(UPDATED) The 48 Club *** Announcing Division 59 Membership ***

I am looking to turn my 32"x84" into a 2 level trolley layout.  I have read that the trolleys can do a little steeper grade than a loco, but how steep can they go?  If I use the entire length of the 7' side I should be able to get high enough, correct?

@Diverging Clear posted:

I like the car design with the logo. I have a oval set up on a 4 x 7.5 foot table so I can run something, until I get the room done, where my actual layout will be located. After that, I plan on making the 4 x 7.5 a small HO layout.

Rusty

Rusty, you brought back a memory of me when I wore a much younger "kids" clothes. Tip Toed in the hobby shop, with my grandpa, buying my first HO Diesel (guess it was a Geep. although I did not know it then) The box was cool, the engine was Blue with Yellow stripes and had wheels and wheels and wheels and wheels. It pulled a short consist effortlessly. I cut boxes and colored them like buildings. Fun Times. Thanks for the memory Rusty. Papa was my Hero.

Looking forward to photos. <smile>

@Coca Cola guy posted:

I am looking to turn my 32"x84" into a 2 level trolley layout.  I have read that the trolleys can do a little steeper grade than a loco, but how steep can they go?  If I use the entire length of the 7' side I should be able to get high enough, correct?

What you can do with a trolley really depends on what type it is.  Some of the smaller ones can barely get out of their own way - small grades and sharp curves can stymie them.  The length of your layout should be sufficient for them to climb the grade, but it would be a good idea to test it first before committing to a design.

@Mallard4468 posted:

What you can do with a trolley really depends on what type it is.  Some of the smaller ones can barely get out of their own way - small grades and sharp curves can stymie them.  The length of your layout should be sufficient for them to climb the grade, but it would be a good idea to test it first before committing to a design.

So could i scrounge myself a trolly with a motor-e-unit assembly from the lost 2025 engine parts and a plastic model of a , ummmm, street car? Hmmmmm OR Volkswagon Flower Power Van from dayz gone by? Hmmmmm, Bumpers, need bumpers....let me reach out to Evil Scientist, bet he has done that kitbash under the hood. <grin>

@Coca Cola guy posted:

I am looking to turn my 32"x84" into a 2 level trolley layout.  I have read that the trolleys can do a little steeper grade than a loco, but how steep can they go?  If I use the entire length of the 7' side I should be able to get high enough, correct?

Sorry I don't have an answer to your trolley question, but I have another one. How are you guys getting the logo in your signature? I don't see any way to upload an image from your computer. I would like to use the tinplate version I made.

@Will posted:

Sorry I don't have an answer to your trolley question, but I have another one. How are you guys getting the logo in your signature? I don't see any way to upload an image from your computer. I would like to use the tinplate version I made.

Use this for your source code. Just remove the two asterisks from the start:

**https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/fileSendAction/fcType/0/fcOid/154026430976643495/filePointer/154307983661517250/fodoid/154307983661517244/imageType/LARGE/inlineImage/true/48-club-tinplate-chapter.jpg

@Will posted:

How are you guys getting the logo in your signature? I don't see any way to upload an image from your computer. I would like to use the tinplate version I made.

It took me a while to figure that one out too. I just right click on the logo you have in your post and copy it, go to your profile and click edit, go down to your signature and paste it in there. If it's too big left click on it to highlight it, you can then pull it into the size you want by clicking and holding one of the little squares that will appear on the corners.

Jerry

@Coca Cola guy, @baltimoretrainworks Got it!

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Shaken, not stirred... ;-)

Mitch

(now we need a 1:48 Sean Connery...)

As an amateur mixologist I hate to say this but shaken is a big no-no when it comes to Martinis. It introduces bubbles and ice chips that can make it appear cloudy, plus shaking it causes a faster dilution of the drink. But since the drink is really nothing more than a big slug of liquor some like the more diluted taste, so to each his own!

Jerry

@baltimoretrainworks posted:

It would , just trying to show the most decorated car of the consist. But since you brought it up...

The number 485? Well 48 for the club and it's 5 o'clock somewhere. Now what would be your adult beverage of choice back in the day ? Me? Martini with 2 olives, since Jack and Coke hadn't been invented yet.

Jerry

“Back in the day”, in no particular order... A shot of fine Irish sippin’ whiskey, a Bacardi Cocktail (straight up), or a daiquiri.

Hello all, I am relatively new to the hobby and the board. I always liked model trains but never got the opportunity to get into them when young. My son loves them so we have been running a pair of lionchiefs on our "carpet layout" for the last few years. This past December I built both mine & his first ever layout, and in true newbie fashion its a 4x8. It may not be the grandest layout, but it captures the essence of the amateur modeler, making the best of what we have to work with. I think this is the true spirit of the 4x8.

