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Model Railroads/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Bachmann electric train Ho Sacle | 2/7/2012 | Chris Coscia |
| Q: I inherited a Bachmann Electric Train Ho Scale from my great grandpa. It is an engine but i am not ... A: You have a model of a diesl EMD F-7 in Santa Fe Railroad scheme. Sadly these have little to no value ... | ||
| Overload light | 2/2/2012 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: Just bought my son a RTR Athearn BNSF HO scale set(EZ track). Has worked flawlessly for about 2-3 ... A: Richard. Thanks for your question. Tough to answer, could be a number of things. 1. Wiring to the ... | ||
| running consists without dcc | 1/20/2012 | Chris Coscia |
| Q: Chris, Is it possible to run multiple HO locomotives pulling the same train without having DCC? ... A: The only bad thing that will happen is if the locos run different speeds at the same voltage applied ... | ||
| Dcc wireing | 1/1/2012 | Chris Coscia |
| Q: I just bought a bunch of dc track for my o 27 layout I am going to build and was wondering if you ... A: First, please check with your DCC system manufacturer as to whether or not they allow common return ... | ||
| indentify? | 12/24/2011 | Larry Weinberg |
| Q: I dug out my old N scale box and came across a few items I am sure what they are. The chassis was in ... A: Merry Xmas to you too. From the looks of the trucks, it appears that the chassis is from a model of ... | ||
| Your request for photo | 12/6/2011 | Jerry Loman |
| Q: Jerry, I have 5 photos of the American Flyer cast iron electric. You requested that I send a photo ... A: David, You should be able to attach a picture or image from a digital camera or a saved picture in ... | ||
| Cast iron engine | 12/2/2011 | Jerry Loman |
| Q: I saw the wind up cast iron Haffner from a question in 2009. At first look, I was very excited, ... A: David, Sounds like you have one of the early American Flyer cast iron steam engines that had a very ... | ||
| elena electronics pacific fast mail model railroad sound | 12/2/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: I have acquired two electronic devices made by elena electronics the first is called pacific fast ... A: Sam Wow! Lucky you. I have never heard of the SL-1 sound device and know nothing about it. The ... | ||
| Athearn HO series from 1957 | 11/27/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: I have a box set of Athearn HO scale trains from my father. There are 7 cars some track and a box ... A: Donna. Thanks for your question. Your best bet to find their value (probably minimal) is to search ... | ||
| Bachmann suwannee river special | 11/26/2011 | Chris Coscia |
| Q: My later father-in-law was retired from Southern aka NorfolkSouthern. Going through his estate, my ... A: When discussing model trains, please all provide the scale, HO, G, N, etc. you are inquiring about. ... | ||
| model trains | 11/21/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: I have two loops going into a #6 double crossover . I would appreciate as to how I would wire it and ... A: Gustav. Thanks for your question. I'm not an expert on DCC at all. I don't think you need to cut ... | ||
| train powersuplies | 11/19/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: I would like to build a single throttle control for an O scale layout. Track length will be 150' and ... A: Jay. Thanks for your question. Sorry on the delay on the answer, away for a few days. Lionel, O ... | ||
| Wind-up Train from 1950-1953 | 11/18/2011 | Jerry Loman |
| Q: Jerry: I was give for Christmas in 1950 or 1951, or 1952 a windup train. I was given a Lionel ... A: If your wind up train was manufactured in 1950 -52 it was most likely a Marx train. Marx had the ... | ||
| paper train kit | 11/8/2011 | John Schaub |
| Q: I am hoping you could help with this Paper Train Construction Car Kit. It was made by Merrimack ... A: A lot of the paper cut-outs were common from the early 1900's to the 1960's. I remember as a kid, ... | ||
| Fleischmann Engine | 11/5/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: I have a Fleischmann HO two-track engine and coal car combination that I received as a Christmas ... A: Mike. Thanks for your question. All you need is a standard HO power pack. Most European HO trains ... | ||
| Postage Stamp Train Question | 10/20/2011 | Bob Williams |
| Q: My brother passed away, and left a Postage Stamp Train set to my son. I would like to know if it is ... A: I would not consider this a uncommon set. Your set is actually a 1968 set as Aurora used different ... | ||
| Fleischmann locos and tenders | 10/20/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: I would like to know when these two Fleischmann locomotives where made, and possibly model numbers. ... A: Jack. Thanks for your question. I'm sorry but I know of no books that show Fleischmann locomotives ... | ||
| 1666 Gray Marx engine | 10/18/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: I have a gray Marx engine,I would like to know what year Marx started selling them ? Thank you, ... A: I'm not an expert on Marx trains, but if its the plastic version it would have been made in the ... | ||
| kato n scale terminal unijoiners | 10/17/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: I am about to build a medium size layout using kato track powered by a tech power pack.My questuon ... A: Albert. Never hook your track up to the AC terminals, this is for accessories like lights or ... | ||
| kato n scale terminal unijoiners | 10/17/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: I am about to build a medium size layout using kato track powered by a tech power pack.My questuon ... A: Albert. Thanks for your question. There are a couple of ways to do that. One way is to separate ... | ||
| Question about 027 track | 10/17/2011 | Chris Coscia |
| Q: If I understand correctly, 027 track is track designed to create a 27" circle when curve tracks are ... A: This track is O-gauge (1:48 scale), three rail, meaning power is picked up using AC current from the ... | ||
