Amazing work, Skill, Vision, sharing. Un-believeable sharing. Question.....

Wow! There's stream-of-consciousness writing. And then there's burst-dam-of-consciousness writing!

But amid the surging waves, I am clutching for dear life to a broken-off branch of the 'my diesel keeps derailing' tree. So I ask, where it is derailing? On the turns? If so, check that the trucks are free to swivel from side to side; we had an engine of that vintage which had the wires to the motor tied too tightly, and this prevented the truck from turning far enough to follow the track. If it's not that, then check that all the wheels are sitting on the track at the same time; if not, the wheels on one of the axles may be out of gauge. It it is always happening in the same place, check the track for kinks, high spots, low spots, places where the gauge is too narrow.

As for the rest, don't fall into the trap of trying to do everything right away; it will only multiply your frustration. We all crawled before we walked, and at the time, crawling was actually pretty fun!

#Nickaix. (Splendid thoughts, thanks for tips, kind sir) glad you were able to sort it out <salute >

I'll take the easy part. The song is "White Rabbit".

#SCRAMBLeR81. spit take Chris! Thanks, spot on. I lost a few brain cells back in the 60's, that's my story, sticking to it 

I wonder if James Joyce ever had trains? LOL Take your time. You'll be fine!

Miggy posted:

 Probably the easiest step (great point Cpt Obvious). (My Stuff Don't Run) (Switches and helix and mountains and Giraffes- oh my)

Note to self: After lurking among the giants who have travelled the path before me, I am drawn into this"Train" thing like a mouse to cheese, with traps, by the way, lurking everywhere!  lol !!  The rabbit hole that this groups is taking me reminds me of the song, I forget the name " One pill makes you taller, the other makes you small, and the one your mother gives you, does nothing, at all......." OK, So I am drawn in, sucked in, by the pictures. Oh, and the terminology... "2 railers / 3 railers / Rivit counters (THAT one has me looking much , much, more closely at "EVERYthing.....") Oh, Look....... Details beyond my first look, far surpassing my infantile run-it-in-a-circle-round-the-Christmas-tree scope of truly understanding Model Railroading.

Wait, What...?? Did I imply that I understand Model Railroading? Mis-speak-right-there. Rabbit holes, Cheese-and-photos-and-bait-and-traps... "Cardinals in the winter scenes and bunnies in the garden". Details. Hmmmm. I pour over the steps/progress/photos/stories/tips and shared "how-to", with the distant voice of focus speaking quietly "It's Your Layout, Do what Makes you Happy". Wiser words have never been spoken.

Elliot said, "Well, there is alot that can go into building a layout that is fun for more than a few minutes. Add some switches. Kids love to push buttons, and put some light up......" (As I Stand, surrounded by the myriod of tracks-wires-power-trains-Vision-FOCUS-and detail...... wow.    just wow.) Elliot, you are truly like an onion, as I am exposed to one layer/facet you introduce me to other layers/possibilities/talent/Vision and skills.

Where am I going? Where IS that little pill that allows me to FOCUS? I was able to master a simple circle/transformer/forward-reverse-operating a couple cars. Even built a few Lincoln log tunnels - A, B, C block overpass and, AND the obligitory "Wall of Destruction" that my little #8 Lionel could speed through spewing blocks hither and yon as if it were a semi truck stuck on a crossing. Ok, that took only one hour. Now that I am searching for my own FUN in THIS forum where detail zooms in like a Microscope---- where Dreaming about great mountain walls and Helix that bridge the gap of two dimensions to three--- where adding vines/flora/railings/people/lighting/Dead-track-Tricks capture and fuel my excitement, allowing me to do the Easy stuff. Buy stuff. Its fun. "Oh, That is Soooo Kewl!!! - click buy it now - WOW I love that - click buy it now - HEY Train sale-flea-market-finds- Yup, got that one, but hey!!! Look at that!!!  - click buy it now.... you know. Right?

Here is where I am today. Drawing back, pulling back, using my "motorhead" lessons learned (yup, Planes/Trains and, well CARS! I know, right?) pulling back to that little engine that makes it around the track, always. OK, that is square one- YES? now, how about my latest aquisition: 1994 LionelDiesel. Kinda lite. I love the postwar - cast - Heavies. Like the GG1. yup, Heavy. Back to the Diesel. It won't make it around the track. It derails. WTH.

You Gents have some skill. ALOT of skill. I Respect that ALOT.... and I will temper my enthusiasm with more patience. But, I need to add humor. Please dont take my light-minded n00b adventures as disrespect to one hell-of-a-diverse-hobby. As Dynamic as this is, I will be on this rail-way-journey as it opens my mind, broadens the possibilities and show me the EFFORT that you Gents put into the simplest of sharing. I mean, It Takes time. take a video, do a how to, then edit, then document the effort and then post it, and then link it, and then...... well, you know. Thanks. Thank you all very much.

I leave you now to your normal programmed show-still-in-it's-entirety-as-I set up a circle, and get the dang-gone-train to run reliably on something..... ANYTHING...... once again. Then baby steps.

<Salute>

Seriously, don't post something just to hear yourself write. You will get a lot more help and responses if you get to the point quickly and succinctly.

Agreed. Let's delete this. I'll go away

moderator.....? Ty

Wait. I wouldn't go that far. Just a thought for future posts.