Model Train Media | Pennsylvania_421 | Activity

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group PC&NP Magic City subdivision in N scale: It’d officially been 6 months since i started working on […]

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:57:20 +0200

It’d officially been 6 months since i started working on this layout. Progress has been rather slower than I’d hoped due to other stuff clogging up my time. At long last, though, I’ve begun an essential step in scenery—Ballasting.

Im using Woodland scenics gray blend fine ballast. Its a tad bit lighter than the ballast generally is in the…

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group PC&NP Magic City subdivision in N scale: Its been a hot minute since the last update of my […]

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 22:01:09 +0200

Its been a hot minute since the last update of my layout. Well, there isn’t much to report on the layout itself (though I hope to begin ballasting very soon). However, I hae acquired a new locomotive that doesn’t quite match the theme, but is very cool all the same.

I told myself my next locomotive would be steam, and pre-ordered some Great…

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group PC&NP Magic City subdivision in N scale: A few weeks back, I decided I was tired of running […]

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 20:10:04 +0100

A few weeks back, I decided I was tired of running club equipment at the club layout and decided to get my own DCC stuff. Up to this point, all my locomotives were standard DC. That would soon change.

I selected 2 of my favorite locomotives—A BN SD40-2 and a BNSF SD70ACe, both Kato—to be upgraded first. I ordered TCS K1D4 decoders. The decoder…

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group PC&NP Magic City subdivision in N scale: Right off the bat when planning this layout, I knew I […]

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 23:04:53 +0100

Right off the bat when planning this layout, I knew I wanted a turntable and roundhouse. Consequently, the turntable was the first purchade i made for the layout. It is an old Walthers Cornerstone kit. I dont know when exactly it was produced, but copyright information on the packaging and instructions indicate its at least 30 years old.

The kit…

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group PC&NP Magic City subdivision in N scale: A yard isn't much of a yard without spots for […]

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 04:26:33 +0100

A yard isn’t much of a yard without spots for locomotive maintenance, storage, and refueling. In my yard, those tracks have been nick-named the “interior yard track.” These interior tracks will be the last track laid on the layout until it is time to begin the second half. Funnily enough, they were the first pieces added to the original track…

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group PC&NP Magic City subdivision in N scale: For this layout, I needed independent control of 3 […]

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:21:17 +0100

For this layout, I needed independent control of 3 separate blocks—The 2 mainlines, and the yard. I couldn’t find any commercially available 3-way controllers on the market, so I decided to build one, as opposed to buying3 different controllers, which would ultimately have cost more (although make no mistake: This was not rock-bottom cheap).…

Pennsylvania_421 posted a new activity comment

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 04:57:25 +0100

@casey-jones I’ve noticed this too. Not just with this link, but also when I try to open notifications, messages, edit my profile, etc. The page it brings me to wants me to put in an address, but when I try, it tells me I need to include both first and last name, despite there being no such option.

In reply to - Modeltrainmedia posted an update

Model Train Media was built to be open, respectful, and free for everyone — and that will never change.

I want to make one thing very clear from the start:

The core of Model Train […]

Pennsylvania_421 posted a new activity comment

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 04:55:50 +0100

Hey Oscar. I’ve noticed what I believe is a bug. Attempting to do account-related stuff (opening notifications, viewing messages, editing my profile, etc, it brings to a window called “Membership,” which is part of the profile as far as I can tell. It wants me to put in an address, but when I do, it tells me “You must include your first and…

In reply to - Modeltrainmedia posted an update

Model Train Media was built to be open, respectful, and free for everyone — and that will never change.

I want to make one thing very clear from the start:

The core of Model Train […]

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group PC&NP Magic City subdivision in N scale: In my previous post, I briefly mentioned how I will be […]

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 22:43:40 +0100

In my previous post, I briefly mentioned how I will be using PC connectors as quick disconnects so i can easily detach my control station from the layout.

To build on that, I figured I’d make a post regarding the control station itself.

