Just got back from Home Depot and now have enough Masonite to finish my retaining walls. Will be very glad to have this phase of construction finished. I won't be sorry to see the plastering done either. I like building buildings and adding people to create scenes far better. Also can't wait to see grass, shrubs, and trees on the layout.
Art
Once again thanks guys. Art, I did the same thing as you with the girders. I started off with just one but ended up ordering a second one gluing the two halves together cutting it to fit. MIKE G, I never tried to wrap one around a box. I did do it to the background mural behind the Menard's power station but when I bent it around the corner the paper stock was not forgiving. I think it was a bit too thick for 90 degree bending.............Paul
Thanks for the info Paul!
Art
Very nice Art!
Dave
Had a good afternoon and got some things completed. All the buildings are taped in place along the wall. The only thing left there to do is run some ground turf between track and the wall. Then I had a couple of HO building flats that I was going to use in another area but I decided to place them behind the buildings where my street is. I like the look and I think I will get a few more to add to them. Then I focused on the last half of the mountain and got the trees in and added some more trees around the tracks in the back. So if I can get down there after dinner I'll start adding ground foam to the area in front of the mountain. Pics..............Paul
WOW Paul, that turned out really nice! You sure have an eye for this stuff! I hope one day I can be like you! LOL
Really great stuff!
Paul, your industrial city and mountainside are really looking great!! I agree to see if some HO sized ones can help give somes sense of depth. I forgot about the great looking brick street and mirror! They look great!
Art, that bridge is really turning out nice!!
Brian, Izzy should be dizzy after watching that fast passenger train pass by!!
In my Blackwater Canyon topic that is linked in my signature line I stated I hoped to start construction this winter. Well my calendar says December 21st is the first day of winter. It just so happened that I had the necessary items on hand, and had some extra time before visiting my elderly aunt to start a bit of construction.
First, I moved some things out of the way from the corner I am starting at. I am going to mount steel brackets from the studs on the west wall where the layout will be narrowest. On both the adjacent walls there will be turnback loops needing much wider benchwork.
This first photograph shows the cleared out corner, two brackets on the floor. The brick wall was the rear exterior of the house until my in-laws had this room built to support their sunroom above.
Here are two brackets bolted to the studs. They extend 20" from the wall, and are rated at 1000 pounds. Overkill, but these were the longest ones I could find. I want them to support 24" deep shelf.
This photograph shows my 2' x 4' module I started months ago to work on some building and scenicing techniques with an end product that I can take outside to photograph locomotives and rolling stock. This module is not intended to be part of the layout, so there was no attempt to follow a track plan. This will be a place where a high line hugging the Blackwater Canyon will be making a turn into town. There will be a lower line below in front with a possible passing siding.
I will be updating my topic in the signature line which is in the Layout Planning Forum. Then I will be linking a new build topic soon after Christmas if all goes well. At that time, I will stop adding to the planning topic and continuing on with the build topic.
Hey Mark, You have a start! Right on track, Looks like you have everything figured out!
The folks that are living next to the main line of the Ole Smoky finally decorated for Christmas!
carsntrains posted:The folks that are living next to the main line of the Ole Smoky finally decorated for Christmas!
Well that sure was nice of them to break out the decorations days before Christmas! Maybe next year you can talk them into lights! LOL Let them know it looks nice!
Finally found some time on Tuesday to work on the layout and promptly put a drill bit through my fingernail. I feel like Caesar when he said, "Sentio aliquos togatos contra me conspirare." Which translated means, "I think some people in togas are plotting against me."
Tom M posted:Finally found some time on Tuesday to work on the layout and promptly put a drill bit through my fingernail. I feel like Caesar when he said, "Sentio aliquos togatos contra me conspirare." Which translated means, "I think some people in togas are plotting against me."
Well, Tom... Julius was right - if I were you, I'd beware the ides of March!!!
mike g. posted:Hey Mark, You have a start! Right on track, Looks like you have everything figured out!
