I watched RFD's trains and locomotives today for the first time, great program.
Today's episodes were about California Zephy, and other railroads that used dome observation cars; and the Columbia River lift bridge.

The program aired at 4 PM Mountain time, so didn't conflict with our news programs.

Rick,

Thanks for the link, I now have 93 emblems collected. Don't know what I will do with them, but they make a nice collection. 

Of course Union Pacific is my favorite. 

In my Bachmann locomotives, I use only "Bachmann" decoders. My Athearn and Roundhouse have DH123. For sound I use only Tsunami.

All the locomotives are well matched to my EZ Command controller with no adjustments needed, and run velvety smooth from creep to max speed.

I have two AC4400s. One has a DH123, the other a Tsunami. The two locos are extremely well speed matched throughout the throttle range, so I run them in consist all the time.

FWIW, I don't have any of the problems I read about on this forum, I must be doing something right. 

When I find something I like, I stick with it. If I only had one choice for a non-sound decoder, it would be Digitrax DH123.

Jeffery's list of fallacies is right on. I would like to add one more, perhaps the biggest fallacy of all. 

"DCC is extremely complicated and requires a thorough knowledge and background in electronics."

Fact is, you don't need to know a thing about electronics. You don't need to know how or why the decoder or controller works, only which buttons to push and in what sequence, and how to read (the manuals).

Think about this; we have a 42" Plasma TV, connected to a sattelite receiver. The instruction manual for the receiver is 45 pages, listing 25 specific device control codes. TV instructions 49 pages listing 56 on screen menu functions.

TV remote has 45 buttons, receiver remote 37 buttons. Once the TV was programmed, we coded the main TV controls into the receiver remote and stored the TV remote away out of sight.

Now, in doing all that did we need any knowledge of electronics? Actually my wife did most of it and she doesn't know an electron from a proton. 

We have over 5,000 members who are obviously proficient in getting around the net on a computer or they wouldn't be here, how many of these are Electronics Engineers?

Here's what I consider to be the bottom line. Most people don't come to the forum to learn "Electronics". If someone asks me about a problem with EZ Command, I only tell them the sequence of button pushes and refer them to their manual.

I think what Don is alluding to is; let's get back to the basics, even with DCC, and not turn the forum into a "technical institute".  There are thousands of web sites that teach "the dark side" of DCC.

I suggest another section be added titled "DCC".  Lately the percentage of questions in HO and General have been running as high as 40% DCC related, that's about 6 DCC topics out of the 15 topics on the first page. On one occasion I noted the ratio was 60% DCC related.

That doesn't leave much room for routine modeling and crafting questions. If someone posts a modeling comment or useful tutorial, it quickly drifts to page two because of the increasing emphasis on DCC questions. Frankly I think many of the DCC questions arise from users not reading their manuals. I don't think the forum is the place for step by step instructions on using DCC controllers, especially MRC and NCE, which after all, are "competitor's" products.

A DCC section would also be more appropriate for the frequent question "How do I add sound?" 

Also, I think the HO section should be listed higher up on the main index, perhaps directly under General, since HO is the most popular. As it is now, HO is almost at the bottom of the list, under Plasticville. 

I ran across this site while searching for emblems for "Jet Train Fan". He has a tight deadline for a school assignment.

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

I remember having some of these, but not being interested in trains at that time they probably were discarded.

For other logos, do a Google Search for (example) Soo Line Railroad Wikipedia, etc.  See how many you can collect.

Regards.

Rick
I can't say the abbreviation for "gasoline" on the forum or I'll get booted.   

Apparently someone was offended by my "Union Pacific" joke and reported it to the Moderator.

I don't mind having my posts censored, but I think it was wrong to delete your entire thread. That's like the old ploy of punishing the entire squad for the actions of one. 

Suggest starting it up again and I'll stay out of it.

Good luck with your school project.   

Aw, I enjoyed the thread, it was just getting interesting. 

Anyway, the Amtrak models don't trip my trigger either. The original Rio Grande California Zephyr was awesome. Same with the Santa Fe Superchief and El Capitan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Grande_Zephyr

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DRGW_F9_5771.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Chief

I hear "General Engines Corporation" is filing for bankruptcy.  Seems "Ford Engine Company" is still solvent.

Would Google be a "Search Motor" since it is electronic and doesn't burn fuel? 

I can see another section being added specifically for DCC, but leave the General and other sections for the "physical" aspect of Model Railroading. There are still many modelers who run DC.

There are also many, like myself, who only run EZ Command and have no interest in what I call the "dark side" of DCC.  I probably run my trains more miles and more often than those who enjoy the challenge of adjusting CVs and computerizing their railroad.

Just as DCC is not the wherewithal of modeling, fine tuning CVs is also not the epitome of DCC, at least not for me. My fear is that DCC is taking us away from the true joy of modeling. Frankly I miss the discussions about layouts, crafting, bashing, running trains and having fun. When the fun requires too much thinking, it becomes more of a science than a hobby.

For my part, I have 22 DCC locomotives, every one runs velvety smooth and predictable. I enjoy EZ Command so much, I bought two more just for spares. I believe very strongly in the concept of "one engineer, one train". I could be wrong, but my theory is that if a locomotive doesn't run well on EZ Command, there is something drastically wrong with it.

One thing is certain, manufacturers know what bait to use and many are hooked on the advanced technology. Older members may remember the phrase: "Hook, line and sinker". 

I found a reference to a Russian owned by Philadelphia & Reading #1127 , allegedly built in 1905-1906. ("The Unintended Patriot").  Modeling article in Dec 2002 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman by Robert Davis.

I think the keyword is "Era", perhaps 1905-1917, which covers both revolutions. Approximately 1,000 were delivered during that period, the last 200 undelivered, no specific record of when the first one was built.

Anyway that was slightly before my time so I wouldn't know.   

2-56 phillips machine screws for trucks/couplers, low as 59 cents per 100.

http://tinyurl.com/kjmcdu

No, no, it's...waste not, want LOTS.

Very nice, the window glazing looks especially realistic.