What did you do on your layout today?

Today I got in two Mullet River side door caboose kits, a Southern and a CB&Q.  I

need to check but think the Colorado and Southern also ran the CB&Q version, as

well as, possibly, the Fort Worth and Denver, both CB&Q subsidiaries.  This is the the

28 foot CB&Q version.  I commented on these on the Southern and on the CB&Q

postings, and now wonder if the L&N had any side door cabooses?

Almost 24 hours later and more goodies floated in.  Nothing on, but for.  Know how you hunt for something and you know it is rare and you probably won't find it, and

even if you find it, you probably won't pay the price?  Well, I have looked for some

uncommon structure kits from defunct makers, and I just found one.  I like water

mills and I had located another structure kit by a maker who made a stone water

mill kit.  A dealer in the New York area thought he could get the mill kit from the maker, whom he knew, but tried and failed.   His effort was appreciated...and then..it showed up in auction...I wanted it.  I got it.  I have kitbashed and scratchbuilt stone

water mills, but now I have this kit.  I need to get back to work on structures.  This

makes for a good two days, because I just got in two side door caboose kits from a

maker who I didn't think would make any sidedoors.  Talk about opening Christmas packages a month late!  Also got in an uncommon hotel kit, too.  There is one and maybe two other structure kits out there still on my list...I know one was made, not sure about the other.....if this stone mill kit surfaced, patience might bring the other to the surface...  The one I am looking for was by a kitbuilder who operated about 50 miles away...I found one of his kits more like a thousand miles away.  Ain't technology great?

The third day of Christmas, today, I found in the mail another gift...decals, I had made for the Great Western Railway...really fast....I had just approved them, a few days ago. In two colors, for sugar beet gons, cabooses, and locos, and maybe for their one combine at the Colorado RR Musuem.  It has been a good week.  Nothing made or worked on, but stuff arrived.

Bruce:

Your layout is really progressing nicely. You have some great scenes in the works. Thank you for the pohots. The one in black and white is really effective considering the era you seem to be modeling. Keep the photos coming.

Last night the wife worked late so after the kids went to bed I tore out the track leading to the Ross 4 way switch that loads the car ferry.

I tore out all the foam I used to build up the road bed 4 inches off the plywood to bring the track to the proper height.  It was never done well.  I used scrap foam and the track work was very bumpy causing issues with locomotives that had longer wheel base.  

I used ply wood and built up the track properly.  Now it is very smooth and level.

About to put the last parts to this bridge. In another area I removed my Hel Gate Bridge (hated to do that) because with all these mountains it just plain started looking way out of place. Ordered a black MTH steel Arch that I think with fit the landscape better. So now another 4 foot area to re do. Still having fun. What else  it's 20 outside.

I think this is my first post here and I have been meaning to do so but just keep forgetting so here goes...even though I am late to the party!!....

I just finished the catenary in the city area along the south wall. 

Alan

That looks GREAT!!! Is that MTH catenary?

Today I have been laying out more roadways, and deciding where more parking spaces can be added. Tomorrow I’d like to finish wiring the grade crossing lampposts. I need to buy some scale utility poles soon, probable from Weaver Quality Craft Models. Lots of small details still to add to make it come alive.

Glad to see some wiring that looks like mine!!

Nice work!

Randy...thanks!  The catenary is a combination of MTH catenary wire and Pittman poles.  A couple of recent threads on catenary that are probably just a page or two away from this one ( you can do a search by date to find them ) inspired me to get this project done.

Alan

Alan  that is looking good, nice to see electric locomotive with the overhead wire.

WE HAVE LIGHTS!

Nothing, absolutely nothing.  Bummer of a day.

Nothing here either, however I did pick up the two Power House 180s I needed!  One more item checked off the list!

Started two small project.

One small little bridge nothing to special, thinking i might add another support.

my second project is going to take awhile. Making a corn field so i can make a goose hunting scene.

Bought my 4th and final Power House 180W.  May need one more....

I completed a short video on creating a custom 20-foot photographic backdrop for my layout, and mounting it. It shows red-rock country near Moab, Utah. Now, I just need to scenic the rest of my layout to match!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcU51J4GeO0

Bob A.

