Get crackin' Matt. You have a little more than two weeks. After that you're mine.

Very funny!

Me and my son ran the Polar Express train and now Thomas in looping the layout.  I really want to get him a Lioncheif Thomas set but since he already has a Thomas set I might get him another starter set with a Lioncheif remote.  

Looked at it Its still there!

 

Clem

B&LE - I'm sorry to hear about your basement and the layout having to come down.  Hopefully then next place will be better.

 

Don - Glad your wife is feeling better.

 

I spent some time on my kitbashed station background building.  Got the lights, sign, and most of the outside molding on.

 

 

I purchased a new set of 60' Passenger cars, with 6 wheel trucks. A section of track on my layout, with a kink in the rail and dip has caused some minor issues with steam locomotives slipping. The new cars with 6 wheel trucks would derail on this section. I had never done anything about it as this section hadn't been enough of a problem to make me do anything about it until now. I cut out the section of track, relayed with new track, leveled it, reballasted and it is now in place and drying. Also, not only do the passenger cars stay on the rails, but the steam locomotives don't loose traction. 

Repaired a 726 with 2426W tender and tested it on my layout, then put it on Ebay.

2 weeks til you're cracking the whip? I'll try to get the roundhouse prepped but it takes a tremendous amount of energy just procrastinating

Ballasted more MTH realtrax, almost done :-)

Finally installed the new passenger train station platforms that Alex Malliae produced!!!!!!

I had to put up two doors to my furnace/work room. I will be confining my two cats to the room at night. I reached my limit of cat hair all over the layout or rolling stock on it's side or off the track.

I counted the hobos. They seem to migrate from camp to camp! I have 5 hobo camps!

 

Mike Maurice

Glued down the "last" of my ground cover .  I do have a 3 foot hinged drop-down that needs covering, but now I'm thinking of building a bridge to put in its place.  the bridge requires one side to be curved (it's the tail of a Wye section where I'm using a 072 LH turnout), IF I want to make it as slim as possible.

 

A hinged girder type bridge would look way better than the section I have there now:

 

http://pic50.picturetrail.com/...098502/407302371.jpg

 

I can keep what I have now while I'm building the bridge, once I'm finished I will only need to attach the hinges at one end and the slide "keep" at the other.

I received some light bulbs, placed them on the coffee table.

Completed the framework and top on my new addition.  It's 13 foot by 8 foot. An area is set aside for kids and gran kids to build a circus. I have been accumulating circus items for a year or so.  Tent and all. They all have there own ideas so it should be interesting. All girls. Ranging in age from 5 to 24. 5 girls. My only boy is 27 and leaving for Mexico to work.  

Nothing on mine today because I'm 2000 miles from home. However I did stop at Eastside Trains in the Seattle area, and bought a few MTH gondolas for the railroad.

 

But the real highlight of the trip so far was what came next. We visited Peter Hambling's NWTL and got the royal tour from Dave Hikel. Dave and I would still be yacking now if Mrs Big Boy hadn't pulled the emergency brake after two hours. My wife is a good sport when it comes to my train nuttery.

 

One more huge thanks to Dave and the Hamblings. Spectacular layout!

Finally, getting to wiring. What a mess.....normal, I seem to run a vacuum as much as I get anything else done. Still fun.

Went to P&D Hobby for small parts and a building kit then on to Wild Bills to see whats new. He sure as a lot of buildings.Planning my winter projects.

Sculpted some rock cliffs.

Began the long process of tearing it down and going without one, at least a permanent one, probably for the rest of my life.

Sat and stared at it for a while...continuing the now nearly year long debate on packing up the trains and sell/toss everything else or sell everything altogether. I've felt, often over the past year with the urges getting stronger and stronger, it was time to move on for something else. 

I was at both places today also!

Put down more homasote, and continued working on my maze of track at my TT area and RH. 

FINALLY got the two tracks for the coaling tower installed ... whew!  Making it match up with the turnouts at each end was a doozy ...

Started to work on re-lighting the 2012 Atlas Coca-Cola truck. The factory installed battery operated lights are very weak, so I am going to give this truck some real POP with alternating red and white LEDs. Stay tuned.

Much as I hate it, Packed many cars and several engines into the boxes to tear down.

I will be moving next month.

Haven't got it nailed down but the place we are trying to go to will actually have a better area for the layout. (Still in the basement tho...)

Good luck with the move, Russell.

Yesterday I planned to wire up two switches and redo a siding with Gargraves Flex track instead of the Fastrack.

