What did you do on your layout today?

Taking a "time out" while I think things through. The Transfer Table and its lead are set. The adjacent yard tracks are set.

This is where I stop and brainstorm. The layout wire was ordered yesterday.

I need to think through what building construction is next. Where are my buildings going to go? What is the city scene going to look like? Etc.....I don't mind multiple projects......I just have to pick out what multiple projects to start.

I need to declutter. I just had a big sale (over 50 lots) on Cabin Fever last month. When I cleaned out the attic for the contractors in early 2021, I made three categories: keep. sell, and, what was I thinking? Now , it is time to go through the "what was I thinking?" group. That's what I did yesterday......another couple of loads of trains will be on the way soon.....to Douglasdale, PA......

Have a great week, everyone!

Good morning, guys, just getting caught up before I head out to the train room today.

@Steamfan77 Andy the backdrop looks perfect! Very nice install and I am sure you're going to do an outstanding job blending it in!

@farmerjohn John I thought so, I really like the new location!

@chris a Chris nice to see you at it again! A lot of work but that is going to be so cool when you're done! I can't wait to see some trains running through that area!

@Trainmaster04 Wonderful start on Saw Hill, I am sure we will see more updates when you get back from your trip! Have a fun train ride and a safe trip!

@Sams Trains Sam it good you caught it now and not after a train rolled off the side! Whatever it takes to keep the trains on track! LOL

@Putnam Division Peter All I can say is good luck on your next step! My brain hurts just thinking about it! LOL

I might be back later today with an update; we will have to see how things go! But I do have a question for you all, how many folks ballast in areas that are not seen? The reason I ask is because once I make sure the main level runs well I either ballast everything or start work on the upper level and ballast it all at the same time.

Everyone have a great day! Remember to try and find time to have fun on your layout and with your trains!

Found this relettered and repainted 2426W tender on the Bay. The NYC decals wouldn't come off with ELO, so I hit the shell with serious stripper--and look what was underneath. A thorough cleaning, rewiring, post-war drawbar, and behold! a new tender for my 726.

@mike g. posted:

I might be back later today with an update; we will have to see how things go! But I do have a question for you all, how many folks ballast in areas that are not seen? The reason I ask is because once I make sure the main level runs well I either ballast everything or start work on the upper level and ballast it all at the same time.

Everyone have a great day! Remember to try and find time to have fun on your layout and with your trains!

Out of sight out of mind Mike. I hate ballasting as is. If I can't see it, no one else will either.

Bob

@mike g. I’m with Bob @RSJB18, if you’re not going to see it why spend your time doing it when the upper level awaits.

@mike g. posted:

But I do have a question for you all, how many folks ballast in areas that are not seen? The reason I ask is because once I make sure the main level runs well I either ballast everything or start work on the upper level and ballast it all at the same time.

Well, as it happens I only have one non-visible area (a tunnel I created after first laying the track, covering two tracks at the back of the layout and with two access doors in the back), and even though I went to the trouble of texturing the inside of the tunnel (and in general I don't mind the ballasting process), when it came time to do ballasting, I opted to avoid using and having to manipulate the materials within the small space for any portion not visible from the portals at each end. So far, I haven't regretted the omission . . .

I didn't ballast my, soon to be hidden, tracks.

Hi guys thanks for all the information and thoughts! After reading everything and thinking about it, I have to agree with all of you, first it is not worth the price of ballast and the labor to put it down if no one is going to see it!

@RDM Nice find and nice restore!

well guy I did get out to the train room, and I was able to get the inside loop all powered up. The  4-8-4 will run on the inner loop but it really doesn't like the tight curves but runs great on the outside 072! I was able to get 2 trains running at one time, a switcher on the inside and the 4-8-4 on the outside! Here is a video for you!

https://youtu.be/CxYcyO3ulgw

I hope you all enjoy!

Looks great Mike! Awesome progress

@mike g. Looking good Mike. I’m keeping a close eye on your progress.

Gene

It’s all for visual reasons that I decorated inside my tunnel.  Stone Walls and ballast.

and one day I hope to have a camera mounted on the boiler of an engine.

@Seth Thomas posted:

It’s all for visual reasons that I decorated inside my tunnel.  Stone Walls and ballast.
and one day I hope to have a camera mounted on the boiler of an engine.

So did I (except for the ballast! Oh, and the camera is mounted behind the tender . . . ), and guess what -- it's too dark inside!:

@mike g.

