Welcome to trains.matt5lot10.com – a site documenting the construction and operation of “Slottown,” an O-Gauge model railroad set sometime between 1920 and 2018 located somewhere between North America and Australia. We here at Slottown embrace anachronism, creativity, and above all, fun – that is to say we don’t take ourselves too seriously. We hope you enjoy our website and our trains
Phoenix & Mattrain
After nearly 3 years of not making much progress on the N-scale layout, we finally pulled the track up and got our hands dirty with sculptamold and paint:
Given we had nearly a full gallon of the brown latex paint we used on the O scale layout, we opted to apply a base coat to the mountain and layout surface, along with some slate grey for what will become the lake/river.
After sculptamold and paint dried, I reassembled the track and permanently installed the turnouts, wiring them into Digitrax switch controllers. I had on hand a DS64 that I had purchased during the initial layout build, which can accommodate four turnouts. The layout has a total of seven, so I needed another controller. What I should have done was just purchase another DS64 as install and programming was simple… what I actually did was purchase a DS74 since it’s the “newer version” of the DS64. While very similar, I learned (the hard way) that the DS74 address assignment is not possible without Loconet (which I don’t use on our small layout). Fortunately out-of-the-box, the terminals are assigned 1-4, so I reprogrammed the DS64 to be 5-8. It’s not ideal, as I had planned on laying out the turnout assignment to be counterclockwise, outside in, but I had stripped the leads for the turnout connections to near exact length. What I may do is physically swap the DS74 with the DS64 position, but for the time being I just use a labeled layout map to know which turnouts to throw.
Moving along, after having seen Asteroid City in theaters and immediately recognizing the locomotives to be a near-match for the D&RGW 4-stripe scheme on an F3, I quickly took to eBay and found two Kato F3 A-units (although worth noting in the movie, it appears to be an A-B configuration – I couldn’t find a B-unit):
The units I purchased did not have DCC, so I purchased two Digitrax DN163K0B decoders to install in the locomotives. Being relatively new to N-scale and having installed Decoders in both a Kato and Fox Valley Model before, I thought it would be a piece of cake… and I was wrong.
Both decoders installed easily enough and test running both locomotives with their shells off indicated everything was working as expected… however I found as soon as I snapped the shells back on, the boards would lose continuity and the locomotives would not operate. Both locomotives were consistent, so I knew it had to be a common issue across the design of the board and shell but it was difficult to isolate as the locomotives worked fine with the shells off. Making matters worse, the front coupler design is comprised of four very small parts that would inevitably all jump off each other as soon as the shell was off.
I tried a fair few troubleshooting techniques, including soldering the motor tabs to the boards, adding solder on the conductors on the bottom of the boards to add “dimples” for better continuity and trying to tape the boards down with electrical tape. The electrical tape proved too thick to hold the decoder down and allow the shells to pop back on. I then tried to “prop up” the back of the board with some foam pieces to help stabilize the decoder, but that too proved fruitless.
After ordering some polyimide tape and applying it towards the back of each board to tape it down against the frame, all is working now and the locomotives operate perfectly.
I configured a “Multiple Unit” (MU) in my Digitrax controller and run them in forward and reverse. I learned somewhat the hard way that directional lighting is dependent on how the locomotive is configured before joining the MU, so I had to remove and re-add them after fixing the lighting.
Lastly, I’ve found that using Engine Driver on my phone and JMRI to address the MU seems to cause issues (it appears to separate the MU). I’ll need to play with it more to figure out where it’s falling over, but for now I’ve just been using the manual throttle on my Digitrax DCS52 controller
Next up is adding some washes to give the rock and mountain a bit more “depth,” then sketching out where buildings and roads will go, followed by ground cover.
