NEW PURCHASE UPDATE!
Over the weekend I received 4 Lionel Spirit of 76 boxcars with one of them already being in my collection so I now have two New Jersey boxcars. Despite doubling up on the one car, the value was still very acceptable. 
Picked up my tickets from Grzyboski’s earlier today for the Allentown First Frost Train Meet. Several others were coming in for tickets too. This will be my first time going to the Allentown show. Safe travels to anyone going! 
Have a great time at Allentown!
@Mark Boyce posted:Have a great time at Allentown!
Thanks Mark! I had a blast as usual! This is another show you definitely need to make plans on attending.
NEW PURCHASE UPDATE!
Today was my first time going to the First Frost Train Meet in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Excellent sized show! I had a blast like I usually do! I saw many deals, a few I passed over and went back for just to find out they were sold. I did pick up this Menards Morton Salt covered hopper and the entire Spirit of 76 set I spotted under a table and for a price I couldn’t walk away from.(Yes I have doubles of a few boxcars and one triple now LoL) This is a show I’ll be sure to attend in the future. A few nice layouts on display along with train races for the kids! First time ever witnessing that! Definitely put a big smile on my face watching the kids all enjoying the hobby. 
Nice additions Rich, enjoy.
Andy
NEW PURCHASE UPDATE!
I simply just had to have these vehicles from Menards. Great quality for an incredible value! 
I guess it’s safe to say that I am phasing out the matchbox vehicles I was planning to continue using on the layout. It all started with that one FREE Menards Morton Salt pickup truck I received with an eBay order. Sometimes a sample is all it takes LoL.
UPDATE #17
It’s been awhile since any progress has been done with the layout. With the winter temperatures setting in, that will be changing.
Today I drilled holes next to all my 022 switches so I can run the fixed voltage plug wire along with the wires for the switch controllers. I’ve never used the fixed voltage plug before since I only had one switch so this is a new venture for me. I also made 12 inch wire drops for each fixed voltage plug. I’ll be connecting them with Wago wire connectors. That’s all the progress for now. 
Looks great! I like those Wago connectors.
NEW PURCHASE UPDATE!
Last week I received this custom patriotic M&Ms boxcar. I missed out on a similar one over the summer so I contacted the eBay seller and they kindly made me another one. 
NEW PURCHASE UPDATE!
On December 3rd I went to the Taylor Hose & Engine Company’s Trains, Die Cast Toys and Railroad Memorabilia Christmas Show in Taylor, Pennsylvania. It was packed!! Great little show as always. Unfortunately, this is my last train show on my calendar for this year. I picked up a Lionel Uncle Sam’s boxcar, MTH Norfolk Southern tanker, and a Lionel sign I couldn’t refuse the price on. 
I picked up a new locomotive last week too!!!! LoL $2 at Party City.
Yesterday I also got a Christmas cookie tin with a train on it. Pretty cool! My mom found it at Walmart I believe. Great find mom! Thanks!
NEW PURCHASE UPDATE!
Happy New Year Everyone!
Right before Christmas I made a trip to Grzyboski’s and picked up a really nice ceramic Railroad Station and 3 short sections of tubular track. I already need to glue the one lamppost due to my clumsiness. On a side note, I’ve never seen Grzyboski’s so packed with customers of all ages! It was great! Plus they have some wonderful decorations on display. I only took one photo of the one inflatable train. 
Next up is train I purchased at a local hardware store during their one day after Christmas 50% off sale! LoL 
Merry (belated) Christmas Everyone!
Rich, I always liked looking at what Grzyboski’s had for sale at the Monroeville Greenberg shows. I often bought something. They don’t come to the show anymore, which I can’t blame them since it is quite a distance.
NEW PURCHASE UPDATE!
I went to a few Tractor Supply stores while out over the holidays traveling. I was able to find a few different trucks but no red Mack crane truck or any bucket trucks unfortunately. I’m still very pleased with my finds all at 40% off! Thanks again @Mooner for sharing the tip!
@Mark Boyce posted:Rich, I always liked looking at what Grzyboski’s had for sale at the Monroeville Greenberg shows. I often bought something. They don’t come to the show anymore, which I can’t blame them since it is quite a distance.
Mark this is even more of a reason to attend York!! LoL. They always have a huge selection!
NEW PURCHASE UPDATE!
So I ended out the year with a few larger purchases from Menards. I took advantage of the recent deal with the FREE National Light and Power deal and I ordered the Tide Plant, Gamer and Thrones building, and the Sprecher Brewery. The second National Light and Power building is going to my buddy who’s a fellow forum member and the other is going up for sale. 
I also ordered the M&Ms warehouse, a dealer pack of Dodge Ram pickup trucks, several diecast vehicles along with the Tide covered hopper, Save Big Money boxcar, the Green M&Ms boxcar, Skittles hopper, and the M&Ms bus on the flatcar. I also grabbed a dealer pack of 6 covered hoppers and a dealer pack with 4 flatcars carrying dodge power wagons and sweptsides. 
Here’s an overall photo of the 4 orders I ended out the year with. Several items have been crossed off my list so it’s progress LoL! 
Onto 2023 with my growing collection and rebuild!
Wow! What a haul!!
Great pick ups. I remember a member on the forum converted the Gamer and Thrones into a road house bar, replacing the throne with a draft beer.
Thanks @Mark Boyce and @Jim M Sr! Jim now you have me debating on not selling the third National Power and Light building and using it for other purposes.
Creative thought can change even the most financially prudent intentions🤷♂️
NEW PURCHASE UPDATE!
