Lets share our model railroad projects that we are working on and the progress made during this time of social distancing and isolation

I think you'll be happy with your new office and layout space, Greg, it looks great. It's also nice to see some of your nice collection out of storage, too!

Rusty

Very modest compared to what others have accomplished, but I finally bit the bullet and decided to part with some of the boxes (with a lot of urging from my sweetie).  Starting with car boxes, I'm discarding the foam / molded plastic inserts and flattening the box.  May also start doing that with lower-value loco boxes.

I'm keeping a few inserts and using them to keep things raised off the basement floor.

I'd post pictures, but the before / after difference is depressingly minor.  But it's a step in the right direction.

Was home most of last week, but with a stomach bug that was quite unpleasant.  For the most part the wife and I are trying to do some spring cleaning without the kids going crazy.   

The one thing I did start was some work on a mth girl's 263e.  It was in much worse condition electronically than the seller realized.  I reached out to Midge at mth. The wiring harnesses in the tender are scary bad and the speaker mount was cracked.   The drawbar needed replacement, no problem there, but then the tender end was also damaged,  which isn't a normal lhs ready part.

Fortunately before I realized it was so bad I did successfully load it into the remote,and it ran a few feet.  I am going to put in a new speaker as well just because I have it ripped apart. 

My job has been noted as an "Essential Business" by the Governor of Illinois (where my office is located) so although I am still working from home (which I did before this virus), I still have to be on the road occasionally.  Leaving for Buffalo, NY, likely today.  Driving, with a couple of audiobooks to listen to on the way there and back. 

On a plus note, I am driving down to PA on my way back and picking up 80 lbs of aluminum.  Figured since I was so close, I could pick it up instead of having it shipped.  Will post photos of the aluminum later.  

NWL

Decided I need a bridge for the upper level, it seems to be turning out well.

Finished my winterized scenic plot. ( Allan Miller check your OGR email)

picked up a 2025 shell at a junk store, and I already have four complete 675 types, so I wanted to do something different. I picked up a 225E shell a long time ago with a broken out cab window, so out came the saw...

picked up a cheap 675 motor, added another set of drivers and spur gear

and now I have a 2-8-2. Still need to do some more tweaking.Planning on building a Vandy tender for it.

and it runs on O27 curves like the 4-8-4 I built.

Nation Wide Lines posted:

My job has been noted as an "Essential Business" by the Governor of Illinois (where my office is located) so although I am still working from home (which I did before this virus), I still have to be on the road occasionally.  Leaving for Buffalo, NY, likely today.  Driving, with a couple of audiobooks to listen to on the way there and back. 

On a plus note, I am driving down to PA on my way back and picking up 80 lbs of aluminum.  Figured since I was so close, I could pick it up instead of having it shipped.  Will post photos of the aluminum later.  

NWL

So traveling is definitely different.  Stopped at a 123 room hotel that has only 10 occupied rooms, as of 8 pm EST, myself included.  

NWL

Been photographing and listing my Modern Marx collection. A bit over 400 items in the inventory.

Steve

I began working on the Ophir, Colorado, module of my Rio Grande On30 narrow gauge diorama the third week of January. I work four hours a day. I forgot how much fun it is to work with O Scale wood kits. The metal roof and sides require Goo for proper adherence. With Engine House Hobbies, Gaithersburg MD closed, I had to resort to Amazon. I got 10 tubes of Goo from a hobby shop in West Springfield OR in three days with free shipping!

That's Rio Grande Class K-37 2-8-2 No. 497 in the first image. It was rebuilt from a standard gauge locomotive in the 1920s. It still runs today on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway.

If this virus shutdown persists into the summer, I have another wood kit, Rio Grande's station at Tennessee Pass, in the "on deck" circle...and I'll have the Goo I need.

Rick Wright posted:

I began working on the Ophir, Colorado, module of my Rio Grande On30 narrow gauge diorama the third week of January. I work four hours a day. I forgot how much fun it is to work with O Scale wood kits. The metal roof and sides require Goo for proper adherence. With Engine House Hobbies, Gaithersburg MD closed, I had to resort to Amazon. I got 10 tubes of Goo from a hobby shop in West Springfield OR in three days with free shipping!

That's Rio Grande Class K-37 2-8-2 No. 497 in the first image. It was rebuilt from a standard gauge locomotive in the 1920s. It still runs today on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway.

If this virus shutdown persists into the summer, I have another wood kit, Rio Grande's station at Tennessee Pass, in the "on deck" circle...and I'll have the Goo I need.

Beautiful kit, who makes it? Thanks for sharing 

Some progress with my ASM washing facility...

SANTIAGOP23 posted:

Some progress with my ASM washing facility...

That's a really nice washing system.  What are the rollers made from?

