What did you do on your layout today?

Lionelski posted:

tcochran posted:

Over the past couple of days I have completely torn down my table for my Train Layout. Since our basement is being waterproofed so that will be good in the long term. It is essentially phase one of basement work. I am going to look at getting more modular bench work this time around, that way when I am able to finally finish my basement it will be a heck of a lot easier to break it down and and store it. That way I don't need to spend a long time completely breaking everything down to have any work done.

Good idea Tcochran

Tcochran, in your situation I'd be tempted to build the new layout 100% modular. No need to follow rigid modular standards but rather your own mate-up standard so you can [relatively] quickly disassemble the Pike into it's component pieces and later re-assemble it. Build pieces of deck/framing in manageable sizes, bolt together, lay track, cut track at every deck-joint and you have it. Maybe even attach ready-made folding steel leg-sets to each section of decking. Wiring would need to be separable with strategically placed Molex plugs (or similar).

Deck-sections could be sized/shaped to fit strategic scenery modules which would then be undisturbed during a disassembly.

It would take planning and knowing beforehand exactly what you want the Pike to look like and be but the rewards could be delightful if/when the need arose.

My Father and I enjoyed our train day.  Both automatic milk cars worked well.  All cans landed on the platform.  Most, right side up.  He ran five engines, each with a different consist.  He enjoyed using a 1950 model #736 Berkshire to pull a tender, Baby Ruth boxcars, and caboose from 1938.  The only derailment was when the Berkshire was pulling out of the yards.  It did a slow roll over at switch #7 like it needed a belly rub.  He was able to run trains for 2 1/2 hours this time.  I am grateful we can get together for fun.  I noted the operating problems and added them to my to-do list. 

Wishing you all were here,

Bill

All great projects everyone!  
Bill, That is great things worked well and you and your dad had a good time!  

Odenville Bill posted:

My Father and I enjoyed our train day.  Both automatic milk cars worked well.  All cans landed on the platform.  Most, right side up.  He ran five engines, each with a different consist.  He enjoyed using a 1950 model #736 Berkshire to pull a tender, Baby Ruth boxcars, and caboose from 1938.  The only derailment was when the Berkshire was pulling out of the yards.  It did a slow roll over at switch #7 like it needed a belly rub.  He was able to run trains for 2 1/2 hours this time.  I am grateful we can get together for fun.  I noted the operating problems and added them to my to-do list. 

Wishing you all were here,

Bill

Bill, please cherish it, your times together.

I miss them all.

The Lionel Union Pacific "Challenger" 21" Dome Lounge #7014 from the 1927060 second Add-on 2-pack is finally finished. Two and a half days later, the car now has Preiser 65602 Seated People that I painted glued in their seats.

Here are some pictures of the car.  The last pictures is a little blurry, like my vision late at night.

The next car will be the Union Pacific "Challenger" Coach from the 2-pack.

Have a good evening.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

My very small task today was to fix the trucks on my new Menard’s tank car, which I did successfully with the help of the Forum. 

To celebrate, I hooked up my Postwar 2355 to a mixed freight string made up of mostly modern and MPC rollers.

Enjoy the video and see if you can spot the Menard’s car!

John, Another superbly populated car!

Kevin, I'm glad you got the tank car fixed.  It looks great!

Very nice 2355's and mixed freight; nice to see the Menard's tank car rolling along.

Ok guys, first off there is a lot of work being done here! I guess I should check in more then everyother day!

Lew, Thank you, that is my plan for the cranes and my scrap yard. Did you get my message about the #182 crane? I like how you hid the winch, but was thinking you could always install an outhouse over the winch for the carne operator to have a place to go! The new sewing string sure looks great!

Paul, thank you, You sure know how to find more room for buildings and switching operations! Looking good!

Dave, wow you really went to town! I cant wait to fallow your new build!

Mark, thank you sir!

Bill, sure sounds like all the hard work paid off! Take the time and take in all the time you get to spend with your Dad! You will want the memories later in life!

John, Your attention to detail is just amazing! When your done you will have a one of a kind of train! Nice work!

Brian, you have more engines then anyone I know! Looks great!

CGEFOREVER, What about mounting the base inside the cab with just the strobe sticking out? Just seen your install, looks great!

LIRR Steamer, looks like you have a great start on your scenery! You sure are right about the white foam and the mess it makes! LOL

Lou1985, Nice job on the wall and the retaining wall! 

TCOCHRAN, Sounds like you have a good plan. We finished our basement in our old house the first summer we bought it and come winter we had 2" of water on the floor. Had to replace all the hardwood floor and 2' of sheetrock up from the floor! Got expensive !

Kevin, glad you got your tank car fixed and thank you for the nice little video!

Well I haven't done anything the last couple of days, but did get up this morning and ordered BNSF color paint so I can finish my fixed pilot project. Then I can try out my new airbrush system I got from my mom!

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

Lots of great projects everyone!

Brian, Nice looking Milwaukee Road!!

TCochran, Finishing the layout space is of great importance to building a nice layout.  I recall the 4x8 layout I built in my parents' basement in the 1888 house.  Hard concrete floor, dusty!!!!  I had to get a big sheet of plastic to put over the layout after every use.

