What did you do on your layout today?

Mark Boyce posted:

TedW posted:

Gilly@N&W posted:

I'd post a picture or two, but who really cares to see a DZ-1000? Today I passed the 1/2 way point in wiring switches. Just finished #13 of 24. I also have power feeds for 3/4 of the layout complete.

Wiring DZ-1000s to the MTH is the way to go. These Ross switches operate smooth as glass. The accessory output on the CW-80 is more than up to the task of powering these switches.

It's snowing here too. Back to the attic.

I for one haven’t seen these switch machines wired to Ross switches.  I know most have, but it would help me a little to put the pics and instruction/methods in the thread bank.

Tom, I'm with Ted.  I would be happy to see also if you can.

Okie-dokie. I'll shoot some pics tomorrow.

Elliot. that is one long expanse but when it's done it is going to look good. Once you are done with everything and are just running trains it is going to be hard to pick a scene. They will all look good. And for Mike, Mark and the rest I did do what I promised. Not as much as I would of liked too but I actually ran an engine on a nine foot section of track. I did a hot wire job to do it as it shows in the one pic. But it actually felt good to run something after all this time. This is it  for now. I thought I had more wire for the ground but I had to order more. Once that gets here I can get more track wired up. Pics..............Paul

TedW posted:

Whew, Bob.  This’ll be interesting.  I wouldn’t know where to begin...  my Lionel Dwarf signal has three wires, red,black,yellow;  red/black-power/ground, yellow to insulated rail.  No idea how the connections are made inside.  Is that what you’re thinking?

Yea something like that. I need to do some research on block signals and how they are supposed to work. My thought is that they will be green for an oncoming train unless there is another train in the block ahead in which case the signal would change to red.

The first part of the layout I want to use them will be controlled by a toggle switch on my control panel and will correspond to which side of my transformer is powering the section of track. Details here

paul 2 posted:

Elliot. that is one long expanse but when it's done it is going to look good. Once you are done with everything and are just running trains it is going to be hard to pick a scene. They will all look good. And for Mike, Mark and the rest I did do what I promised. Not as much as I would of liked too but I actually ran an engine on a nine foot section of track. I did a hot wire job to do it as it shows in the one pic. But it actually felt good to run something after all this time. This is it  for now. I thought I had more wire for the ground but I had to order more. Once that gets here I can get more track wired up. Pics..............Paul

Congratulations, Paul!!  It is good to see a train running on the new section!!

Snow day today! Gave me some time to breakout the airbrush for the first time and begin blending some colors around a creek and pond scene. While I had it out I tried my hand at some weathering too! 

Elliot, thing are looking great! Matches the pictures very well!

Bob, sounds like a lot of work, but I will be watching so I can learn something new! When I bought my LED's I got the ones with the resisters on them already!

Paul, I am so very happy for you! Its wonderful to see all your hard work coming together and running trains!

Cmontagna posted:

Snow day today! Gave me some time to breakout the airbrush for the first time and begin blending some colors around a creek and pond scene. While I had it out I tried my hand at some weathering too! 

 

 

Looks good Chris! The creek and pound should turn out nice! The box car looks a lot better weathered! Nice work!

JD2035RR posted:

Elliott, looks great even though I know it's frustrating to have to go back over it.

 I saw some pictures you posted in another thread about the modular tables and you mentioned EnterTRAINment. What's the history of EnterTRAINment? What was it exactly? How did you start it? Were you solo?  How long did you do it? What was its demise?

Sounds like a conversation to have around a campfire/fireplace, so I'll pull up a seat and have a listen if you would kindly oblige my request

OK JD, all your questions are answered. You can find them here.

Building my fuel columns.

First had to drill out the bend here so I can insert a portion of a paperclip, to which I will slip the "hose" over.

Cut a section of alum tube and dry fit the elbow. Looks good.

Will this be scale? I dunno ...

Added the valve. Now to JB Weld it all in place.

"Finished" product before trimming off excess epoxy, priming, painting and hose installation.

Looks good to me Deuce! Nice work!

I bought a sheet of newspaper fronts, printed on very thin tissue paper, from an eBay vendor, made by a company called Dave's Decals. A personal printer couldn't possibly make these. Anyway, I scattered several of them around the layout, looking like discarded newspapers. This is the kind of thing I'm focusing on now on the layout.

Working on the town of Walnut Creek as it runs through my laundry and furnace room on the Cuyahoga Valley RR.  I could not find a water tower superstructure that I liked that would fit the scene I'm trying to create so I made one myself....

