Guestbook

DANNY ROODE, TRURO HEIGHTS, NOVA SCOTIA Feb 23, 2014
Thanks for putting together such a great site folks! I like many of the other posts I’ve read so far, and have downloaded several articles for my own use. I really like them all, especially the support (bench work) and buildings. I plan to employ the bench work and get something going so I can run my trains in the near future. I am from Truro Heights, Nova Scotia. Garden Railroaders are spread very thin in this part of the country so we’re pretty much on our own with no real formal clubs or organizations that are Garden Railroad specific.

JIM CHURCH (RADIO CALL SIGN DOG BREATH) 26 Nov 2013
This sight is A1! The best how to do that I have seen in a long time. It gave me lots of information on how to really get it done. It’s like a one-stop-shop. As an old radio guy, your perf board section is tops! Keep it going!

BOB JOHNSON, WEST HAVEN, CT 2 Nov 2013
I have been buying things for my Garden RR for a long time and putting them in storage. I have decided that the time is now or never to begin building. This site is a complete reference work for everything. I have downloaded instructions for converting an “Annie” to battery power and how to build a Power Car. Your extensive knowledge of the hobby and a willingness to share it is greatly appreciated.

RICHARD SMITH, PORT ORFORD COAST RAILROAD, OREGON, USA
As the definitive long-distance member of the OVGRS, I’d like to say that it seems to get better every year. Fred and the local troupe run this astounding exercise in model railroading and social camaraderie. Congratulations on the new look and your many years of most helpful and friendly service to the hobby. I wish the OVGRS and the IPP&W many more decades of success.

TERRY FOLEY (TAC), IG AND THE PETERBOROUGH BOATLIFT BOYS
Long may it thrive!

BARRY “BUD” HARRISS, ST AUGUSTINE, FL, USA Jun 10, 2012
Exceptional web site and quite well done. Photo Gallery may be perhaps out of date, to wit: References to Harlan Nye, of The Villages, Florida. I knew Harlan and Ruth well, and they had visited my layout a time or two. But Harlan passed away quite a few years ago, perhaps around 2000. I don’t have knowledge of Ruth’s whereabouts.

JIM BOLLINGER Apr 25, 2012
You guys have a great web site. Being a beginner in this hobby, I have found many helpful articles. Thanks for all you do for the hobby.

PAUL NORTON, OVGRS Mar 18, 2012
My apologies! Yes Don has been here running his live steamers. Hopefully we will see you both here this summer. Thank you for the link to the Vermont GRS. May I add it to our Garden Railway Club links? Perhaps we will see you and Don at the ECLSTS this Friday.

BOB DEFORGE Mar 17, 2012
Paul: The Vermont GRS member I referred to is Don Howard who is our Webmaster for www.vgrs.us

PAUL NORTON, OVGRS Mar 16, 2012
Thanks Bob! I am glad you found the web site information useful. If you are referring to Bruce and Jean Chandler from Vermont, there are regular guests here at The Annual American Invasion of Ottawa. This year there are plans being made to extend the event to five days, from Thursday July 19th to Monday July 23rd. Details will be posted on the club web site home page later in the operating season. As you can tell by the pictures of previous “Invasions” in the Events Section, our guests always thoroughly enjoy themselves here in Ottawa. It is a beautiful city and there are lots of things to see including the Locomotive Hall in the Canada Science and Technology Museum.

BOB DEFORGE BROOKFIELD, VERMONT Mar 14, 2012
You have a great and generous website what with all the articles and information available for us to use. Certainly takes much of the pain out of various projects, especially around battery powering engines. I have a friend in Vermont GRS who attends the ‘Invasion’. I may have to join him one of these years.

PAUL NORTON Feb 25, 2012
Becoming a member of OVGRS is quite easy. There are no membership fees, but you must participate in a few of our club railway operating sessions which are held, weather permitting, every Saturday morning from the Victoria Day holiday weekend in May to the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday weekend in October. We do have a number of members who do not reside in the Ottawa area, but have participated in our annual open house a number of times. This annual event, which has become known as the American Invasion of Ottawa, is featured in the Events Section of this web site.

ALEX WALKER Jan 06, 2012
I really enjoy your web site & have bought several items. I would like to know how to join your group.

