Trains.com forums are the heart of the railroading and model train community, where enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels connect to share their passion. Dive into discussions about the latest railroading news, model-building tips, product reviews, and historical insights. Whether you’re a seasoned hobbyist or just starting your journey, our forums provide a space to ask questions, share expertise, and bond over a shared love for trains. Join Trains.com Unlimited for access to exclusive premium content that will inspire and enhance your forum experience.
Here are some things you can do to get started:
Introduce yourself by adding your picture and information about yourself and your interests to your profile. What is one thing you’d like to be asked about?
Get to know the community by browsing discussions that are already happening here. When you find a post interesting, informative, or entertaining, use the to show your appreciation or support!
Contribute by commenting, sharing your own perspective, asking questions, or offering feedback in the discussion. Before replying or starting new topics, please review the Community Guidelines.
I’m in in the process of building out Dave Frary’s Pennsylvania RR plan featured in the Jan-Sept 1993 publication of Model Railroader, built out the plan in AnyRail and now ensuring I have all the wiring figured out since the original plan was DC based and my intent is to go 100% DCC. I also plan to be the only one operating the layout and will have at most 3 trains operating concurrently, probably more like no more than 2. As I’ve been reading up on wiring I’ve come across a number of folks talking about reverse loops and the implications to segmenting the plan into insulated sections. I have attached a copy of the plan which shows (in red) what I believe are the embedded “reverse loops” (wherever the train would effective get turned around) and in blue, where I understand I can contain the insulated section which will need an auto-reversing mechanism. My questions to this very experienced group are as follows:
Am I correct in my understanding and if so is the section in blue the one place that I have to address the polarity issue raised by the reverse loops?
Outside of having isolation to help detect shorts and controlling the polarity issue created by the “reverse loops”, do I need to do any other power isolation?
Any recommendations on a DCC controller and any additional boosters (not sure I even need one with a layout this size)
I’m also interested in using an IPAD to run the layout and wondering what the latest and best thinking is on that topic
I appreciate any advice that anyone has, thank you.
I just went to a topic I started and hit the edit icon at the top of the topic. It was going to allow me to change the category (but I did not follow through). So it appears to me the original creator of a topic has the ability to edit the category. Hope this helps.
I’ve seen a few responses on threads saying “This question would do better on another category.” Now I can reply with instructions for moving the thread rather than starting over.
Besides all the neat stuff here, I’m almost sure (somehow I got the TrainsNewswire here) but can’t remember how. I do miss reading up to date RR news. Suggestions??? endmrw0226251818
Hi, I am an 89YO starting th N-Scale hobby for the firist time.
I have watched all the you tube videos, have a track plan, have my track.
After I assemble the track, what’s next? Do I creat the subterrain or ?
I am a little connfused at this point. Would appreciate help.
This looks like a good place to get started and introduce myself. I’ve been building layouts since a pre-teen so have an idea of what I like to see and model. What is different is always the era and locale of my railroad. Currently this is a “one-town” slice of the Oahu Railway at Waipahu (pronounced “Why pa who”) where the mainline went up a 4-1/2% branch line to the pineapple fields and Schofield Airbase. I have modelled the wye and the line circles up around the perimeter of an attic space above a barn-turned-shop and train room.
The walls slope down to 4’ above the floor so, being 6’-4" tall, I can’t comfortably walk close to th walls on two sides. These areas are used for storage and, on one side, a four track reverse loop / staging area, or mole hole (my wife calls “the murder room” - lol).
An upper deck represents the pineapple fields and loading areas and the town of Wahiawa (Wah he ah vah) where a cannery, storage track, cattle pens, station and freight house existed. This area is at 60" above the floor and not fun to lay track or build scenery. I do like the eye-level view.
While the lower level represents the mainline from Honolulu to the end of the line at the Kahuku Plantation. (pronounced plan tay shun - duh. Kahuku is Ka hoo ku). My staging is a loop so it meant to be both ends of the railroad.
The Oahu Railway was a three foot narrow gauge line but I use Bachmann On30 locomotives, an MMI 2-8-2, and as many AMS cars as I can find. The Bachmann freight cars are fine for now. Everything is being switched to Kadee On3 couplers (yeah I know, some like the little stock couplers but I like the greater gathering range of the larger couplers. This was a Class 1 railroad after all.)
I look forward to sharing more. Is there a special place to post progress or blog about my layout. Sort of new to trains.com.
Recently returned to the hobby! 25 year hiatus, slowly working my way back into this past time again. Recently completed benchwork on my table and installed two main lines. Brings back a lot of memories. Digging out all the old HO scale rolling stock and locomotives. Luckily I have only found one loco totally seized up. I plan to tear that old Athearn blue box and get it running again. Looking for other modelers in the Dover, DE area.
Introduce yourself by adding your picture and information about yourself and your interests to your profile. What is one thing you’d like to be asked about?
Get to know the community by browsing discussions that are already happening here. When you find a post interesting, informative, or entertaining, use the 
to show your appreciation or support!
Contribute by commenting, sharing your own perspective, asking questions, or offering feedback in the discussion. Before replying or starting new topics, please review the Community Guidelines.
