January 1951 Model Railroader cost .35, Athearn cars 2.50-2.75, Mantua 2-8-2 29.95,Penn. scale models PCC car 16.95, Bowser 4-6-6-4 less tender 52.50,Hobbytown E-7 kit 29.95.  In 1951 I had a part time job in a drug store,  I was paid 50 cents an hour.  Six months down the road I would graduate from high school and went to work delivering telegrams for western union.  Today part time work for a high school student is something like 7.50 an hour. I think that is 15 time more than I was paid.  At that rate M. R. would cost 5.05,  Bower 4-6-6-4 would cost 787.50.  So things are not so bad.  You get a far better model today.  I just wish they were made in the U.S. with people who took pride in their work.

Hudson was first used by NYC along the Hudson river, Mountain because it was used in the mountains, northern was first used on the N.P. Santa first used on the Santa Fe.  2-10-4 first used on the T & P.  4-8-0s on most railroads that used them were known as twelve wheelers.  Now for those railroads that wanted to put their own names on locomtive types.  a lot of Santa men call the 2-10-4s Santa Fe type, as guess because they also had 10 drivers.

With Bachman's announcement it is plan to see if you live west of the Mississippi you can save your money.  If you are east of the Mississippi you have some nice locomotives to spend your money on.

let so when the bridges were built the rails were the same.  When I was a kid and lived net to the hight bridge branch of the Jersy central.  There was a bridge right in back of our house.  the rail were not the same size and it was 64 years ago when we moved.

The 16 volts is right on.  If I understand ddc it is not DC, on the other hand it is not  AC.  I do not know why the lights would blow.

If you have long cars with talgo trucks and some that have body mounted trucks, lookout.  They will derail on large curves.  I don't think you have the problem with short cards.  I think the only cars I have on the layout with talgo trucks is one passenger train. 

by 2017 production will be moving back to the U.S. because things from overseas will cost too much.

I don't know if you said or not.   What type of locomotive do you have.  Steam or those other things?  you say that they short backing.  Is that backing into the siding or out of the siding. 

I am at a loss here, but just a thought.  disconnect the power to on of the turnout and see what happens. 

I think paint works better than dirt.

I will go along with Gene.  You asked for cost.   Decoders cost from say $18 to $60.  Dcc system from $75 to $500.  There is other costs depending on the size of the layout.

If you want a nice looking yard you will not use EZ  for the yard track.  for the most part yards are flat. 

1. Have you ever rode on a steam train?
Yes.  I have ridden behind Santa Fe's 3400 class 4-6-2s and 3450 class 4-6-4s and one 2900 class 4-8-4.  plus many other on other lines.  on fan trips U.P. 844 and a 2-8-2.  Cb&Q 4-8-4 and many short lines.
2. Where was your last steam train ride?

3. What year was your last steam train ride?

4. Do you often "chase" steam trains for enjoyment or photo ops.?

5. Bonus Q  What is your all time favorite steam train? this should be fun.
In 1952 N&W J.  4-8-4.  It was a great trip.

I would think that the 2-8-0 would be the road locomotive  and the 2-10-0 would be the helper.  with dcc you can control each locomotive

Joe, Passenger trains have not used steam to heat the cars in the last 20 years or more.