Thanks everyone.  It looks like there are some very interesting, fun and worthwhile projects being worked on.  I hope that those who have posted already will keep us updated on the progress that they make.  And if you are thinking of posting, please do. No progress on the Northwoods Flyer Office yet today, but there is still time.  

I have posted these photos earlier; if I run out of things to do in the office I can start work in the train room.

Northwoods Flyer

Greg

Looking forward to seeing the collection filling the room, Greg.

Steamer posted:

picked up a 2025 shell at a junk store, and I already have four complete 675 types, so I wanted to do something different. I picked up a 225E shell a long time ago with a broken out cab window, so out came the saw...

picked up a cheap 675 motor, added another set of drivers and spur gear

and now I have a 2-8-2. Still need to do some more tweaking.Planning on building a Vandy tender for it.

and it runs on O27 curves like the 4-8-4 I built.

 

This looks very interesting . Keep us posted on your progress ! Never seen anyone doing anything like that .

Thanks Ron. I made a 4-8-4 a few years ago form a pair of junk 1666 shells.

I was finally able to add scenery to my yard area this weekend. Stay safe everyone and take care!

SANTIAGOP23, IRT your question, both O kits (depot and tramway) were made by Banta Model Works. I got the depot at Denver's Caboose Hobbies sometime in the early 21st century and the tramway at a store in Durango in June '15. 

Rick Wright posted:

SANTIAGOP23, IRT your question, both O kits (depot and tramway) were made by Banta Model Works. I got the depot at Denver's Caboose Hobbies sometime in the early 21st century and the tramway at a store in Durango in June '15. 

Thanks for the reply! I've been looking at Banta for a couple of projects myself!

Bossman284 posted:

SANTIAGOP23 posted:

Some progress with my ASM washing facility...

That's a really nice washing system.  What are the rollers made from?

Some kind of rough cloth? Don't know, they came with the models. Check them out at American scale models. Bill Davis is a treasure!

No major projects but I started cleaning the tracks and layout. 

Installed one of Al’s turntables and working on a Dennis Brennan roundhouse.

Been working on an Ameritowne kit for a new siding on the layout. The building is painted and I'm working on some interior lighting now. Just ordered some exterior lights from Evan's Designs today.

Wow, there are some really great projects posted in this thread!  Thanks, Greg, for getting this started...and everyone else for sharing what you’ve been working on.

Unfortunately, my train-related “project” over the past couple weeks is a bit more somber and certainly not as fun as what’s been posted here so far.

The backstory is that approximately 10-11 years ago or so I built a very small (but action-packed!) 4’ X 5’ layout for my then 4-year old son in the only available space we had—a small corner of our unfinished basement.  We even gave our little empire a name: the WIHABL Railroad...which was an acronym for Wish I Had A Bigger Layout.

We had a great time for a few years working on and playing with the layout, but as my son grew older he started to lose interest in trains.  He’s nearly 16 now, a really great kid and very smart to boot...but trains aren’t his thing, and I’m good with that.

So that brings me to what I’ve been working on during this COVID-19 pandemic: dismantling the WIHABL Railroad.  Truth is I’ve been meaning to do it for several years now, but just couldn’t bring myself to actually do it.  It’s time.  Life moves on.

I’ve been exposed to toy trains since I was an infant, and have been collecting trains for well over 30 years.  Like so many of us here, I’ve amassed (some might say hoarded!) a very large amount of trains and train-related items.

Taking our layout apart has really got me thinking about where I go from here with this great hobby.  Quite a bit of reflecting over the couple weeks.  What’s the next I keep asking myself.  Do I really need—or want—all this stuff anymore?  

I have started to sell off a large quantity of items, but I still don’t have the answers to all of my questions yet.  We shall see.  In the meantime, I look forward to seeing all the great stuff you’re all working on!

Here are some photos of our little layout in its “heyday”...and a few from the recent dismantling.  

Joe,

Thanks for the kind words and for sharing your story.  In my own experience my focus in the train hobby has changed as the years have gone by.  It sounds to me like its time to build your own layout and to pursue what you enjoy most about this hobby, and there are so many different roads to take.  Maybe you will see something  here that will inspire your particiation in the next phase of the hobby. 

I went from this

to this

in preparation for our move to Minnesota.  Talk about having time to think about what the next phase of my participation in the hobby would be!

I started this thread for a number of reasons.  One of them is to document how my dreams move to reality.  I appreciate all of the contributions from folks.  It helps to dream interesting dreams.

Northwoods Flyer

Greg

I just returned from my business trip to Buffalo, NY, with a side trip to Harrisburg, PA on my way home.  I picked up 80 lbs of aluminum in Harrisburg.  

Here it is in the back of the car.

Here it is on the floor of the train room.