Hey Everyone,

Found some time to complete what I call "The East Bridge" that leads to the Atlas Pratt Truss bridge that spans the Lift-Out section of the layout.   Did a little ballasting on the lower East and West mains as well.   Let me know what ya think.   I got thick skin.  

Chief Bob (Retired)

So yesterday, I managed to complete the laying out of track andupper level of the layout. Curves are 089 gargraves preformed. Will do final positioning and alignment and then screw the tack and roadbed to the table. Couple of photos:

left side

right side

so tonight, thought I would take out some motive power hadn't run in a while. Process was test run to make sure its running then do a little lube. 

First the Weaver G5s. Put it on the track, plugged in tether and it was moving nicely at 7-8 volts using the DCS hand held variable channel. so after 5 minutes or so, brought it back to do the lube . When I picked it up, the valve hanger screw came out and the valve gear slider came out of its slot with everything disconnected where the it fits to the valve hanger bracket on the loco.

I have macular degeneration so vision is clearly a problem. This is a time when nmy Mrs has assumed the railroad position as Master Mechanic. WE fussed with this thing to get the slider back into the steam chest. She could see the opening for the slider but it took a bit of fussing to get in to ride into the slot and move freely. Of course it fell out while we were trying to get the rods and valve hanger together with the screw. Kind of like a quarterback sack. So more fussing and finally back into the steam chest. Now we get the valve gear positioned and the screw inserted. A little fiddling and it makes up with the threads in the hanger on the inside and we get it tightened down. For reference, we checked the tightness of the screw on the opposite side. It was tight and we set the screw we just put in to about the same tightness.  So now to test it , running it back and forward over a ten foot distance a few times. Checked the screw seemed tight. Did not have any lock tight so used a drop of clear nail polish on the screw head where it meets the valve hanger. While it was drying we oiledthe moving parts in the valve assembly both sides and did the same test run over the short distance. Screw stayed in position we set it before the nail polish. Decided to make a loop or two around the layout and then checked the screw position. Seemed to be still fixed as we left it. So Aim thinking this done now. Still somewhat nervous about it coming loose though.

ok so now we try the weaver H10s. This one has a few more miles than the G5s. Applied some oil to wheel axles, roller ends and the moving drive rods and valve gear joints. It seemed to run nicely around the layout . Addded a five car freight and ran it around for about 5 loops . Well looks like a front taraction tire has come off the engine. When I inspected it, there was one off the rear on the opposite side. The engine seemed to run fine and had no trouble with the short train. Tempted to try and acc the tire in place or take it off altogether. Getting the rod off the driver with the valve assembly in front of it seems like aa bear. 

So put that one aside for now. 

To close the night, I rolled out a MTH railking size Challenger in Greyhound colors This one is simple. No DCS just conventional control. Added a little smoke fluid and let it rip . Ran for about ten minutes just fine. This one has been run on the layout from time to time. It gets frequent use. It probably runs to fast but it is satisfying and dependable. 

So much for todays adventures. 

paul 2 posted:

Toledo Ed, I would run the fence past the sign...,......Paul

Thanks will do.  Waiting for Huck Finn to paint it. :-)

looks good to me bob

After my less than successful attempts with the AF M10005 and the Marx 10005 over

the last couple days, I put them both back on the shelf. My track radius is just not

compatible with the AF and the Marx has some damage I did not notice before. 

Then I ran my childhood scout set for a few minutes, it ran fine so kinda boring. 

Then the little Jep  streamliner that I go a couple of weeks ago caught my eye, just

sitting on my little layout doing nothing. I did the usual first aid when I got it, wd40,

contact cleaner, clean the wheels. All it would do is a few feet, stop and start smoking.

Not a good sign. So tonight I got out the dreaded screwdriver and took it apart. 

Not as easy as it sounds. Anyway, cleaned the commutator, filed the brushes, more

lube and put it back together. As you can see in the first video, less than spectacular

results. I was about to call it a night when it shifted into second gear (second video). 

Better, but mind you this is my prewar Type V cranked to 25 volts. Anything else

would be through the wall and into the street at this voltage. 

We've been discussing mixed trains on another thread here,  so I decided that the Razorback Traction Co. needed an express boxcar for its crackled express (as you will recall, the paint job is a little iffy).  Grabbing materials on hand (a Baby Ruth boxcar and some vinyl stickers), the shops swiftly produced this masterpiece!   

