What did you do on your layout today?

mike g. posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Mike- Happy to help- I've got the lopsided tunnel portal to prove it too

 

Bob, do you know the dimensions of regular Portholes so I have a starting point?

Check this out.

http://www.sceneryexpress.com/...stems/products/1076/

Mark Boyce posted:

mike g. posted:

Hi Everyone, I would like to start of by saying what great work that is being done by you all! I know I normally write something on each work you post, but today I haven't been in the mood for that the last couple of days. But great work!

So my wife has been spilling this all over FB, So I thought I would share this with my train friends! I hope you don't mind that I call you friends! Yesterday I had to go in for a C.T. Scan to check for Cancer, A lot of you know I have had it in the past and beat it. Well today we got an early Christmas Gift that I am still Kicking Cancers BUTT! 

Not bad for going from Stage 4 Head and Neck Cancer to cancer free for 2 years in a row now! I want you all to know that I think a lot of it has to do with all the positive stuff shared here and how it makes me feel happy!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year to you all and God Bless everyone here!

Mike, that is great news!!!!   I have been wondering if you were having any follow ups, so now I know.  

I agree wholeheartedly that the Forum is a great support tool; the positive conversation about toy and model trains, prototype trains, but also the commradery, the encouragement, and the willingness to share information and even models with folks most of us have never seen face to face.

I too have received encouragement during my 'minor when compared to cancer' health issue.  Several folks have emailed me, and we have had great discussions.  Mine is just a mobility problem; no big deal in the grand scheme.

God bless you Mike and your faithful, loving wife!!  I'll continue praying for you and everyone here who has shared health issues.  God bless everyone here!  You are wonderful friends!!!

 

That’s great news Mike! My God keep his Devine hand upon you. We all are like a band of brothers here thanks for welcoming me in the loop best forum and support team on the internet. 

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

For my next number:  

Ebil is afoot.    

Mitch

To quote that great American lawyer, Joseph N Welch, “You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?”...  

RSJB18 posted:

mike g. posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Mike- Happy to help- I've got the lopsided tunnel portal to prove it too

 

Bob, do you know the dimensions of regular Portholes so I have a starting point?

Check this out.

http://www.sceneryexpress.com/...stems/products/1076/

Thanks Bob! You ROCK!

Thanks Lee, This sure is a great place! Lots of information, but even better great place to make friends!

Guys great work! I’m still here in the front row watching to do your beautiful art work hope to get some progress done soon till then keep up the good work 

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

For my next number:  

Ebil is afoot.    

Mitch

A UP GG1? Blasphemy! How much  must we Pennsy fans endure! First, Bill's beautiful NP GG1 and now this. 🤯 I can't wait to see it. 😊

mike g. posted:

Mitch, that sure is going to be sharp when your done! Cant wait to see it in motion!

Thankee!  I'm looking forward to it as well.   Not sure which G is going to get the makeover,  but I'll keep y'all posted!   

Mitch 

Apples55 posted:

To quote that great American lawyer, Joseph N Welch, “You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?”...  

Blame the gi-raffe tie tack someone sent me.   

Besides, you were the one making a fuss about a Razorback Red GG1.     I may just makeover Big Red. 

Pat Kn posted:

A UP GG1? Blasphemy! How much  must we Pennsy fans endure! First, Bill's beautiful NP GG1 and now this. 🤯 I can't wait to see it. 😊

Should be fun!  I'm looking forward to painting it...   

Mitch 

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Apples55 posted:

To quote that great American lawyer, Joseph N Welch, “You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?”...  

Blame the gi-raffe tie tack someone sent me.   

Besides, you were the one making a fuss about a Razorback Red GG1.     I may just makeover Big Red. 

Pat Kn posted:

A UP GG1? Blasphemy! How much  must we Pennsy fans endure! First, Bill's beautiful NP GG1 and now this. 🤯 I can't wait to see it. 😊

Should be fun!  I'm looking forward to painting it...   