 

Instead I worked all day trying to figure out why my tender on my Legacy 0-8-0 doesn't work.  Even with all the great suggestions from forum members I couldn't solve it.  It will go to Wild Bills tomorrow and Elmer can sort it out.  

Added some lighting to a few structures.  I have been putting it off.  Lighting makes a huge difference in the looks of things but I find that as I get older it is getting harder to crawl around under the layout!!! (but it is still fun!!!)

 

 

Began major tear down work. Got a good bit done...still plenty more to do!

 

OK Matt

We in the same boat...I know where your at. Try and make it fun, if ya can.

I fussed with some of the details on a new scratch built 'Streets 18-wheeler, with a cab-over tractor that looks much better than I thought it would.

Yesterday and today, found places to put a couple new-to-me tinplate Flyer stations.  A while back I got on a kick to collect every Flyer station, and I'm getting there, but beginning to be a problem on the layout.  Running out of real estate.  

 

There's going to have to be a moment of reckoning here; if the collections don't all fit on the layout, something's going to have to give.

 

 

Re-fluffed the wadding on three old steamers, broke out a 4th, and filled them with the P&P vanilla smoke fluid from the Pats Trains smoke fluid sample giveaway (who also replaced mine, that I spilled.., even after the giveaway officially ceased! That's about as friendly as you can be!). Anyhow... Dug out some illuminated passenger cars, dimmed the houselights down to "dusk", and swung 4 throttles. The room was soon smelling nice, and all the lighting was busy playing in the haze of my puffers.

The real good news was my Rock Island & Peoria "General" it is smoking better than ever! The initial use of this fluid caused it to barely smoke. I haven't ran it in months. Putting on the track again I got no smoke, so shrugging my shoulders I added one drop of P&P, and it sprang to life. After a minute I added another one, and its smoke output is like new. I think I may have "flooded" it before using 4 drops like I used to with the old tiny tubes they came with, as this P&P stuff seems to last longer too. Thicker? Higher temp? I don't know but I'm very, very, happy right now

 Thanks again to Pat's. 

Larry,

 

It is actually a learning experience...learning where and how I put this thing together 3 years ago...LOL! 

 

Before I forget I ordered all (hopefully...) the Atlas track I'll need to get running on the new layout. First time using the Atlas 21st Century Track as well. 

Just started to think about the layout today.

 

With summer winding down here on the beautiful North Fork of Long Island, train time is near.  Have some summer purchases to unpack, and give some run time to.

 

Ken

 

Unfortunately, packing my brand new FP45 Santa fe PS3 in order to ship it to MTH MD because it does not run at all with DCS, factory defect.

Technically not part of my layout, but I am one step closer to completing my train room so that I can finally get a layout going!

 

Got 1/2 the room covered in sheet rock over the last couple of days

 

 

"Bryan in Ohio" and "Jdstucks"/Jason (along with others):

 

I am blown away with what you have achieved on your layouts right here in northeastern Ohio.

 

Clearly your layouts (and others here) are fine works of art; creations that could be compared to similar works in Germany and elsewhere in the world.

 

I think either one of your layouts would make for a great article in "O-Gauge Railroading Magazine" and, they, of course, are also in northeastern Ohio.

Unfortunately, we found another foreclosure (in our spare time we fix up foreclosures and rent them out) so layout building time has been pushed to the back burner.  Did sneak in enough time to wire lights to station #2. 

 

Larry3 thanks for the compliment but I have a long way to go.  Send me an email (its in my profile) sometime, would like to see your layouts and when I get more of mine done come for a visit. 

Coated Styrofoam cliffs with Gypsonlite yesterday, but it's taking a long time to dry. So when we went to paint it today, it was sort of wet to the touch. Perhaps we thinned it  too much. We'll let Gypsonite cure one more day. Tomorrow, we throw some paint around!

Finally decided to try to get some ground cover and ballast put down in one of my yards last evening. I typically only due a small part at a time before gluing it all down just in case I decide to change it?

Today I learned how to dismantle my new Milwaukee Road full dome car, and how to put it back together without any bits left over too! 

 

The reason for undertaking this task was due to the conductor having slipped at some point in the multi-continent journey to me, and was laying head first down the stairway, with his feet waving in the air. 

 

I'm pleased to say that he is now firmly affixed in his proper place, and is none the worse for his accident. Although he was complaining about having a headache. 

You should have painted a little bandage on him while he was out

Finished the retaining wall just east of Union Station and got some vines up.  Built a small electrical shack to hide the power supply for the REA terminal Miller Engineering sign.

I need to replace a switch. Tested some replacements.

 

Peter

Finished my interlocking tower and set it in place....