I may see about approximating some high-speed trucks with whatever I can scrounge from my truck box... 

Mitch 

Maybe it wasn't my Birthday Cake but it has just as much flame as that one does.  Lol

   Cheers from The Detroit Mackinac Railway

• Pronounced: (mac-in-aw)

My YouTube Channel

Detroit Model Railroad Club  Video Tour

Added the big table to the layout yesterday. None of the track is in its final position yet. Excited to get a full loop of track running. It can't come soon enough.

Latest project was hanging a cord for the clockwork gondola - so that guests can crank it up. May change this to more of a straightforward crawl rather than a rise because it’s not that powerful and I think it will work better. I’m also experimenting with different kinds of cord to serve as a cable.

Ran trains with my younger son yesterday when the older kids were at school.  He hasn't shown my interest in trains, but the last few weeks he keeps asking me to run them for him.  He loves to play with his cars and trucks at the front of the layout as the train runs.  

With the somewhat dubious assistance of Shop Supervisor Sylvia Siamese (Norma Bates Kitteh being out in the back yard terrorizing the local wildlife), a pair of MPC highspeed trucks were fitted to the express boxcar: 

N.B.: Postwar couplers can be fitted to MPC trucks; one merely has to grind the ears off the sides next to the mounting tabs.  

Mitch 

Tom M posted:

Added the big table to the layout yesterday. None of the track is in its final position yet. Excited to get a full loop of track running. It can't come soon enough.

I predict, based on my own experience with my layout, over the years, starting in 1995, that you are going to expand and widen that plywood acreage. Yup. I'm sure of it, even if it is just a few inches you manage to squeeze onto the plan and abut to what you have now.

For example, see this neighborhood - note its proximity to the stairs 

The original layout ended at the far right of the picture, out of view here, leaving what you see here as an aisle, so visitors and I could move closer to the layout. In short order, I said to myself that such an absence of miniature acreage was a waste, and that it would be more fun to have more space in which to model more of my little community, as well as to extend the mainlines into. So, I built and attached a narrow strip of additional layout right there, even constructing it of the same materials as the main layout - 3/4" plywood and 2x4 framing and legs.

FrankM

P.S. I can smell the wonderfully inviting fragrance of your fresh plywood from here, Tom M (!)

Well, I just typed out a comment to each person who posted starting with Lee and his newspapers, down through Mitch and Sylvia and the Razorback car.  However, the Hoopla Server had a hiccup and it didn't take.    Next time, I'll save to clipboard before posting!  

Here is the Cliff Notes version:

Lee, Howard, Bob, LIRRSteamer, Beardog, Mitch, Tom, Doug, Jim, Frank, Nice work!

Beardog, LIRSteamer, sorry you ran into difficulties!

Jim, that photograph is priceless!

briansilvermustang posted:

Brian, The Canadian Pacific units remind me that I saw two Canadian National engines on the Bessemer and Lake Erie line here in Butler for the first time Tuesday.  When CN purchased the B&LE several years ago, I read that they were not going to repaint engines in CN colors.  I have seen CN maintenance trucks on the roads for several years, but these were the first engines.  I told Mrs. B that I wouldn't be surprised to see more and more CN as the B&LE engines are retired or go through major maintenance.

I'm sure you have some CN somewhere in your massive archives!  

I'm really getting into this "fine detail" work.  I need a "nozzle" for the fuel columns, so I went to Scale City Designs, and I think a screw jack will work nicely in that regard. While I was there, I grabbed a fire extinguisher station (they come in pairs) that I can couple with each of the two fuel columns that will be on the station (separated by the sand tower). And lastly, you never know when a pallet jack truck will come in handy, so I purchased one of them for the other platform.

I finished painting the fueling station platform this morning. I'm hoping tonight I can assemble the other fuel column, and then I'll prime and paint them. Will cut out some minor details for the base of the columns, glue it all in place, and we'll be done. I expect to have it completed by Christmas. 

Added this flat car, just came in the mail.  Goes along with my sons real one. Oldmike

ToledoEd posted:

paul 2 posted:

Toledo Ed, I would run the fence past the sign...,......Paul

Thanks will do.  Waiting for Huck Finn to paint it. :-)

Yeah but, Huck is busy right now, so I'll send him over when he finishes this one, if that's OK .

FrankM

Finished installing the PRR style "Hairpin" fence posts and fence. Railroad's lawyers claim this will protect them from liability claims if people cross the mainline from the station to get a bite to eat at Coalyard Andy's diner (roof visible) in lower left.

