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Wayne, it is all so obvious now, don't know why I didn't think of it sooner. Each loco needs a female plug because the locos are indeed female (Thomas the Tank notwithstanding). The connector wires get a male plug on each end. That way, I can remove the "maled" connector wires and run the locos...

No fair voting, but not replying.

Okay, all you folks who voted "seldom have problems" let's hear your story. Is your layout in a climate controlled area? Anyone have a garage layout?

My layout is in my garage. I've got 98% of the track down, but am doing scenery, ballast, and structures. To prevent stalling and flickering lights, I pretty much have to clean the track every week. I feel that these problems are caused to a certain extent by the dust from the construction...

Uh oh... how about a drawing of the room you have available? We may be able to convert you to a shelf layout point to point operation after all...

I was wondering how the rest of you got along with your track. Do your locos sputter and stall with flickering lights, or do they run flawlessly for years at a time without even cleaning the track? If you would, vote in the poll and then give us a little report on how often and what method you...

I assume that ballasting isn't one of the track gang's favorite jobs? Yep, I need to get back to the ballasting on mine too. Perhaps the gang needs a raise in pay? I'm thinking about doubling their salary. Specifically, I like the greenery in the 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 6th pics and will try to...

As it is now, I can only mix a "female" loco with a "male" loco. Not very politically correct.:cool: It just dawned on me that I should have female plugs in all the locos, and then have wires with male plugs on both ends, then any loco could be attached to any other.

Woohoo Andrew! It is good to see you back in action. Hope to see many more projects from you in the next several months. Hey, does that have "CANADIAN" on one side and CANADIEN" on the other?

Here are some photos. Once I put some black paint on the exposed portions of the connectors, they will hardly be noticed at all. Since my openhouse is coming soon, I want to be certain that I don't have any power problems.

Hey Madhatter, that's a good idea on using the dummy for extra wheels picking up power. Since my layout is in my garage and is exposed to dust, I know I will have problems with dirty track. The extra set of wheels picking up power is sweet. I did two more Athearn locos today, a GP-35 and...

I really like those boxcars. On an old unused siding south of the Santa Fe Mykawa Yard, I can see an old SF boxcar from the toll road. One of these days, I need to figure a way to get closer for some photos.

Ol' Barney must have been doing some tricky flying to get those last two shots! Buzzing the tracks for sure. Wonderful modeling, Wayne. And as I start doing my scenery between the buildings and tracks, you can bet I will be closely scrutinizing what you have done. As always, DocWayne, I...

My two cents is that you absolutely positively want the insulated frog turn-outs. This will greatly simplify the wiring... no need to insulate any rails and such. All the left hand rails will be electrically tied together, all the right hand rails will be tied together. Now, with the...

I like Loren's idea also. It will put all the operations right there on the front of the layout so uncoupling and switching is accessible from the same side. Good catch, Loren!

Hey, I really like it. I am usually partial to point-to-point layouts, but your loop is disguised well. And I very much like your choice of the Texas & Carolina. Very nice.

Beamish, can you take some photos of the room so we have a better idea what we have to work with?

For 5 bucks, buy it, and then experiment with it. Take a piece, cut it and shape it as if it was your layout. Paint it. See how it peforms. Then decide whether to use it or not.

Good one, Wayne:mrgreen: You made me laugh!sign1

Oh... on another note, and not to hi-jack GEC's thread, and speaking of old rollingstock... the first home I ever bought was built in the 1940s. I was up in the attic one day and got to looking at the rafters and roof decking. The boards were actually tongue and groove lumber, in the...