What did you do on your layout today?

Re - created the area around team track 2 making it more dairy loading/ unloading oriented while still allowing for other kinds of freight cars to be off/on loaded too.  Installed a Lionel milk stand ( re -located from the team track near brewery complex ) from my original Lionel set of 1956.

Re - created the team track unloading area near the brewery.  Installed a new piece of remote control track for loading/unloading the barrel car, Moe and Joe lumber car, and dump car.  Removed the milk stand and relocated it to team track 2.  Found a piece of hard black foam rubber which gives the appearance  of smooth asphalt.  I cut into shape and put it down beside the remote control track.  With some rocks, I created a border to one side of this pad so the barrels would not roll away when discharged from the car.  ( I really don't care for the look of the Lionel dump trays.)  Next I re - created the scenery surrounding the loading pad and actually put about 25 small barrels on the pad itself ... this lends credence to and allows this area to become a functional facility of the brewery complex while at the same time retaining  the flexibility for other kinds of freight on/off loading.  

Next thing to do ( hopefully tonight ) is pop out the lake so I will have access to my far siding ( very long spur that services an industrial area ) on the back part of the layout.  That track needs an extreme cleaning!   After the cleaning I will test with one of my TMCC locomotives.  Having this track operational allows  me to run a switch job throughout the industrial area while simultaneously running trains on the main lines.  This industrial line will allow me to have a trolly line and 4 trains running simultaneously.  Fun times in Patsburg!!  I'll try to get some photos of the new team track changes up soon.

Today starts the official boxing up of my entire Std. Gauge layout, including the rest of the trains that were not already packed. The 4-foot artificial xmas tree got undecorated and will be taken down and put away until probably next year. Things are afoot- good things, but still- with seeing so many things pulled off the layout already- its making me a bit melancholy.

Packed up a bunch of empty boxes that were stored under the layout. They will go in the attic for storage.

Now I have room for more .....where the heck did I leave my wallet????

RSJB18 posted:

Packed up a bunch of empty boxes that were stored under the layout. They will go in the attic for storage.

Now I have room for more .....where the heck did I leave my wallet????

I bet if you ask the wife she knows where your wallet is! LOL

mike g. posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Packed up a bunch of empty boxes that were stored under the layout. They will go in the attic for storage.

Now I have room for more .....where the heck did I leave my wallet????

I bet if you ask the wife she knows where your wallet is! LOL

LOL- she changed the password on the Paypal account too and won't tell me the new one  !

Actually, today was the culmination of the past week and a half.

I had pulled up all the lower level track to paint the decking and of course the reinstall action of the track led to a new plan. I finally got it to where I'm satisfied, and ran all my power drops. I also wired in all my switches, and finished the control panels. ( All of which would not have turned out so well without the awesome help of members of this forum!)

I finished my storage/ display rack for the empty end space (I have table skirt for around all the rest of the bottom.

And last, but not least, I got to run some trains! 

Now time to focus on scenery and structures.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas, and has a happy New Year!

-Mo

looks good Mo! Nice to see you back on the layout!

RSJB18 posted:

mike g. posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Packed up a bunch of empty boxes that were stored under the layout. They will go in the attic for storage.

Now I have room for more .....where the heck did I leave my wallet????

I bet if you ask the wife she knows where your wallet is! LOL

LOL- she changed the password on the Paypal account too and won't tell me the new one  !

I have a few empty boxes sitting here by the desk for me to record in my Excel spreadsheet then they will get packed away too.  Oh no on the PayPal password!!    

Ripley's Believe it or Not -- I actually gained some money in PayPal this month that I transferred to checking for last minute Christmas items; namely food!!  

mike g. posted:

looks good Mo! Nice to see you back on the layout!

I agree with Mike, I'm glad to see you had some time Mo!  The layout is looking great, and you gave a great testimonial for the value of participating in this Forum!

That's funny Mark, I never gain money on Paypal! It never sits there long enough!

                                              been busy, so not much...

                                                Izzy opening her presents...

                           got some more trains from Santa Mom and Dad...