Bob.... wow, that looks amazing, I love it.

Bob:

The backdrop looks GREAT!!! Where did you get the 1/16" plastic that you mentioned in the video? What, again, is the brand name of saidd plastic? Thank you.

Bob's back drop is incredible.  Really adds to the layout.

Randy - Thanks for the comment. The 1/16" plastic is "ABS" (Wikipedia says it stands for "Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene", which is why it has a nickname).  It comes in something like 4' x 8' sheets.  I used the same plastic, in 3/32", to create the curved 2" band of stripping at the edge of my layout.  I got it at a local plastics store, TAP Plastics.  They cut it to the (rectangular) sizes I needed, and only charged me for the square footage I used. It was $1.55/ sq ft (I got a discount for buying about 38 sq ft).

   Bob A.

Bob:

In what city do you live. TAP Plastics Store sounds familiar. I am from Baltimore, Maryland.

Today, I spent about 1/2 hour on my layout installing a tunnel wall on my middle level and then went under the layout on my mechanic's creeper to organize some wires that were hanging down to the floor. Thank you Jim Barrett for the suggestion in your Backshop article on building benchwork for your suggestion of using "C" shaped pipe clamps, screwed to the bottom of the platform to hold and route wires.

I did not put too much time in due to the fact that I was in an auto accident last Friday and my back still feels a bit tender on occassion. Today was one of those occassions. So I stopped so I could live to fight another day.

Randy - TAP Plastics (www.tapplastics.com) only has stores in California, Oregon, and Washington.  I assume there are other, similar, plastics stores in other locales.

   Bob A.

Bob:

Thank you for your kind reply. I have sent an E-Mail to a plastics store in the Baltimore area to see if they have ABS plastic.

Since the He** Gate bridge had to go. I trying to fill that area with a more appropriate bridge for mountains. Took a few days to get the new bridge . It' going to take a while. First step start chopping some more mountain fill.

Determined I shouldn't lay any more track until I get my roundhouse from Crescent Locomotive Works.

Without it to put in place I don't really have any way to get the roundhouse associated tracks in proper alignment without the actual structure.

Guess I'll just have to run trains until it arrives ....

Layout is looking great Larry!  Like the new bridge.

Work on dismantling it, we are moving.  Here are pictures of the Star Wars corner

applied custom decals made by my new BFF Dave Van to a set of Conrail f units.....yes folks, CR had several F units when PC went belly up!   I also started a kit ....a speeder....and one part is missing! Dang...I hate when that happens!

Nothing, I shoveled snow all day today.

Finally have something to post on this thread!!! I had a very unexpected snow day today. I finished putting the plywood on the bench work in the unfinished side of my attic, got the back-board put up and painted. Tomorrow, the tops get painted. FINALLY ready to start laying track!!!!

Sorry about quality the pics, lighting is the pits on the unfinished side of the attic.

This hole leads to two bridges that will be crossing the stairwell. From track to stair tread, 9'6". If there's ever a crash, it's going to be a whopper!

The far end gets three sweeping curves 0138/0128/0120. The center is a passing siding. 

No pics.....just more wiring.

........and, I'm looking forward to running long trains in Gilly's attic at some point in the future!

Peter

Patrick was here a couple of times last week, but had to cancel yesterday, so I've been on my own. Last week we did a bunch of wiring, not very exciting to look at, but still important.

I've quietly been working on a number of different projects: prepping Tortoises for Matt to install Wednesday, making control panels, assembling Hump Yard switch throws, making shields for coils on railsounds boards and starting to gather materials for LED passenger car lighting.

Keeps me out of trouble.

Sadly no work on the layout just got in from plowing. 25 hours straight so more money going to the trains.