Mitch 

Mitch... Mitch... Mitch... you just don’t get it (and regrettably, you are not alone). Desecration of a GG1, as @Pat Kn so eloquently and succinctly put it, is Blasphemy (I would also accept Heresy). Whether it is Razorback Red, Electric Blue, a canary yellow UP, a pushme-pullyou double Warbonnet, a NYC Lightning Stripe, etc., it is just WRONG!!!

Mitch,

Remember the song, "It's my party and I'll run trains how I want to"?  Well, I guess I changed a word or two, but you get what I mean!   

braving an Ohio storm.....

Mark Boyce posted:

Mitch,

Remember the song, "It's my party and I'll run trains how I want to"?  Well, I guess I changed a word or two, but you get what I mean!   

Mark;

To quote a former Pastor of mine, “just because we can, doesn’t mean we should”!!! 

Howard, Excellent winter scene!

Gandydancer, That is a fabulous snowy scene. The snow itself is particularly adeptly applied, with real artistic talent, IMO.

FrankM

Yes the snow is great!  What did you use?  It looks like a fine powder.

My father finally got a cab forward! Here’s 10.5 mins of all steam era running

https://youtu.be/wqx5d8Vwzu0

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

mike g. posted:

Mitch, that sure is going to be sharp when your done! Cant wait to see it in motion!

Thankee!  I'm looking forward to it as well.   Not sure which G is going to get the makeover,  but I'll keep y'all posted!   

Mitch 

Get going Mitch, before I do!  LOL

Bruce

Moonson posted:

Gandydancer, That is a fabulous snowy scene. The snow itself is particularly adeptly applied, with real artistic talent, IMO.

FrankM

Thank you Frank, I like how it turned out also. Merry Christmas!

Gandydancer, Looks like someone is going to have a White Christmas! Looks great! Around here all we got going is rain, I don't think I will try to copy that on my layout! LOL

Merry Christmas!

Andy, nice video and some great looking trains, but not my era my layout is more modern. Thant being said I watched the video cause I love the look of your layout, it is just wonderful!

mike g. posted:

Andy, nice video and some great looking trains, but not my era my layout is more modern. Thant being said I watched the video cause I love the look of your layout, it is just wonderful!

Thank you much ! There’s a all modern era video on my channel too.  Up next is more steam probably then some 60-70s.  Trying to keep all the engines rolling often.  Need more shelves too. 

HK, I agree with all who say your snow scene is very well done, especially the window sills and foundation.  But, the golfer who owns those clubs on the baggage cart is not going to be very happy!  

Opened up my new PRR 0-6-0 yesterday. The engine is very clean and in very good shape. Looks like it was well maintained. I put some fresh grease on the main gears and closed up the shell. Started cleaning the running gear and noticed something shiny sticking out of one of the driver axles.....TINSEL! UGHHH!

Must have been a Christmas tree runner in it's past life. As predicted it's coming out in small pieces. I will keep calm and carry on however. Most of it is out, just need tweezers to get the last couple of pieces. It doesn't look like it got into the race for the bearing at least. Remember to keep the ROW clear under the Tree at all times.

I did some more research on my CW-80. I've come to the conclusion that most people love 'em or hate 'em. Mine would be in the hate camp at this point. It will get me through this year and I will look for something else for the future. I'll keep the CW for test bench power.

Bob

Well Bob, I am glad everything turned out ok! Could have been much worse! Here is an idea, run out and buy yourself a Z4000! LOL

Bob, It is certainly good you decided to do a tune up on the 0-6-0!!!

I had a CW80, and didn't like it.  It was okay running something light like the old Polar Express, but couldn't handle a Premier engine with 4 lit passenger cars.  I bought the Polar Express used, and it didn't come with the CW80.  So when I bought the LionChief Polar Express last year, I sold the traditional one along with the CW80 to make a complete set.  It will give that person good service, I think.

mike g. posted:

Well Bob, I am glad everything turned out ok! Could have been much worse! Here is an idea, run out and buy yourself a Z4000! LOL

Yup, that is exactly what I did.  Bought the Z4000 and all my trains are happy!!!  

Mark Boyce posted:

mike g. posted:

Well Bob, I am glad everything turned out ok! Could have been much worse! Here is an idea, run out and buy yourself a Z4000! LOL

Yup, that is exactly what I did.  Bought the Z4000 and all my trains are happy!!!  