                                       hopefully get to run them tonight !!

Nice gifts there Brian! How come you didn't have your lady make a train shape doggy treat for Izzy? LOL

         she would probably be more interested in licking the bowl...

   here she is waiting for Sherri to come downstairs so she can open her presents...

                                      come on guys !!   let me get started ! 

Working on the DCS/Legacy Electrical Set Up, for the Pine Creek Train Room.  The initial testing of the large Shelf Ceiling layout has been completed, and we are about to permanently screw down the FasTrack so it can not move or seperate on the shelving.  Both DCS and Legacy run smooth as glass on the 072 FasTrack.  

PCRR/Dave

Very nice of you to include her in Christmas!

Dave, nice to see things are moving right along! Keep up the good work. Is that 2 TIU's on the wall? If so why may I ask?

mike g. posted:

Very nice of you to include her in Christmas!

 

                                Sherri  or  Izzy...

briansilvermustang posted:

mike g. posted:

Very nice of you to include her in Christmas!

 

                                Sherri  or  Izzy...

I didn't think I had to include Sherri! but to make it clear IZZY! LOL

Got a charming 1682 caboose for Christmas!   

Mitch

I spent most of Christmas day inside the big helix, and finally finished all of the wiring. That means all of the feeders, ground and power, are connected to their buses. Also, all fourteen detection blocks are wired back to a terminal strip, and are ready to be extended over to the detection panel.

Yesterday, I stopped by the surplus store to get a few specific goodies for a couple of projects.

I found this really neat 24V motor with built in gear reduction box. Tried it on 12V, and it is almost slow enough for running the turntable. I'll keep dropping the voltage until I get it slow enough. I also picked up some belt gears to fit on both shafts. Just gotta figure out how to mount it.

I might need a longer belt.

I grabbed these large ring lugs for the uncoupler project, which I plan to get back on, after it stalled out due to technical difficulties. These are the last piece to the puzzle.

I spackled most of the new backdrop. I need to get that sanded for Patrick, who should be coming over on Saturday.

Finally, I want to get the last bit of fascia done this year. In prep for that, I added shims to the small helix. There is a lot more of this kind of stuff to do before Saturday.

Looking great Elliot, Neat find on the motor I sure hope it works, you might be try one of those voltage regulators from the bay, you can dial it right in. I have a question of why the shims, is that to match the lower fascia?

Merry Christmas Elliot! Happy New Year Too!

Bob

Saw just what you needed  today. A stuffed toy Gi-raffe about 6-7 ft tall. Only  $599  !!

jim pastorius posted:

Saw just what you needed  today. A stuffed toy Gi-raffe about 6-7 ft tall. Only  $599  !!

Fortescue endorses this idea!   

Also, new Under The Hood Up! 

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...er-for-a-prewar-1682

Thanks Mike and Bob, and a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and everyone else here.

Mike - You should see all the motors and other stuff they have there. You gotta go in with a rough idea of what you want to do, then start digging. I think I was only in there for a half hour, cause my wife was waiting in the car with it running. It's so dang cold. I'm just going to try it at 5V and see where that puts the top end, then add a pot for speed control, and a direction switch. My guess is that should do it. I'm going to have to go back fairly soon for that longer belt, a tensioning spring, and that pot. Got the direction switch.

As for the shims, you got it, they"re just to match the thickness of the backdrop.

Before having quests over this afternoon to view the layout, I worked at tweaking some scenes, making sure operating cars worked, changing out freight cars so that one of the trains looked more colorful ( in the holiday spirit ).  Got the Lionel scale J class off the back spur and out on the main.  I put the Powhatan Arrow cars behind the J to make a nice looking passenger train.  The guests really enjoyed the trains!!  They had lots of great questions and were genuinely interested in the hobby.  

Here's some photos of the trains today.

Tonight was a big night for me.  I finally finished my retaining walls before the end of the year!   Without measuring, I'm guessing there is about 100 feet of them in total.