Great progress Mike! Excellent track work; those engines ran nice and smooth. I haven’t bit the bullet yet to do ballasting.

@mike g. posted:

Hi guys thanks for all the information and thoughts! After reading everything and thinking about it, I have to agree with all of you, first it is not worth the price of ballast and the labor to put it down if no one is going to see it!

@RDM Nice find and nice restore!

well guy I did get out to the train room, and I was able to get the inside loop all powered up. The  4-8-4 will run on the inner loop but it really doesn't like the tight curves but runs great on the outside 072! I was able to get 2 trains running at one time, a switcher on the inside and the 4-8-4 on the outside! Here is a video for you!

https://youtu.be/CxYcyO3ulgw

I hope you all enjoy!

Looks great Mike. I nice long run! I especially like the piles of new track......

Bob

Hi guys and good morning. Thank you all for the kind words!

@Seth Thomas Seth wonderful scene!

@Steve Tyler Steve, nice video of your layout! Maybe some lighting in the tunnel! LOL

@RSJB18 Bob Thank you. I had no other place to put the track! LOL

Well today I plan on going out and painting all joints and any shinny sides. Clean up the area where I still need to build the rest of the upper level and try to get started on that. We will see how it goes! LOL

I hope you all have a great day and find time for your layouts and trains!

@mike g. posted:

@Steve Tyler Steve, nice video of your layout! Maybe some lighting in the tunnel! LOL

Thanks, Mike. Yeah, I came to the same conclusion, but I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Besides, more light might reveal enough to prompt me to ballast inside the tunnel!

Also, I shot this video a year or so ago -- I've added a lot since (an elevated line, twin trolleys, etc.), so I keep reminding myself to re-shoot an updated version! *sigh* . . . another to-do list item . . .

@RDM posted:

Found this relettered and repainted 2426W tender on the Bay. The NYC decals wouldn't come off with ELO, so I hit the shell with serious stripper--and look what was underneath. A thorough cleaning, rewiring, post-war drawbar, and behold! a new tender for my 726.

Wow so you uncovered the orig, and the stripper didn't hurt it?  What did you use?  looks great

Don

@RDM posted:

Found this relettered and repainted 2426W tender on the Bay. The NYC decals wouldn't come off with ELO, so I hit the shell with serious stripper--and look what was underneath. A thorough cleaning, rewiring, post-war drawbar, and behold! a new tender for my 726.

Nice luck!  What is ELO?

@dmestan posted:

Wow so you uncovered the orig, and the stripper didn't hurt it?  What did you use?  looks great

Don

I'm curious as well.

@ Steve Tyler

I really enjoyed the ride and the views from behind the tender.🚂

And yes, the tunnel is dark, huh😏

I must add a light inside my tunnel now while I can. The headlight on the engine does not add enough light for a dark tunnel.

Thanks much for the heads up.

Mike, your inside loop run was great!  What paint are you using for the rails?  I may do that with a brush but won’t spray inside the small room.

John and Steve, the tunnels look good.  I agree on detailing the entrance of the tunnel that can be seen outside.  I would detail if I was going to put a camera on trains to take videos.

Hi Mark, when I paint them before I install them I spray paint them with Rustoilum earth brown. Then I had the local ACE hardware match the can lid and mix me up some earth brown flat for painting with a small brush. I just got a Qt.

@Seth Thomas posted:

@ Steve Tyler

I really enjoyed the ride and the views from behind the tender.🚂

And yes, the tunnel is dark, huh😏

I must add a light inside my tunnel now while I can. The headlight on the engine does not add enough light for a dark tunnel.

Thanks much for the heads up.

Thanks, Seth. Yeah, I was hoping the headlights would at least show up a bit, but they were not bright enough to really be visible at all -- a few glimpses of the passenger cars on adjacent rails, and some light leak around the access door edges, but that's about it.

My plan, when/if I get around to it, will be to add small LEDs under the top of the tunnel -- probably one every foot and half or so, maybe five in the eight foot length of the tunnel. That should be enough to illuminate a bit without losing the 'tunnel' effect, or highlight the minimal detail (and lack of ballasting!).

Oh, and perhaps a peephole at one end, so the grandkids can see the oncoming trains in the tunnel!

@Mallard4468 posted:

Nice luck!  What is ELO?

I'm curious as well.