Thank you, Mike! I’ve been figuring for quite some time. It will be interesting to see what problems come up! LOL
Paul,
Don't know if someone already asked but who sells the paper prints of the buildings? (please post web site).
thanks,
Sam
Hi Sam. I believe it's Angie's trackside flats on EBay.
Mike
Sam, Mike W is right. Angie's trackside flats. They sell on the bay........Paul
I've been tweaking and tuning one of my prewar flying yankees for a couple of days. Finallly
got all the lights working. But running it was frustrating, constantly derailing or cycling
to neutral. Tonight I replaced the last postwar Marx switch on my layout with a prewar one.
Miracles, I went and got a glass of whiskey and came back and turned on the yankee. 20 mins
of laps around the layout, no neutral, no derailments. I love old stuff. I had two marx 034
switches on my layout in anticipation of an addition, same problem, everything derailed or reversed
or went to neutral. Even my postwar Marx E7 diesels had a problem. Because there are no prewar
034 switches I just eliminated them. Now everything seems to run fine.
Merry Christmas
Been almost a week since I posted here. Tuesday I worked on the tracks around the turntable. I managed to muscle my belt sander up onto the platform so I could grind rails and ties to finish the last of the track.
I started spackling the screw holes on the fascia. I still have to do the backdrop. Fingers crossed that Patrick will be back Saturday, snow expected.
Today I spent 12 hours downstairs, 10 of those inside the big helix. About an hour in, the phone rang. Of course I had left the cordless on its stand back at the dispatcher's desk, so I couldn't get it. For some reason I felt that it was someone I wanted to talk to, and not the usual junk. So I crawled out and checked the caller ID. Took me a minute to figure out who it was, but I realized it was Gary, my operations guy, calling from someone else's house. So I called back and caught him just as he was leaving. He wanted to bring me a basket of goodies.
At the bottom of the bin are some aprons with pockets to hold your radio and the car cards. Then there are four fast clocks. I think I can add two more to the system to get better coverage of the entire room.
After Gary left, I went back to my "cage". It's a little hard to see because of the lighting, but I tied all the feeder wires to the support columns.
Not long after Gary left, my wife came home and brought me her lunch leftovers, which I promptly devoured while sitting inside.
I had previously done about half the posts, so today I nearly finished the other half. I also removed all the staples that had been holding the bus wires to the frame at the bottom, and replaced them with proper wire support loops.
I fell short by one post. I'll get it tomorrow.
Because there are so many detection blocks in the helix, especially the inner track which goes all the way to the top and has 11, I've installed this terminal strip as a jumping off point before heading under the aisle to the detection panel.
This is the last of the wiring on the entire layout. Should be done by the end of the year.
What did I do on my layout today? This is Part 3 • (Part 1 is on page 408 of this thread), near the bottom • Part 2 is on page 409, near the bottom.
1. Last time: I was finishing up the clouds on this panel. It is ready to be installed against the wall with hot glue.
2. I use Glidden paint from a big box lumber yard. The same guys who sold me this 5mm plywood, made in China. The paint was manufactured in Pittsburgh, PA. I think it came by CSX rail to Detroit Freight Depot on Fort Street. Than the rest of the load is picked up by a CN locomotive and travels through, The Detroit Windsor Railroad Tunnel to Ontario, Canada. Great place for rail-fanning, but look out for the RR Police and the border patrol.
3. I been using this color called: Pool Party for years. If you like this color jot down the color’s codes to the left of the blue sample color. Lets go swimming.
4. Last night I went on a business trip to the annual Flying Pilgrims Christmas dinner. I always try to sit with the guys who fly and also do model railroading. I am always the odd man out. The only guy who does three rail, they are all HO guys. We talked about how model trains and model airplanes are both on 2.4 GHz and there is no radio interference.
