I think Jim meant that you could use the used ping pong table for the base. we know you already have a ping pong table.
  If you want the layout to be portable I would make it on 2 sheets, much easier to move.  jerry

If your steam engine is not DCC compatable & you are running it on DCC you will probably burn up the motor.   Have you run the engines seperately? & do they both act the same? Seems it has to be in your controller if you cleaned the track.  Are you using sectional track & are you depending on the connectors to transmit power. If so clean the connections between the track.   Jerry

I agree The most trouble free & cheapest way is to solder the connection. Just make sure you get the joint hot enough & add a little rosin flux, even if you are using flux core solder.   jerry

  just heard from the local train store owner that all Atlas products will go up over 9% after the New Year.

I was just looking at my Shay gears...WOW.  Hope they hurry up before my eyes get worse.  They are small & there are a lot of them. Looks like you don't have much leeway for a proper mesh.   Jerry

  Just got the latest NWSL news. It states that they will be testing the new HO scale Climax gears soon.   Really hope Bachmann can come to some agreement with NWSL & reintroduce the Climax with the metal gears.
   The Climax is a great looking loco & runs like a watch...until the gears go.The letter also stated that some Asian countries are copying some of NWSL products & selling them cheaper. They urge us not to buy them & I heartily agree. NWSL has always put out a Quality Product, It's not right for someone else to pirate their product after much was spent on R&D. Stick with authentic NWSL products & you won't go wrong.  No, I don't have a stake in the company, I've just used many of their products with excellent results.    Jerry

Looks like you have a nice glossy surface to apply decals to.  Are you planning to decal the engine?   If you want to keep it prototypical it should be a B&O  #98 or #99.   You should apply a dull overcoat after decaling.
Not sure if the roof or smokebox was a different color...have to do some research.  Jerry

RIGHT...that engine cries for valve gear.   Jerry

Good sugestion, also Kadee makes a short shank coupler. Don't know how much  you would gain with them.   Jerry

 You can use the truck tuner on any plastic truck.  Don't know if it's hard enough to use on cast metal trucks.  Looks as if it would be hard to resharpen if you dulled it on metal trucks & it would have to be very sharp to cut the soft plastic.    Jerry

After stripping you may want file & sand down the parting lines on the body. They do show up in your pictures...Jerry

  The best wheels are Intermountain. To my knowledge these are the only metal wheels that are actually machined or turned. The others, including Kadee are cast from softer material & may not be exactly round. Kadee also uses plastic axles that can warp. You hardly ever have to replace the trucks. Try the wheels after you ream them & only replace them if you can't get them to roll freely.   Jerry

The Bowser website says the valve gear kit will fit Varney Cary & Bowser Docksiders. Not sure they are available. If not, someone out there has some. I bought a valve gear kit for a mantua 0-6-0 awhile ago & never knew they existed.

I was told earlier that the 45 ton switcher would be available in Nov.  Any news yet?   Jerry

I'm almost sure the Bowser valve gear will fit because they use the varney mold for the docksider.  The motor may draw excessive amperage if the magnet has lost some of it's magnetism. I suspect someone out there has a motor that was discarded when it was switched for a can motor.
  The purpose of a new gearbox is that it will mesh perfectly with the motor gear & you can get various ratios to allow your engine to run as slow or fast as you want.  contact NWSL...they can advise you.  It really isn't that hard to do. I just scribe a line thru the uninsulated wheel & axle to make sure you reassemble it in quarter. worked for me every time.
  Pull the uninsulated wheel only, you may mess up the insulation when you reassemble it if you mess with the insulated wheel. NWSL makes a gear puller, or you can make one as I did.  Jerry