I think a Z 4000 is a bit overkill for  a 6' 036 loop under the tree. 😂

I could always replace my KW......HMMM......😏

Hey Bob, I glad you warned me about overhang on the portholes! I pushed my well car threw and it was fine, so I decided to break out the 20" Auto Carrier and low and behold it hit! I will have to make it a little wider in that area!

RSJB18 posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

mike g. posted:

Well Bob, I am glad everything turned out ok! Could have been much worse! Here is an idea, run out and buy yourself a Z4000! LOL

Yup, that is exactly what I did.  Bought the Z4000 and all my trains are happy!!!  

I think a Z 4000 is a bit overkill for  a 6' 036 loop under the tree. 😂

I could always replace my KW......HMMM......😏

Overkill, maybe so.  LOL  So you are saying less is more.  

I finished up another table and move a bunch of crap around the basement to make it all fit!  The moving stuff was a real pain in the caboose, but I can finally see the room coming together.  Its way too messy to post pictures at the moment!

I understand completely Olivercliffs!!!  A necessary evil in getting a project going!!

Mark Boyce posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

mike g. posted:

Well Bob, I am glad everything turned out ok! Could have been much worse! Here is an idea, run out and buy yourself a Z4000! LOL

Yup, that is exactly what I did.  Bought the Z4000 and all my trains are happy!!!  

I think a Z 4000 is a bit overkill for  a 6' 036 loop under the tree. 😂

I could always replace my KW......HMMM......😏

Overkill, maybe so.  LOL  So you are saying less is more.  

Nope- more is more...but a decent 100 watt transformer will suffice for now.

Kinda like the Geico commercials

mike g. posted:

Hey Bob, I glad you warned me about overhang on the portholes! I pushed my well car threw and it was fine, so I decided to break out the 20" Auto Carrier and low and behold it hit! I will have to make it a little wider in that area!

Happy to help Mike. Don't want you to take the walk of shame with the jig saw to cut the portal later.

This afternoon I went to visit the Cumberland Valley RR Club open house in Chambersburg, Pa. It is on Nelson St. It is free but ask for donations.  Nice size, big enough to have 7 rail gauges but not overwhelming. they run from TT & Z to  G gauge. Have two Standard gauge and two or more O gauge tracks. Have  couple of monorails.  The club members are very friendly. Definitely recommend it. Going back next Sat. with my camera.

gandydancer1950 posted:

braving an Ohio storm.....

Great "Snow Job", no pun intended!

Dave

Thanks again Bob!

I know this is Premature, but I am out of road bed, need switches and more O54 track and well more money! So I thought why not put some power to what I have. Here is a little video of the first engine on the new track! Please don't laugh! LOL

YAY! Mike's got power to the rails!!!!!!

I think that F-40 loco is a bit off the mark though. It's a long way from Philly

mike g. posted:

Thanks again Bob!

I know this is Premature, but I am out of road bed, need switches and more O54 track and well more money! So I thought why not put some power to what I have. Here is a little video of the first engine on the new track! Please don't laugh! LOL

Looking REAL GOOD!   Maybe Santa will leave ya more track for Christmas.

Chief Bob (Retired)

I recently added lights to the Ensor house. You can't tell from this angle that there's no interior for the most part, but I will be adding a living room interior eventually.

Haven't done much since we got the puppy in October as we have to keep a constant eye on her for now...

mike g. posted:

Here is a little video of the first engine on the new track! Please don't laugh! LOL

Why would ANYONE even think of laughing? I'm so very happy for you, and I'm sure most others seeing this are, too!

mike g. posted:

Thanks again Bob!

I know this is Premature, but I am out of road bed, need switches and more O54 track and well more money! So I thought why not put some power to what I have. Here is a little video of the first engine on the new track! Please don't laugh! LOL

    congrats Mike !!

Way To Go MIKE G.!!! First revenue move!

Rusty

mike g. posted:

Thanks again Bob!

I know this is Premature, but I am out of road bed, need switches and more O54 track and well more money! So I thought why not put some power to what I have. Here is a little video of the first engine on the new track! Please don't laugh! LOL

 First test run!  Not premature.  Just checking that track and wiring!  Nice job picking the Pennsylvanian fit the first run!!!!

