Do yu have a pic of the car?

I have used  Walthers and trainworld but because I live 20 Minutes from Trainworlds Brooklyn, NY I usually just drive there

I use a seperate source for all my accesories and turnouts Mostly its left over power packs from train sets.

I have no qualms with Bachmann yet but  I have the same problem with the subway set so that is the last Proto I buy.

This whole coupler business is confusing to me I have several different makes and type of rolling stock and I am wondering if there is a way of standardizing the couplers so I can buy in bulk and replace all of them esp the horn hook type?

I'd recomend almost any MRC pack for DC. Pesonally I am using 2 MRC 280 Dual Cab Power Packs, which I think run between 12 and 18 volts (I think).  I have found that MRC makes quality products in Edison NJ (not China) which is near my home.

I supose the first train I ever saw was when my mom would take me int0 Manhattan on the old GG Subway from Queens.

I am considering down the road converting my layout to DCC so that I can run up to 4 locomotives at a time.  3 diesels wiill be DCC 1 2-6-2 Steam will remain analog.  I have heard that E -Z command will only safely operate 3 locos at a time.  Does anyone have any experience with this type of set up and should I be looking at something better.

Joe

Honestly I have one Steamer that smokes in my layout and that's fun more like 5 minutes and then I'm done.  The smoke is not very realistic.

As for sound I also considered The MRC system but decided that It wasn't worth it.  I do remember have a Lionel 2-6-2 as I kid with Sound of steam and smoke and the sound was good but the smoke sucked.  I pretty well over the need for either

I'm wondering in the real world if they use dynomometers to test locomotives, and then has any one ever modeled it?

you never saw the Jetsons ?

I am getting a kick out of reading this thread.  OK so if instead of a circle . you built a treadmill like device where the train runs on a a spool of flexible track. (Like a moving sidewalk but with tracks or groves that simulate the track.) I would think its technologically possible to build.  So the train runs in place while we all yell JANE stop this crazy thing LOL !

I suppose the way to do this is to layout say a 10 (Linear) foot circle or oval of track and count the number of times the train circles the track.  Since one mile is 5280 ft the train would have to circle the track 528 times X 4000 miles  = 2112000 trips around the track.  Somehow this would have to verify this (Personally I'd fall asleep lol) So I suppose this would have to be automated. 

Additionally I'm guessing that to break the record the train would have to run continuously No stopping, no derailments etc.  I have good equipment  but domehow I think that's pushing the limits of how long it could run without wearing out or overheating from lack of lubrication.

It reminds me of a display I saw back in the early 80's of an open Tyco loco vs an open Athern loco.  The quality difference was obvious.  Fast Forward to today and all my runing locos are either Athearn or Bachmann (Though I do have two cheap Life-Like locos on standby so that my 11 year old nephew won't destroy my good locos).

I would retire the Tyco Its not worth fixing.

John CME Thank you I think I understand now. and will look for Hob E-lube Next time I shop

Happy New Year,

Joe