I spent time yesterday preparing a room in a different way.  I got through all the mementos I brought back from the 1888 house we sold right before Christmas.  I have like items in several cardboard boxes and separated some to give to my brother and sister.  I can see the floor again!!    I also cleared off some bench space and put a few items I won't use for a while in the garage where they belong! 

COASTSIDEKEVIN: Wow it's nice to know that the 2355 can pull that number of freight cars...of course on my layout if I tried to run a train that long the lead engine would end up just behind the caboose !  I like Menards cars, especially the tanks.  I have one of their AF tanks ( I am an AF retiree) that I run with my "AF train" pulled by an AF decorated BEEP!

Don

mike g. posted:

Ok guys, first off there is a lot of work being done here! I guess I should check in more then everyother day!

Lew, Thank you, that is my plan for the cranes and my scrap yard. Did you get my message about the #182 crane? I like how you hid the winch, but was thinking you could always install an outhouse over the winch for the carne operator to have a place to go! The new sewing string sure looks great!

 

 

Mike, I just PM-ed you. From your pics it look to me as if one motor field coil wires is missing. Also looks like the wire to ground one motor brush is dis-attached. I wonder if anyone here has experience with the 182? Maybe take some more pics and start a thread to see if someone responds?

Don McErlean posted:

COASTSIDEKEVIN: Wow it's nice to know that the 2355 can pull that number of freight cars...of course on my layout if I tried to run a train that long the lead engine would end up just behind the caboose !  I like Menards cars, especially the tanks.  I have one of their AF tanks ( I am an AF retiree) that I run with my "AF train" pulled by an AF decorated BEEP!

Don

Don - 30 cars is about the limit on the flat, but it wouldn't be able to muscle that load up the 4% grades of my outer loop. The modern gear is really superior in that regard. My little LionChief+ GP38 can get 40+ cars up that hill without breaking a sweat - remarkable. 

Kevin

decoynh posted:

Lou1985 posted:

I built a hill over the last few days out of pink foam to separate the mains from the yard. Also added a retaining wall made with some scrap wood.

I like the way you placed your turntable & engine house.  Good way to use available real estate. 

Thanks. I made both the turntable and engine house from scratch. It was cheaper and I could make them fit in the space provided that way. 

geysergazer posted:

Tcochran, in your situation I'd be tempted to build the new layout 100% modular. No need to follow rigid modular standards but rather your own mate-up standard so you can [relatively] quickly disassemble the Pike into it's component pieces and later re-assemble it. Build pieces of deck/framing in manageable sizes, bolt together, lay track, cut track at every deck-joint and you have it. Maybe even attach ready-made folding steel leg-sets to each section of decking. Wiring would need to be separable with strategically placed Molex plugs (or similar).

Deck-sections could be sized/shaped to fit strategic scenery modules which would then be undisturbed during a disassembly.

It would take planning and knowing beforehand exactly what you want the Pike to look like and be but the rewards could be delightful if/when the need arose.

That is the plan to do a Modular type layout. That way in a few years when I am actually able to finish my basement I can have that done easily.

Since my hotel construction is moving along I need to get going on the elevated track in front of it.

I think I have finalized the design as shown here to be 3D printed

Guys 

sorry been MIA maybe I can get some work done on the layout soon took these pics of my farm Tractors I’ve had for many years the other day I need to get to work on my grain elevator and get a farm scene going 

Lee, very nice tractors.  They will look good on the farm scene.  

Ray, the elevated track should look great!

Thanks Mark I got to get a game plan ready 

Unboxed an untested MTH Galloping Goose, put in a BCR, and tried 'er out - ran like a charm, with truck horn & all!

David98

We had a train day Tuesday and went to Kentucky to see Farmerjohn. While there, I picked up the new Lionel catalog and my StationSounds full length brown and orange  VistaDome  21 inch passenger car. We had a fun time, these are pictures of Farmerjohns beautiful layout, 50 by 70.... Happy Railroading 

Took the day to do household maintenance projects and after dinner I started painting the interior of the "Challenger" 2nd Add-on 2-pack Coach.  In the quiet of the evening my painting picks up pace, and time passes quickly.  I am listening to the soft rhythm of the dishwasher cleaning dinner dishes.  Life is good.

UPDATE: It is later tonight and half of the car interior has received four coats of paint and a 5th touch-up if necessary.  The painted seats add to the depth-of-view and contrast in the interior to set the stage for the actors: the Preiser 65602 Seated People I previously painted.  This car will take three days to finish.

Day 2:  I finished the "Challenger" "Pacific Harbor" Coach interior painting around 1:00 P.M.  I will let it stand for an hour before I begin placing people in the car.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Larry, the photographs of John's layout look great!

Morning guys, you all sure have been busy lately! Makes me feel like a bum, but the house comes first when the CEO is around LOL!

Mark, sounds like you have been busy getting the new train room ready for the next step. I am glad your getting around a little more. But remember as Lew states, no pictures it didn't really happen! LOL 

Lew, Thank you for helping me out! I think I might do as you suggest and start a new thread.

Ray, WOW I cant wait to see it all together! Its going to look wonderful!

Lee D, Great looking tractors, but they are a little to clean for farm work! LOL

David98, Nice looking Galloping Goose! I also enjoy your fair scene!

Larry ,FarmerJohn sure has a  wonderful looking layout, but in my eyes I still think your is number 1 to me! I am glad you had a good time, as that's what its all about!