| postage stamp trains | 10/13/2011 | Bob Williams |
| Q: my ? is how much is worth a micro gauge train set, built in 1968.transformer model 4949. (aurora ... A: Need a little more info as far as your set is concerned. What condition is everything in, especially ... | ||
| Lionel transformers | 10/6/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: I'm new to the hobby and have a question related to powering the Lionel Fastrack. I currently have ... A: Bill Thanks for your question. I would first plan out what you eventually want to do. Multiple ... | ||
| Tenshoto (PFM) GN 080 C-1 #157 | 9/22/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: I recently purchased the above model on-line. The seller indicated that it has sound and indeed it ... A: Mark. Thank you for your question. I don't think there is really a way to tell if the sound was ... | ||
| microtrain couplers on kato nw2 n loco | 9/7/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: Any advice for attaching Micro-Trains line couplers on a Kato NW2 switcher that has a stripped ... A: Larry. I haven't done that conversion. But when I used to be in N gauge (I now model OO) I used to ... | ||
| Tokyo Mauri Pro Z Dioramas | 8/30/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: I own and have put together 12 sections of "A", "B", "C" & "D" SECTIONS OF DIORAMA FROM THIS ... A: Iarry. You didn't indicate whether you are powering the Z gauge trains with DC power or DCC ... | ||
| Model railroad equipment | 8/24/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: My father-in-law recently passed away. He was a collector of model train equipment and has ... A: Rich. Thanks for your question. Sorry your father in law passed away. I'm in Tidewater Virginia ... | ||
| Marx Union Station # 1430 | 8/21/2011 | Jerry Loman |
| Q: I recently acquired the Marx Union Station # 1430 and have been doing some research. One web site ... A: Dave, I do not have any specific information on the clock for this station. I have seen this station ... | ||
| 1978-1979 AHM Complete Ready to Run Set | 8/18/2011 | Chris Coscia |
| Q: I have the above referenced set. It is in the original packaging, purchased at Two Guys Department ... A: I would suspect if the set is new and not opened you might be able to value the set at $100 to $150 ... | ||
| 1967 Postage stamp Bus System | 8/15/2011 | Bob Williams |
| Q: Do you know how much one is worth with the red bus? A: As with most collectibles condition is everything. Is it complete? Does the bus run? Is the ... | ||
| Selling Lionel set (trains, track, bldgs, etc) | 8/10/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: Since I have no children, I'm thinking of selling a large Lionel setup that my father bought in late ... A: Brian. Thanks for your question. I did answer it last week, but maybe you didn't get the answer. ... | ||
| lionel track wiring | 8/5/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: I'm putting together a Lionel fast track layout-- a single track that runs on the outer edges of a ... A: James. Thanks for your question. Sorry I was slow in responding but I've been away from my desk, ... | ||
| Track | 8/4/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: I purchased several feet of RealTrax and as of now my son does not have a permanent place to install ... A: Keith. Thanks for your question. RealTrax is designed for both permanent layouts as well as ... | ||
| Varney ho trains | 7/18/2011 | Chris Coscia |
| Q: Needing Help?I have been searching for some information on a collection of over 30 Varney trains ... A: Brock, Without seeing what you have, I have no way to offer you values. I need to see the items, ... | ||
| Arnold-Rapido parts | 7/17/2011 | Bob Williams |
| Q: Need parts for A-R(Aurora Postage stamp trains). Specifically for a powered F-9 unit. Thank you ... A: I would try ebay, just kidding!! What parts are you looking for? New parts are tough to find. It is ... | ||
| Louis Marx Steam Line steam type train | 6/26/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: My late father owned a cities service gas station in the 1950's and 60's. I have a train set that ... A: Chuck. Thanks for your question. I'd take a look at eBay. They have a number of Marx tank cars ... | ||
| Single or bulk | 6/25/2011 | Frank Edgcombe |
| Q: As I am moving soon, I am sadly debating to sell my 50 year old Fleishmann set that I boxed up about ... A: Again. I'm not an expert on selling hobby stuff, including a huge collection of my own. But ... | ||
| The Westbrook Company | 6/23/2011 | John Schaub |
| Q: at an antiques store in Jacksonville, Fla. I bought six O-scale switch stands made by "The Westbrook ... A: This is a mystery to me too.. Try contacting the editor at Model Railroader Magazine. Kalmbach ... | ||
| Lionel | 6/23/2011 | John Schaub |
| Q: My dad recently gave my brother a lionel train set made in usa with numbers 027 and the numbers 250 ... A: Lionel made O-27 trains specifically to run on tight radius track and switches with curvatures ... | ||
| American flyer train | 6/21/2011 | Jerry Loman |
| Q: My mother in law found a train set in her now passed away mother and father's house and we are ... A: The set with the original box has a value of $200-250. the set comes up for sale on eBay auctions ... | ||
Model Railroads
Frank Edgcombe
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I CAN NOT DIAGNOSE equipment problems or ESTIMATE DOLLAR VALUES of your equipment, by email. I have been active in model railroading for forty years. I can answer, or find answers, to questions on most aspects of model trains, railroad equipment or buildings. I have a good knowledge of prototype railroads. I have been employed by five model railroad equipment manufacturers/suppliers and worked for a prototype railroad. I have served, twice, as the president of a local model railroad club. I have been employed as a Reference Librarian, at a university, for the last fifteen years and am used to tracking down resources for patrons.
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