Nice detail Lee! It all adds up to making your layout look more and more real!

Gandy, beautiful scratch build!

Bob, the bridge turned out looking great along with the ballast!

Lirr, quite the layout! The addition looks really nice!

Looking good there Tom! Keep up the great work!

JDEVLEERJR, take all the time with the kids you can get! I hope it last along time, my kids were not into trains, my grandson was but has moved on to tablets and video games!

OLDMIKE, Nice addition!

MODELTRAINS, good call on the fence! I am surprise they didn't call for a walk over bridge! LOL

To sum it up, GREAT work is being done by all!

Mark Boyce posted:

briansilvermustang posted:

Brian, The Canadian Pacific units remind me that I saw two Canadian National engines on the Bessemer and Lake Erie line here in Butler for the first time Tuesday.  When CN purchased the B&LE several years ago, I read that they were not going to repaint engines in CN colors.  I have seen CN maintenance trucks on the roads for several years, but these were the first engines.  I told Mrs. B that I wouldn't be surprised to see more and more CN as the B&LE engines are retired or go through major maintenance.

I'm sure you have some CN somewhere in your massive archives!  

          https://youtu.be/Faamcj_57bk

Brian, I knew you would come through!!

Thank you!!

Jdevleerjr posted:

Ran trains with my younger son yesterday when the older kids were at school.  He hasn't shown my interest in trains, but the last few weeks he keeps asking me to run them for him.  He loves to play with his cars and trucks at the front of the layout as the train runs.  

Hey Jim- good to see a post from you. Hope all is well. Looks like a fun time was had by all. Any updates on the layout?

Bob

One of my recent brainstorms...

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...r-jack-benny-project

Mitch 

Lots of progress this week

• Scratch built steel bridge supports to position the Atlas truss bridge at the correct height for the BridgeBoss Supports that I've been working with @Bridgeboss Jim on
• Built a shelf and swapped out the Lionel ZW-C I had for the MRC Dual Power O27 (the ZW-C had a DC offset going to the track causing PS1 locos to blow their horns constantly, also the MRC is lower profile)
• Mounted and installed DCS AIU
• Changed the PS3 sound set on my upgraded MTH ATSF 4-8-4 Northern to use the 4-8-4 Greenbrier soundset - I LOVE the whistle of the Greenbrier

Next up, I'm pulling all trains/track/bridges off the table to paint the homasote with brown latex paint, then laying ballast.

Matt, You are doing a great job there!!

Matt, I am with Mark! Things are looking great!

mike g. posted:

Nice detail Lee! It all adds up to making your layout look more and more real!

Gandy, beautiful scratch build!

Bob, the bridge turned out looking great along with the ballast!

Lirr, quite the layout! The addition looks really nice!

Looking good there Tom! Keep up the great work!

JDEVLEERJR, take all the time with the kids you can get! I hope it last along time, my kids were not into trains, my grandson was but has moved on to tablets and video games!

OLDMIKE, Nice addition!

MODELTRAINS, good call on the fence! I am surprise they didn't call for a walk over bridge! LOL

To sum it up, GREAT work is being done by all!

thank you!

Been working for the last 5 days or so on back drop buildings alongside the classification yard.  I had previously scratch-built the Atlantic Ice and Cold Storage building to hide the corner where the West bound aArrival Departure track circles around the back of the yard.   

Just got the Korber building: Joe's Pickle's Warehouse assembled and weathered, to the point that I could move it in place.  I am also doing a kit-bash of the building spanning the Caboose track siding, and I ended up scratch building the 6 foot I beam support under the building last weekend.  

Any suggestions are most welcome !   Please chime in.   

The last photo is of the engine service facility:   Finished round 2 of starting to ballast the tracks in the engine service facility... Wasn't too pleased the first attempt.  Now I am using the same low loft batting method I used on some mountains and rolling hills and covering it with dark brown latex paint followed by an assortment of dirt, cinders, and dark gray ballast.

Chris, The buildings look great!!

Chris, I don't know what the firs attempt looked like but I think you have a winner here! I love how the track goes under the building Great aspect!

I think I am winning. Spent some time working on this french

Joustra clockwork streamliner. I got it a couple of months ago 

and of course took the power car apart. God, I can be

stupid at times. This thing must have about 40 tin tabs

holding it together. I started putting it back together, 

then Oh wait, this piece has to go before that piece......

after about three attempts I finally got it right, I think.