John, wow here I am thinking your almost done and out comes another car! You must love the torture of painting small things! LOL

Well I don't think I will get any train stuff done today, but you never know, I might get 10 minutes here and there to sneak out! LOL

I hope everyone has a great Friday and a wonderful weekend! Also have a good time on your layouts with your trains!

Mike, here is the proof of the pudding 

Thanks Mike I just can’t  bring myself to weather them yet 

Mark, looks a lot better!

Lee, I know what you mean! Its not everyday you get a new tractor or truck and want to keep them clean and looking new!

Finished first prototypes of elevated system parts

mike g. posted:

Mark, looks a lot better!

Lee, I know what you mean! Its not everyday you get a new tractor or truck and want to keep them clean and looking new!

Mike it’s just these are hard to find without cashing in your child’s college savings 

My son Chris and I measured, cut and laid the track coming out of our long tunnel as well as the track for our 2 track industrial siding. Finally, progress has been made on our layout!!! No pictures today. But, as things develop, photos will follow.

lee drennen posted:

mike g. posted:

Mark, looks a lot better!

Lee, I know what you mean! Its not everyday you get a new tractor or truck and want to keep them clean and looking new!

Mike it’s joust these are hard to find without cashing in your child’s college savings 

That is why I just can't bring myself to weather any of my engines or rolling stock.  They just look too good and don't come cheaply.

Ray, the prototypes look superb!

Mike, thank you for the word of confidence on the cleanup!!  I still have to figure out where to put the lumber pile.   Actually the stuff on the floor can stay.  It's the sheet of plywood, Homasote, and Masonite that needs to move.  I'll have to wait on that a while as I wouldn't even try in the condition I am in now. 

sidehack posted:

Finished first prototypes of elevated system parts

Looks great Ray. Are the girders going to be flexible for curves?

leapinlarry posted:

We had a train day Tuesday and went to Kentucky to see Farmerjohn. While there, I picked up the new Lionel catalog and my StationSounds full length brown and orange  VistaDome  21 inch passenger car. We had a fun time, these are pictures of Farmerjohns beautiful layout, 50 by 70.... Happy Railroading 

Thanks for sharing these pics Larry.

FarmerJohn is a lucky man to have such a layout to enjoy. I hope that he can post periodic update pics

One picture more. BAR X1230. 

Work continued on the north end of the layout today. I raised up the rest of the grade and leveled it out. Ran power to both sidings and added toggle switches to my control panel. Added a lit bumper to the upper siding. I retrofit the original incandescent bulb with an LED. Once the track work was done I did some ballasting and added ground cover. I also swapped out the snow covered trees for a couple deciduous one's instead. Can't have two trees with snow on them and the rest without. 

I ordered the Ameri-towne Acme Machine Shop from the OGR store. Shipped today so I should have it early next week. Once the building is together I can figure out the rest of the scenery around it.

Bob

I broke a wire to the signal so I had to fix that too.

I'm considering doing full pavement over the rest of this siding so I only ballasted the first section of track.

That is a very productive day Bob.

Today I worked on:

LC+  4501 Mikado.  New spring on front truck.

Texas Special 1055 (#3) got a new bulb.  See my post this morning in "WHAT TRAINS DID YOU RUN TODAY?"

Docksider #194.  Unknown missing part.

And custom caboose X14 is now getting a resister, capacitor, full wave rectifier, one LED located over the conductor's desk and two red LED's on the rear.

Using salvaged spare ham radio parts.  Yes it is overkill.

Bill

Been fashioning landscape foundation out of stucco metal lath like I saw on another layout.  Bloody but nice.

Tom Tee posted:

Been fashioning landscape foundation out of stucco metal lath like I saw on another layout.  Bloody but nice.

That's pretty stern stuff!

WOW everyone has been busy today! I wish I could be one to tell you what I did, but nada! Worked on replacing the floor in the master bath! LOL

But I do have to say you all are doing great things!

Randy, its nice to hear your getting things done! I know what its like not to get to it very often.

Mark, Your new space is coming right along! If I lived closer I would come over and help you out!

Lee, My kids decided not to go to collage so I spent there money on the wife and I ! LOL

Ray, looking good! How long is your raised section going to be and how many do you have to print out?

Johan, wonderful shot! Looks perfect to me!

Bob, you sure did alot today! But the big question is did you run your trains and what are you going to do with the 2 x 4 blocks! LOL Just kidding! Things are really looking good!

Bill, your just like Bob, lots of work getting done! Free parts from a ham radio are better the having t o buy them all over again!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Bob, You are making nice progress.  I'll be glad to see how it progresses.

Bill, that is a sharp caboose!

Johan, that is another great view of the wonderful car!

Mike, Thank you!  

I might as well give a heads up on the farther reaching purpose of the cleanup.  The cleanup is in the small room I started a layout in two years ago.  Then my wife suggested I build in the family room since the girls were married and the furniture was junk.  So many of you contributed to a layout design for that room too.  However, as time passed the need for access made the room 'shrink' to some extent.  So last year I started building on the end of the room that was emptied.  I built the two loopback turns one on top of the other with no connection between the two.  The next part of the layout that is to be built will climb up the canyon where a massive wooden shelving unit is.  The shelving unit is to move across the room to where our older daughter's upright piano is.  Well we hit a snag getting the piano moved.  Daughter and son-in-law had moisture problems in the lower level of their house and had to throw out some stuff.  Other stuff was moved upstairs.  So it is dried out, but none of us has the money to put into correcting the problem where the moisture is getting in.  We don't have the manpower either because my son-in-law's dad, newly retired like me, and like me he had his knee replaced 4 days before mine.  So, the home repair at our daughter's is on hold, moving the piano is on hold, so freeing up the rest of the layout space is on hold.  