5. This photo shows the panel in it’s final location. Hard to get a quality photo because the Lionel’s Crane, Menard’s Crane along with the junk yard and a small hill blocks the view.
6. This is a photo of the Michigan State Police Post, located in East Tawas, Michigan. This post is about 150 miles north of my train room. This structure is across the street from the Detroit & Mackinac Railway. The D&M round house has been torn down. The rails are used by The Lake State Railway. This is the one of several structures on my bucket list for this panel.
7. Now it is time for a cup of coffee and think about my options for a structure. State Police Post, or some type of kit bashing project using. Ameri-Towne, Kober Models or Todd Architectural Models.
Hope you find this information useful & thanks for taking a look: Gary
beardog posted:I've been tweaking and tuning one of my prewar flying yankees for a couple of days. Finallly
got all the lights working. But running it was frustrating, constantly derailing or cycling
to neutral. Tonight I replaced the last postwar Marx switch on my layout with a prewar one.
Miracles, I went and got a glass of whiskey and came back and turned on the yankee. 20 mins
of laps around the layout, no neutral, no derailments. I love old stuff. I had two marx 034
switches on my layout in anticipation of an addition, same problem, everything derailed or reversed
or went to neutral. Even my postwar Marx E7 diesels had a problem. Because there are no prewar
034 switches I just eliminated them. Now everything seems to run fine.
Merry Christmas
So now I know what my problem is, I don't have any whiskey in my toolbox!!
I'm glad you got those great old timers rolling!!!
Merry Christmas!!
Big_Boy_4005 posted:Been almost a week since I posted here. Tuesday I worked on the tracks around the turntable. I managed to muscle my belt sander up onto the platform so I could grind rails and ties to finish the last of the track.
I started spackling the screw holes on the fascia. I still have to do the backdrop. Fingers crossed that Patrick will be back Saturday, snow expected.
Today I spent 12 hours downstairs, 10 of those inside the big helix. About an hour in, the phone rang. Of course I had left the cordless on its stand back at the dispatcher's desk, so I couldn't get it. For some reason I felt that it was someone I wanted to talk to, and not the usual junk. So I crawled out and checked the caller ID. Took me a minute to figure out who it was, but I realized it was Gary, my operations guy, calling from someone else's house. So I called back and caught him just as he was leaving. He wanted to bring me a basket of goodies.
At the bottom of the bin are some aprons with pockets to hold your radio and the car cards. Then there are four fast clocks. I think I can add two more to the system to get better coverage of the entire room.
After Gary left, I went back to my "cage". It's a little hard to see because of the lighting, but I tied all the feeder wires to the support columns.
Not long after Gary left, my wife came home and brought me her lunch leftovers, which I promptly devoured while sitting inside.
I had previously done about half the posts, so today I nearly finished the other half. I also removed all the staples that had been holding the bus wires to the frame at the bottom, and replaced them with proper wire support loops.
I fell short by one post. I'll get it tomorrow.
Because there are so many detection blocks in the helix, especially the inner track which goes all the way to the top and has 11, I've installed this terminal strip as a jumping off point before heading under the aisle to the detection panel.
This is the last of the wiring on the entire layout. Should be done by the end of the year.
Can you sleep in your jail?
Merry Christmas Eliot!
Elliot,
Wow, you are almost done wiring the layout!! That will be a celebration in and of itself!! Great photograph once again of you in your "cage". The aprons are a great idea for holding remotes waybills, etc when operating a large layout!!!
Merry Christmas!!
Gary,
I didn't know Glidden was owned by PPG. Here it is "The Glidden Company is a division of PPG Industries, which is one of the largest paint manufacturers in North America." I was just in downtown Pittsburgh Saturday to hear our younger daughter who is a soprano with the Mendelssohn Choir accompanied by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. They perform in Heinz Hall, a couple blocks from PPG Place, the big glass building there. (Yes, they get a country boy to the big city once in a while)
Wow! You have a Trainroom Gary coffee mug!!! That's fantastic!!
