23c 9-21-2016
More On New Addition Train Board with Videos revised 4-2-2024
Fellows thanks for the responses. Ace- years ago I did a write up on the original layout and submitted to CTT. They are interested in bigger layouts or more scale like or what ever. I thought of starting this running post on how I started small and added a little each year for 30 or so years that others may get encouraged start, even it means just drawing plans and picking up used track, switches, engines, buildings etc if they have no space or a little space under the bed !
Conrail5056- I used to go to TCA train meets in Shreveport when I lived in east Texas. TCA has a twice per year meet in Ponchatoula, LA since Katrina flooded out the New Orleans TCA meets. That is about the only show l go to now as I quit going to Houston and other far a way meets and GATS shows.
As I stated I hope to inspire others, who plan and dream and save for that big great layout, to just get a small plan that is expandable and portable and get started. I never planned on having more than 4 used cheap engines and started with just few Marx switches and used 027 track and make something to run at Christmas for the kids. I usually had a punch list from the Christmas running as access to under the layout is impossible when on the floor and some projects could not be gotten to during the winter. I then forget about trains until November or so and made corrections and additions at that time for the coming Christmas. I would hit trains shows when I could in the winter. Trains were just one of my interests that include kids activities, repairing the house, yard work, boating and water skiing, tennis, golf, shop, tools and vintage stereos. I found limiting train interest to a few winter months kept me from losing interest allow train enjoyment to span 30 plus years.
Only recently have I added more trains and accessories, added the layout addition and built a garage/train/stereo man cave ! Since the train room is air conditioned and shop and garage are not, trains get more attention in the summer. Being retired now has also helped.
A recent photo of the overall L shaped layout with New Addition. I see another project to paint the background on the tunnel that was added when two sections of background were removed to open up the room view.
View from control panels, 1 operator, or 2 or 3, one for each LW trans. Small TV monitor for x-10camera car for engineer. The TV feed also goes to a larger 55" flat screen TV on the wall to the right.
View of backside of New Addition
Here is a 2016 video of the layout operating in the new train room with the new addition.
Here is video of the new addition Dog Bone being run with a hybrid Marx 1998 inners with a Lionel NW 2 cut down shell. This is my fastest running loco for the tight Oval and figure 8 and Dog Bone. This run is possible with the Active Layout Plan Control Board allowing fast switching of the Marx 1590 track switches.
I do not know why my videos show the trains running much faster than they actually were running.
Charlie