So, I mentioned it to a few Forum members, Mike, Chris A, DoubleDAZ Dave.  Dave helped me with a simplified layout plan for the old small room, just so I can get some trains running until I can do the bigger project.  Besides, I'm getting tired craning my neck to see trains run on the Ceiling Central RR and blinded looking into the lights in all the passenger cars.    I still can't climb the two step ladder to replace them with freight cars.    Also, I am finding like Jim, I am a Looper.  Switching back and forth on the existing track on the new layout isn't what I want to do for the foreseeable future.

I need to go now.  I will post the proposed plan and a couple more photographs this weekend.  You will have to wait, Lew!  

Lionelski posted:

sidehack posted:

Finished first prototypes of elevated system parts

Looks great Ray. Are the girders going to be flexible for curves?

Thanks John, I was planning on just doing straight 8" or 12" sections for this area but you might have given me an idea for when I get to the curves, they do make a flexible filament but don't know enough about it.

The Lionel 1927060 "Challenger" 2-pack is completed with the placement of people in the "Pacific Harbor" Coach.  I finished the coach in two days and many hours. 

My next projects include the Santa Fe Dining Car Kitchen Scratch-Build, the Baggage car floor paint and baggage placement, and possibly adding people to my second Pennsylvania Full Dining Car that has been interior painted, but left empty of passengers.  The first PRR Dining Car has been finished with Preiser 65602 People for a while.

Here are some pictures of the Pacific Harbor Coach.

Have a good weekend.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Today, I went by an art supply place and bought a blueprint pencil in white. I figured in real life, the trench engine would have markings on it for routine maintenance. I noticed the drain at the rear of each tank, and I thought, Sarge would certainly make the engineer mark the last time the tanks have been drained...

mike g. posted:

WOW everyone has been busy today! I wish I could be one to tell you what I did, but nada! Worked on replacing the floor in the master bath! LOL

But I do have to say you all are doing great things!

Randy, its nice to hear your getting things done! I know what its like not to get to it very often.

Mark, Your new space is coming right along! If I lived closer I would come over and help you out!

Lee, My kids decided not to go to collage so I spent there money on the wife and I ! LOL

Ray, looking good! How long is your raised section going to be and how many do you have to print out?

Johan, wonderful shot! Looks perfect to me!

Bob, you sure did alot today! But the big question is did you run your trains and what are you going to do with the 2 x 4 blocks! LOL Just kidding! Things are really looking good!

Bill, your just like Bob, lots of work getting done! Free parts from a ham radio are better the having t o buy them all over again!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

 

Mike. Thank you. 

Johan

Mark Boyce posted:

Bob, You are making nice progress.  I'll be glad to see how it progresses.

Bill, that is a sharp caboose!

Johan, that is another great view of the wonderful car!

Mike, Thank you!  

I might as well give a heads up on the farther reaching purpose of the cleanup.  The cleanup is in the small room I started a layout in two years ago.  Then my wife suggested I build in the family room since the girls were married and the furniture was junk.  So many of you contributed to a layout design for that room too.  However, as time passed the need for access made the room 'shrink' to some extent.  So last year I started building on the end of the room that was emptied.  I built the two loopback turns one on top of the other with no connection between the two.  The next part of the layout that is to be built will climb up the canyon where a massive wooden shelving unit is.  The shelving unit is to move across the room to where our older daughter's upright piano is.  Well we hit a snag getting the piano moved.  Daughter and son-in-law had moisture problems in the lower level of their house and had to throw out some stuff.  Other stuff was moved upstairs.  So it is dried out, but none of us has the money to put into correcting the problem where the moisture is getting in.  We don't have the manpower either because my son-in-law's dad, newly retired like me, and like me he had his knee replaced 4 days before mine.  So, the home repair at our daughter's is on hold, moving the piano is on hold, so freeing up the rest of the layout space is on hold.  

So, I mentioned it to a few Forum members, Mike, Chris A, DoubleDAZ Dave.  Dave helped me with a simplified layout plan for the old small room, just so I can get some trains running until I can do the bigger project.  Besides, I'm getting tired craning my neck to see trains run on the Ceiling Central RR and blinded looking into the lights in all the passenger cars.    I still can't climb the two step ladder to replace them with freight cars.    Also, I am finding like Jim, I am a Looper.  Switching back and forth on the existing track on the new layout isn't what I want to do for the foreseeable future.

I need to go now.  I will post the proposed plan and a couple more photographs this weekend.  You will have to wait, Lew!  

Mark. Thank you. 🤝

Johan

Mark Boyce posted:

Bob, You are making nice progress.  I'll be glad to see how it progresses.

So, I mentioned it to a few Forum members, Mike, Chris A, DoubleDAZ Dave.  Dave helped me with a simplified layout plan for the old small room, just so I can get some trains running until I can do the bigger project.  Besides, I'm getting tired craning my neck to see trains run on the Ceiling Central RR and blinded looking into the lights in all the passenger cars.    I still can't climb the two step ladder to replace them with freight cars.    Also, I am finding like Jim, I am a Looper.  Switching back and forth on the existing track on the new layout isn't what I want to do for the foreseeable future.