BTW, the backdrop is looking mighty good!!
Merry Christmas!
Mark - Nice job on the Christmas layout.
Merry Christmas!
decoynh posted:Big_Boy_4005 posted:Been almost a week since I posted here. Tuesday I worked on the tracks around the turntable. I managed to muscle my belt sander up onto the platform so I could grind rails and ties to finish the last of the track.
Can you sleep in your jail?
Merry Christmas Eliot!
I would say there is enough room to sleep there! Elliot, how do you get in and out? Do you have to call your wife to open the door?
decoynh posted:Mark - Nice job on the Christmas layout.
Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Matt!!
Merry Christmas!!
Brian
New Haven is expecting snow & ice today. “Make sure the sand bins are topped off!!!”
On the Angie's trackside flats, not finding anything on ebay. Please do a copy/past on one of her web items.
thanks,
Sam
Found the flats. Did a google on it. I had too many spaces on the words as her 'location' is all one word.
For those looking for it:
http://stores.ebay.com/angietracksideflats
thanks,
They look great.
Putting my new MTH 18 inch Passenger cars(10) in Reading & Northern Livery on the layout then running them with my Lionel R&N SD38 in a lashup!!!!!! Great fun tonite!!!!
Elliot, I think if I were you I would get a hard wired phone inside the Helix, that way you never forget it! LOL Things are looking really great and it was nice you were able to have lunch in there also! What a nice wife!
Gary, thanks for the lesson plan, turned out looking wonderful, I will have to give it a try one day!
Brian, from what Matt is saying you better get your snow plows out and ready!
Ready Matt & Mike !!! 
" Let it snow...." 
Ok Brian, either that is really GREAT work or that is really outside! Either way great pictures!
Scale snow...
Grabbed a Lionel Truck Loading Dock for the layout. Now need to figure out where I'm going to put it. I grabbed a trestle for the O27 track, just need to figure out if the FasTrack will fit underneath, and if I need to acquire any more of the highest trestles so I can get some good overlap of the O27 and O31 FasTrack tracks (if desired). I planned on having the O27 fit inside the O31, but if I can cross over it for a couple of feet or so that might be neat. Especially if I can extend it over the siding on the O36 outermost track. The O31 track in the middle is not going to run the full length of the table. I imagine it'll surround the factory or farm area in the middle of the layout. I should really join the outer and middle tracks, but I don't want to worry about blocking right now. That's a bit above my beginners paygrade. I'm just happy I figured out how to turn power on/off to a siding.
Thanks guys and Merry Christmas to all of you.
I'll be spending mine working on the layout, just the way I like it.
Matt - I could sleep in there, but my bed is much more comfortable. However, in my younger days, I did nap under the layout at enterTRAINment. I brought a pad and crashed on the concrete, to the sound of trains running above.
Mark - There are a couple of ways in there, one from the Red Wing side, but my preferred access is through the opening under that terminal strip. It is just under 20", so I'm crawling on my belly. That's why I spend 15 - 20 minutes thinking of all the things I need for the task (and using the bathroom), before taking the plunge.
Mike - With any luck, when I'm done with this, I shouldn't have to go back there very often. Some of the feeder wires weren't connected to their buses. There were just enough to get power up to all the sections. Most engines made it up, no problem, but some liked to stall in a couple spots. One theory was that unconnected ground wires were creating stray TMCC signal. I'm anxious to power up and see if that theory was true, and the problems are corrected.
briansilvermustang posted:
Ready Matt & Mike !!!
" Let it snow...."
I guess that you're ahead of me. Great job getting ready for snow.
Converting a spare bedroom for train storage, and ham radio.
Craig, where did you get the flashers?
I bought the LEDs along with the 9 volt battery strap with an on/off button from Evan Designs, a forum sponsor.
Thanks Craig!
Big_Boy_4005 posted:Thanks guys and Merry Christmas to all of you.