Well, last month my layout looked like this:

Then about 3 weeks ago, it looked like this:

Then, there was an empty room.  But then a new layout, with a less complex track plan and the ability to walk around 3 sides to watch trains better, plus a holding yard behind the door, slowly emerged.  There is finally enough shelving to hold the rolling stock, it will be easier to wire because I'm not going to cover it with plywood so that I can do different terrain elevations.  There is plenty of access to the underside because I made some of the shelf cabinets on the right with wheels so that they can be unlatched and rolled out of the way.  The track is just sitting on the table in these pictures as I try out different configurations, although I have a design, but they're always subject to change.  I love snowy days, because I feel so cozy inside my train room working away.  Having fun again.   

This is a great layout plan. I like the idea of the storage cabinetry under the layout as well as on the walls. You have really done much in only a few weeks. Keep us posted with more photos.

MdMikey:

Love your train room!  I can spend days there!

Really love the shelving, great way to display your trains.  Excellent work.

A minor tremor occurred on my layout. It was named a DREMELQuake. Suddenly, a sinkhole appeared that caused the roadway to shift and several plasticville buildings to disappear beneath. As a result, several Scenic Structures mushroomed up in their place. The roadway is being repaired as I write this.

Sadly, there remains little hope for the Plasticville.

Here are a few pics.

The new panels. Still a little more pre-wiring to do.


The Hump Yard throws.


Here they are mounted to the layout. Next comes the fun part, connecting them to the switches.

I think that may be a job for Matt.

Added lights to a made in the USA LCCA billboard and found a home for it on the layout.

Randy and 86TA -

Thanks for the replies.  I will definitely be taking more pictures as I make progress and will post a few every now and then.

Mike

Trying to get my "layout" running.  Right now basically carpet on top of plywood.  Goal is to get some trains running instead of wasting time trying to come up with a perfect track plan.  So far I have 1 loop in place around the room, behind the furnace, and over a homemade through plate girder bridge (liftout).  Yesterday started on real wiring and drops vs. temporary w/lock-ons.

Don

Well not much progress on the layout, but plenty of progress prepping the room. Six hours prior the room was full of boxes, tools, shelves. We are prepping the floor for staining and then it will be time to design and start building.

More switch wiring.....I crossed my fingers and the 1st one worked!

Peter

Ran about 15 different engines at various times.  Some hadn't seen service in some six years or more, and since they are PS2 models I figured it might be good to check under the hood (batteries, that is).  No problems thus far, but with a good number of locomotives still to go.

Today I painted the top of the layout, no more PINK foam!!!

Paul

I wired several sidings and my storage yard to manual switches. Now I have the ability to turn off power to engines and cars I am not running.

Tim C.

how many are responding to this thread everyday. However I did buy a few Weaver box cars that I will weather and detail to adorn one of my industrial sidings

2/16/2014 took the day off from working on the layout

Went to the local TCA semi-annual meet (where I meet many forum members and generally had a great time) and bought a bunch of things on my "get-when-you-can meet, including three small power supplies to independently run the odd small 'Streets loops I have on the layout, and a fourth to run more accessories and lighting.  Stopped by Lowe's on the way home for wire and connectors to start this week.  

Finishing another section on our layout, then moving some tracks to make a dog leg loop. 

Thanks guys, makes me feel like I'm doing something. This thread is like a library of outstanding work from members. It has been a real education on building. It's also enjoyable to see what others are accomplishing on a regular basis. 

Anyway, new bridge about done with basics. Added some LED's under it and some LED's in my little coal mines.

Great work, Larry. The bridge and the rest of your layout is really taking shape.

Randy

If it is ever worth a nickel in visual appearance when I finish (if ever)  it's due to me copying 90+ percent of what I have seen other members on here do.

Last night I cut plywood for the decking on an industrial area that I am redoing.  I decided to put in another switch and siding and to move my potential Wonder Bread bakery.

Also cut more PVC pipe for additions, extensions, and additional locations of grain elevators and flour mills.

Art

Here is a picture of one of the ones I am working on.

Today on my layout I..................tore it up. Well at least one corner of it and a 18 " x 8 ft. section lost track and scenery today in order add for expansion. Been planning it for awhile, just didn't have the heart to rip into the scenery. I am adding a 48" x 19 ft. extension to one side and another 5 ft. x 9 ft. extension to the leg of the L. Will add pictures as work progresses.