I need to go now.  I will post the proposed plan and a couple more photographs this weekend.  You will have to wait, Lew!  

Thanks Mark. Didn't know about the change in plans for Blackwater Canyon. Looking forward to seeing the plans for the back room.

Bob

mike g. posted:

Bob, you sure did alot today! But the big question is did you run your trains and what are you going to do with the 2 x 4 blocks! LOL Just kidding! Things are really looking good!

 

Mike- I am printing more of the block walls to mount in front of the 2X3's. Very low tech on paper, not like Ray's 3D printing.

I did run a couple of trains to check the track work.

Replaced MTH dummy strobe light to detailed dummy strobe light.
Patrick 

Tom, I'm with Lew, that sounds like a nasty method.  We will be glad to see your masterful results!

Lee, You have a good point.  Very nice detail!

Patrick, the strobe looks great!

Bob, Yes, I ran it by I guess three folks to see what they thought of the idea.  As Mike alludes, it all made sense.  Chris A suggested building part of it in modules that I could move onto the bigger layout when the time comes.  That is a great idea I have to do some thinking about.  Here is the plan that DoubleDAZ Dave spruced up for me.  I'll post some more photographs of the room later.

The SCARM file is in the attachment box.

Lew, The stern nature of it is why I chose it.

Still installing the lath, kinda nasty, like sheet metal with a fringe of fish hooks.  The nice thing about it is that you can pre-cut it full then lay it on thick foam upside down and beat it with a hammer to yield an irregular landscape surface.

The reason I am using it is that I need a series of 4' long removable scenery lids which covers  long recessed  two rail tracks in a 10" deep trench.   The lids are an embankment with a 4" rise from the top level of 2 rail to the three rail perimeter line.

I bent a flange on each edge and the lids sit on dual strips of "J" molding.  The plan is plaster gauze or spray foam when I get back down to it.  Work slowed due to another foot problem.   Bunch of old people at the podiatrist, most younger then me.

Bob, sounds like  a good plan! If you get a chance can you send me a link to the block wall? I have a lot to do! LOL

Patrick, looks much better!

Mark, I like your new plan from Dave! I am sure you will figure out something so you can move it into the bigger room when the time comes!

Tom, If your like me you keep a lot of band-Aids on hand! LOL I cant wait to see your progress!

So I went out to the train room this morning did a little checking on my crane still not working, but I am not giving up! LOL Here are 2 videos of my 2 cranes. Maybe someone can tell me why the first crane is so loud! The second one is just for your enjoyment of what I am working on!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Mike, Thank you!  I'll keep everyone posted.

I have one of those cranes that has one movement that doesn't work.  I fiddled with it a little then put it back in the box and in a plastic tote bin in the garage with a bunch of other models, kits, materials, that will await another day.  Now I can't even remember which operation of the crane doesn't work right.   

Not really "on" the layout but they will be on one of the walls (in The Alcove) next to it.

Fun 2 day project that will hold 6 Lionel cars each. Dang, I love power tools.

mike g. posted:

Bob, sounds like  a good plan! If you get a chance can you send me a link to the block wall? I have a lot to do! LOL

So I went out to the train room this morning did a little checking on my crane still not working, but I am not giving up! LOL Here are 2 videos of my 2 cranes. Maybe someone can tell me why the first crane is so loud! The second one is just for your enjoyment of what I am working on!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Email sent Mike.

From what I know (very little), these old cranes are noisy. Classic post-war accessory for sure.

Bob

P51/ Lee :  I am sure you may already know, but if not for your information the "Classic Trains" special publication in 2019, available from Kalmbach Media, called "Trains Go to War" has a super article by R. S. Twogood titled, "Railroads at the Front" which describes and pictures the narrow gauge steam and gasoline powered locos operating on track that was erected (temporarily) parallel to the front lines in WW 1 .  There are some good pictures, depicting engines like yours at work and the fact that the track was laid down in panels (like sectional toy train track), by hand, directly on the ground, with little or no grading or preparation.  Often destroyed by enemy action during the day and repaired at night. 

Pictures clearly show what a great model you have built.  Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Don

mike g. posted:

Bob, sounds like  a good plan! If you get a chance can you send me a link to the block wall? I have a lot to do! LOL

Patrick, looks much better!

Mark, I like your new plan from Dave! I am sure you will figure out something so you can move it into the bigger room when the time comes!

Tom, If your like me you keep a lot of band-Aids on hand! LOL I cant wait to see your progress!

So I went out to the train room this morning did a little checking on my crane still not working, but I am not giving up! LOL Here are 2 videos of my 2 cranes. Maybe someone can tell me why the first crane is so loud! The second one is just for your enjoyment of what I am working on!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Mike, your 282 does sound odd. They are loud but yours has a sort of gear-grinding noise as well that mine doesn't have. Ima' go take a video of mine for comparison. 

ON EDIT: I think I see the top buttons (the 182) cause the motor to run while the bottom don't? The cab rotates one way and the winch operates one way? If so, yes, one of the two motor field wires is disconnected.

Mark, I like the plan. I've always liked the twice-around over-n'-under. And I can attest that it is prototypical!  as I once went up Tehachapi Loop.

