Questions on train forums I wouldn't think of asking.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I'm still waiting for an example of a question on a train forum I wouldn't think of asking.

You'll have to provide that example yourself. No one other than you can possibly know of a question that you would not ask.

[Roy]

I'm still waiting for an example of a question on a train forum I wouldn't think of asking.

You'll have to provide that example yourself. No one other than you can possibly know of a question that you would not ask.

Question I would not ask: How much is that doggie in the window?

[MurphOnMillerAve]

How about:
When is a train layout finished?

[G3750]

Depending on the forum (and I'm not naming names) there are lots of questions I shouldn't ask. On a certain other forum I've asked detailed or technical questions or (worst of all) open-ended questions requiring a thoughtful response. I've gotten a number of standard dumb answers. For example:

• Why do you want to do that? (Typically received when I'm looking to do something just a wee bit off the beaten trail. )
• Oh, well let me tell you how I did something completely off-topic. (Yeah, thanks for playing. )
• That's not the way so-and-so (self-proclaimed forum expert) said to do it.
• ...crickets... (This is the most common response and the moral equivalent of the "standard dumb look").

George

[Roy]

What can I use recycled toilet paper for, on my layout?

[MurphOnMillerAve]

What can I use recycled toilet paper for, on my layout?

The personal touch.

[chuck]

"Why can't I use cat litter for ballast?"

"3 rail trains run on AC because they use three rails which are like prongs for the wall outlets while 2 rail trains run on DC because DC only uses two wires?"

"If you can't get 10 amps of current through a 22 gauge wire why would they have packaged it with the train set"

"I think I need a way bigger transformer because I've added way more track. The bigger transformer will "push" the electricity around better because it's bigger and I need that since it has to go further."

"It says SUPER Glue right on the label. Doesn't that mean it will glue anything together?"

"I don't see why I can't run scale modern trains (aka 80' long locomotives and 90' long cars) on my layout which has a maximum of O-72 curves?"

I've seen that last one drop down to O-31 or even O-27.

"I don't understand why my spouse got mad at me because I used the oven to bake enamel train paint and I ran old used O-27 track through the dishwasher?"

"Toy train smoke fluid is too expensive, I've concocted my own brand using "OTC pain killers, lamp oil, barbecue lighter fluid, etc"

Technically I've violated the Jeopardy formula of not phrasing all of these as a questions.

[J. S. Bach]

"Why can't I use cat litter for ballast?"

The main problem that I had with cat litter was not its appearance or whatever on the track, it was a different problem. I kept the box containing the litter next to where I would be working; well, the cat discovered the box of fresh litter and, viola, he used it for what it was made for! BTW, his regular box used torn up newspaper. All this happened many, many years ago.

"I don't see why I can't run scale modern trains (aka 80' long locomotives and 90' long cars) on my layout which has a maximum of O-72 curves?"

K-Line, on their scale-length (85') passenger car box, states "Minimum radius O-54"; they look like an interurban train snaking its way through city streets. Note: they will actually negotiate Lionel O-48 Fasttrack (really O-47½); that was the absolute minimum, O-47 was too tight.

[webenda]

I'm still waiting for an example of a question on a train forum I wouldn't think of asking.

Just look on CTT forum. This one was posted Feb 11:

I'm throwing this out to the gang for any advice anyone has to give.

So yesterday, there I was running my post-war 736 when all of a sudden the train stopped cold, and there was smoke coming out of the locomotive shell where the E-unit lever slot is. The circuit breaker on the transformer tripped as well. "Oh brother, this ain't good!" says I.

Today I took the engine assembly out of the shell and placed it on the tracks naked (gasp!) just to see what was happening. With the E-unit lever in the "off" position the engine runs fine, but in forward only. With the lever in the "on" position the thin copper winding wires on the E-unit solenoid housing begin to glow like a light bulb filament where they join, and needless to say the circuit breaker trips. "Oh boy, this really ain't good!"

I'm assuming I'm the proud owner of a blown E-unit. Dang, it's only 65 years old!

The rest of the wiring's good, no breaks, grounds, missing insulation, or any of the usual suspects.

Any ideas anyone?

[rogruth]

I won't name the forum but the question was "Do you need to hook the two wires from the box with a handle to something? So far my train won't move".

[Tom Dempsey]

Well, Roger, do you??

[E7]

I'm still waiting for an example of a question on a train forum I wouldn't think of asking.

Where should I park Thomas so he doesn't catch cold?

[robert.]

where to buy Homosote? Only i really know the stores around me. What makes somebody think a forum member 500 miles from me will know this answer.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Which color of foam should I use, pink or blue?

[rogruth]

Well, Roger, do you??

This topic didn't call for answers, only questions.