Had a little more free time today so worked on some scenery.  As they say, slow progress is steady progress.  A few more PIC's for your viewing pleasure.

Chief Bob (Retired)

Looks Great Lee!

Chief Bob, the lsndscap is looking wonderful! 

Thanks everyone for the positive support !

Chief Bob, the scenery is coming along nicely 

mike g. posted:

Hey Bob, I glad you warned me about overhang on the portholes! I pushed my well car threw and it was fine, so I decided to break out the 20" Auto Carrier and low and behold it hit! I will have to make it a little wider in that area!

Here’s what I use for clearance. I need 3-1/4” from center rail to run big boy. I use MTH double portals and cut a little out of the center to keep it looking decent. I use this truck mounted piece of wood to help with installation. 

Thanks Rod, just wondering the length of the piece of wood? I would like to make one. 

 Been working on the track for under the tree.  Ditched the Fastrack and went with some Atlas.  Still a work in progress, but more to be done next year.  

It looks great, Thaddeus!!

mike g. posted:

Thanks again Bob!

I know this is Premature, but I am out of road bed, need switches and more O54 track and well more money! So I thought why not put some power to what I have. Here is a little video of the first engine on the new track! Please don't laugh! LOL

Champagne & strawberries!  Time to celebrate. Also, Glad to hear of your good health report. You’re in my prayers. 

Mike, there is no such word when working on building a layout. No matter how short the run was it is still a win, win situation. Always run your biggest car or engine through track work to check on clearances. Liked the video. You are going to have a very nice layoput when your done.

Chief Bob, scenery is coming together.

THADDEUS, that is a great track plan for under the tree.........................Paul

Paul is so right, Mike!  That was THE first run, and it was most successful!  I’m really looking forward to seeing your layout progress!!

Finished servicing my B6 and gave it a nice long test run. Very nice loco- I think I pinched a wire putting the shell back on and now the smoke unit isn't working . I'll have to take it apart again to investigate. First train with rail-sounds, pretty cool.

Bob

It runs nice, Bob!!

Thaddeus, wonderful Christmas layout! I bet everyone is just going to love it!

Bob, nice work on the B6 Mark is right it runs nice and smooth! I hope your right and its just a pinched wire!

Thanks everyone for the words of inspiration! Mean a lot coming form all you guys!

romiller49 posted:

mike g. posted:

Hey Bob, I glad you warned me about overhang on the portholes! I pushed my well car threw and it was fine, so I decided to break out the 20" Auto Carrier and low and behold it hit! I will have to make it a little wider in that area!

Here’s what I use for clearance. I need 3-1/4” from center rail to run big boy. I use MTH double portals and cut a little out of the center to keep it looking decent. I use this truck mounted piece of wood to help with installation. 

Hi Rod, I got it figured out! Last night when I asked about it I was already in bed half asleep! But I got it, sometimes I am a little slow! LOL

Thaddeus posted:

 Been working on the track for under the tree.  Ditched the Fastrack and went with some Atlas.  Still a work in progress, but more to be done next year.  

Hi Thaddeus! I totally like your design, but I'm also curious why you ditched the Fastrack? I have Fastrack and would like to know if there are design issues for that layout using standard O36 track?

George

        great weekend, was really nice out...          

        girlfriend and I took IZZY to the park...   

                       ran some trains & watched some football...

                                                  GO BROWNS !!!

                            went shopping and found this lighted train...

          IZZY saw Santa and went shopping for Christmas treats...

   we watched some trains on the way home...

          ran some more trains and had some ice cream... GREAT weekend !!!

                         putting up more Christmas lights tonight...

Sounds like a perfect day, Brian!!

p51 posted:

mike g. posted:

Here is a little video of the first engine on the new track! Please don't laugh! LOL

Why would ANYONE even think of laughing? I'm so very happy for you, and I'm sure most others seeing this are, too!

Amen, brother!

WOW Brian, Makes me want to come to your house! Does sound like a great weekend!

I fooled around with momentum settings, using a Sunset Alco-GE PA1.

