Well of course there are the usual train room tools when one is into the train hobby over the long term but what of those invaluable helpers? Let's start with variable size hemostats which can be golden for holding wire(s) for a solder job as when that tiny black wire breaks off taking the train light(s) with it! How about some assorted dental instruments [the ones you can get very cheaply from Pakistan and which many gun users also use]. How about two wooden handle trowels which comes in handy for those who have one or more KW transformers and that old "both arms move when only one is activated" thing and it's time to pop the KW top handles and get out the lubricant or rotary tool sander for some adjustments. Sidebar: I don't know how many times I've read in other train forums where the poster insists that a "special hex tool" [!?] is needed for the KW to get those handles off when in fact they simply LIFT off although it does take some gentle prodding to do so AND using something that ==gently== does the 180 degrees apart lifting so as not to create unwanted indents [if screwdrivers are used] on the bottom of the handles, hence the use of two cheap mason trowels! And then there is a plentiful supply of, no, not thumbtacks but they are generally too small but rather those really neat plastic top "push pins" which can keep those elevated trestles in place or prevent a track from moving around and yes they do come in black color only. And, hey, what about that handy "tack hammer" with its very slender round and square ends that will work quite nicely between 3 railed track! Would you have a box of plastic coated [think electrical insulation!] giant paper clips! Ohhh yes! You easily shape them with your fingers, insert into the rail holes, twist them up to tighten and the rail is secured to its partner rail. The "giant" clips simply provide more length than the standard size paper clip.
Let's see, what else --- what about this --- I venture to say that the vast majority of large train layouts find their home in the basement. Problem: basement areas are notorious for two things, humidity issues [especially with the change of seasons] and the bane of virtually any electrical device, oxidation! The "miracle worker" here [although this is strictly IMO and so-stated] is a can of Deoxit ®! This stuff really works! It's available in both an "adjustable spray" or a brush-on [with built-in applicator akin to a woman's nail polish bottle]. I've used it on my amateur radio gear [K2AJL] and on my trains [and countless other electrical devices] with excellent results! Oxidation can reek havoc on electrical devices and, worse, the problem is NOT, I'm here to tell you, "always visible" ! I've had train enthusiast colleagues over the years tell me, "Ohhh, you can always spot oxidation issues and that telltale brownish gunk around the solder point ... " -- I respectfully disagree! You can NOT "always spot oxidation" and, indeed, all too often, you may not have a clear 360 degree view of the solder. Deoxit is VERY effective on circuit boards too [chips inclusive] be that computers or train board modules! The trick when using this chemical is patience! Give it some time to effectively work and do its thing! Sometimes, yes, the results can be very quick but there are also times that it can take overnight! -- Doc Tony
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