My project involves finishing the drywall in the hallway outside of the train room, painting it, installing a ceiling and lights, and then hanging the shelving (including what I just bought and stuff I already had).  So it will likely be a month or more before this project gets finished.  

NWL

Nation Wide Lines posted:

I just returned from my business trip to Buffalo, NY, with a side trip to Harrisburg, PA on my way home.  I picked up 80 lbs of aluminum in Harrisburg.  

Here it is in the back of the car.

 

NWL

@Nation Wide Lines, where is this stuff from?  I actually live quite close to Harrisburg.

NWL,

Can't wait for a pic of those shelves filled!

jhz563 posted:

Nation Wide Lines posted:

I just returned from my business trip to Buffalo, NY, with a side trip to Harrisburg, PA on my way home.  I picked up 80 lbs of aluminum in Harrisburg.  

Here it is in the back of the car.

 

NWL

@Nation Wide Lines, where is this stuff from?  I actually live quite close to Harrisburg.

It's Trainshelf brand shelving.  Last Fall at York, Dick indicated that he was doing 1 last run prior to retiring.  I ordered the shelving and was going to pick it up at York this spring.  However, with no York, I was forced to either have it shipped or pick it up.  Since I was going to Buffalo NY for work, I just added a few extra miles and hours to the trip and picked it up.  

I opted for Trainshelf brand shelving, as it matches the c. 1,000 feet of Trainshelf I already have and I liked the construction/quality of the shelving.

NWL

I put up several pictures going up to the train room.

I am pretty much a Postwar person  (Lionel and Marx)  but some time ago I got bitten by the very earliest Lionel  -  1901-7  2 7/8  gauge.

About 8 months ago I started on a project to make replicas of the 1902  wooden gondolas.  MTH had done these years ago but stopped far from capturing the original visuals  (clear sealed Oak, bright brass and an AC motor, for example.)  But their basic structure was superb.  (there are some terrific photos in an LCCA article on Gerald Higgins original, which the MTH repros were based on.)

So I got a powered and trailer for cheap, dismantled them and set to work to capture the originals (thanks go various Internet photos).  Stain, aging of brass, original style DC motor, hardware  (no Phillips screws back then!).  Testor's Dullcote.  Cloth covered wire.

The pair in the photo are perhaps the end of Phase One.  They look much better and run fine.  The motor is a Jimmy Cohen.

Still to come:  more slotted screws, and 1902 correct brush assemblies on the motor.  Weathering/aging.  Dirt/grime fitting of 118 years of existence.  Make up some 1902 replica track for them to sit on.

John

Finally got my new garage doors in yesterday after a long delay. The layout had to be cleared so they could walk on top of it and under it. Lots of sawdust on and under the layout so lots of cleaning (overdue) before I can start unpacking everything. Most of the early work needs to be done from outside and of course it’s raining. It will take time.

Steve

Guess there is more crap than I thought to clean. The 15-22 gallon vacuum bag is full.

My building is almost ready to get set in place. Last pieces of the puzzle arrived today. Exterior lights.

I have a couple projects posted in the scenery forum. This one took two weeks. 

Other then making my beautiful wife a little crazy, I dismantled and completely tuned up an MPC era GG-1 I had recently picked on EBAY. I'm nostalgic about MPC era trains because they defined Lionel in my youth. I was surprised to find this model has all metal gears and after complete servicing runs like a champ!

River City 3 Railers has a new power cart constructed by Wally. Credit for the original concept goes to our friends at National Capital Trackers. Rick and I are handling the electronics. Most of the hardware is mounted.

We have two Z4000s, one Z750, and four PH180s for power (that is 1595 Watts).  Controls include two TIUs, MTH WIU, and Lionel Cab2. To control mainline and yard track power and switches we have contactors/relays and a Siemens S7-300 PLC. Not shown is a 10" Siemens Comfort Panel Touch Screen. There is lots of wiring left to be done.

We will be able to select and run conventional or conventional on two mainlines and our 8 track yard.

There are other numerous non-train related projects going on as well. My wife's success in the yard has been rewarded with me having to mow twice a week.

Finally changed the driver's side headlight motor on the Corvette. Getting it inspected tomorrow. Wish I had done it earlier. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

I can't go to the tinplate layout since it is closed. So I am painting tin buildings. I bought 8 of these from Kohls.

I plan on removing the paint and making a set of Tinplate Townhouses. Each house will be painted in a traditional tinplate color. I just finished the Ives Cardinal building. I am halfway done with the MTH Tinplate  Traditions purple and the Ives Prosperity Special home. I will be doing a Blue Comet, National Limited, Ives Tiger Lionel Celebration.

Scott Smith

Looking forward to seeing the results of the rehab of these buildings, Scott