Mike g, I like the automated Lionel Cranes, and at one time had the newer portal gantry crane, however since I didn’t have room on my layout for it to fit in, I sold it. Your videos are really  cool. I do have the CSX Lionel Remote controllable crane and boom sounds cars. Also the Pennsylvania and Santa Fe Sets. We put them on a siding and operate them. I just completed the wiring to the MTH Passenger Stations with disappearing people and packages. Wow, what realism. 

RSJB18 Bob, nice layout work, it’s looking good, LIONELSKI, I like those Lionel display pieces you’ve made, very colorful. Briansilvermustang, Cool Rock Island pieces, Chris A, It’s time for another update on your Signaling adventures. CGWFOREVER, Nice way to add realism to your beautiful diesels, C&NW, I like those strobe effects, SIDEHACK, I like your layout work, neat bridges, wow. JOHAN, I love your pictures of weathered trackwork  realism and your Locomotives and rolling stock. Amazing. Everyone have a great weekend and hopefully enjoy some train fun time. Today, I’m in the train room, watching OGR Model Railroad Videos. Happy Railroading 

Just had fun running a train:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7lLaM506do

Mike, here is video of my PW 282 Gantry Crane. It's a bit long to get enough sound to listen to:

leapinlarry posted:

Mike g, I like the automated Lionel Cranes, and at one time had the newer portal gantry crane, however since I didn’t have room on my layout for it to fit in, I sold it. Your videos are really  cool. I do have the CSX Lionel Remote controllable crane and boom sounds cars. Also the Pennsylvania and Santa Fe Sets. We put them on a siding and operate them. I just completed the wiring to the MTH Passenger Stations with disappearing people and packages. Wow, what realism. 

RSJB18 Bob, nice layout work, it’s looking good, LIONELSKI, I like those Lionel display pieces you’ve made, very colorful. Briansilvermustang, Cool Rock Island pieces, Chris A, It’s time for another update on your Signaling adventures. CGWFOREVER, Nice way to add realism to your beautiful diesels, C&NW, I like those strobe effects, SIDEHACK, I like your layout work, neat bridges, wow. JOHAN, I love your pictures of weathered trackwork  realism and your Locomotives and rolling stock. Amazing. Everyone have a great weekend and hopefully enjoy some train fun time. Today, I’m in the train room, watching OGR Model Railroad Videos. Happy Railroading 

Larry. Thank you. Have a great weekend too.

Johan

Geysergazer Lew, that’s a cool video of the Gantry Crane, it’s fun to watch. Being that I like the modern sounds, boom car sounds, Lionel made a Crane Sounds Box, To couple with the Gantry Crane, Volume 1 2019 Catalog, Page 176. Just giving you an eggcellent idea. Happy Railroading i

leapinlarry posted:

Cool layout pic, Larry

I finished a second gondola kit for a Colorado Midland car, after just doing a box car.  This gives me a five car Colorado Midland train of one of the Indian logo reefers, a box car,  a hopper, and two gons.  I need a caboose and engine.  I have plans for two different CM side door cabooses, as well as the FEC side doors with two sold to the Great Western, so l need to quit stalling and build four cabeese.  The engine?  Well, one was done in brass in a large (G?) scale, but I'll have to bash that, too. Cringe.

leapinlarry posted:

Geysergazer Lew, that’s a cool video of the Gantry Crane, it’s fun to watch. Being that I like the modern sounds, boom car sounds, Lionel made a Crane Sounds Box, To couple with the Gantry Crane, Volume 1 2019 Catalog, Page 176. Just giving you an eggcellent idea. Happy Railroading i

Hah. These PW Cranes are pretty loud what with thew old three pole universal motor and the solenoid-coil gear-shift. It would probably drown out around box. 

Cool layout, Larry. I second that emotion. 

Well after procrastinating for the last few weeks (we rescued a new dog and that has been our focus) I really had to work on the module since we had a show today.  So last night worked until about 2am adding telephone poles, sidewalks, billboard, custom insert for billboard for distracted driving. Window treatment, designed and created flat front building, and painted backdrop.  All in all great show and once again Paul 2 comes away disappointed because one of the vendors loved my dont Text and drive crash scene that he donated a flashing light emergency vehicle for my module. 

Bryan, So now we know!  It is chain gangs who paint all that artistic graffiti!    Very realistic looking modeling.  I'll wait for Paul's input before I pass judgement on the incident!    Funny, I read the billboard, "Text and Drive" period.  It took a few seconds for it to sinkin that it was saying "Dummies Text and Drive"  LOL  Must be those mid-60s year old brain cells not firing once again!  

Larry, the lit station platforms look great!!

Johan, another great looking car!!

Me?  I just did a bit more redding up, that's all.

Mark: Redding up. Did you pick up the room? 

Lew, Yes cleaning up the room.  I slipped in some Western Pennsylvania jargon without thinking.  I even used the sweeper today!  

Pennsylvania Dutch is the origin of a lot of Pittsburgheze. Not by any means all. Have you ever googled 'Pittsburgh toilet'? Try it. 

65 notifications today!  We are an active bunch. 

I spent the bulk of today changing my favorite caboose to LEDs.  The junk box from the transmitter building gave up good stuff.  I fired the transformer and the caboose looks good.  I put a 5MM led where the conductor's desk lamp would hang.  What do y'all think.  I will run some mixed freight and watch the caboose light not blink.