GeoPeg posted:

Thaddeus posted:

 Been working on the track for under the tree.  Ditched the Fastrack and went with some Atlas.  Still a work in progress, but more to be done next year.  

Hi Thaddeus! I totally like your design, but I'm also curious why you ditched the Fastrack? I have Fastrack and would like to know if there are design issues for that layout using standard O36 track?

George

Really didn't like how noisy it was and I couldn't fit the track plan into the same area.  The O45 curves worked so much better and gave me more flexibility in how to do it.  Over the years I figured that the Atlas would be best for wear and tear or if it gets stepped on.  

PUFFRBELLY posted:

Had a little more free time today so worked on some scenery.  As they say, slow progress is steady progress.  A few more PIC's for your viewing pleasure.

Chief Bob (Retired)

Bob;

That’s a great looking hill. I have two questions... what is the white material you covered the foam with and what do you use to keep the “grass” on the hill???

Thanks.

RSJB18 posted:

Finished servicing my B6 and gave it a nice long test run. Very nice loco- I think I pinched a wire putting the shell back on and now the smoke unit isn't working . I'll have to take it apart again to investigate. First train with rail-sounds, pretty cool.

Bob

That's why I always test stuff before I take it apart. That way I know if it's broken before I tried to "fix" it 😁.

More than likely a wire came off instead of the smoke unit shorting out. So should be an easy fix.

I decided to tear up a few atlas switches that were giving my SD70Mac and 70ACes a few problems. I do not like the atlas switches very much due to their problems with throwbars breaking or snapping. 5th atlas switches that have either bent or broke due to heavy use. 2 were because my J1 hit them wrong. Atlas #4s tend to break even with my GP38 or an SD40. Hope to replace them with either Shinohara or Peco switches. I think I might soon start converting the 4 switches on my mains too.  Also cleaned up the layout and started getting ready for Christmas. I hope to have all of the problems fixed by then. Also have a bent section of track in the yard that is causing problems with my intermodals. I also have been deciding where to put my big 1x4 lit Norfolk Southern sign I have. Probably going to go above the layout on the wall. 

Happy Holidays to you all!

-NS6770Fan

NS6770Fan, I hope you get everything put back together before Christmas!

I just spent the afternoon cleaning the train room, I just hate to have a mess! LOL

After a bit of run in time I returned to adding improvements to the Faulhaber recipient.   With the all ERR components in the spacious tender there's little to deal with inside the boiler shell.  At some future point the puffer will get replaced with a fan driven unit. Three LED's were added up front to illuminate the headlight and number boards.

In review, here's the coupling adapter made to mate motor with driveshaft.  One machine screw ( seen just below the wire tie at right ) fastens the motor to the chassis, leaving the motor to basically hang in place.

Plenty of space in the shell made adding weight to improve tractability easy.  Another use for aluminum duct tape here.

The pony truck was modified to accept new wheels and axles.  I recently sourced a beautiful match to the dark blue used to accent stripe and letter the loco.  I had been dying to add the color sweep around the headlight ever since buying this loco. 

Back on the rails, she gets more exercise now than ever.  I suppose the original drive might have smoothed out over time but its jerky operation was like driving a 4 banger car with one dead cylinder.  I just couldn't wait.  Next upgrade will be new ERR sound, that is if Canada Post ever pulls their thumb out and gets me my package.

Bruce

Upgraded my Legacy base and controller, that was an odyssey.  After that ran some trains, u sing both MTH and Lionel WiFi.

Happiness.

John 

Bruce, that's a nice piece of work! It's funny for me anytime I open an engine I get scared! I guess I will have to learn to get over it if I want to save money down the road!

John, any time you can run trains its a good thing, I just came in from the train room running my train back and forth on the 25' of track I have down LOL! But was still enjoyment!

Spoke encouraging words to my trains as my son & I loaded them into the Uhaul for the move to "their" new home with a 22' x 24' basement.

Apples55 posted:

PUFFRBELLY posted:

Had a little more free time today so worked on some scenery.  As they say, slow progress is steady progress.  A few more PIC's for your viewing pleasure.