 

Gregg your wall looks great.  What did you uses for your wall?

I made a couple rocks with Woodland Scenic rubber rock molds.  This was my first attempt late last night.  I need to construct some cradles to support the molds in a level posture.

Thanks Jim.  I used 1" Styrofoam.  For the cement portion, left the Styro untouched and  added a basswood cap with Evergreen styrene for the verticals.  For the cut stone portion, scored the horizontal lines along a ruler with a woodburning iron (fine, angled tip); freehanded the vertical lines.  Used a rasp to rough up the stone faces.  This is actually my first Styrofoam creation - got the idea from a fellow forumite.

Jim, here's the wall in progress.

Did you use a hot knife or a blunt object?  I need to make about a ten foot section.

 

Sorry, I opened the photo post first. 

 

Did a "test fit" of some of my new Atlas track. I hope to run trains next weekend as I'm waiting for my last 2 shipments of track, hopefully to be here mid-week. While I wasn't riding streetcars (see Weekend Photo Fun), I FINALLY got the rest of my old layout torn down and to the trash dump. 

Got a lot done these past two days and thought you all would like to see a section of the layout that we are working on.  I designed the cliffs, but my wife, Kay, put a lot of creative painting into them.  We dusted the cliffs with snow which was white latex paint that we had on hand and Woodland Scenics snow laced with glitter.  The ground cover is Fusion Fibre.  And, finally, Kay is building a mountain which will go right behind the scene.

Most model RR snow scenes look like crap, but yours is awesome! Very realistic! Great job and thanks for posting.

jackson

Thank you, Jackson.  I'll post a final picture when we're finished with the scene.  

I replaced a small wood depot-station on my Ironbound layout because it no longer fit the layout theme, and today, I posted it on eBay if anyone is interested. Priced right. See it here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/350883...id=p3984.m1555.l2649

 

if the link doesn't work for some reason, search eBay for Item #350883053793

 

Thanks for looking!

 

~Andy

I didn't do anything on my layout, today, but I did work on somebody else's layout, making it snow.

FrankM.

 

 

To Chris D,

 

You might be able to get some help from one of the governmental enforcement agencies that deals with mold and mildew contamination.  I would start with the local health department.  I imagine that there is some organization with enforcement authority that could force your landlord to repair the basement as a matter of health hazards.

Well for the layout no work but I did get some train work in, I secured a deal for a K-line El Capitian set, retty stoked about that one, then I decided to play with some N scale and I installed a sound decoder in a Kato Mikado, no easy feat. Then I had an MTH DMIR Yellowstonewith PS-2 upgrade issues that got a good run through to find out why its been gobbling up boards. It's working on the bench so now its on to the test layout. And I got ERRC to give me info on a cruise commander M that is going into an SD40-2 to get rid of that stupid Odyssey sytem

Just finished programming several ATLAS diesel locomotives on my Legacy system and want to thank all who assisted me.

 

Jim

My wife and I got back from our 20 day western road trip last Tuesday, but I didn't go downstairs until yesterday. That makes almost a month since any work was done on the layout. My brain is rusty.

Matt came over yesterday, and I showed him how I lay track. By the end of the afternoon he had finished the two back mainlines down to the far switch, and started the intermodal facility.









Patrick will be over on Friday. I'm off to Menards to place what should be the last lumber delivery order the layout will need. I'm sure there will be some incidentals down the road, but the major construction is clearly winding down.

I've got to admit, I haven't spent much time there lately! All I could do today was switch the lights on and off and dream of tonight when I will have enough time to dedicate to a running session switching tracks and shunting hobo box cars!

 

After a weekend away from the layout, we were able to start painting the styofoam hills and cliffs on the second section.  Last Saturday, we attended the Ozark's Model Train Assoc. Fall Show in Springfield, MO, and bought more trees from Roger Wasson.  Good show. by the way.  Meanwhile back to the layout.  That first section with the Fusion Fibre is still wet after a week.  I'll be happy just to plant trees on it.  Oh, well, there's always tomorrow. 

After finishing the shingles on this old hotel I'm building, Vicky, Lucy the dog and I went fishing for the first time here. I got a very expensive aquarium fish but he was way to big for my tank so I let him go. Don

Finally had a rainy day and finished installing Kadees on a atlas 89' foot flat car, and lowered it also, with weaver trucks. Rolls like a champ now. Test run a new sd40-2, runs great.