Bill

geysergazer posted:

Pennsylvania Dutch is the origin of a lot of Pittsburgheze. Not by any means all. Have you ever googled 'Pittsburgh toilet'? Try it. 

LOL. We had one in one of our houses!!  
Besides German, other words come from Scots-Irish, like Pittsburgh, like Edinburgh in Scotland 

Bill the lit caboose looks great!

Thanks Mark.

   I really like the green caboose.  It started as a $1.00 flea market find.  I will find the car number decals, X14.  It will appear in my next video.  Some where some how.

Bill

Bill, What a deal!!

Saturday was spent starting to add Preiser 65602 Seated People to my painted Pennsylavania Broadway Limited Dining Car.  I spent over eight hours grinding and touching up paint on the 35 figures I added to the Full Dining Car that has twice the capacity of the normal Lionel Dining Car.

Here are the beginning pictures taken early in the day.  It is late now, so completed pictures will be taken in better light tomorrow.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Lew, Yes on the 182, it only goes in one direction and the winch only works in one direction. My thought is to just rewire the whole thing with the wire diagram I got from Rob on the forum. Thanks for the video, it proves mine is a lot louder. I will have to check into it after I get done with the 182!

Johan, wonderful job on the Linde Natural Gas car!

Larry I really like your Crane  & Boom sound car sets! I have one from MTH Railking , but its not remote controllable. Your passenger stations look great! If you get a chance can you take a little video of them in action?

Bryan, Great job on your module! The crash scene with the cops on location, the lighted billboard for dummies, and of course the chain gain picking litter! Its a good lesson for the young kid playing basketball! LOL

Bill, your old caboose with the new LED's  look great! Nice job!

John, you do such wonderful work that you cant even tell that you grind your folks in half! 

Well the CEO has given me the day off from working on the house. That means train room time today. I will spend my time working on my Lionel 182 crane. I plan to rewire it, clean it up and maybe even repaint some of it. Does anyone know it 24AWG is to small for wiring something like that?

Well I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! 

I hope you all find time for your trains and layouts!

Odenville Bill posted:

Thanks Mark.

   I really like the green caboose.  It started as a $1.00 flea market find.  I will find the car number decals, X14.  It will appear in my next video.  Some where some how.

Bill

Bill! Take me with you the next time you go to a flea market!

Another busy Saturday. I've discovered that I don't have to watch the weather reports anymore.....just look at the volume of work going on here and I know it's raining or snowing......

Bryan- nice work on your module. I do my best work when I'm on a deadline too.

Mike- you can double up the 24 ga. wire if that's what you have. Should work just fine.

Bill- Very nice caboose. Not bad for a buck!

Mark- some cleaning up counts. One step closer to bench work. I'm afraid to google "Pittsburgh Toilet"

John- I don't know how you do it. I'd be blind by now working on those little folks.

So I printed out more block wall images yesterday for the elevated siding. Cut-glue-repeat is the name of the game. One thing I forgot to do was spread the glue on the cardstock (BJ's cereal boxes), with a brush. I just laid it out in a S pattern which caused a little wrinkling. A couple of hours under some weight solved that issue.
I mounted the three flat walls (one inside the tunnel) and put back some of the ground cover. Still more details to do.
Bob

It's not so much what I did for my layout today, but what I did for someone else's layout. Working on 3 locomotives for a client. The two A units were originally Lionel 2032 Erie Alco's, circa 1952-1954. The B unit is from Lionel's MPF days. The two A units were "artistly" repainted by someone using a brush trying to stay away from the decals. Same with the truck side rails. Guess they wanted to update the color scheme. 

I was able to strip away the brush applied paint job as well as Lionel's original decals, black paint & yellow side strips. These shells have now had time turned back about 67 years and all of lead based paint is gone! 

After stripping a number of older Lionel cars my stripping solutions has enough lead in suspension to probably offer some limited radiation protection. 

               Marci caught me & IZ watching a train video yesterday...

Sorry Brian, Izzy is the good looking one in that photo. 

Meet Lucy, she's a 2 yo Boston Terrier, retired mom, who is being trained as a conductor on the SENHRR.  She just came on board on Thursday and learning the ropes quickly.

decoynh posted:

Sorry Brian, Izzy is the good looking one in that photo. 

Meet Lucy, she's a 2 yo Boston Terrier, retired mom, who is being trained as a conductor on the SENHRR.  She just came on board on Thursday and learning the ropes quickly.

I can tell from here Lucy is gonna' be an excellent conductor.

Buffy has similar duties on the PER:

I gotta' hand it to you: I second that emotion, that Izzy wins the beauty-contest hands down:

I "borrowed" this pic of Izzy from one of Brian's posts. 

So maybe today I can get back to my layout. Yesterday at the Parma TCA show the mod squad had set up their modules and as luck would have it I was again next to Bryan. I think everyone that stopped to look at our setup enjoyed it, especially Bryans. Even though I grit my teeth to say this LOL Bryan has done a great job on his module. A lot of thought went into and it is not even totally done yet. In the video he posted of it I was fortunate to have my tank train running through it at the time. Even though he charged me a fee to cross his module LOL All and all it was a great day of comradery and running trains. ............Paul 2

My first BAR reefer. I paint that and added decals.

           just happened to catch this one on "Trains & Locomotives" last night...