Checked on the net, saw some references that this

train was called the Michilene. Photo and video follow. I think it must 

have liked being on camera. This was the only time it stopped in front

of me. All the other test runs it stopped in the far corner.

John

Matt,

   Great job on the Steel Bridge work, I love it.  The layout is really coming along!

PCRR/Dave

mattrain posted:

Lots of progress this week

• Scratch built steel bridge supports to position the Atlas truss bridge at the correct height for the BridgeBoss Supports that I've been working with @Bridgeboss Jim on
• Built a shelf and swapped out the Lionel ZW-C I had for the MRC Dual Power O27 (the ZW-C had a DC offset going to the track causing PS1 locos to blow their horns constantly, also the MRC is lower profile)
• Mounted and installed DCS AIU
• Changed the PS3 sound set on my upgraded MTH ATSF 4-8-4 Northern to use the 4-8-4 Greenbrier soundset - I LOVE the whistle of the Greenbrier

Next up, I'm pulling all trains/track/bridges off the table to paint the homasote with brown latex paint, then laying ballast.

Matt, any communication problems with the TIU/AIU underneath the table? I'd always been told that line of sight was best. 

Mark & Mike,  thanks for the positive feedback....  Bought the Korber building from another forum member not too long ago... As he had already painted it once without mortar lines, I ended up having to weather it several times, with different methods to get it where I wanted it.   What I ended up realizing is that I should be doing this on all my buildings.   Initially weather them once,  paint some bricks different colors, do the brick mortar work, seal it all up with flat clear coat, then go back and start doing variations, patch some mortar, with different color mortar,  india ink washes, dry brushing to get it looking less "perfect" as brick industrial buildings rarely weather uniformly....

Installed wiring at "Appreciation" engine , maintainence yard Thursday 

Quickie Photoshop of my proposed Jack Benny Texaco tank car...  

Mitch 

              started cleaning my new (used) train hauler....

                                             traded one of my small block Chevy's for it....

                              needs a little work and a good cleaning...

        going to use it for new wood storage for the new layout project...

                                   time to get started again soon...

beardog posted:

I think I am winning. Spent some time working on this french

Joustra clockwork streamliner. I got it a couple of months ago 

and of course took the power car apart. God, I can be

stupid at times. This thing must have about 40 tin tabs

holding it together. I started putting it back together, 

then Oh wait, this piece has to go before that piece......

after about three attempts I finally got it right, I think.

Checked on the net, saw some references that this

train was called the Michilene. Photo and video follow. I think it must 

have liked being on camera. This was the only time it stopped in front

of me. All the other test runs it stopped in the far corner.

John

 

 

Ah yes, I'm well familiar with having to get all the parts back in place in the right order from my earlier days in electronics.  I'm not familiar with clockwork engines, you said earlier about it should have run faster at a particular voltage, please explain does the voltage wind up the "clock" and you press the lever to release the stored mechanical energy, or what?

Regardless, that was a great run!!

briansilvermustang posted:

              started cleaning my new (used) train hauler....

                                             traded one of my small block Chevy's for it....

                              needs a little work and a good cleaning...

        going to use it for new wood storage for the new layout project...

                                   time to get started again soon...

 

I was wondering about the layout project.  Now I see, buying a trailer to store all the wood for the project!  You go all out!!! 

Hey, where is the snow??

Wait....Trailer traded for small-block Chevy?????? HUH????

sad thing is the trailer is bigger than my whole layout and its only for storage...

Looks like a good trade to me brian! When you get done with the new layout, you can build one in the trailer! Lol

Rearranging the Deck Chairs(about 60 tubs packed with trains), unpacking (20 large) boxes and stacking to see what I have.  Putting the postwar pieces in the display cabinet(as many as will fit).  All of this to make room in the basement to start construction of the benchwork. 

Finally got my living quarters cleaned out and (a dumpster full of trash and more), walls washed and painted, the old kitchen ripped out and a new one installed then  cleaned all the junk out of the LR, washed the walls & carpet so it looked fit for humn occupation. This AM I dragged out my standard gauge track and laid out two loops on the carpet just to see how it will look. Will have two loops og O gauge too. Excited already !!  Been a long  time.  Have to wait for the snow to melt and have a nice day to buy lumber. The cutting has to be done outside. My friends who live in the other half are having medical problems so I have to be a care giver and driver so that will interfere to a degree but will be dealt with. Final dimension (I think) will be 14 ft long and 8 ft. wide.