Chief Bob (Retired)

Bob;

That’s a great looking hill. I have two questions... what is the white material you covered the foam with and what do you use to keep the “grass” on the hill???

Thanks.

Hey Paul,

The white material is Low Loft Batting.  It is used for making quilts and can purchased at any craft store or on line.  It is bonded to the insulation foam using Matt Medium but Elmer's glue will probably work as well.  Generously coat the foam with either the Matt medium or Elmer's glue and gently press the batting down with your fingers (I suggest using some type of latex gloves).  Once the glue is dried (usually over night) you coat the batting with any cheap latex paint preferably in medium to dark brown.  While the paint is still wet, sprinkle on your favorite flavor of fine ground foam on and let it dry.  Here's a link to guy that I got the information from.      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C6aHEoUWYg&t=21s  Very easy to work with.  Hope this helps.

Merry Christmas,

Chief Bob (Retired)

Sent the new 0-4-0 out to take consist & caboose down the mainline, late into the night...

At 20 sec to do a 10" radius loop, it seems to be well under 20 scale mph. Kinda low speed, given that it's not a switcher. But I've always loved low-speed operation. Can't get the old Pullmor's to run that slow for beans.

Bob DavisNPF, I like slow speed too!  Looks great!

Great Christmas scene, Brian!  

thanks Mark !

Lou1985 posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Finished servicing my B6 and gave it a nice long test run. Very nice loco- I think I pinched a wire putting the shell back on and now the smoke unit isn't working . I'll have to take it apart again to investigate. First train with rail-sounds, pretty cool.

Bob

That's why I always test stuff before I take it apart. That way I know if it's broken before I tried to "fix" it 😁.

More than likely a wire came off instead of the smoke unit shorting out. So should be an easy fix.

It worked before it took it apart so we will see. I want to add a switch to turn if off and on also.

I have never been happy that my wife’s good friend’s artwork on the fascia board in front of the layout could not be seen nicely because the light was blocked.  I used an 8’ led strip glued to some cove molding painted flat black, and voilà, a much better look I think.

     looks GREAT Ted        Merry Christmas !!

Brian, your really getting into the spirt of Christmas! Looks good!

Ted, what a great improvement! Its nice to see the wonderful art work!

  thanks Mike       your layout is coming along GREAT     Merry Christmas

                           and IZZY has already got a jump start on it...

Ted, I agree that lighting did the trick to show off her excellent painting!!  The layout in the windows looks great again!  Merry Christmas!

mike g. posted:

Brian, your really getting into the spirt of Christmas! Looks good!

Ted, what a great improvement! Its nice to see the wonderful art work!

Mike, you are such an early riser! You could be here in Eastern time zone!

LOL Mark, its because of the wife & Tank, the wife gets up and leaves for work at 3:30 AM and after she leaves Tank just sits there and wines! So I have to get up as until he is quite there will be no more sleep in the house! Plus I go to bed at 8PM. LOL

Mike, Yes I have a similar problem with our dog, Annie.  Since I have not been working, and have had the sciatic pain, the meds seem to wire me instead of making me drowsy.  I didn't get to sleep until almost 3 am last night for instance.  Annie was scratching the door at 7:00 for me to get up and have breakfast with her.  She gets little pieces of turkey sausage.  LOL  So now I am drowsy, but have to go to PT soon.  The therapist will certainly wake me up!!    He's over 70, but he can sure make that leg scream in pain!!!  

Well don't work to hard at PT, you want to be able to come home and do something with trains! I hope you feel better soon!

   I toom the Christmas Tree and everything else on the mini-Christmas layout, and dumped it all into the bathtub. I then broke out the vacuume, changed about 10 tree bulbs, pulled one string off permanently because of a melted bulb socket. I added a new string, but that was too bright....the star was too bright now too with 50% more bulbs...so I added a dimmer, "re-assembled Johnny 5". I also knew where the Lionel/Hallmark were thist year so literally filled the tiny tree with them.

  Then I ran my cabforward dockside pulling a foil wrapped load of chocolate balls filling a gondola.