My last section I was avoiding as it is across from my engine servicing area at the throat of my Proviso freight yard.  The benchwork in this area is about 60" across and my Topside Creeper wouldn't work here because there are too many table legs in the way.  So, I had to place plywood on top of the tracks and get up on top of them.  Atlas track is very durable so it wasn't a problem.  My old legs (knee caps) was another story, but it is done.

Here are a few before and after shots.

Next I would like to get all of my big plastering jobs done and build another bridge.

Art

My son and his wife and children are visiting us for this Christmas week. My son and 4 year old grandson and I were working/playing in our train layout shed. Fixed a couple of balking engines, soldered a couple of wires, and ran some trains! What fun we had!!!

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Thanks Mike and Bob, and a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and everyone else here.

Mike - You should see all the motors and other stuff they have there. You gotta go in with a rough idea of what you want to do, then start digging. I think I was only in there for a half hour, cause my wife was waiting in the car with it running. It's so dang cold. I'm just going to try it at 5V and see where that puts the top end, then add a pot for speed control, and a direction switch. My guess is that should do it. I'm going to have to go back fairly soon for that longer belt, a tensioning spring, and that pot. Got the direction switch.

As for the shims, you got it, they"re just to match the thickness of the backdrop.

Elliot, did you shop at Ax-Man Surplus Store - Midway - Saint Paul for your motor and supplies?  

Dave

Art your wall looks great! But then again your entire layout looks great! What kind of bridge are you going to build?

John, nice video's its always nice to have the kids and grandkids around to play with trains, the young one really get a kick out of it!

Brian, once again a nice set of trains! I hope things are going well with the build and your staying warm! Sherri and Izzy too!

                                             not much train work lately...

                                           we're working on staying warm   

                                                     is it spring time yet...

Brian and everyone else on the East Coast stay warm! I hope you don't have to dig a tunnel to get to the train room!

                                    just using the indoor tunnel right now...

darlander posted:

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Thanks Mike and Bob, and a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and everyone else here.

Mike - You should see all the motors and other stuff they have there. You gotta go in with a rough idea of what you want to do, then start digging. I think I was only in there for a half hour, cause my wife was waiting in the car with it running. It's so dang cold. I'm just going to try it at 5V and see where that puts the top end, then add a pot for speed control, and a direction switch. My guess is that should do it. I'm going to have to go back fairly soon for that longer belt, a tensioning spring, and that pot. Got the direction switch.

As for the shims, you got it, they"re just to match the thickness of the backdrop.

Elliot, did you shop at Ax-Man Surplus Store - Midway - Saint Paul for your motor and supplies?  

Dave

 

Yup, I made sure the tag on the motor was showing when I took the picture.

briansilvermustang posted:

                                    just using the indoor tunnel right now...

Brian - Is your whole house a train theme layout?  Sorry that I missed your call on Christmas Eve.  We just got back from visiting relatives in CT.  Did Izzy get get any trains under the tree? LOL!

I ordered these building flats from Angie on the bay. All are HO. I will be adding them behind the O building flats as soon as I can re glue some of them.  I think this is where you really learn to stick with a tried and true glue rather then try another brand. I glued the first flats with 3M and the flats for the street scene with Lock tite. I can now start to think and work on the layout. We had four grand kids here since Christmas and they all just left today. Pics.....Paul

Sorry to hear that Paul! Is the 3M the spray glue?

Mike, from here on in I will only use 3M spray adhesive. The buildings separating from the foam board were sprayed with Loc tite spray......................Paul

paul 2 posted:

Mike, from here on in I will only use 3M spray adhesive. The buildings separating from the foam board were sprayed with Loc tite spray......................Paul

Thanks for the information Paul!

Got back to work on the new piece over the tunnel today. I carved a piece of foam to build out the tunnel portal and blend it in. Glued it all in place, I still need to add ground cover after the paint dries.

A balmy 17 degrees on LI right now. Everyone in the northern half of the country stay warm. Watch for frozen pipes.

Bob

Got a laugh out of my wife when I showed it to her. She was wondering why I didn't have any Christmas lights on the pine trees...then I turned them on . I think she's finally starting to get it