Matt - I could sleep in there, but my bed is much more comfortable. However, in my younger days, I did nap under the layout at enterTRAINment. I brought a pad and crashed on the concrete, to the sound of trains running above.
Mark - There are a couple of ways in there, one from the Red Wing side, but my preferred access is through the opening under that terminal strip. It is just under 20", so I'm crawling on my belly. That's why I spend 15 - 20 minutes thinking of all the things I need for the task (and using the bathroom), before taking the plunge.
Mike - With any luck, when I'm done with this, I shouldn't have to go back there very often. Some of the feeder wires weren't connected to their buses. There were just enough to get power up to all the sections. Most engines made it up, no problem, but some liked to stall in a couple spots. One theory was that unconnected ground wires were creating stray TMCC signal. I'm anxious to power up and see if that theory was true, and the problems are corrected.
Looking good Elliot. Another "last" to check off the list. You must have a few miles of wire under that layout.
Bob
Once the beer reefers were unloaded - Finally, the FOOD reefers arrived in time for Christmas. More overtime for the boys.
Libbys vegetables.
Hams,Bacon & Sausage
Dairy Products from the midwest
Mr Greenjeans Produce is busy
The IGA is also a busy place for Holiday specialties
Merry Christmas everyone!
It has been a productive week as I have completed my Mt. Iron taconite buildings and they are primed and ready for the finish coat and weathering. The summit has been moved into the family room, with full support from the household CEO, in order to complete track installation which included cork roadbed and a four track yard facility for loading taconite. This area is designed to be a static display. I also purchased some led yard lighting appliances on ebay that will be attached to the wood filler strip between the two loading tracks (middle two) and some building flood lights that will be mounted on some of the plant buildings. This summit is not located in a brightly lit section of the layout and that will help create the illusion of the taconite plant by not drawing attention to its lack of detail.
The next step will be to celebrate Christmas with family followed by a family trip to the Wilderness Lodge in Disney World to ring in the New Year. When the weather warms a bit, I will move the summit to the garage for ballasting and some scenic work with rock highlights, some greenery and trees, etc.
What’s left is to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and a Blessed New Year. 
May your stockings be stuffed with trains!!!!
Dave
60% off these Christmas trees At Lowe’s and I added to my forest. took ornaments off and painted them 
darlander posted:It has been a productive week as I have completed my Mt. Iron taconite buildings and they are primed and ready for the finish coat and weathering. The summit has been moved into the family room, with full support from the household CEO, in order to complete track installation which included cork roadbed and a four track yard facility for loading taconite. This area is designed to be a static display. I also purchased some led yard lighting appliances on ebay that will be attached to the wood filler strip between the two loading tracks (middle two) and some building flood lights that will be mounted on some of the plant buildings. This summit is not located in a brightly lit section of the layout and that will help create the illusion of the taconite plant by not drawing attention to its lack of detail.
The next step will be to celebrate Christmas with family followed by a family trip to the Wilderness Lodge in Disney World to ring in the New Year. When the weather warms a bit, I will move the summit to the garage for ballasting and some scenic work with rock highlights, some greenery and trees, etc.
What’s left is to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and a Blessed New Year.
May your stockings be stuffed with trains!!!!
Dave
Dave, that area looks great, and more realistic than you give yourself credit for. What’s your source for the lighting? I like the look. TW
TedW posted:darlander posted:It has been a productive week as I have completed my Mt. Iron taconite buildings and they are primed and ready for the finish coat and weathering. The summit has been moved into the family room, with full support from the household CEO, in order to complete track installation which included cork roadbed and a four track yard facility for loading taconite. This area is designed to be a static display. I also purchased some led yard lighting appliances on ebay that will be attached to the wood filler strip between the two loading tracks (middle two) and some building flood lights that will be mounted on some of the plant buildings. This summit is not located in a brightly lit section of the layout and that will help create the illusion of the taconite plant by not drawing attention to its lack of detail.