   Eating the chocolates wound me up with inspiration; so I finished the ore cars off; adding hooks & chains for coupling the cars (after the lead ore car's single knuckle coupler) I basically used three hooks per coupling. Two hooks on one end of a car, toward the sides, with a chain strung between the hooks, and one hook centered on the other end.  The single hook of one car is passed through the chain of the other car, just as easy as pie.

 .... Then the pile of fudgesicle sticks said "build me"...All of it wood except for the bearings sliced off broken trucks and superglued on the wood. The "stain" is just "Old English" dark woods furniture polish. So now I have a low slung shorty bobber flat car to run with the ore cars. I'm thinking about another matching car to follow it. Maybe a water vat or tank. Crap. They need a brake wheel.

Some N gauge made it into the tree too   Same size as these Lionels. Bash material

  You can't say "don't laugh" and then close with "lol"; because I'm already instantly laughing at lol...

 With you

You need to get two more switches and enough track for adding temp reverse loops for running is what you need.

micar g. posted:

Thanks again Bob!

I know this is Premature, but I am out of road bed, need switches and more O54 track and well more money! So I thought why not put some power to what I have. Here is a little video of the first engine on the new track! Please don't laugh! LOL

mike g. posted:

Bruce, that's a nice piece of work! It's funny for me anytime I open an engine I get scared! I guess I will have to learn to get over it if I want to save money down the road!

John, any time you can run trains its a good thing, I just came in from the train room running my train back and forth on the 25' of track I have down LOL! But was still enjoyment!

Mike,

There are still many facets of the hobby that I'm not comfortable with.  On the complexity scale, this re-motor wasn't all that difficult.  Plus, had the end result of the conversion been a total flop, the entire process could be easily reversed with little remaining evidence.  Had a longer screw been available to me at the time, that messy grinding performed at the mount could have been avoided too.  Just another learned lesson for when another similar conversion comes a!ong, which in fact is the plan for my equally anemic Commodor Vanderbilt.

Congrats on getting to finally run a train.  Even if only for a few feet, it actually allows you to trouble shoot problem areas as track laying progresses, rather than faced with an entire layout full of issues.   Test runs after each switch or crossover is laid helps prevent track work with rough operation, poor electrical continuity and signal interference. 

Most importantly, running trains is fulfilling in profound ways. I believe it harkens back to feelings the early manufacturers understood well....that we become masters of a world we created.  Powerful stuff!

Bruce

Changed out the hudson steamer pulling a short B&O mail train replacing it with a red and while Baldwin Locomotive Works R16 shark nose demonstrator ( Williams by Bachman ). I love the demonstrator paint scheme!   Now the train has a nice Christmas look to it.   Ran trains for a short time and enjoyed that time greatly!  

TedW posted:

I have never been happy that my wife’s good friend’s artwork on the fascia board in front of the layout could not be seen nicely because the light was blocked.  I used an 8’ led strip glued to some cove molding painted flat black, and voilà, a much better look I think.

Just gorgeous! Your lighting change was a great idea, Ted!

trumptrain posted:

Changed out the hudson steamer pulling a short B&O mail train replacing it with a red and while Baldwin Locomotive Works R16 shark nose demonstrator ( Williams by Bachman ). I love the demonstrator paint scheme!   Now the train has a nice Christmas look to it.   Ran trains for a short time and enjoyed that time greatly!  

Sounds like a perfect day!

brwebster 

Mike,

There are still many facets of the hobby that I'm not comfortable with.  On the complexity scale, this re-motor wasn't all that difficult.  Plus, had the end result of the conversion been a total flop, the entire process could be easily reversed with little remaining evidence.  Had a longer screw been available to me at the time, that messy grinding performed at the mount could have been avoided too.  Just another learned lesson for when another similar conversion comes a!ong, which in fact is the plan for my equally anemic Commodor Vanderbilt.

Congrats on getting to finally run a train.  Even if only for a few feet, it actually allows you to trouble shoot problem areas as track laying progresses, rather than faced with an entire layout full of issues.   Test runs after each switch or crossover is laid helps prevent track work with rough operation, poor electrical continuity and signal interference. 

Most importantly, running trains is fulfilling in profound ways. I believe it harkens back to feelings the early manufacturers understood well....that we become masters of a world we created.  Powerful stuff!