Clem

Nice "layout" Don Does laying out in the sun count? (The hotels not to shabby either ... or is it?...it is....shabby. Good work)

I started a glue based paper mache repair of the prewar, pressed paper pulp, curved for 31" diameter tunnel Ive had since I was a kid. The major cracks are shored up, but there is a 1/2"x4" "turned lip" missing at one tunnel entrance, and a 2"x3" chunk missing at the backside of the other. Im thinking of using the pressed paper pulp drink holders, or maybe a worm bucket, as filler material.  

Tested a track switch running off the mainline.  Ran trains for a short period. Thats about it and it is a wee bit of progress.

 

Happy Railroading

Patrick W - The Free State Junction Railway " Where the trains run on time"

Spectacular! Really, really cool, Don!

FrankM.

I'm still running wires????? My train room is being called a dump site ....BUT only for a short time. Field day soon!

After a retirement move into a new house, I was able to salvage most of my former modules and generate a new track plan. I was finally able to run my first train since March, 2012 when they were packed away in storage for the move.

Got my Atlas"O" 0-99's, 0-90's & a few select 0-72's installed and wired up to Legacy. 

So far I've un-boxed my Legacy NYC GP-7, Legacy CSX AC6000 & my TMCC NYC Mohawk. The smell of smoke fluid is back in the air....

My inner loop of Gargraves "S" is slated to be replaced by some more scale-looking American Models track which I ordered today. Can't wait to get it up & running.

I cleaned, oiled & greased some of my rolling stock.

Hey scale rail, thats a trigger fish, also known as a Huma Huma anoka apoa. I used to have those in my salt water tank. Sorry, don't know know how to spell it correctly.

Chris D, That has got to be the best subway station I have seen yet. Great job.

Eddie, it's the state fish and the longest work in the Hawaiian language. It's spelled

Humuhumunukunukuapuaa

Don

 

More paper mache, and stipple painted a pair of stone block tunnel portals.

Frank:

  where is the snow picture,?  -- already started organizing the Dpt 56,buildings

and looking for different ideas,  Harrison Trains, has a unique snow product,

yours might help

 

thanks

I started re-building my 6x16 layout, post war lionel style.  Outside oval up and running, need to pick upthree 022 turnouts for 2nd oval, then on to upper level.  All Lionel tubulor track, love that look

Mike

Started putting up the roundhouse walls....finally!

 

 

Pressing on new diesel wheels. One more locomotive to do.

 

Clem k                 

Earlier this week I moved things around a little and made room for a couple American Flyer stations I wanted on the layout.  Today I ran some wires and got the lights powered up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laidoffsick, is that the Brennan MR Products kit?

YES it is, 7 stall with the extension.

Guess I was running the "Midnight Special" tonight. Had some out of town visitors over in the wee hours of the morning and showed them the layout. Except for the excess sparks from the dirty track, the train made it around the 500' loop perfectly.

Ran some trains and did a lot of plaster work

I cut the table out to install my rotary coal dumper.  Got that setup and running That thing is do cool, it's got some things that need work and half of the setup is temporary but it's going. After that I took the dog out pheasant hunting, she's a huntin fool. When I got back I spent a couple hours installing the turntable indexer, while doing that I found out I lost the DCS signal through the turntable bad fixed out channel on output 1. Swapped out TIU's and got it running again. Then I ran the Yellowstone I did a PS2 upgrade on. Finally ran with no issues.

 

thats why i havent cleaned the floor since i started the plaster work. its pointless.

 

I cleaned up this place and put a train on the track just for a picture for another members information.

Put up some more walls.

 

Really shows how much space this thing eats up. Now that's cubic inches! 

Hey I finally ran some trains this morning, first time in months.

The roundhouse is really looking good, Doug. Keep up the great work!  

My friend, Trumptrain, recommended that I start posting here. He found that once he began posting, the work on his layout became more regular and fruitful.

 

My layout has sat idle for a long while after my son left for college this past September. So, today, I took a break from York product preparation and did some wiring from my MTH Z-4000 transformer to the MTH DCS TIU as a first step to getting the second and third level of the layout on DCS. Those levels have been under conventional operation since 1999.

 

I will, hopefully have more to report inthe near future.

Ran trains to test wiring on lower level.  Glad to report all is well on the JKL Railroad.

Lubed, and cleaned wheels on my K-line, tuskan, 5 stripe, GG1, and matching "Fleet of Modernism" passenger cars. Then ran a nice quiet night train.

It has been awhile since any work has been done to the layout.

 

Unlike most of you this time of year I slow down on the layout, as work is getting busier.  After the holidays I will again be going full force on the layout.  Plans to get everything 100% plaster cloth by the end of the year still stand though.  

Spent 4 hours cleaning the whole RR.