Congrats Jim. Sounds like quite an ordeal. Can't wait to see trains running.

Bob

Hi Mark, I think I confused people by posting videos of two different, but similar sets. The red and white

JEP set I posted a couple of days ago was three rail electric. It just was not running very fast for the

amount of voltage I was applying. It is improving with running. The green Joustra set I posted yesterday or

the day before is pure mechanical clockwork. No electric involved. I am attaching pics of a simple

clockwork motor. You just take the key, put it on the square shaft on one side of motor, wind the spring til it is tight.

The two levers towards the rear of the motor are a brake and reverse. You set the brake while winding to prevent

the spring from unwinding, then release it when the loco is on the track. The europeans made much

more complex clockwork mechanisms than this one, Hornby and Bing come to mind. Here in the

US Marx and Hafner were big clockwork manufacturers and Lionel and AF to some extent during the

depression years. You have to kind of switch gears and remember that before and during the 

depression most of America, especially the rural areas did not have electricity. The same applies

to europe, so almost all manufacters made clock work trains. It is interesting to look into some

of the ways they tried to power electric trains in the early days. 

John

Ha ha ha ... almost done with my fuel columns, and searching eBay today a set of the MTH ones showed up for a good price. I bought them, but honestly, I think I'll be using my own fuel columns for the current layout. There may be a place to use the MTH ones at a later date (after the expansion). It'll be interesting to put them side by side for people to see.

I may try to put the white metal oil column together tonight. Rather than have to break out the primer spray can multiple times, it'd be nice if I could get them all done in one go. I should probably build a base for it as well. The 1500 gallon oil tank looks puny compared to the oil column. I wonder how much oil tenders use to take onboard. Perhaps I need to build an oil tank out of PVC pipe and cap, then look for a sticker. What companies used to supply oil for use for steam engines? I know my son would get a kick out of a Sinclair tank.

I tried to find pictures of Lionels early batteries. No luck. Here is a picture of a similar one. Just give junior a glass

jar, a couple of electrodes, and a gallon of sulphuric acid and he is running trains. I would imagine quite

a mess when the jar got accidently knocked over.  Other ones used nitro-muratic acid, carbolic acid, etc.

I have also read about trains that ran on staight 110v at the track. A derailment must have been quite

spectacular.  

Lead-acid

 

Up to this point, all existing batteries would be permanently drained when all their chemical reactions were spent. In 1859, Gaston Planté invented the lead–acid battery, the first-ever battery that could be recharged by passing a reverse current through it. A lead acid cell consists of a lead anode and a lead dioxide cathode immersed in sulfuric acid. Both electrodes react with the acid to produce lead sulfate, but the reaction at the lead anode releases electrons whilst the reaction at the lead dioxide consumes them, thus producing a current. These chemical reactions can be reversed by passing a reverse current through the battery, thereby recharging it.

Planté's first model consisted of two lead sheets separated by rubber strips and rolled into a spiral.^[8] His batteries were first used to power the lights in train carriages while stopped at a station^{[citation needed]}. In 1881, Camille Alphonse Faure invented an improved version that consisted of a lead grid lattice into which a lead oxide paste was pressed, forming a plate. Multiple plates could be stacked for greater performance. This design was easier to mass-produce.

Compared to other batteries, Planté's was rather heavy and bulky for the amount of energy it could hold. However, it could produce remarkably large currents in surges. It also had very low internal resistance, meaning that a single battery could be used to power multiple circuits.^[6]

The lead-acid battery is still used today in automobiles and other applications where weight is not a big factor. The basic principle has not changed since 1859. In the early 1930s, a gel electrolyte (instead of a liquid) produced by adding silica to a charged cell was used in the LT battery of portable vacuum-tube radios. In the 1970s, "sealed" versions became common (commonly known as a "gel cell" or "SLA"), allowing the battery to be used in different positions without failure or leakage.

Today cells are classified as "primary" if they produce a current only until their chemical reactants are exhausted, and "secondary" if the chemical reactions can be reversed by recharging the cell. The lead-acid cell was the first "secondary" cell.

John,  Ah ha!!  Now I remember the red and white!!  I didn't go back a page to check on the color or manufacturer.  Yes, now it all makes sense, and the clockwork spring that is wound is just what I was thinking of!!  

That is some interesting information on batteries.  I recall learning about the types in use when I was studying electronics in college in the mid '70s.  Most of my 42 years employment has been with power and telecom companies.  Both use lead acid battery racks to produce 48 volts DC and larger power substations produce 125 volts DC for controls.  The banks of large batteries are quite a site to the uninitiated, and the acid levels still need to be checked.