Bruce

 

 

 

 

Great observations, Bruce! I feel like I can fix anything mechanical but get spooked by electricals. I suppose, as a History major, I shouldn't expect to be an electrical engineering whizz kid, but there lays the frustration. 

mike g. posted:

Thanks again Bob!

I know this is Premature, but I am out of road bed, need switches and more O54 track and well more money! So I thought why not put some power to what I have. Here is a little video of the first engine on the new track! Please don't laugh! LOL

Hey Mike looks good..   Sadly I see something that you might want to change.   From where you start the train, the third upright makes a "bump", not bad with that diesel.  But could be a problem with steam.  Looks to be right in the grade transition.  I hope that doesn't sound anal but no better time than now to fix it!  I see that being a problem on a lot of show layouts.  Hope thats helpful! 

Jim

Adriatic posted:

.... Then the pile of fudgesicle sticks said "build me"...All of it wood except for the bearings sliced off broken trucks and superglued on the wood. The "stain" is just "Old English" dark woods furniture polish. So now I have a low slung shorty bobber flat car to run with the ore cars. I'm thinking about another matching car to follow it. Maybe a water vat or tank. Crap. They need a brake wheel.

Adriatic, that shorty flat is a work of art. Thanks for sharing!

HCSader73 posted:

brwebster 

Mike,

There are still many facets of the hobby that I'm not comfortable with.  On the complexity scale, this re-motor wasn't all that difficult.  Plus, had the end result of the conversion been a total flop, the entire process could be easily reversed with little remaining evidence.  Had a longer screw been available to me at the time, that messy grinding performed at the mount could have been avoided too.  Just another learned lesson for when another similar conversion comes a!ong, which in fact is the plan for my equally anemic Commodor Vanderbilt.

Congrats on getting to finally run a train.  Even if only for a few feet, it actually allows you to trouble shoot problem areas as track laying progresses, rather than faced with an entire layout full of issues.   Test runs after each switch or crossover is laid helps prevent track work with rough operation, poor electrical continuity and signal interference. 

Most importantly, running trains is fulfilling in profound ways. I believe it harkens back to feelings the early manufacturers understood well....that we become masters of a world we created.  Powerful stuff!

Bruce

 

 

 

 

Great observations, Bruce! I feel like I can fix anything mechanical but get spooked by electricals. I suppose, as a History major, I shouldn't expect to be an electrical engineering whizz kid, but there lays the frustration. 

Pete,

Before anyone gets the idea that I truly know what I'm doing, let me stop you right there!  There's no electrical whiz or mechanical engineer here.  When the urge strikes, I foray into uncharted territory a bit at a time.  Example, find out how LED's are adaptable to your trains and tackle a basic job like adding an LED headlite.  Next you're doing flicker free passenger cars and so on and so on.   Soon you're upgrading locos with ERR or PS3 kits, maybe not because they needed to be upgraded, but just to prove to yourself that you can do it!

I was to understand conversion kits, modified parts or vast amounts of machining were the only routes to DC motor conversions, unless of course you sent it out to be done.  I wanted a way around that.  The loco itself gave me loads of room to work with so I avoided a lot aggravation trying to wedge a new motor into the less spacious shell of some smaller loco.  I got lucky I suppose, but time will tell.  It wasn't my first conversion but was definitely the easiest.  Simplicity being the key.

Bruce

carsntrains posted:

mike g. posted:

Thanks again Bob!

I know this is Premature, but I am out of road bed, need switches and more O54 track and well more money! So I thought why not put some power to what I have. Here is a little video of the first engine on the new track! Please don't laugh! LOL

Hey Mike looks good..   Sadly I see something that you might want to change.   From where you start the train, the third upright makes a "bump", not bad with that diesel.  But could be a problem with steam.  Looks to be right in the grade transition.  I hope that doesn't sound anal but no better time than now to fix it!  I see that being a problem on a lot of show layouts.  Hope thats helpful! 

Jim

 

I concur.  The track transition to grade should be smooth, as if mounted on a board bent down.  The longer that transition, the larger the locomotive that can safely travel over it without derailing.  Been there, done this too.

Bruce