New year new buy! This is one of the more expensive purchases I’ve made thus far. For those of you following my recent purchases, the Menards collection I’ve been slowly purchasing is still in the works just on the back burner for the moment. The same gentleman had a brand new, never used TCA 40th anniversary ABA set along with 8 of the 9 cars to complete the set. He’s still checking the collection he’s selling off for the final City of Dallas car. This TCA set has been on my list for some time and the shape of the boxes are simply incredible! He also included a really nicely detailed KLine Conrail gondola with a scrap load for FREE!! What a wonderful guy I’m forming a great train friendship with! Thanks again Dean!!
NEW PURCHASE UPDATE!
I feel like I just robbed a toy store!!!
There’s a new Tractor Supply store that just opened near me after having its grand opening day pushed back from the beginning of December. They had the toy isle fully stocked for the holidays with massive markdowns! I didn’t leave one truck behind! Still no bucket trucks found at any of my local stores.
NEW PURCHASE UPDATE!
Well I stopped by the same Tractor Supply store and grabbed these 3 Silverados with each having different Kubota equipment. These were also heavily discounted.
NEW PURCHASE UPDATE!
Since I couldn’t find the bucket truck at any of the local Tractor Supply stores, I went and fished the Bay. Found myself an older release bucket truck and I also came across a pole auger truck. These crews will be busy with the upcoming town development! 
Wow Rich, you really picked up a ton of vehicles, etc. Do you have someplace in mind or a plan as to how to show them off, shelving or actually on the layout? Very impressive collection.
Andy
@Steamfan77 posted:Wow Rich, you really picked up a ton of vehicles, etc. Do you have someplace in mind or a plan as to how to show them off, shelving or actually on the layout? Very impressive collection.
Andy
Thanks Andy! I’ll end up using some on the layout, one or two will get put on the side for changing up scenes, a few dump trucks might go to a local train club for a coal breaker scene, and the remaining few vehicles might end up for sale on the forum with Free York pickup.
Rich, great plan, I see that you’re thinking ahead, well thought out.
Andy
I’m beginning to sense York!
So after speaking of York yesterday, I received 4 meet notices later that evening!! They must really want me there! LoL
Rich, They really need you to attend! They heard you have lots of disposable income! 😉
@Mark Boyce posted:Rich, They really need you to attend! They heard you have lots of disposable income! 😉
LOL! As mentioned in another thread about the notices, we believe the EDTCA has been monitoring my massive influx of purchases.
@Richizzle07 posted:LOL! As mentioned in another thread about the notices, we believe the EDTCA has been monitoring my massive influx of purchases.
LOL
UPDATE # 18
With the holidays over and everything starting to calm down again, I’m able to get back to working in the train room.
I started with the prep work for painting the train room. I know I know, I should have done this first and I’m already regretting having the benchwork completed in the closet. This won’t be fun but the outcome will be well worth it, hopefully. Painting isn’t one of my talents either LoL.
I did some patch work in the closet and painted the closet ceiling. I’m going with a Sky Blue paint color for the train room walls along with the closet walls. The train room ceiling isn’t being done and will remain white. Once again, I really don’t like painting. LoL 
Hey, it’s better now than later! My guess is there are few on this or any other forum who haven’t gotten ahead of ourselves. When we realize we should have done something first to stop and consider correcting the problem like you are doing.
Rich, I’m with Mark. At least you’re addressing this now. I think we’ve all gotten ahead of ourselves at one point or another.
Andy
@Mark Boyce posted:Hey, it’s better now than later! My guess is there are few on this or any other forum who haven’t gotten ahead of ourselves. When we realize we should have done something first to stop and consider correcting the problem like you are doing.
@Steamfan77 posted:Rich, I’m with Mark. At least you’re addressing this now. I think we’ve all gotten ahead of ourselves at one point or another.
Andy
Thanks Mark and Andy! This isn’t the first time I’ve gotten ahead of myself and I’m sure it won’t be my last time either LoL. This also tends to happen when my plans are constantly evolving with learning new stuff from this forum nearly daily. I just keep imagining the final product, which looks marvelous in my head LoL.
My layout is a classic example! I put up the backdrop after the benchwork, though I knew better. One section needs to be removed and more sky needs cut off because I built a hill that covers the trees. I planned the hill from the beginning. Duh! And two easier to reach sections of backdrop aren’t even painted yet. Also, I’m calling my latest revision ‘Plan E’. Software folk would call it Ver 5.0. 😆😆😆
Today marks my one year anniversary with OGR! It’s been a great year and I’m so thankful for all the wonderful information, awesome sponsors, and the extraordinarily talented and generous members this forum provides! There’s no better place! One year down with many more to follow. Thank You Everyone and Thank You OGR! 
I’m glad you are here, Rich! 👍🏻👍🏻
🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉💥💥💥💥💥
@Mark Boyce posted:I’m glad you are here, Rich! 👍🏻👍🏻
@Mark V. Spadaro posted:🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉💥💥💥💥💥
Thanks Mark and Mark and everyone that clicked like! This truly is an incredible forum!
To celebrate, I went and got 2 gallons of paint from Sherwin Williams. My uncle actually grabbed them using his company discount. Thanks again Uncle Bobby! I went with the color Vast Sky instead of Sky Blue. It’s a little less toned down in brightness and I’m thinking It’ll look better, especially with the snow scene on the top level. Now onto the dreadful part of applying the paint to the train room walls. I just have to keep thinking of the finished product!
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