CHRIS HAON Dec 28, 2011
Love this website!! Thanks so much for keeping it up and updated with new material! Thanks!
www.lpandclrailroad.com

RICK AND DICK AND RICK ISARD Nov 28, 2011
Happy Holiday All. Nice that you have a web site that offers help with battery installations. I have two sets of FA-1/FB-1s with lithium-ion batteries and on-board chargers. We run mostly Aristo-Craft with QSI and some Revolution receivers with Phoenix sound. Thanks again
www.cordlessrenovations.com

PAUL NORTON Apr 01, 2011
Jim, we enjoyed meeting and chatting with you and Tom. Thank you for posting all those great pictures in the Photo Section of Tom’s Pine Needle Railroad web site.
http://www.pineneedlerailroad.com

JIM BANGERT AND TOM BALL, FORKED RIVER, NJ, USA Mar 31, 2011
Hello our Ottawa, Canada friends! It was great to get to meet and hang out with you guys at the Spring 2011 ECLSTS in York PA! We really enjoyed your company and it was nice to share model trains tips back and forth and also funny stories about the border! Hope to see you guys at the Fall ECLSTS! You guys have a great website too! Thanks!
http://www.pineneedlerailroad.com

MIKE FOSTER, SOMERVILLE MASSACHUSETTS USA Aug 06, 2010
A very nice website with fantastic tips! Thank you for sharing. All the best to your club!

GERALD WALDREP Aug 05, 2010
From the Bridge and Trestle Railroad, thanks for all the great pictures. It looks like all of you have a great time. I have not been running any trains for a while here in Greenville, SC, as it has been in the high90s and 100 for the past 30 or 40 days. Thanks for all the pictures!

RAY Jul 12, 2010
Thanks Paul Norton for the information on battery power. I have been trying to help my brother-in-law, who is somewhat handicapped, convert some his G engines to battery power to simplify the train operation for him. Dirty outside track, mainly corrosion, prevents the operation of equipment on a fairly large layout in Virginia. Cleaning the track every time he wants to run them is a big problem. Your information is very helpful.

JOHN K COUGHLAN Feb 14, 2010
Stumbled onto your site while seeking info on Aristo-Craft’s revolution train engineer. It’s 10.20pm here in Sydney, Australia. As I’ve come out of retirement and have to be up at 6am, I’ve only glanced at a few of your offerings. Many thanks for your offerings. What I’ve seen so far has given me food for thought on a few problems I’ve been experiencing. I’ll be back!

GARRY MARTIN ON THE YORKS, NOTTS, DERBYS BORDER U.K. Feb 02, 2010
Hello Everyone! You people certainly look like you know how to throw a good operating session. Some excellent pictures which provide food for thought. Keep up the good work. Cheers!

FROM SEAN MCGILLICUDDY Jan 08, 2009
Thanks for the nice work and good pictures!

FRANK – SHENANDOAH AND POTOMAC VALLEY GRS, WEST VIRGINIA, USA May 10, 2008
Paul, thank you so much for a great web site and information on battery power and operations. I started a garden railroad about a year ago and decided to go battery power with Airwire900 and have not been disappointed! I have converted a Bachmann Annie and an Aristo-Craft FA-1 by modifying the plans on your website. I decided to use lithium-ion batteries and I get over 3 hours run time on both locomotives when running short trains. Very nice and only minimal track maintenance. I am now looking at converting a Bachmann Spectrum 2-6-0 Mogul. The tender on this one is a bit small so I am thinking of using a battery car. Has anyone in your club made this conversion? Do you have any suggestions for the battery connections?

WES DRUMMOND Feb 13, 2008
Paul, I appreciated your article on the Super Socket and will try to find your email to ask you a question about the Terminal Block.

LEE JONES Jul 29, 2007
Thanks for your insight into the “dark” magic of battery power. After a few months of gaining the courage to try it, I found it was a snap! So much so after I did my USAT GP30, I proceeded to try the SD 40-2. I did the SD 40 WITHOUT removing the body. Made life easier and faster. Plus it’s reversible back to track power should I wish to eBay this loco. If you’d like me to go into detail of this mod. E-mail me at flyrcplanes@inbox.com. I also fabricated LED ditch lights for a GP 38. I power them with 2 AA batteries in the fuel tank. Lots of room in those fuel tanks!
Having no need for a transformer anymore I quickly sold it on E-Bay to buy a trackside TE.
Love your site. Very informative. BATTERY POWER RULES!

BARRY BIRKETT IN ORLEANS, ONTARIO Jul 11, 2007
Hello! A friend referred me to your site today, and it is very impressive. I am building a garden railway in my yard, and hope to come and visit you fairly soon. You have a very good website!

DOUGLAS TUCKER IN VANCOUVER CANADA May 21, 2007
I am just about to build my G scale garden railroad and was looking for ideas when I came across your layout. One word, AWESOME. Great job.

GABBY HAYES Oct 14, 2006
I agree with Marty Cozad. An extremely useful site. Well done!

LEE Sep 14, 2006
Beautiful engines! I am Lee and a big train fan! Maybe you want to give me a visit, too at my train web site.
www.leeseisenbahnen.de

JOHN AUSTIN – PORTUGAL COVE, NEWFOUNDLAND Aug 31, 2006
We are up and running! So far the road is made up of a reversing loop on the east side of the goldfish pond. I have the Annie converted although my wires and connectors are far larger than I want. Damn digital age! I suppose you can’t buy vacuum tubes either!