I started with a roughly 2 x 2 1/2 foot piece of 5-ply plywood i had laying around. I then drilled two holes in…

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group PC&NP Magic City subdivision in N scale: The last day of 2025, I finally got around to starting […]

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:34:03 +0100

The last day of 2025, I finally got around to starting the wiring on the layout. On December 31st, I ran the the buses for the double mainlines. Each bus consists of 2 16AWG wires—1 red, 1 black. They run through little holes drilled in the 1x4s on the underside of the table. I also connected the first PC connector that will be used as…

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group PC&NP Magic City subdivision in N scale: Once all the switches were installed, I was able to […]

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:08:39 +0100

Once all the switches were installed, I was able to finish permanent work on the mainlines, which consisted of only a few sections on the northern end of the yard. But that wasn’t enough. I wanted to run trains continuously, which wasn’t possible since I’m only building one half of the layout at the moment. That is, until I set up a…

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group PC&NP Magic City subdivision in N scale: The previous post discussed the caboose industries […]

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 06:03:17 +0100

The previous post discussed the caboose industries ground throws on my layout, with a particular emphasis on #206S (the beside-switch variant). 5 of the switches on my layout are too far from the edge to comfortably reach with my arm, and therefore, I needed some other way to flip them. Caboose Industries had a solution, with their #105R…

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group PC&NP Magic City subdivision in N scale: All the switches on my layout (for now, at least), […]

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 05:53:21 +0100

All the switches on my layout (for now, at least), are utilizing Caboose Industries ground throws. These ground throws are small, relatively inexpensive (in comparison to motorized switch machines) mechanisms that function similar to actual switch levers. The majority of the switches on the layout use #206S. This model features internal…

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group PC&NP Magic City subdivision in N scale: Before I could finish the mainlines (at least, finish […]

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 05:42:18 +0100

Before I could finish the mainlines (at least, finish them as much as I could considering this is only half the layout), I had to lay switches. This was a pretty quick & easy process. Once I figured out where the switch needed to go, I placed two drops of glue—one at the end of the switch and another underneath the frog—and lay the…

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group PC&NP Magic City subdivision in N scale: One of the major design features of the yard is […]

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 05:31:54 +0100

One of the major design features of the yard is the 180-degree curve that will eventually run around the roundhouse. There is no roundhouse yet, but I have nick-named it Roundhouse curve nonetheless.

I soldered 2 full-length (30″) sections of flex track together for each of the 3 tracks going around the curve. The first piece of track, which…

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group PC&NP Magic City subdivision in N scale: One of the most important sections of track on the layout […]

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 05:16:40 +0100

One of the most important sections of track on the layout is the crossover between the double mainlines that is placed front-and-center on the layout. I toyed around with the placement of this crossover for a while before choosing this spot, since it will allow trains to come out of the reversing loop in the yard and move straight to the…

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group PC&NP Magic City subdivision in N scale: Almost 3 weeks elapsed between the completion of the […]

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 04:23:19 +0100

Almost 3 weeks elapsed between the completion of the cork, and the start of laying track. This was because I had precious little time to work on hobby stuff throughout the month of November. December 1st, 2025, I finally lay the first piece of track. It was a 30″ piece of the yard lead, glued down using DAP Apex Plus siliconized caulk, clear.…

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group PC&NP Magic City subdivision in N scale: Following the completion of the benchwork, I began […]

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 04:13:46 +0100

Following the completion of the benchwork, I began laying the cork roadbed. This process began on October 29th, 2025, when I drew lines with a sharpie, indicating where the track would go. The next day, I lay the first piece of cork, and for the next dozen days, that was all I did. I am using Midwest brand N scale cork roadbed that is glued…

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group PC&NP Magic City subdivision in N scale: The layout has already been under construction for 4 […]

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 04:05:32 +0100

The layout has already been under construction for 4 months, so the first posts will be making up lost time.

The first month (October 2025) started out with Benchwork construction. Lots of time on my hands, an affinity for working with tools, and ADHD-fueled hyper fixation allowed me to complete this task in just 9 days, start to finish…

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group PC&NP Magic City subdivision in N scale: This post consists of a rather large lore drop for […]

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 05:57:21 +0100

This post consists of a rather large lore drop for the fictional railroad that will occupy my layout. There is quite a bit of creative liberties taken with the lore, including some re-writing of history.

The PC&NP is a fictional North Dakota-based class 2 railroad founded in 2010 by the merging of three Class 3 railroads—The Pioneer Central and…

Pennsylvania_421 posted a new activity comment

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 22:35:12 +0100

Curves absolutely do slow trains down on grades…but not always the main culprit. My local club layout has a mountain with track behind it, and we all thought it was the tight curve slowing the trains down on it until I went back there with my phone and discovered it’s a whopping 7% grade! So they’re looking into ways to fix it because even…

In reply to - Hububba posted an update in the group A Happy Junction – N Scale

I wasn’t satisfied with the long grade going into the mountain (on the right) and I wanted to correct it to prevent regrets later…talk about […]

Pennsylvania_421 posted a new activity comment

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 22:28:57 +0100

30 miles is nothing if you want to test your locomotive with something other than your Tech 6. The club I’m a part of is 80 miles away. It’s a 3 hour round trip every time I want to go run trains there.

