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Patrick, I did not realize the service platforms were from TrainWerx!  That's great!

Brian, Good photographs!

Vincent, I told my wife about the Gringo Zone at Lake Chapala.  I received no response!  Probably because we both know we are stuck here like with a ball and chain!  That is great the neighbor's grandchildren came over to see trains!

Jim, I'm glad you are getting to start the new layout!!

mike g. posted:

Lots of likes today for you guys! I have been gone at the doctors all day so no train room for me! 

Paul, Nice find!

Vincent, I also grab some stuff at Walmart when the CEO isn't looking!

Johan, wonderful Shar Bay Farms set up! Nice work!

Randy, I responded to your email. I hope I can help you out! It makes my day when I can help others!

Patrick, the floor looks amazing! Its kind of like the icing on the cake! Looks great! Question, where did you get the cat walks in the middle?

Would love to live in Mexico, my brother in is from there and my sister and him has like 100 acres! 

Well tomorrow is Tuesday! Everyone have a great day and please have FUN!

Mike. Thank you.

Johan

A few weeks ago an A-A set of Weaver E8’s popped up on eBay dirt cheap and already painted for AMTRAK. Both units are powered and I decided to leave one in AMTRAK paint and redo the other. Early AMTRAK trains in the northeast were often handled by PC power and indeed some of the PC passenger units would eventually end up on AMTRAK’s roster. This way I can run them individually or as a pair.

1 AMTRAK E8s_20190622_171635798

Both units are powered, conventional and without and sounds. I gave them both the same treatment as I would any Williams loco: LED headlight, cab figures, diaphragms, and True Blast Plus sounds. I did not wire the motors in series because they run just fine the way they are. Neither unit was lubricated properly - in fact dry as bone. Gave them both a good lubing. Each loco is equipped with directional lighting. I left that alone and wired my LED headlight for always on. If I ever want to revisit directional lighting the components are still in there.

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Both are equipped with QSI e-units and the nice thing about that is that they start up in neutral – something I wish all conventional locos did. I don’t mind conventional operation for passenger locomotives as they’ll mostly be running at track speed and won’t have to deal with any grades. Performance is about the same as an equivalent Williams set and they handle their train just fine.  There are still a few minor tweaks to be done but they’re 95% done and I'm happy with the way they turned out.

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Mark Boyce posted:

Brian, so you are running a hometown road today, I see!  Looking good!

Ralph, Those E8s look great!  You did a nice job on the PC repaint!  What curve diameters are you running them on?

Track 1 is 072 min, track 2 is 063 min. Those are my variable voltage tracks where I run conventional.

Howard, that is always a good scene.

Mark, good layout progress.

Mike g, crane works much better and slower. Good job.

Johan, great shot. You have so many good locations on the layout for scenes like that.

Elliot, you are making up for lost time. Can't wait to see the progress in person.

Lee, very nice shots.

As much as I hate to say this I have not had any chance to work on the layout. But you guys are doing real good stuff. Keep up the posting. Outdoor work has kept me busy and this weekend the daughter and grand daughter are coming in for the weekend and next weekend is the Menards train show. When I get back I hope to settle in to get something done on the layout before Brian gets too far ahead of me LOL. Today USPS dropped off some more vehicles I found at Die Cast Direct for a good price. Pic...........Paul 2

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The chimney on the Buladeen Depot never looked right to me. I had placed it on the roof as it was separate from the building at the time, not realizing I'd placed the line of the chimney through a window on that wall. So, I yanked the chimney out, filled the hole in the roof, and placed it over at the end of the structure, by the area where the freight would be stored.
A little bit of paint work, and I think it looks okay. You can see where the patch was, and maybe someday I might just replace the entire roof, but it's good for now.0626192225

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paul 2 posted:

Howard, that is always a good scene.

Mark, good layout progress.

Mike g, crane works much better and slower. Good job.

Johan, great shot. You have so many good locations on the layout for scenes like that.

Elliot, you are making up for lost time. Can't wait to see the progress in person.

Lee, very nice shots.

As much as I hate to say this I have not had any chance to work on the layout. But you guys are doing real good stuff. Keep up the posting. Outdoor work has kept me busy and this weekend the daughter and grand daughter are coming in for the weekend and next weekend is the Menards train show. When I get back I hope to settle in to get something done on the layout before Brian gets too far ahead of me LOL. Today USPS dropped off some more vehicles I found at Die Cast Direct for a good price. Pic...........Paul 2

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Paul. Thank you. I just try take some pics before the scenery changes to.

Johan.

Well despite 3 rental plumbing issues today (I think Paul is secretly sabotaging my rentals so I can't get ahead of him) I was able to finish the last cuts, all the sanding, and painting of my pieces that will hold up the elevated track.  If no rental issues tomorrow then I can probably assemble all of it and then get wiring done by end of weekend.

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I am impressed Bryan ( spelled the name right this time ). Pieces of wood look good. I have not been sabotaging you. I offered them money to slow you down but they all said they would be glad to do it for nothing LOL... Just kidding buddy. You got the hardest part done now. The easy stage begins. Before you know it trains will be rumbling acroos the elevated line......................Paul 2

Thanks Paul. I did go downstairs on Tuesday, and tried to hook up a new printer, but failed. My son will be here Sunday, so I'll have him help me with that stupid thing. If we need to get some hardware to expand the WiFi, he's my guy. He did get his transfer with Best Buy to a store down here. Came with a small raise too. So he's pretty happy.