The Train Collectors Association apparently has withdrawn its advertising and marketing support for O Gauge Railroading Magazine, which in the world of O gauge model trains, is big news. The announcement was made on the popular O Gauge Railroading Forums by the “CEO” I won’t link to the post here as I don’t wish to drive any more revenue to that site or publication (for reasons explained below). As per the post:
I have been informed that TCA is ending its association with OGR as well as CTT with respect to its advertising. Part of the reasoning was stated as the average age of their membership being 75 years old and a desire to reach younger folks using the internet rather than print. I explained that about 85 percent of TCA’s message on OGR went to online participants: namely the forum (with millions of page views per month) and our online magazine which is growing. Unfortunately this was met with “the decision has been made.” Budget constraints were sited [sic] with a drastic cut across the board for advertising.
Normally I wouldn’t take the time to post anything about this (or post anything really, I’m pretty bad about updating this site), but I want to commend the TCA on their smart decision, at least in regards to OGR (I’m sorry to see Classic Toy Trains (CTT) is included – that is a good, reputable publication, at least in my personal experience – I am still a paying subscriber)
A bit of context regarding OGR: After being a member and contributor of the forums and paying subscriber to the publication for nearly 21 years (I joined at the ripe age of 14 in 2000), I was permabanned on the forums without explanation in January of 2021. After exchanging emails with the “CEO” trying to understand why, I learned it was because I posted an O Gauge model train question in the incorrect subforum and then had the audacity to question why a post about a model train on a model train forum would be taken down… for those that relish in pedantry and arguing with infantile, petulant old men, rejoice.
After speaking with a few others in the hobby, I’ve learned my experience with the publication and its “CEO” was far from unique. Long story short, happy to see the owner of the publication is getting his due. One of his favorite phrases over the years was “vote with your wallet,” and it looks like TCA is doing exactly that.
I’ve already renewed my membership to TCA to show my support.
As it’s been a minute since I’ve posted anything, figured I’d quickly post some photos of what’s been running on the rails in Slottown.
The MTH Central Pacific 4-4-0 arrived the other week so I swung by and picked it up. It’s a bit of a departure from my existing locomotives and rolling stock in that it’s one of (if not the only) piece of 19th Century equipment in my collection. The colors and finish are great, MTH really captured the lavish prototype. I really love the matching wood-sided passenger cars complete with the green roof glass and detailed interiors
Possibly the best (and maybe only) song about model trains, Lemon Demon has a catchy and entertaining jam:
The song captures the hobby well – from the musty basement, to the tenuous and pedantic feuds among model railroad club members, it’s pretty great. Here’s the full lyrics to the song (warning, some explicit language):
My basement, uh.
Gonna show you my beautiful basement.
Where the concrete floor feels cool to the touch.
I’ll turn up the heat if it’s too much.
I’ll turn on the lightbulb on the wire.
Turn on the dehumidifier.
I’m serious when I flick this next switch.
Look you in the eye, and I say, “Check this.”
My trains, uh.
My trains, uh.
I got small ones. Tiny little trains.
I come down here just to get away.
My trains, uh.
My trains, uh.
It’s like magic. Magic trains.
I wish these trains could take me away.
(chugga chugga woo-woo)
(chugga chugga woo-woo)
(chugga chugga woo-woo)
(chugga chugga woo-woo)
In the club, the Model Railroad Club,
A motherfucker said shit about my trains.
Might as well have took a shit on my brain
Cuz I went insane.
I laid track on his ass with a styrofoam bat.
But the president never did let me back after that.
Shit, I said, “Fuck you.
Who the fuck needs a punk ass choo-choo crew anyhoo?”
My trains, uh.
My trains, uh.
I got small ones. Tiny little trains.
I come down here just to get away.
My trains, uh.
M-m-m-m-my trains, uh.
It’s like magic. Magic trains.
I wish these trains could take me away.
(chugga chugga woo-woo)
(chugga chugga woo-woo)
I lie here every night.
I feel like if I focus
and think of getting smaller
I’ll gradually get smaller.
And if I get small enough
My trains will seem much bigger
and I’ll be the conductor.
The tiniest conductor.