Used to check the batteries everyday back at ATT in Norway, Il. We were one of 5 hardened

coldwar sites surrounding Chicago.  So we had an entire floor full of banks of batteries and a diesel

generator the size of a locomotive.

So you know what I'm talking about.  Back in the '80s at Possum Point Power Station across Quantico Creek from Quantico Marine Base (Dumfries, Virginia) they had 6 Fairbanks-Morse combustion turbines.  These were solely for making station power to start bringing the coal fired furnaces up in case of a blackout.  We had to test the protective relaying once a year.  The Combustion turbines had a striking resemblance to an F-M Train Master.  I wonder why!!  

Water tower build project coming along nicely. Waiting on a spout, pulley and standpipe to complete the work.....

Put down the plywood today.

Televue, That is really looking good!  

Thanks Mark

Nothing. I mowed the lawn today for the first time this Spring (the neighbors were looking daggers at me - hey, if those sprouting blue weeds, er, flowers, were in a field somewhere they'd be all "O-o-o - so pretty!" and stuff). I have a manly lawn mower - I push it, walking. No powered wheels and such.

It almost killed me. I'll be 70 next month - if I survive this.

Mitch,

   I want one of those Jack Bennie Tankers in Tin Plate!  Very cool Tanker idea!

PCRR/Save

HK, that water tower looks great.  Who’s your source for the spout, etc.?

Televue, looking better and better! Keep up the good work!

D500, mow your heart out! Maybe you can make some extra cash for trains mowing there lawn also! LOL

@Former Member sent my sons some people. Put a handful on the layout where he typically stands and directs freight.

He also recruited me to the Flamingo Side.

It sounds ominous. 

Thanks again beardog. My oldest will be thrilled when he sees that he has people and animals to direct as well!

gandydancer1950 posted:

Water tower build project coming along nicely. Waiting on a spout, pulley and standpipe to complete the work.....

The water tower looks great, Howard!!

After doing some engine maintenance, I cut the Homasote to size for the roll-out turn-back loop.  This town will be relatively flat, so since I have plenty, I just covered the whole thing with Homasote.

I also cut part of the tabletop out for the Cheat River crossings.  I left the table uncut where the two bridges will go for now.  I'll cut it completely for the truss bridge in the rear.  I may leave the wood intact for the girder bridge in the front.

Moving right along Mark! Looking good, what's next?

mike g. posted:

Moving right along Mark! Looking good, what's next?

Mike, Thank you!  I am going to put the track back down temporarily and mark the center-lines, then remove it and lay down O gauge cut and beveled cork for the raised roadbed look.  The two yard tracks in town will be tapered down to rest right on the Homasote.  Then I can start laying track in that area.  By that time, I'll be cleaning up leaves, mowing my yard and my dad's large yard, so work on the layout will be slower, but I'll have enough started I can work on it an hour or so when I get the chance.

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Mitch,

   I want one of those Jack Bennie Tankers in Tin Plate!  Very cool Tanker idea!

 

Thankee!  I refer you to the original thread for copies of the posters so you can roll your own!   

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...r-jack-benny-project  

Mitch 

TedW posted:

HK, that water tower looks great.  Who’s your source for the spout, etc.?

Thanks! Grandt Line on ebay.

Look at that cute little flamingo face, how could that possibly ominous?????

And your welcome.

Mark Boyce posted:

gandydancer1950 posted:

Water tower build project coming along nicely. Waiting on a spout, pulley and standpipe to complete the work.....

The water tower looks great, Howard!!

Thanks Mark!

we just gots to surround those gi-rafs

Hi Guys

Managed a little more today. The tracks on the right side of the upper level were final aligned and fastened down to the table. No Power yet but cars roll nicely on the rails and worked to get things level as possible. Here is a photo of todays work area:

Next step is to do the same around the curve across the bridge and onto the righrside of the upper level . Maybe over the weekend. To be followed by some wire drops and layout mains and connect to DCS Variable Channel 2. Going to try it with one ZW and see how it goes. Heres a photo of the next work area.

r

beardog posted:

Look at that cute little flamingo face, how could that possibly ominous?????

Because where one goes, the rest of the flock inevitably follows... and then, before you know it, you are up to your armpits in guano   

Laid out a loop of Standard gauge track on the carpet, same size as my proposed layout-14 ft x 8 ft and ran my heavy engines on it. Looks good and a nice size for the room.  A small but important first step.