I forgot to take the camera down with me, but after all that business with drilling through the wood block, and needing a 5" bolt, I realized that I screwed up. I drew the track diagram incorrectly with my tape. I peeled off the bad parts, and need to re-tape it to match the holes. I also made and hung a couple long wires for the Roseville industries.

I would have worked on the layout today, after going to the dentist in the morning, but yesterday, the dialysis access in my arm decided to "clot off". I had an appointment to go in a week from Tuesday, the ninth, but I couldn't wait nearly that long. I was lucky today, working from both ends of the blockage, he managed to "Roto Rooter" the vein out. The bad news was that the cause of the problem was scaring, from all the needle pokes. At this rate, the access isn't going to last a whole lot longer. I'm going to have to see the surgeon and discuss options. This isn't the end of the world, just a minor hassle in the grand scheme.

Mark, I had a great line while at the hospital, and used it on all the medical types who crossed my path today. Tell her this one, after you tell her I clotted off.

"The thrill is gone." (B.B. King)

She'll get the joke. Then she can explain it to you.

 

Lee, looks god! You can always say that's where a tree branch came threw the roof in a wind storm!

Brian, Nice job on the Photo's! I like how you are able to match up the rea life engines with the same engines on your layout! What a great collection!

Bryan, WOW What a great job on the lawn! OOPS I mean the elevated sections! Cant wait to see them on your layout!

Elliot, good luck with the access point or a new one! I now it was a life changer when I had my Chemo port put in. No more new holes in me! Hope you get your printer problem fixed also!

JD Things are coming together, Nice job on the shelves!

Gandydancer1950, What a great scene! Really stands out!

I didn't get much done yesterday as I forgot I had to work in the morning then an HOA meeting in the afternoon. I hope to get something done today! I will let you all know how that goes! LOL

Well its Friday! Everyone have a great weekend and please have FUN!

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Thanks Paul. I did go downstairs on Tuesday, and tried to hook up a new printer, but failed. My son will be here Sunday, so I'll have him help me with that stupid thing. If we need to get some hardware to expand the WiFi, he's my guy. He did get his transfer with Best Buy to a store down here. Came with a small raise too. So he's pretty happy.

I forgot to take the camera down with me, but after all that business with drilling through the wood block, and needing a 5" bolt, I realized that I screwed up. I drew the track diagram incorrectly with my tape. I peeled off the bad parts, and need to re-tape it to match the holes. I also made and hung a couple long wires for the Roseville industries.

I would have worked on the layout today, after going to the dentist in the morning, but yesterday, the dialysis access in my arm decided to "clot off". I had an appointment to go in a week from Tuesday, the ninth, but I couldn't wait nearly that long. I was lucky today, working from both ends of the blockage, he managed to "Roto Rooter" the vein out. The bad news was that the cause of the problem was scaring, from all the needle pokes. At this rate, the access isn't going to last a whole lot longer. I'm going to have to see the surgeon and discuss options. This isn't the end of the world, just a minor hassle in the grand scheme.

Mark, I had a great line while at the hospital, and used it on all the medical types who crossed my path today. Tell her this one, after you tell her I clotted off.

"The thrill is gone." (B.B. King)

She'll get the joke. Then she can explain it to you.

 

Elliot, you are right, she get's the comment!    Even without asking her, I can recall that situations like your with the scaring and veins needing cleaned out is common.  Like you said, a minor hassle!  Yet, when it happens to you, it is discouraging!

Morning guys, I didn't get much done yesterday do to honey do projects. But I did get to work on Randy H. drive motor for his yard crane, I was disappointed what I got done yesterday so I was out there this morning at 5 AM working on it. Good news Randy its done, I just need you to send me your address and I will get it out to you. Here are a couple pictures and a short video for you! Remember most of this stuff was from an old DVD player. the roller wheels are from an old money counter.

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Last edited by mike g.

Greetings all!

Been catching up (3 pages worth) and passing out tons of likes. Everyone is very busy, my busy has been work related which explains the three page catch up. Summer in higher ed is construction season so been running from one project to another all day. It's not been ALL work no play though, did play two golf outings earlier this week.

I actually ran a train today for a new SWSat post. Check it out here . Put my new B&O GP-9 on the rails for a couple of laps and a photo op. 

Bob

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Mike, that is a nice job you did for Randy!!

Bob, the B&O GP9 looks great running on your layout.  It is so easy to get behind on this topic.

I mowed some grass this morning before it got too hot and possibly thundershower.  We are certainly not used to this humid 80 degree weather!  I know, 80 isn't very hot, but considering we have only had 60s and low 70s, it seems hot.  I came in and thought why not set up a quick and dirty mock up of how I envision the town of Thomas on the upper level of the layout.  The real town has the main street above the yard that has been removed.  There are only buildings on the other side of the street from the yard, then you go up a steep street on either side to the next block that has buildings over a story higher than the main business street.  That is how I will hide the turn back loop, behind and under the town.  This is an extremely basic first try in a matter of minutes, but I think it makes things look more like a layout already.

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It has been a very busy May/June with little time for trains but I have still managed a bit of time to work on the KDAL TV/Radio tower.   I had an extra blinking red LED that needed a home.   It now sits atop the tower.

The tower is constructed from brass tubing and wire.   Brass is so easy to work with as solder joints make for an instant bond.    Tower photos off the internet plus a few of my own served as inspiration for the build.   The tower is a scale 85 ft tall.   It still needs to be washed, primed and painted.    When finished, it will reside in a darkened corner of the layout adjacent to the Duluth cityscape.

Greetings to all and may you all enjoy a wonderful 4th of July with family and friends,

Cheers, Dave

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Last edited by darlander

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