I'm still working on a major update for the backside of the layout that you could say is a "work of art". It has been time consuming, but once done I'll update all you 48ers.

Now in regards to the 48 club, I think its genius! And I only have one thing to say, I WANT IN! 

@Penn Flyer posted:

Hello all, I am relatively new to the hobby and the board. I always liked model trains but never got the opportunity to get into them when young. My son loves them so we have been running a pair of lionchiefs on our "carpet layout" for the last few years. This past December I built both mine & his first ever layout, and in true newbie fashion its a 4x8. It may not be the grandest layout, but it captures the spirit of the amateur modeler, making the best of what we have to work with. I think this is the true spirit of the 4x8.

I'm still working on a major update for the backside of the layout that you could say is a "work of art". It has been time consuming, but once done I'll update all you 48ers.

Now in regards to the 48 club, I think its genius! And I only have one thing to say, I WANT IN! 

Love it- great track plan- true 4x8. Very nicely made table as well. Are the controls in a drawer? I would say you are in in spades.

@Will posted:

Love it- great track plan- true 4x8. Very nicely made table as well. Are the controls in a drawer? I would say you are in in spades.

Thanks for the kind words! I spent a lot of time planning and thinking of how I wanted it, prior to the build. You are correct, I have the controls in a drawer. I like the aesthetic of the controls being hidden when unused and also not taking up precious space on the 4x8.

Miggy, glad I could bring back some nice memories of you with your Grandpa. Have fun with the club.

Rusty

@Penn Flyer posted:

Thanks for the kind words! I spent a lot of time planning and thinking of how I wanted it, prior to the build. You are correct, I have the controls in a drawer. I like the aesthetic of the controls being hidden when unused and also not taking up precious space on the 4x8.

Awesome layout!  May I ask--what radius fasttrack did you use for your little trolley layout? 036?

@Penn Flyer posted:

Hello all, I am relatively new to the hobby and the board. I always liked model trains but never got the opportunity to get into them when young. My son loves them so we have been running a pair of lionchiefs on our "carpet layout" for the last few years. This past December I built both mine & his first ever layout, and in true newbie fashion its a 4x8. It may not be the grandest layout, but it captures the essence of the amateur modeler, making the best of what we have to work with. I think this is the true spirit of the 4x8.

Wow, that's just Sa=weeeeeeeet, Drawer and the natural glow of the wood frame makes great eye and running appeal. Well done and thanks for the share. Makes me smile

@baltimoretrainworks posted:

It took me a while to figure that one out too. I just right click on the logo you have in your post and copy it, go to your profile and click edit, go down to your signature and paste it in there. If it's too big left click on it to highlight it, you can then pull it into the size you want by clicking and holding one of the little squares that will appear on the corners.

Jerry

Thanks for that, Mitch gave me guidance and we sorted out that Win 10x running Chrome browser helps. Linux Mint with Firefox was a little picky and did not like the easy Kitteh n mouse. err, drag n drop

Penn Flyer, You and your son have a first rate 4x8!!  I really like that drawer!

I have an 8x4 holiday layout.  I was thinking about starting my own club called the "84 Club".  Who's in?   LOL! 

Just kidding guys.  I've moved passed the 4x8 for now at least.  Maybe sometime in the future again. 

@pdxtrains posted:

Awesome layout!  May I ask--what radius fasttrack did you use for your little trolley layout? 036?

Thanks again everyone for the compliments and comments on our new layout! It was a lot of work, but worth it. For the trolley line I am using all O-31 curves (mixture of full and quarter curves). I also have the trolley announcement straight along the station for it to make its stops, which is a crowd pleaser.

@MartyE posted:

I have an 8x4 holiday layout.  I was thinking about starting my own club called the "84 Club".  Who's in?   LOL!

Just kidding guys.  I've moved passed the 4x8 for now at least.  Maybe sometime in the future again.

Do I have to stand mine on its side to qualify?

So we moved into our new house last February.  I've got a 10 x 13 train room.  When all the other work, unpacking, and settling in finally ended some time in October I began to formulate how to get the most out of the space.  I was thinking around the walls instead of island.  Well the CEO just made it clear that another move is in our future so I'll be moving some boxes out of the way and setting up a 4 x 8 so I can run some trains.  May I be granted membership now or will I have to wait until I've got tracks on plywood?

Having a t-shirt made.  Will post the results once I get it.

@coach joe posted:

So we moved into our new house last February.  I've got a 10 x 13 train room.  When all the other work, unpacking, and settling in finally ended some time in October I began to formulate how to get the most out of the space.  I was thinking around the walls instead of island.  Well the CEO just made it clear that another move is in our future so I'll be moving some boxes out of the way and setting up a 4 x 8 so I can run some trains.  May I be granted membership now or will I have to wait until I've got tracks on plywood?

