train table Archives - The Silicon Underground

Get more transformer outputs by using a grounding bus bar

Dave Farquhar — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 12:00:35 +0000

Train transformers have one pair of screws for each output, which is generally enough for a simple layout, but once you have more than one accessory or building with lights in it, you’ll find it’s difficult to attach all of

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How to build a simple, inexpensive train table

Dave Farquhar — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 11:00:43 +0000

Building a train table doesn’t have to be a difficult or expensive proposition, but I realized this week I’ve never talked about how to go about doing it. Here’s how to build a simple, inexpensive train table. I built my tables

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How to light the underside of your train table

Dave Farquhar — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 11:00:00 +0000

There are few things worse than fumbling around in the dark under a train layout. So I mounted a ceiling-mount light socket underneath my train table to create a work light so that I could see when I’m working on

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Finding a connection to my Dad in a suburban St. Louis estate

Dave Farquhar — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 11:00:55 +0000

Yesterday I wrote about my greatest estate sale find ever. Well, the very same month as that one, I found another estate sale featuring a Lionel 1110 locomotive, which happened to be my Dad’s first train. So of course I

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How to move a train table on an unfinished, concrete basement floor

Dave Farquhar — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:40:29 +0000

I had to move my train table recently. No, I didn’t have the foresight to put wheels on it. So I had to resort to using furniture movers. After putting the fuzzy protectors on them, they glide fine on the

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On being a dad

Dave Farquhar — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 19:10:55 +0000

Jeff Pearlman has a Father’s Day sermon. He doesn’t hold back. And he has a point. I’ve got no room to preach. But I guess I can talk about being a dad. I try. When I told the friend who

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How to lower your train accessories into your table

Dave Farquhar — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 13:58:33 +0000

One of the first articles I remember reading in a train magazine (I don’t remember if it was Classic Toy Trains or a competing rag) was titled “Put your accessories in pockets.” Basically, it advocated cutting holes in your table,

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Buy wooden trains cheap

Dave Farquhar — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 02:56:31 +0000

My son likes wooden trains. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, since I like the bigger metal (and sometimes plastic) trains that run on O gauge track. The downside to Brio and Learning Curve (Thomas) trains is that sometimes they seem to cost nearly as much as Lionel, even though they're essentially carved blocks of wood.

There are several ways to save money on them, however.

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A more permanent home for Dad’s Lionel

Dave Farquhar — Sun, 18 Jan 2004 07:46:42 +0000

Gatermann and I spent the afternoon building a train table. I started building one about a month ago but got too busy to finish it. Today was the day I'd set aside to get some work done on it.

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