LIRR Steamer, The track laying is turning out great!!  Looking good!

Apples55 posted:

beardog posted:

Look at that cute little flamingo face, how could that possibly ominous?????

Because where one goes, the rest of the flock inevitably follows... and then, before you know it, you are up to your armpits in guano   

I'm told flamingos are good eating...

mattrain posted:

Lots of progress this week

• Scratch built steel bridge supports to position the Atlas truss bridge at the correct height for the BridgeBoss Supports that I've been working with @Bridgeboss Jim on
• Built a shelf and swapped out the Lionel ZW-C I had for the MRC Dual Power O27 (the ZW-C had a DC offset going to the track causing PS1 locos to blow their horns constantly, also the MRC is lower profile)
• Mounted and installed DCS AIU
• Changed the PS3 sound set on my upgraded MTH ATSF 4-8-4 Northern to use the 4-8-4 Greenbrier soundset - I LOVE the whistle of the Greenbrier

Next up, I'm pulling all trains/track/bridges off the table to paint the homasote with brown latex paint, then laying ballast.

Hi Matt.

Your layout is certainly taking shape and looking great. I will have your additional columns  tomorrow and should ship out on Monday.

jim r

While waiting for water tower parts to arrive I've been working on Walnut Creek Station...

gandydancer1950 posted:

While waiting for water tower parts to arrive I've been working on Walnut Creek Station...

Looks great Gandydancer!! 

I did nothing on the layout today, however, I did run trains about 30 minutes or so before going to bed last night.  Great way to wind down from the day!

Have not done too much on the layout for the past few days. Yesterday my ground wire came in so I can start to wire up all the ground. Decided to order more wire for the power along with some more terminal blocks. Today I doubt if I will get anything done with a new train show. It use to be called the Dalton show but they lost access to the building they used so now it will be at the Mt Hope Event center, 8076 OH 241 in Millersburg Oh. Suppose to be close to 600 tables. Maybe I'll find something there. Then it is a trip to Menards down the road from there to pick up my Vetter's building and some wood for shelving...........Paul

Sounds like a fun day Paul!  Enjoy the day with trains! 

D500 posted:

Nothing. I mowed the lawn today for the first time this Spring (the neighbors were looking daggers at me - hey, if those sprouting blue weeds, er, flowers, were in a field somewhere they'd be all "O-o-o - so pretty!" and stuff). I have a manly lawn mower - I push it, walking. No powered wheels and such.

It almost killed me. I'll be 70 next month - if I survive this.

What's a lawn.......

this was my drive to work Thursday morning

I continued the process of replacing tubular track with super snaptrack and I am almost completely done. I can run 3 separate trains NS  trolley section and all are on snap track and and snap track switches. I am still short 6 42" snap track curves and 4 31" snap track as well as a few switches to relpace my 022 switches. The difference in realism is quite obvious.

John

RSJB18 posted:

D500 posted:

Nothing. I mowed the lawn today for the first time this Spring (the neighbors were looking daggers at me - hey, if those sprouting blue weeds, er, flowers, were in a field somewhere they'd be all "O-o-o - so pretty!" and stuff). I have a manly lawn mower - I push it, walking. No powered wheels and such.

It almost killed me. I'll be 70 next month - if I survive this.

What's a lawn.......

this was my drive to work Thursday morning

You're very fortunate all those trees are still standing and are whole.

FrankM

RSJB18 posted:

D500 posted:

Nothing. I mowed the lawn today for the first time this Spring (the neighbors were looking daggers at me - hey, if those sprouting blue weeds, er, flowers, were in a field somewhere they'd be all "O-o-o - so pretty!" and stuff). I have a manly lawn mower - I push it, walking. No powered wheels and such.

It almost killed me. I'll be 70 next month - if I survive this.

What's a lawn.......

this was my drive to work Thursday morning

I thought it was going to snow there! I don's see any snow on the roads! Must have been just a dusting! LOL

Frank- this storm wasn't too bad with the winds. The first of the 4 Nor-easters that rolled through in early March did a significant amount of damage. We have a lot of 80+ year old Oak and Maple trees in my neighborhood. Lost a good number of them in Super Storm Sandy. The road in this photo was not passable due to the fallen trees.

yes Mike - this was just a dusting

Bob

                   "IZZY" helped cleaning storage trailer last night,                                                                                                             next get the floor finished cleaned and painted...