nice vid, Jonathan! Awesome scenery!!
Bal

Got it. Thanks guys!

Am I just missing something here? Finally starting to expand and the turnout on the #5 switch when I try to add other EZ track to it it just won't fit....am I missing something here even the little joiner piece won't fit....or is it just time to take out the Dremel with the cutting saw blade and start making modifications? Or was it a packaging error and they put in the wron joiner piece?

Yeah, Jh I knew about 3d printing for a while now, it's only now that I've seen it spread into the hobby world. It's great news for us that are always looking for the old obsure stuff from bought out or no longer produced lines.

I'm happy I got the EZ command first. Yes, I will be upgrading in the future, but I don't need to for now. I don't have a power amp to it and run 4-5 loco's (two of them sound) without hardly any trouble. The main reason I will be upgrading in the fugure is because my loco fleet has grown from 2 powered loco's to over 31-15 powered/16 dummies! Now, explain to me how that happened!?! I think it's a great small investement to get your feet wet with DCC, and you can find them on Ebay at some really great prices. Then if you want to go full blown DCC with everything the controller from the EZ command can help run your switches, etc, etc. when you buy a more expanded system. Hope this helps!
Bal

I rarely get this excited about things I discover/stumble upon, BUT I ran across this just over an hour ago...now, if this does't set you brain on fire I don't think anything will. Of course there are good sides and there are bad sides, but the good out weights the bad by a long shot...I can see the future of model railroading going in this direction IF the manufacturers ARE smart. This is just a link to one page. Take a minut to browse at you own time. The best thing? These things on these page can be bought right now. Z, N, HO, On30 you name it and it can be done.
Enjoy!
B

http://www.shapeways.com/gallery/miniatures/model-trains?s=228

Well, I saw the first intermodal train pass through here on Saturday afternoon...a long one..and at the end was 8 autorack cars as well...very weird indeed....also, the town above us, Brookhaven is getting a CN car shop sometime late this year and also, they are doing a heavy amount of clearing at our old train yard....makes me wonder..me and the little one went down there this Sunday and walked around...they had two spike cars parked on one of the old sidings.....so..something must be up...and I will get to the bottom of it! Also, after the big clearing I saw an old old building left from the orignal operations. I will try and sneak over there and take some video of it.
B

yeah, i figured there would be some finagiling going on and I hear the transfer table and extension pit don't get along too well on top of the other stuff I'm going to have to do. So I got me an extra bottle of tylenol for said project.

Was just wondering if anyone has installed the Walthers Transfer table and used it with the Bachmann EZ-track? I wonder if there are going to be height issues. I ask because I'm almost ready to get mmine going and just wanted to see if there was any pointers or precautions I should be aware of?
Thanks in advance,
Bal

oh i have much respect for the coal trains, i just worded that wrong. I should have said, the coal thing is not in my layout and believe it or not, we have two coal trains that come through here daily.  Not too steep of hills but we have enough to get the loco's on their knees when they are loaded down. =) Their return journey is always harder because it's all uphill! Yeah, coming down those steep grades has to be nail biting to say the least!

yeah, not really into the coal thing, just liked because it showed the huge engine house and the rerailing action, and the other stuff that would help anyone for ideas on their layout. 

www.electrictraindepot.com

This is an outstanding vid of the Norfolk Southern coal train, it's got some GREAT stuff in this video. 45 minutes long, engine house, laying new track, horshoe curve, and dumping the coal with rotary couplers. Love this vid! Even have some SD40-2's helping push!
Bal

http://youtu.be/___rJuGtksk

You must be talking about the one by the mall? It is the best I've ever had. =)

Yes, he does, and he loves to haggle!