I heard today that The Source/Radio Shack will build battery packs to order and provide a charger for them. They come wrapped in plastic like the proprietary packs used in cordless phones. I’ll see if they’ll build packs that can be connected in parallel (for extra amp-hours) and series (for voltage). I guess weight may be a major issue. One could build a battery load that the loco won’t budge!

Bench testing only today and Friday due to standardized Newfoundland weather: rain, drizzle and fog.

JOHN AUSTIN – PORTUGAL COVE, NEWFOUNDLAND Aug 20, 2006
Just thought you guys would like an update on Jackie’s RR. I finished digging the last post-hole for the initial division of the layout today. I’ll be erecting the posts and track this week, weather permitting (much rain is forecast) and converting the Annie to R/C and Battery operation as per your instructions.

The first loop started out with minimal elevation (to clear the goldfish pond) and wound up elevated 26″ at the far end. I’ve had some fun re-learning trigonometry in order to close the loop. I expect to commission the road within two weeks and it will include a 43′ straightaway including 11′ pond span and a 60 degree curve leading in to a 15′ diameter reversing loop with a 10′ baseline and a couple of 10′ straight sections to use up some land.

The rest of the fall will be taken up building another reversing loop with a 16′ circle and tying that back to the 43′ straight. That will take a bit of labour as we built an embankment for this last fall before knew the little bit I know now. Most of the embankment is too tight a turn so I’ll be moving several tons of fill a few feet to one side or the other. I’ll send photos when I have track laid.

MIKE MORGAN, ENGLAND Jun 13, 2006
Fred gave me this address, and I am grateful that he did so. There are some very nice looking models, layouts, etc., I look forward to examining it more. Best wishes to all Colonial railfans

GUILFORD GUY Mar 22, 2006
VERYY NICE!!!

BILL HIRST Feb 06, 2006
Hi Fred & Peter! I met you guys at the An Quaich last month and finally getting around to viewing your site found your club card. I like the site and it looks like a fun hobby for you. Hope to see you in Kinston at our next meeting. Cheers!

TOM MATHEWS, ST. PAUL, ALBERTA Feb 03, 2006
After 10 years absent from the breakfast fellowship followed by a great morning at Fred’s .Yes, Fred has found me and is bringing me back into the flock although at a great distance. I look forward to hearing from the gang and will be seeking direction on live steam. After a 10 year absence from G scale, I am returning to the hobby by way of live steam and a Ruby kit.

SVDTIGER AKA BLIND JOHN Dec 01, 2005
Our other friend said it and I will say it again. Thanks much for all you do for the best hobby in the world. Folks like you will always keep it being the best. Very best regards!

PAUL NORTON Nov 16, 2005
There are those that believe that the Pulse Modulation feature of the Train Engineer will harm LGB locomotives. If that is a concern, just flip the switch on the TE to linear DC.

GFBUSHEL, PUTNAM RR, SLEEPY HOLLOW, NY Nov 15, 2005
Surfed through and came across the article on the battery car. Seems simple enough and well written. This makes me more comfortable in “voiding my warrantee”. I have a mixed fleet of engines in service. Both Aristo-Craft and LGB. Thinking of using the AirWire system in 900mhz. I have been told that the TE is not compatible with LGB. Many kids around here have radio controlled cars that use the 27mhz frequency. I’ll have to read more about it on your website.

JOE (PEACEMAKERONE) Aug 21, 2005
Hi there! I just wanted to say what a great web site. A lot of very useful information on your site. I am just starting out and have been buying equipment. I hope to lay track soon. Thanks again for helping me understand a little more about going battery power.

PETERR MILLS, OTTAWA Aug 10, 2005
I can second the motion that the Invasion was great!! In fact so much so Bruce Chandler kidnapped me. Now I am forced to live in Washington, DC. Bruce has treated me very well though exposing me to the Virginia hospitality which includes butterfly bushes and a haven looked after by his beautiful wife Jean.

JOHN SPENCER, FINGER LAKES LIVE STEAMERS Jul 18, 2005
Fred a quick note regarding “The American Invasion Weekend of July 16, 2005. Thank you and all the others for a fantastic weekend, and the demonstration of how successfully a Gauge One railroad can be realistically operated. Just think of the large number of participants that your one layout was able to accommodate Saturday morning! This definitely could not be handled in the “free for all” manner we are presently utilizing with our loop to loop mentality.

Roger and I are definitely convinced, we must get some sidings installed at the Marengo (FLLS) track and introduce a few of the fellows to something new. Thanks again for a truly enjoyable weekend, and we will definitely do it again.

GORD LARABIE, OTTAWA, ONTARIO May 09, 2005
Hi Fred! A very well set up website. The Kadee coupler installation procedures are awesome. As I am new to mounting Kadee couplers on large scale trains, it’s a big help.

MARTY COZAD, NORTH TABLE CREEK GARDEN RAILROAD, NEBRASKA CITY May 03, 2005
Paul, it’s always good so see your tips and well written articles. Thanks for all you do in our great hobby!