Right now I am 1200 miles from my trains and not going anywhere soon.
Thinking about it, it was six years ago when we moved. The layout did not survive but I built a modest 6 by 16 that is more than enough. Sorry no pictures.
All I have here is a few train mags that are so used they are hard to read.
Hopefully we will all get back to normal.
@poniaj posted:Right now, I"m doing absolutely nothing related to trains.
I'm pretty much in the same boat as you, Jerry. Except I'm a bachelor, so it's me, myself and I (we're getting pretty tired of talking among ourselves. 
And when I need to get something done, they're nowhere to be found. 
)
Rusty
Rusty,
Well stated What a grin about the two other guys who never get anything done either!
Ed boyle
@Roundhouse Bill posted:Don, some photos of my layout as you asked for.
As for Bay Area train shows that is hard for me as I live in Texas. I moved from San Francisco in 1995. I used to love to go to the monthly Norcal TCA shows in Oakland. Do they still happen?
Wow. These are great photos of a great looking Gilbert layout.
Wow! that is a very nice layout and train room.
I'm playing "supermarket treasure hunt" (now with a mask) almost every day. I'm 78, but this virus will NOT have me hiding in a closet. Not playing with trains much, but shooting air guns in my basement and arrows in the back yard. Reading 2-3 books a week, and doing yard work. I watch very little TV, but belong to a LOT of on-line forums (total 14). On eBay a fair amount. What, me bored?. 
I just finished some 652 heavyweight cars and some 649 circus cars.
Now I am rebuilding a 332 Gilbert 4-8-4 that had a DC motor and a burned out smoke unit. Boy are these buggers hard to disassemble, especially when they are packed with 70 years of congealed smoke fluid.
The loco has a nice patina and all the drivers are straight. It will get a Timko can motor and a new smoke resistor wire and wick from LBR enterprises. It will be the first time I have ever replaced the smoke element heater, even though I have been working on my Gilbert trains since 1956. I hope it goes well.
I've been rereading my collection of S Gaugian magazines from 1985 until 2012. The years 1992 through 1995 were very impressive with almost each issue announcing a new release from American Models and/or S Helper Service. Southwind Models and River Raisin were no slackers either! I had forgotten so many great tips and suggestions in the issues that I'm taking notes on what I can do to improve the layout. The review of the American Models GP9 noted that it was missing the handbrake on the long end of the locomotive, so I got that part plus MU stands and lift rings from B.T.S. and dressed up that model. Improving ballast and vehicles is a follow-up project. I thank every day that model railroading and not golf is my hobby.
@Caldwell posted:Thinking about it, it was six years ago when we moved. The layout did not survive but I built a modest 6 by 16 that is more than enough. Sorry no pictures.
Cal,
Luckily, when I built my layout I was mindful in constructing it with an eventual move in mind. So I made it sectional. I tested the concept years ago when I needed to do a home electrical repair where the layout was. I removed one section, did the repair and replaced the section with no hassle. Anyway, here's the tubs containing most of my trains awaiting transport to the storage facility:
And the layout itself in the storage unit:
Rusty,
At least with an argument among yourselves, at least one of you is right! Too bad about those other two slackers, though.
Stay safe all of you guys out there!
This is going great. Thanks to those that have written!!!
There have been a lot more who have viewed this topic. How about instead of just viewing let us all know what you are up to while sequestered??
I just finished installing a bridge rectifier in my brakeman caboose. No more buzzing.
I’ve been sorting out the wiring on my O27 door layout. I’m still at work, as a “key worker” on a rail construction project.
I was hoping to paint this before packing it up, but such is not the case. Instead I just reassembled it so I wouldn't lose the parts:
Rusty
Jerry, smart to make the layout movable. The realtor told me to leave it up during showings so I had to scramble to pack up and tear down. The layout was bolted together in sections so it might have been movable. But it wasn't to be. Did you use the same construction as the club layout. Looks like it would make moving easy.
Just to make Bill happy and keeping it going, I am posting one of two pictures of my current layout.
Hopefully one of these days things will improve and I'll feel comfortable to travel to see it and work on it again.
What a great idea! Painting a Marx water tower in American Flyer colors. I have a couple of them and yours looks much better.
Thanks for the tip.
Ed Boyle
@Caldwell posted:Jerry, smart to make the layout movable. The realtor told me to leave it up during showings so I had to scramble to pack up and tear down. The layout was bolted together in sections so it might have been movable. But it wasn't to be. Did you use the same construction as the club layout. Looks like it would make moving easy.
Just to make Bill happy and keeping it going, I am posting one of two pictures of my current layout.
Hopefully one of these days things will improve and I'll feel comfortable to travel to see it and work on it again.
Cal,
Yes, I followed a similar way of construction as the club layout, foam and light weight construction. I didn't use the same connectors because they're too expensive, so I just used spade connectors instead. Since I don't plan on a lot of set ups and take downs, that's fine.
Every realtor I've talked to didn't want the trains in the basement since they took up too much room. Too bad, since I could really use a bit of a train fix about now. It took me almost two weeks to pack up my trains and I'm still not completely done!
It measured 10'x18'
Here it is at the lasst time I hosted a club meeting
I guess now it will never be finished.
BTW, I like the water tower too!
Sorry I couldn't find a way to send it "off line".
Take care,
I have been busy on my S gauge layout. I built an unloading dock and a coal bin, added a farm scene in a corner of the layout and installed two uncouplers. I also cleaned the dust off my buildings and touched up the ground cover. These are things I’ve wanted to do for a long time but procrastinated.
Jim Z
Thanks Ed, the colors just happened that way. I just looked in the stash of craft paint and went at it. Actually I had the water tower since I was a kid. I broke one of stands off from the leg. No super glue then so my Dad took a stick match and melted it back together. A little wobble but still functioning 65 years later.
Jerry, I was surprised the realtor did not want it torn down. Everything I have seen always said tear them down. Unless your email changed I'll try and contact you later.
I think I have spent more time on this forum in the last six weeks than the last six years.
Along with the virus thing I have also been blessed with consistently crappy weather so springtime activities have been limited. Finally got to complete one of my to do items. I had several of the TMCC and railsounds kits that I had accumulated in the last few years with the intent to convert a few AM trainmaster engines. Finally got around to taking one apart and couldn't figure out how to fit the boards in without great difficulty. Sent one off to Ed Goldin for a retrofit that I could use for an template and it was on from there. Run and sound great. The fleet is done!
Next on the list is to get a few Flyer steam and diesel locos running and then on to building and trying to install TMCC in a Smokey Mountain GE 44 tonner.
Rich
@Kelpieflyer posted:I just finished installing a bridge rectifier in my brakeman caboose. No more buzzing.
Russ(?),
I've done that modification too, and it's worth it! Much less distracting and not hard to do! Photos?
Here's mine:
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