In reply to - SAK posted an update

Hello, i purchased on Ebay an old SD45 HO scale locomotive. It runs well except the lights don’t work. They blink on and go off when the locomotive moves. I use a MRC Tech 6 power pack.

I […]

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update: Of course, we had to put all our BN/BNSF locomotives in […]

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 05:32:45 +0100

Of course, we had to put all our BN/BNSF locomotives in a lashup and then have it run with my GN empire builder.

The F7s, SD70ACe, and ES44AC are mine. The GP30 and both C44-9Ws are my friends.

Pennsylvania_421 posted a new activity comment

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 23:10:25 +0100

I’d love to take the Amtrak to Glacier park sometime. I’d imagine that would be a beautiful trip.

In reply to - KingBradentucky posted an update

Sometimes you gotta go ride the real thing.

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update: I got a 3D printer for Christmas and wasted no time […]

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:35:22 +0100

I got a 3D printer for Christmas and wasted no time desiging a prototype for some N scale covered hoppers. Once I get these ready to mass prodouce, I’ll be able to pretty easily build a massive N scale grain train for pretty low cost.

Its not perfect yet. Its sloghtly too short, a little too wide, the roof needs to be rounded out more (as does…

Pennsylvania_421 posted a new activity comment

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 21:30:32 +0100

Count me in.

In reply to - Modeltrainmedia posted an update

Behind the scenes, I’ve been working hard every single day on something big for our model train community 👀

A brand-new Model Train Media app is in development, and the first […]

Pennsylvania_421 posted a new activity comment

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 04:47:51 +0100

Love the Empire Builder. Here’s mine on my WIP layout.

In reply to - DJDano posted an update

EMD GP7TT (Atlas)

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update: I've been puttering along with my layout construction. […]

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 17:28:50 +0100

I’ve been puttering along with my layout construction. I started laying track last week, and yesterday, I was able to do the first switching ops as a way to test the crossover between the mainlines which had been laid earlier in the day.

I’m actually surprised it went so smoothly. There aren’t any ground throw to hold the points in place yet, so…

Pennsylvania_421 posted a new activity comment

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 06:41:47 +0100

I love the Great Northern loco at the front. Great Northern is probably my favorite fallen flag railroad.

In reply to - zak98 posted an update Couple short videos of my yearly holiday train. Shorter this year but a new addition of the BLI holiday business car. Really nice lighting features and model for the money.

Pennsylvania_421 posted a new activity comment

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 06:40:43 +0100

Why is this so true? Instead of doing a bunch of college homework today, I fiddled with my layout and set up Lionel trains on the floor 😅

In reply to - Nebinator posted an update in the group DIY and Digital Model Railroad Club

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group O Gauge Railroading:

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 06:31:23 +0100

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update: Its been about 2 months since I started building […]

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 06:28:44 +0100

Its been about 2 months since I started building this layout. Today, I finally ran a train for the first time. Well, it wasn’t really a train. Just a light locomotive. And there was only about 5 feet of track to run on. But still, its something I’ve been waiting for since I started planning this layout in January.

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group DIY and Digital Model Railroad Club: The first thing I’m working on now that my benchwork is […]

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 15:50:45 +0100

The first thing I’m working on now that my benchwork is complete is my turntable. Last night, I finished painting all the cobbles in the pit. Hopefully I’ll be able to install it and get it working soon

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group N scale: A couple weeks ago, i shared that my layout was […]

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 05:32:39 +0100

A couple weeks ago, i shared that my layout was finally begun. Well, ive done quite a bit more with it, though not as much as I would have liked. In summary: I completed the benchwork, began drawing lines for the track, assembled my unorthodox method for mounting the control station, and have been working on the turntable. Most recently, i…

Pennsylvania_421 posted a new activity comment

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 05:37:17 +0200

@Skipper it’s doubly exciting considering I’ve been planning this particular layout since January. And I’ve been wanting my ow layout since I was a kid. I just never had the means to do it. I started gluing down the foam board today. It hopefully won’t be long til I can start the daunting task of laying track.

In reply to - Pennsylvania_421 posted an update

My layout is FAR from being ready to have trains running on it properly. But I figured I might as well set up the EZ-Track oval and run my grain train now that I have the […]

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update: My layout is FAR from being ready to have trains running […]

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 04:54:18 +0200

My layout is FAR from being ready to have trains running on it properly. But I figured I might as well set up the EZ-Track oval and run my grain train now that I have the plywood on the benchwork. This is technically the first train to run on my layout, though its not running on actual layout tracks.