Throw a track plan together and post it Joe.

Provisional membership could be a thing.

` OK, I'll look stupid.  Is there a link to join the 48, and crappy basement layout??    

Thank you, Melvin

I just grabbed the logo after Jerry said if you have or had a 4x8, you’re in.

@Nucci posted:

My 4x8, a work in progress (to say the least). First is original layout. Second image hard to see: Two more spurs added near cross, and long spur was converted to a passing siding. Third image: No basement, and no extra rooms to take over for trains, so i hung it off the garage ceiling. Lower (and raise it) with pulley hoist onto sawhorses, so a little tedious. Otoh, wiring relatively easy.

love the art deco logo of the 48 club!
Mark

Maybe the best solution to the dilemma so many of us face. I love this, thanks for sharing this! 😎👏

@Melvin P posted:

` OK, I'll look stupid.  Is there a link to join the 48, and crappy basement layout??    

Thank you, Melvin

For the 48 club, this is it.  We need photos though.

Well I for one am happy that you both cleared that question up and made entry so available to us 48 wannabes. 😊

Here are a couple arial views of my 48er. Typical California space restraints in our small extra bedroom.

@Coca Cola guy posted:

Having a t-shirt made.  Will post the results once I get it.

Cool, I'm working on a polo shirt thru Vistaprint and possibly a hat.

Jerry

@WRW posted:

Maybe the best solution to the dilemma so many of us face. I love this, thanks for sharing this! 😎👏

Thanks WRW. Took a few more pics in case they might be helpful or generate other ideas for our 48 Club brethren and cognoscenti.  I’m sure someone on the forum can, or already has, come up with a more “elegant” solution for this dilemma. With a nod to macgyver, i used what was laying around. 😁

Basic 2x3 frame with 1/4” plywood to keep it lightweight.

inside corner bracing L bracket. The bolts go through the 2x3 into two outside L brackets

Along the 8’ side one bracket at each end attaches via a strong carabiner to chain lagged into the ceiling joist above. Big loop on carabiner allows for easy attachment after raising layout. Wanted to store it hanging off something sturdy, not the pulleys.

4’ side has a bracket at each end bolted to chain. Chains are joined by a removable small shackle to bottom pulley. Side chains are left a little long to adjust balance, in case you add a heavy accessory to the layout. You can see log loader above.

here it is being raised/lowered. A hoist with multiple pulleys gives great mechanical of course; makes it light enough that the “CEO” can help me with the other end. You can see carabiners and suspending chains.  The small shackle is removed after lowering, and pulleys raised so they are out of the way.                        

btw: in a sense, this is a tribute to my dad (He worked for the NY Central way back) He built a second wall as a layout platform in front of his workshop in our basement that pivoted down like a murphy bed. Everything was attached to the road bed platform, even the ZW. There’s another “space saving” idea someone might consider. 🤔

Mark

I don't know if this qualifies

All of my recent railroad work has been in the form of a diorama such as this one and, as you can see, the area works out to an equivalent of 4x8. 

Although I’m a standard gauge guy  this club of yours is fantastic. !! The members, the thread and logo are top notch .  I can see this going on forever .  And I want to be apart of it .  Here are a few photos of my old cookie cutter figure 8  Christmas layout . Which I still have standing up in my shop .  The track is all GarGraves , 042 curves and two custom cut straights .  I strictly ran a Bowser trolley that I customized , it has a center pantograph and it did run off of my homemade catenary system .   Cheers .

Love it!  Especially the working catenary! 

Mitch

Made progress on the layout, and yet, apparently when you hit the 3D button in SCARM, circles and switches turns in to buildings and apparently an airport

@JohnnieWalker posted:

How did you do the stonework, looks perfect !

Jerry

Johnie, That layout looks great!  It’s a super 48!!

I've been working up some ideas for shirts and hats since Coca Cola guy is making a t-shirt up, Vistaprint does nice work but they are a bit pricey, $50 for a polo shirt and $17 for a cotton baseball cap.

The quality of their embroidery is pretty good.

Smaller logo vs the largest logo they can put on the shirt, I think the smaller one looks better.

Matching baseball cap.

Alternate design.

I'm not planning on having these made up for sale but if anyone wants to get one made up on their own I could send you the logo files. My e-mail is in my profile. I am still kicking around the idea of a membership card that I will send out to anyone who wants one, just have to come up with a decent design for it.

And stay tuned ....

(hint)

Jerry

@baltimoretrainworks posted:

How did you do the stonework, looks perfect !

Jerry

Hi Jerry and thanks for the compliment. . What you see on the finished figure 8 walls was painted on by me .  I think I used 3 or 4 different color paints to achieve the finished look .  I have given thought to reviving that old set . It all started as an experiment to see if I could actually make my own a live catenary.