What did you do on your layout today?

Mark, the cork came out good. Paul

paul 2 posted:

Mark, the cork came out good. Paul

Thank you, Paul!

I do have to tell you and Dave my first try was too thick, so I just wiped off and sprayed very thin layers.  I went back a second and third time until I got all the spots I missed.

I wanted to try out my new Broadway Limited cars, but, with one mainline out of commission and the other two somewhat crowded with engines/trains, I had to spend about half an hour shifting things around on the layout. I guess if I used the deus ex machina method (aka the hand of God), I could have cleared the tracks in five minutes, but there was something decidedly enjoyable about getting everything off the tracks without any crashes  

Here is a short video of my six car Broadway Limited behind a Visionline GG-1.

Overall, I am very pleased with these cars - they are beautiful. I haven't set up the Sound car yet, so all I have is the running sounds and they are way cool. However, I did find a few very minor issues when I got the cars on the track...

• the operating coupler on the observation car was binding on curves - simple fix, just had to back off the two very small screws holding the plate over the coupler a slight bit
• one coupler on the sleeper kept opening, usually on a curve - another simple fix... when I close the coupler by hand, it was very stiff - if I pushed it in hard, it locked and stayed shut. Since I am not going to separate the cars (when not running, they will sit as a unit on a siding), no big deal
• the sound car doesn't light up - I have no idea how to open the car, so I am not sure if it is worth trying to open the car to see if something is loose. Not a big deal to me.

Next stop Chicago!!!

Monkey work

Got a lot accomplished on the new layout. Homasoted own, green carpet down, 3 loops of track down,  extra boards in the middle to narrow the opening  to make more space for "stuff" and hooked up a ZW for the Standard gauge track. The one I had used on my old layout somehow got a short in it. Using a KW for the 3rd track.  Will gradually start moving some of my buildings and engines on to the layout this week. Have the towers, signals, people and vehicles to go.  More fun.

Apples55 posted:

I wanted to try out my new Broadway Limited cars, but, with one mainline out of commission and the other two somewhat crowded with engines/trains, I had to spend about half an hour shifting things around on the layout. I guess if I used the deus ex machina method (aka the hand of God), I could have cleared the tracks in five minutes, but there was something decidedly enjoyable about getting everything off the tracks without any crashes  

Here is a short video of my six car Broadway Limited behind a Visionline GG-1.

Overall, I am very pleased with these cars - they are beautiful. I haven't set up the Sound car yet, so all I have is the running sounds and they are way cool. However, I did find a few very minor issues when I got the cars on the track...

• the operating coupler on the observation car was binding on curves - simple fix, just had to back off the two very small screws holding the plate over the coupler a slight bit
• one coupler on the sleeper kept opening, usually on a curve - another simple fix... when I close the coupler by hand, it was very stiff - if I pushed it in hard, it locked and stayed shut. Since I am not going to separate the cars (when not running, they will sit as a unit on a siding), no big deal
• the sound car doesn't light up - I have no idea how to open the car, so I am not sure if it is worth trying to open the car to see if something is loose. Not a big deal to me.

 

Next stop Chicago!!!

I had the same issue with the sound car “no lights” before I set it up. No need to open it. Once you assign an ID to the car and program it, the lights come on. The light switch on the bottom of the car is set to “on” from the factory. Enjoy, the sound car is a lot of fun. 

The sounds are great!  Really wonderful!

Mark,

They are, I agree. Station sounds, Diner sounds, and general car sounds are terrific. They add much to the fun of operating. 

paul 2 posted:

Had the kids and grand kids here for the past 5 days. But while they were here a few nice things came in. I got my tickets from Menard's for the train show they co-sponsor in Eau Claire Wi in July. Then my set of Weaver trucks came. Today I went to the Medina Ohio show and pick up a few vehicles. The show seemed to be missing a number of vendors and the crowd was on the small side. Unless it picked up after I left.  Then on the way home I made a side trip  to Menard's and picked up my Morton Salt trucks and the freebie trucks. Now with the house quiet I can go back to working on the layout. I will be hosting my Tuesday night group the week after York. And with going to York it does not leave me a lot of time to get the layouts ready. Got to double down now. Pics.....Paul

I'm glad to see you have your tickets already !!!   See you at the Menards booth     !!

Paul, I am glad you had a good time with the Kids and Grandkids! Some great finds there and a really good deal from Menards! Sure sounds like a great weekend!

Mark, I think the cork turned out looking great! Now you just have the rest to paint! LOL

Jushavnfun, That bridge really looks nice and seams to run smooth! Great job!

I sure wish I was going to the train show in Eau Claire, WI. Sounds like it going to be a fun time by all! Plus a chance to meet Bob again and Elliot! What a great plus! Just a long drive from Hoodsport, Wa.

Some new motive power arrived, ie MTH latest run RS-3. This one is a Boston and Maine in Delivery colors. 

I may have actually (almost) finished my basement/train room (well, I don't know if you call it finished, let's call it half civilized) and if the myriad little things I am finding get fixed, might actually be able to start seriously moving forward with a layout. If the layout takes as long to conceptualize and build as the basement has, by the time I start the layout Elliot will have finished his current layout, gotten bored with it, torn it down and built an even bigger one that replicates the entire original NYC route, gotten bored with that and built himself a real railroad by himself. 