I was as well:

@mike g. posted:

Hi Mark, when I paint them before I install them I spray paint them with Rustoilum earth brown. Then I had the local ACE hardware match the can lid and mix me up some earth brown flat for painting with a small brush. I just got a Qt.

Thank you, Mike!

@Steve Tyler posted:

I was as well:

All I could think of was Electric Light Orchestra! 🫡   Thank you, Steve!

@Steve Tyler posted:

I was as well:

That solves the ELO query, but @RDM said that after trying ELO he used a "serious stripper".  I'm wondering what product that was.

@Mark Boyce posted:

All I could think of was Electric Light Orchestra! 🫡   Thank you, Steve!

No, they're not plastic-compatible!

@mike g. posted:

https://youtu.be/CxYcyO3ulgw

Great run Mike.   I really like what you have completed so far.   Interesting track plan and looking forward to your elevated segment.  

Cheers, Dave

@Steve Tyler posted:

No, they're not plastic-compatible!

Good one, Steve. 😄  It’s a new product to me.

Ballisting track where it won't be seen  is not that important to me but the tunnel liners are especially  at the visually beginning. That is one thing I need to get done on my layout. Just like an underground coal mine the scenery makes it come alive.

Serious stripper= Klean Strip Premium Stripper from Home Depot. It's quick on newer hobby paints but slow enough that I was able to rinse before it affected the original Lionel paint.

@RDM posted:

Serious stripper= Klean Strip Premium Stripper from Home Depot. It's quick on newer hobby paints but slow enough that I was able to rinse before it affected the original Lionel paint.

Thanks for the product name and the info about how you used it without stripping the paint.

Morning guys, I did get my area where the upper loop will go cleaned up and all the rail painted! I did not get to the upper loop construction, but plan on getting started on that today. I will see how things go and hope to check in later with everyone.

@darlander Dave the elevated section will just be a single loop with a couple sidings in the middle. I am still trying to figure out what I will put up there. Maybe an oil farm with the big yellow crane. Just not sure yet!

@farmerjohn, John what a great looking scene! I don't think I could do anything that amazing!

Well guys I hope you all have a great day and find time for your layout and fun with your trains!

P.S. Now that you all know about a new striper, DON'T run out and start striping things! LOL

Mike, I’m glad you should be able to work in the train room.

RDM, thank you for the name of the serious stuff!

I finished my second ramp/incline, but it is too sharp a transition to the new switch at the bottom.  Last night I removed all the screws holding the track and roadbed to the supports, so now I need to move the supports to make the grade a little steeper and have a better transition.  It’s not a big job at all.

Good Day Everyone,

I just completed a few details on a couple of buildings I am working on. Remember, it's all in the details. The last photo poses a bit of a problem...

Dave

Wow, wow, wow, Dave; that’s some realistic detail. You have an artistic touch.

Congratulations, excellent job!

Jay

Thanks a bunch Jay, I try.

Dave

Looks great, Dave!  Yes the first step outside an unbarred window would be a doozy!!

Thanks Mark! I was hoping someone would catch that.

Dave

I spent a few hours working on my K-Line 15" aluminum California Zephyr passenger cars. Here's a little background on why I'm renaming 3 of the aluminum passenger cars. Originally I purchased a NIB K-Line aluminum Western Pacific California Zephyr (CZ for short) passenger cars in a set of 4, these were all dome cars. Then I found the matching WP CZ baggage car. I felt the consist wasn't complete, so I went on a search for a diner car and a standard coach. Unfortunately K-Line never made said passenger cars in CZ, but they did make a New York Central Diner and an Empire Express Coach. So I found and purchased 2 NYC Diners and 1 Empire Express Coach with the plan of changing the names. I finally found some time to work on the passenger cars. Here's some photos of the transition.

I used the following to make the new nameplates:

California Zephyr Font from RailFonts.com

Chrome label stock from OnlineLabels.com

Microsoft PowerPoint to create the fonts and print them out on a Canon Pixma Photo Printer.

Empire State Express Diner. Note: that's my red T shirt reflection in this photo. Changed angles for the rest of the photos.

converted to CZ Diner, just need to change the coach name to SILVER CAFE.

New York Central Coach Thomas E. Dewey

converted to CZ Coach, need to change the Coach name to SILVER CEDAR.

Here's the print out of the coach names, all I need to do is cut them to size and apply.

Here's the CZ Coach SILVER CEDAR with name plate on the rails.

Fun little project!

@WesternPacific
They look really good.  Thanks for the information on the supplies!