Most recently I have been running trains for my youngest grandson, Aiden. He comes over and the first thing is we head for the train room, he sits on my lap and my good old PW 2020 makes it rounds as he calls for more. I do enjoy these times with him.

Today, I worked on the outdoor G layout, excavating more of the track bed and ordering the pea gravel base rock, 5 yards worth.

Yesterday I hooked up a TMCC setup to my legacy system.  Did this for 2 reasons.  

1) so I have 2 separate remotes for when my son or a friend wants to run trains with me or when I do an operating session.

2) My Cab2 needs to back to Lionel again for repair.   

Today I set up a small circle of track on the floor of the basement.  It was a request by my 3.5 year old son to run his Polar Express.  He wanted to do it himself and not run it on daddies layout.  

I think I found a more permanent place for a little tinplate station that has been floating around to several different locations ever since it was displaced by a new layout accessory about a month ago. Looks good, I'm happy with the new spot.

Also worked on putting lights in a 4-car Williams passenger set.  I think the lighting for these was an optional kit (they came out in 1979), because the wiring was different in each of the cars, and dubious in all of them.  Big improvement, all lit up now pulling into the station.

Just a very fun tinkering day.

I started working on the next section of track...

This is the Milwaukee Road Short Line hill.


I have a couple pieces left to get to the switch and a couple more on the other side of it. When that's done, it's on to the Western Avenue yard (middle), and finally the Hiawatha lead (left).



My goal is to have all this track down by the end of the week. Then it's on to the new hidden yard. Still shooting for that ultimate goal of all track complete by the end of the year.

It's been a while since I last posted progress on the Mountain Division of the Free State Junction RR. The proverbial "light at the end of the tunne"l has been reached and I am happy to report that Mt. Randolph is completed.  I built this mountain with plaster cloth, chicken wire, 2x4 frame, and wadded up newspaper.... not necessarily in that order though  See attached photos of various views of Mt. Randolph with scenic background.

Mt. Randolph has a unique feature in that the automobile tunnel ( located mid mountain ) is actually a pull out drawer so that I can gain access to the track to fix derailments.  

Today I finished ballasting the track of the Mountain Division using Whitison Ballast, a great product, from Harrison Trains!  Unfortunately HT no longer carries this brand of ballast.  See the photos and check it out. After spreading the Whitison, I sprinkled on some Woodland Scenics fine black cinders and Woodland Scenics brown ballast to give a well used roadbed look.  

 I also used a brown ballast ( Woodland Scenics ) mixed with some fine black cinders, also WS, to give the effect of coal being spilled from hoppers,  for the spur.  Check out the photo of the two ballast types Whitison for the main line and the the brown for the spur.

At Patsburg West end ( actually located at the opposite end of the layout from Mt. Randolph ) I installed a photo backdrop.  See photo.

It's great to have this project pretty much completed.  I will tweek things as time advances.  Enjoy the photos.

Pat: The photos look GREAT!!! But, in person, the mountain is breathtaking.

Forum Members: My wife and I visited Patsburg this past Saturday evening and we were dazzled by Pat's work.

trumptrain, nice photos and what a layout!  thanks for posting.

More futzing with little stuff today.  Had about a half dozen new people to plunk down.

On the workbench, working on my dad's old Ives 1134.  Got far enough into it to see what parts I need, and have been trying to get rods and crosshead guides ordered.

Thanks so much hojack for your kind words and taking time to view the photos.  BTW Mount Randolph, which comprises my Mountain Division,  is about 25% of my total layout.  It's great to have this part completed so I can now direct my energies to the next portion.  Also best wishes for continuing success and fun with our layout building as well 

Thanks Patrick.  Keep us posted on the progress at Patsburg West.

Kinda down today, the divorce is grinding along...  poured myself a little drink, turned on all the layout lights, and just walked around appreciating it.  Didn't even run any trains, just poked and adjusted and ran the stories of the different scenes on the layout.  Did get out a little ground foam and repair a spot, but this was not a "doing" day.