Seriously, I might actually see the promised land, somehow I expect I'll get the first pieces for the table together and my wife will decide it is time to move and that is that....or I'll look at the cost of the track and such for the layout I want to build and drop dead of shock......

ToledoEd posted:

I had the same issue with the sound car “no lights” before I set it up. No need to open it. Once you assign an ID to the car and program it, the lights come on. The light switch on the bottom of the car is set to “on” from the factory. Enjoy, the sound car is a lot of fun. 

 

Ed;

You're a gentleman and a scholar!!! Programmed the sound car (Engine 97... fortunately I still have some lower numbers available) and set it up as a train with the GG1 - luckily they are both Legacy, so I wasn't restricted for the train number. And there was light. 

Thanks.

Bigkid, Its all good, we all go threw that! It will pass and the wife will let more and more go!

I just received a new animated Miller Engineering Planter peanut sign and added that to my newest building flat.

right now, nothing, we`re in NJ getting the old house ready for sale, retired to fl. 2 years ago, keep havin` fun guy`s and gal`s, that`s why they call it retirement, lol ......

I had the photographer over the other day and he took 208 pictures. I never new it would be such hard work taking pictures. move lights and stage trains. snap, snap and move everything again. I was ask not to post pictures yet but I will post them as soon as I can. I did run trains this week end with my grand children and I loved every minute with them. I'm getting ready to start installing my new control panel this week.

Just had a brew at Reds this late afternoon.

Another in the shelf queen series, took down this Marx M10000 red and silver. I actually

thought I had tuned this one before. Guess not. It was pretty shaky and jerky so I did 

the clean and lube thing. I display this as power car and 5 coaches so that is how I put

it on the track. Can you say wheel slip? I could get it to go on its own with only power car

and three coaches which is how it came originally I think. When I added the fourth coach

it made a bit of progress, but needed the five finger helper engine to get the momentum

going. 

WOW So much great stuff going on around here. Keep up the good work everyone!

I actually turned on the power to the layout this morning for the first time in two weeks. I received my RMT Beep and gave it a quick test run before work. Cool little diesels for sure.

Bob

RSJB18 posted:

WOW So much great stuff going on around here. Keep up the good work everyone!

I actually turned on the power to the layout this morning for the first time in two weeks. I received my RMT Beep and gave it a quick test run before work. Cool little diesels for sure.

Bob

Bob, nice that you got to run a little this morning! Sounds like you need some more SNOW days! LOL

Mike, it snowed here all day yesterday and last evening.  There was only a half inch accumulation!  26 degrees this morning and I had to scrape frost.  I couldn’t justify that as a snow day.  LOL. The weather man says 70 degrees Friday, then cold again.

Mark, I feel for you! All we are getting is rain and a little wind. But that's norm for here! Spose to be in the upper 50's all week with more rain!

Yes Mike, I know you get lots of rain!  That makes for such lush forests, but has to make it hard to build a train room!

Mark Boyce posted:

Yes Mike, I know you get lots of rain!  That makes for such lush forests, but has to make it hard to build a train room!

It does Mark, but I hope to be out there this weekend rain or shine putting up T-111 siding ! We will see how it goes. I might have to wait till the fallowing payday to finish the siding as it's $35 per sheet!

Mike- snow days don't help. I need to get out from under the CEO's project list

RSJB18 posted:

Mike- snow days don't help. I need to get out from under the CEO's project list

In that case, your stuck! LOL

First test light of the new engine house, We used SLOANLED #701960-6WS241 leds

NS6770Fan posted:

First test light of the new engine house, We used SLOANLED #701960-6WS241 leds

That is one beautiful building, very nicely detailed. With all the windows, you'll be able to see everything going on in the shop. Very nice job.

Thanks! I still need to at roof supports to fix the sagging middle and people. Then I can start my next project of weathering it.

Moving some buildings to make room for the new sash and door company from Menards. I think I have a spot. 

Dave

Day in the life with Grandpa, on a special layout trip….

1 At local hobby shop checking out the Lionel FasTrack.

2 What can I help grandpa with on the layout?

3 Cool! - Some stuff for the layout.

4 No! Grandpa is not Santa Claus.

5 Both of the grandchildren running slot cars at the local hobby shop.

6 The Oakland County Airport is right behind our local hobby shop.

7 Watching airplanes take off & land.

8 Check out this cool Bi-plane hanging in the terminal.

9 Rail-fanning at the Pontiac Amtrak Station, only about five miles from the airport.

10 Check this out, Union Pacific 9045 freight train, south bound to Detroit.

11 Amtrak Genesis on it’s way to Chicago.

12 Back at Grandpa’s train room after a long day of having fun. Running two LionChief Plus Locomotives. Reading & Northern, Pacific and New York Central, Hudson.

Hope you enjoyed our day out. April 10, 2018:  Gary

Great day out with the boys, Gary!!  The photographs all brought a big smile to my tired face!  :-)

Thank you for sharing with us!!

Looks like they had a great time Gary. I bet they go home really tired after a day with Grandpa (you too I'm sure)

Bob

What a great Grandpa Gary! I bet you all had fun! Its special times like that, that will live forever!

I know those boys love visiting Grandpa Gary. He takes them to all the cool places.

                          Amtrak slowly taken over...