Bob, LOL on the Pittsburgh Toilet.  Yes it falls under the heading of, "Why would you do such a thing?"  Those printed walls look great!

Glad to see everyone's favorite train dogs!  What would we do without them?

Ericaann, Nice work on refurbishing the finish on those old engines!

Johan, Great paint and decal work!!

Paul, Nice work with the Mod Squad!  The tank train was great!  I already complimented Bryan. 

Here are some pictures of my second Broadway Limited 21" Dining Car with Preiser 65602 Seated People I painted.  The car was previously painted after modifying the original Lionel interior by cutting off an extra set of tables from one of the Floor molds that Lionel put in the car.

I have been running this car as an empty Dining Car when dinner was not being served.  As I prepare for the inevitable, I decided to add Preiser People so all my passenger cars would have passengers that match the other set cars,

While dinner was being served, seven more people joined the thirty-five already in the Dining Car. There are now forty-two (42) Seated People in the car.

I am checking my paint supplies to see if I work on the Santa Fe Baggage Car wood-grained Floor (a Yellow, Sand, Earth Red and Dark Earth wet blend),  or start fabrication of a scratch-built kitchen in the Santa Fe Dining Car.  I purchased the 1927050 Union Pacific "Excursion" 2nd Add-on 2-car pack to fill out my UP Excursion passenger set that should arrive this week. The two UP "Challenger" 2nd Add-on cars were finished this past week.

I need to re-group/organize my painted/finished Preiser 65602 Seated People, and I may need to start painting some more of the remaining 12 unopened packages of 36 people.  My selection has been depleted by the 9-car Santa Fe, two-pack Challenger and Pennsylvania Dining Car.

Have a very good week.

John Rowlen

John Rowlen, Fantastic work, Beautiful passengers riding a beautiful train, wow...Briansilvermustang, great pictures, it’s nice to see who is doing all the pictures and others should pls e recent pictures for us to see. It’s a great forum. I had friends over to simply run trains for a few minutes. Mike G., when I learn how to do a video, I’ll put some on the forum. My grandson will help me. Thanks for the compliments. DECOYNH, nice looking room and pet. RSJB18 Bob, great scenic effects, looking good, and the weather here in Middle Tennessee is just cold 47 degrees, but it feels cooler. I know that’s not cold compared to other areas of the country. Lew, great pictures, really neat way to do a layout.  Everyone have a fun Sunday. Happy Railroading 

John Rowlen, wonderful skills again demonstrated in decorating and populating a scale passenger car.  Thanks for taking the time to photograph and post you projects.

Suggestion:  change your OGR username to "Sincerely, John Rowlen."

John, more great work!

Larry, great photographs!  I’m waving hello back at you!!

Carl,  Thank you for the suggestion.  Have a good week.

John

The life of a 'hogger' on the GNRW:

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...8#129392975110718978

Hi Guys and gals

During the week, I managed to get some Woodland Scenics plaster cloth put down on my Styrofoam structure work on the layout. The end result is a rigid ,lightweight base for scenic paint and details. 

To start off, I managed to find a pair of pplastic bowls with lids to hold the water used to wet the cloth. These were at the Harris Teeter market for about 7 bucks for the pair. Having the lid makes it easier to handle the ised water for dispoasal outdoors without spills on the floor. 

The paper towels are handy for absorbing excess water which puddles on the table. Heres the cloth and a old pair of scissors used to cut the cloth. When cutting the cloth , choose sizes that you can handle and control easily when the cloth is wet. Too large and the pieces get unwieldy and become a mess.

Here is some of the work to cover the tunnel portal and some vertical walls I have between levels. The Tunnel Portal

  And here is some work on the vertical walls.

So that's it for now. Plan to get bck to it and do some more during the week. One last point, its always a good idea to clean up when you finish one of these sessions. It can get kind of messy . and don't forget to cover the tracks. 

Bob, looks really good! Thanks for sharing on how you do it. It will make my life a lot eaiser!

Ericaann, Great start on the engine rehab! If I may ask what is your stripping solution?

Brian, great photos of you and Izzy! Oh and your engines also! LOL

Johan, wonderful job on the new Refeer! Looks great!

Larry Thank you for sharing such wonderful photos of your amazing layout! I cant wait till your grandson comes over to show you how to do videos!

Sam, What a great story of the Hogger life!

Lirr, your plaster cloth work looks great! Messy is lightly putting it! LOL

So yesterday I went out to work on my @#182 crane that just wasn't working right. So here is what I started with!

As you can tell everything is coated with years and years of grease from probably the day it was built! I soaked it in Dawn soap and with the help of a small cooper brush and some scrubbing I was able to get it all cleaned up.

I then went on to the cleaning and painting the body parts of the crane, then electrical! I found why it was only going in on direction. The loose wire was broken off of the outter field connection. I was so far in where it broke off I couldn't see it till I got the motor out. I reconnected a new wire and tested and works great! This morning I am going to go out and put as much together before I can start construction noise! LOL

After several hours and many cups of coffee and a couple cold ones as the day went on here is what I have now.

I hope everyone has a great Monday and finds time for there layout and trains!

Mike g, your silver crane looks great, I look forward to seeing the progress on this and your layout, and thanks for the kind comments. Today I will Be wiring in more accessories and soon will attempt a short video. Everyone have a great week.