2BOP-11005%20

I define it as hiding from my wife at chore time, "Out of sight, out of mind".

I ran across these pages during my daily surfing, for those "inquisitive minds want to know" type members. The information is self-explanatory, so in the words of Oliver Goldsmith: "Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies".

Just think of it as a "black box" that isolates inputs and outputs.

Here's the "nitty".  (all you really need to know)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opto-isolator

Here's the "gritty".  (gets down and dirty)
http://www.bb-elec.com/tech_articles/optical_isolation_illustration.asp

Here's the "band"...one of my favorites. (in case you have no interest in the above)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitty_Gritty_Dirt_Band

Of course it's train related, when you consider the frustration you sometimes feel working on a locomotive or installing decoders, and nothing seems to work. "If you want to see a rainbow, you've got to stand a little rain".

Enjoy.... or not...

For freight cars look for the reporting marks. Then refer to the AAR database to see who owns the marks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_reporting_marks:_A

Hmmm, don't understand that, unless you're using too much heat and melting the insulation. I use a 15 watt pencil tip iron, didn't have a problem. 

I just ordered some more, thinking about converting all my Connies to the 6 pin, but making the connection in the tender to hide the plugs. I converted one with a flexible permanent drawbar similar to Roundhouse. (screws on both ends).

You're welcome Jim. 

Update:
I found the following discussion on another forum, someone allegedly used an EZ Command booster with a Zephyr.

http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/28444.aspx?PageIndex=2

I don't know if the Bachmann booster is "linear" or not. We use Linear Current Boosters for our solar water well pumps. With the boosters, we get 8 to 10 hours of pumping; without the boosters, only 4 or 5 hours when the sun more directly hits the panels.

Your 4 sound locos may require more current than estimated. If each draws, say .75 amp, then that would exceed the Zephyr's output.  Did you check the speed of only one sound loco on the track? Then with two, then three, etc?

I thought you ordered the 6 pin NEM connectors from Litchfield's. I used them for an engine to tender connection, worked great. You just have to watch polarity, which is no problem by matching the wire colors, paint a small dot on each connector, etc.

I used two prewired female harnesses, with a male connector for a gender changer in between.   

I liked the part about the piece in the pliers, that was sorta juicy.

According to specs provided to retailers, the booster does have opto-isolation interface @ 30 ma. WGL's manual or DVD should have the information. Or not... 

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJFZ3

Dave,

"Sounds" like a good idea. (pardon the pun).

Thanks for serving, I am also a veteran. 

I think he left out the juicy part, like maybe when the loco was airborne for a short drop.  That sometimes happens if the bungee cord is too long. 

Or...is there a little brother in the house?

Most pizza shops today use commercial prepared dough, comes in bags inside large drums. They also don't spin it in the air as shown on TV. They grab a hunk of dough and run it through a press or roller. Every few days they throw out bags of the stuff that is dried out and unusable.

Since Southern Pacific is a fallen flag, and their stock is owned by Union Pacific, you should first search the UP database for most recent numbering, which may or may not be different from the original SP number. In other words, search would be for UP1476.

Regards

....or is it this one?

http://tinyurl.com/pp8g5d

If so, there may not be enough room for sound. I don't know anything about the Acelas, do they make "sounds"?