Pennsylvania_421 posted a new activity comment

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 04:47:26 +0200

Recent update. I got the framing finished and all the plywood installed. I’ll be cutting the hole for the turntable and glueing the foam on tomorrow

In reply to - Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group N scale

The benchwork for my layour started going up today!

Pennsylvania_421 posted a new activity comment

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 04:46:06 +0200

@Ramosrailways the base board is redundant now actually. We put in a furnace recently so the heat is delivered via air ducts (you can see one of the vents in the 2nd image).

It’s probably better for the layout that the baseboard is no longer being used, cause it would cause significant temperature swings in the bench work over the winter that… Read more

In reply to - Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group N scale

The benchwork for my layour started going up today!

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group N scale: The benchwork for my layour started going up today!

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 02:08:33 +0200

The benchwork for my layour started going up today!

Pennsylvania_421 posted a new activity comment

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 02:15:00 +0200

@Modeltrainmedia Just got the first teething steps done today. In other words: I put up the main supports for the yard sections. I’m hoping to start building the benchwork itself tomorrow.

In reply to - Modeltrainmedia posted an update

Hi everyone,

Starting today and running until next Sunday, I thought it would be fun to launch something special: I’m sharing a photo of my own layout — and I’d love to see […]

Pennsylvania_421 posted a new activity comment

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 16:49:48 +0200

I don’t have a layout yet unfortunately. My house is being rennovated so I have to wait til thats done to start. This is the track plan though:

In reply to - Modeltrainmedia posted an update

Hi everyone,

Starting today and running until next Sunday, I thought it would be fun to launch something special: I’m sharing a photo of my own layout — and I’d love to see […]

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group N scale: I recently purchased a lot with these 3 cars.I dont have […]

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 05:10:12 +0200

I recently purchased a lot with these 3 cars.

I dont have a locomotive for the tender. Any chance someone has a Pacific or larger that lacks a tender which they’d be willing to sell?

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group Backstory – Your Model Railroad’s Lore: Hello everyone. My friend and i have been gradually […]

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 06:17:53 +0200

Hello everyone. My friend and i have been gradually making up a fictional railroad which will occupy the N scale switching layout I plan to build.

The official name lf the railroad is the Pioneer Central & Northern Plains. It was formed in 2010 by the merging of 3 North Dakotan class 2s. The Pioneer Central (fictional), Central…

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group N scale: Got a pretty good deal at the train museum today. These […]

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 05:34:39 +0200

Got a pretty good deal at the train museum today. These 3 old Bachman passenger cars were $5/piece. They look great with my 0-6-0…which is once again in pieces as I need to solve an electrical pickup issue caused by me moving the traction tires to the rear wheels, which vastly improved traction.

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group N scale: I’ve now completed the controller I posted about […]

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 03:25:06 +0200

I’ve now completed the controller I posted about yesterday. All 3 controllers work well, but one of the switches was apparently defective so it rarely works in one of the directions. Otherwise, they work great. Slow-speed control is great good by my standards. Better than my Bachman starter set controller.

Pennsylvania_421 posted a new activity comment

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 03:14:41 +0200

@Dielectric Central Control Panel. I’ve actually functionally completed it now and am about to make a new post on it

In reply to - Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group N scale

Got supplies to build a custom DC controller today. The plan is for it to be able to power 3 isolated sections of track at once (the yard and both of […]

Pennsylvania_421 posted a new activity comment

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 03:13:20 +0200

@casey-jones Possibly. He lives an hour away though so I don’t know if that will work.

In reply to - Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group 🇺🇸 Model Railroading USA

I may have a chance to snag a postwar Lionel 2026 and a whistle tender for $100. Should i do it?

Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group N scale: Got supplies to build a custom DC controller today. The […]

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 22:34:42 +0200

Got supplies to build a custom DC controller today. The plan is for it to be able to power 3 isolated sections of track at once (the yard and both of the mainline loops will have a controller each). The individual controllers are rated for 48V, 20A and I’ll be running them at 12V, 3A max so they should be just fine.

This will be significantly…

Pennsylvania_421 created the group O Gauge Railroading

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 20:00:44 +0200

Pennsylvania_421 posted a new activity comment

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 19:54:20 +0200

@RobsTrains I don’t know if its a good buy, that’s why I’m asking. I don’t know if $100 is a good price for a 2026 + tender from 1953. It appears to be in good shape cosmetically from the pictures.

In reply to - Pennsylvania_421 posted an update in the group 🇺🇸 Model Railroading USA

I may have a chance to snag a postwar Lionel 2026 and a whistle tender for $100. Should i do it?