In the Scottish Highlands where I visited once, at the top of a long steep climb over the mountains there's a little pub called "Rest and Be Thankful".  So this was a rest and be thankful day.

Today I gathered some farm animals, fencing, and roadway for creating scenery just below Mt. Randolph.  Not much, however,  a tiny step in advancing the layout.

Today I only had time to work a few minutes.  I put a small barn, cows, and some fencing around the cows, near the base of Mt. Randolph.  Also a small weathered Plasticville log cabin.  I will leave all this in place for a few days and see how it looks.  I also want to put together the Ameritown flagstop station and use it on the Mountain Division.  Hopefully this coming weekend I will have a long block of time for doing this.  Again not much done today however progress continues on the Free State Junction Railway.

  Benchwork so far   Gotta have it up and track running by May. Getting excited!!

And... this is an Income Tax Refund present to myself, hehehe...

Began making 'furrowed acreage' for Pugh's Farm on my layout. Broke down a nice cardboard box with thick sized. Washed one side carefully so I could remove the paper leaving the furrowed or rippled paper that is between both paper sides. Now I'm going to paint it, and sprinkle ground foam on it.

Railroad management decided that there was not enough revenue producing businesses being served.  So they are opening up land inside one of reverse loops on the upper level Milwaukee Road branch line.  Here are a couple pictures of the progress.

Love the progress Art. The Management Department certainly made a wise decision.

This industrial park has been on the drawing boards for some time.  An investigation turned up the that the problem was that a certain member of senior management was procrastinating.  That problem appears to be corrected at least for now and construction has been proceeding at a brisk pace.  Continental Baking is working to get their plans approved for the construction of their new Wonder Bread bakery and the railroad is laying a siding to serve it.  Utilities should start going in soon.

Art

Made and planted 6 trees

Nice looking Tree hojack.  What type of plant is your base material?

I think it's a kind of Hydrangea, although the flower cluster is more of a spike than the usual hydrangea pom-pom.  It has the same kind of petals and clustered flowers.  Here's the bush, you can still see some of the petals hanging on:

I did a fun thing today!  I vacuumed and cleaned and picked up for hours...then shot a video. 

I got my remotes back from the hospital, ran my "lash-ups" and smoked out the train room before dinner. A good day for sure.

Great idea Don!  I would not have thought to use cardboard box sides that way.  I will give it a try.  Thanks for the tip 

Just peaked in the train room today to check out the placement of the log cabin and barn. That's all I had time to do but at least its something.

relocated the barn and log cabin on the mountain division.  Added a RR Switch House to the mainline.  Put down some shrubbery too.  Another small step of progress. Yes!

Today I went to the local Lowe's and picked up a 4' X 8' X 2"  and two 4'X8'X1/2" foam boards and three rolls of 14gauge stranded wire to start the process and well as a 50lb bag of plaster of Paris and a pack of blue shop towels rolls.

I finally finished wiring all my track yesterday! Now I move onto switch wiring, but not until after I run some trains first!!!

Tim C.

Main Street got paved this weekend!

All the way to the "other" side of the tracks....

All last week trying to improve on the fastrack appearance????

OPEN HOUSE AT LARRY'S  WHEN YOU ARE DONE

ALL SMOKEY MTN CLUB MEMBERS GET IN FREE !!

THANKS

Test-ran a "new" locomotive!  At our small local train meet yesterday, I found a sweet little Lionel 384 from around 1930, nice age wear and patina, very clean original condition, and the gentleman selling it had done a careful and qualified job servicing.  Put her on the track and she purrs right around.  Not an uncommon engine, and one which frankly I had kind of overlooked, but a really nice example and I'm pleased!  

Larry, gosh yes, that's much better!

I went from one round tube yesterday to a wider two tube version.  This follows the prototype model.  Next is to find a tube to drain out of the bin about 3/4ths the way up which tube flexes at the bottom and into the box car door.  There is a building which houses the top of the  elevator leg on the top of the structure. 

I agree, Nice looking tree.

I believe that your source is a 'Tardiva,' also known as 'Pink Diamond,' or 'Chantilly Lace.'  My wife has one; I never thought about using it, until now.