OH!
Then whatchu gonna do?
Then whatchu gonna do?
Whatchu gonna do then, huh?
Whatchu gonna do?
Whatchu gonna do?
Whatchu gonna do when I’m fucking small
Like one inch tall
You won’t see me coming at all
When I crawl into your ear late at night
Yeah, you heard me right motherfucker, sleep tight
And you think I’m just another bad dream
But I’m a tiny little man in your bloodstream
Little hands hold an artery shut
Yeah, that’s right motherfucker, then what?
My trains.
My trains.
My trains, uh.
My trains, uh.
I got small ones. Tiny little trains.
I come down here just to get away.
My trains, uh.
My trains, uh.
They’re like magic. Magic trains.
I wish these trains could take me away.
(chugga chugga woo-woo)
My trains.
(chugga chugga woo-woo)
My trains.
(chugga chugga woo-woo)
My trains.
(chugga chugga woo-woo)
My trains.
Long overdue, I finally sat down last evening and watched the 1926 silent film “The General,” which was inspired by the Great Locomotive Chase of the Civil War. The movie is interesting on a number of fronts, notably it is set in the North Atlanta area (true to history, The General 4-4-0 was stolen by Union spies from Marietta and run North towards Chattanooga), it features a number of real-life operating 4-4-0 locomotives, and it includes the most expensive single shot in silent film history with the wrecking of the Texas.
While at it’s time, the film was considered a flop, it’s since been raised to the ranks of one of the greatest American films ever made. While I admit my bias due to my love of trains, the film itself is entertaining in it’s own right and worth a watch. To boot, due to it’s age, it’s available in the public domain, so it can be watched for free on YouTube. Below is the full-length film:
So 2020 has been… a year. And we’re happy for it to be over. Very happy. While we don’t expect 12:01 January 1 2021 to erase the issues, crisis, and pain we witnessed over the course of 2020, we are looking forward to a brighter year of 2021. To celebrate in Slottown fashion, we picked up a few goodies for our layout (some of which were pre-orders):
Adding to our 4-8-4 fleet (this marks #4), we picked up our pre-ordered MTH N&W J from Legacy Station today. With it’s actual recorded sounds from the real restored 611, Passenger Announcements featuring well-known Virginian cities, and the whistle-steam smoke effect, this locomotive hit a home run.
Colorful, cool, and a touch of nostalgia, we had to pick up this Amoco tank car up. A good friend and train buddy used to work for Amoco, so I couldn’t pass it up.
A bit of an impulse purchase, the lack of a “red caboose” in our fleet was apparent. What better than a Santa Fe red caboose to punctuate any freight train!
Another impulse purchase, it features operating lights and highlights one of Lydia’s favorite Christmas movies growing up. It’s a nice addition to our annual holiday train
Slottown got some heavy power added this weekend – the famed UP 4014. We made a Halloween visit to Legacy Station to pickup a pre-order (some 19th century passenger cars) and on display was the MTH Premier “restored” 4014 – complete with shiny paint finish and sounds recorded from the actual 4014. What sold me was the whistle steam effect, where when you blow the whistle, a separate directed stream of smoke shoots, like a realistic steam whistle.
The locomotive is impressive, both in size and detail. It’s so large in fact it can’t make it around my O-72 loop at the the moment. It actually clears all of the upper level supports, the issue is my curve along the wall in the room – the Big Boy swings so far out it hits the wall! I’m currently evaluating options on how to modify the layout (or wall) to let the Big Boy get around the whole layout.
The other highlight from the train store visit was we bumped into Eric Siegel from Eric’s Trains while there, and he coincidentally bought the other 4014 that Legacy Station had. Here’s a short video he posted of it running on his layout:
Happy Halloween! Running the pumpkin on Track 1
We took some time yesterday and today to add some detail to our downtown area by adding in a small park with paths:
With the camera out, I figured I’d get a few up-close shots of what’s on the layout today:
