What did you do on your layout today?

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

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

Keeps me out of trouble.

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

Well, last month my layout looked like this:

Then about 3 weeks ago, it looked like this:

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

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

MdMikey:

Love your train room!  I can spend days there!

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

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

Sadly, there remains little hope for the Plasticville.

Here are a few pics.

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


The Hump Yard throws.


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

I think that may be a job for Matt.

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

Randy and 86TA -

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

Mike

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

Don

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

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

Peter

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

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

Paul

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

Tim C.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Randy

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

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

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

Art

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Just a very fun tinkering day.

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

This is the Milwaukee Road Short Line hill.


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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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