The next step will be to celebrate Christmas with family followed by a family trip to the Wilderness Lodge in Disney World to ring in the New Year. When the weather warms a bit, I will move the summit to the garage for ballasting and some scenic work with rock highlights, some greenery and trees, etc.
What’s left is to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and a Blessed New Year.
May your stockings be stuffed with trains!!!!
Dave
Dave, that area looks great, and more realistic than you give yourself credit for. What’s your source for the lighting? I like the look. TW
Ted, I found them on ebay, I also have O scale LED street lighting and station platform lighting on my layout. Google HO or O gauge LED lighting on ebay and you will find a large assortment of light options. They come from China and are very inexpensive. They are powered by a DC 3 volt plug-in power source - not included. I use old 6-9 volt power sources I have around the house from old phones or radios, etc. They come with resistors that need to be used with any power source over 3 volts. The 10 pole lamps cost $14.99 and that included shipping. The small black bracket floods (5) also came with resistors and cost $4.99 and that also included shipping. The black lamps are painted brass and the pole lamps are metal and plastic. You can't beat them for the price and scale.
Dave
Dave thanks. As you can see, I like lighting. Always looking for new sources.
decoynh posted:Once the beer reefers were unloaded - Finally, the FOOD reefers arrived in time for Christmas. More overtime for the boys.
Libbys vegetables.
Hams,Bacon & Sausage
Dairy Products from the midwest
Mr Greenjeans Produce is busy
The IGA is also a busy place for Holiday specialties
Merry Christmas everyone!
Hello Decoynh May I ask where you got the 'The Lone Rider' hobby horse in front of your IGA? Thank s John (Jackiejr)
jackiejr posted:decoynh posted:Once the beer reefers were unloaded - Finally, the FOOD reefers arrived in time for Christmas. More overtime for the boys.
The IGA is also a busy place for Holiday specialties
Merry Christmas everyone!
Hello Decoynh May I ask where you got the 'The Lone Rider' hobby horse in front of your IGA? Thank s John (Jackiejr)
Good morning John, The Lone Rider is part of the Woodland Scenics IGA Building. The buildings can be a bit pricey. The good thing is that these buildings come with lighting, and a variety of many little things like the gum ball machine, dumpsters, crates, boxes, garbage cans, fire escapes, flower pots, loading docks, etc.
Late yesterday afternoon my track bumpers arrived. No I can install them on the sidings and get to adding the ground turf today...............Paul
I've seen so many nice ideas along this thread, you guys are making me reconsider whether I am done with making changes to the layout (!!!!). Yeeegads, you are inspiring!
FrankM
Moonson posted:I've seen so many nice ideas along this thread, you guys are making me reconsider whether I am done with making changes to the layout (!!!!). Yeeegads, you are inspiring!
FrankM
I agree wholeheartedly. 95% of my small Xmas layout elements were taken from this forum. Execution, well maybe a little credit there, but learning from members like you are what keeps me in “da bidnez”.
decoynh posted:jackiejr posted:decoynh posted:Once the beer reefers were unloaded - Finally, the FOOD reefers arrived in time for Christmas. More overtime for the boys.
The IGA is also a busy place for Holiday specialties
Merry Christmas everyone!
Hello Decoynh May I ask where you got the 'The Lone Rider' hobby horse in front of your IGA? Thank s John (Jackiejr)
Good morning John, The Lone Rider is part of the Woodland Scenics IGA Building. The buildings can be a bit pricey. The good thing is that these buildings come with lighting, and a variety of many little things like the gum ball machine, dumpsters, crates, boxes, garbage cans, fire escapes, flower pots, loading docks, etc.
Thank You for the come back Decoynh. I have a scratch built market I built and thought what a great addition a hobby horse would be as you have yours displayed. The toy horses I have found just don't get it. Yours is the second IGA with the hobby horse I've seen in the last couple of days. I kind of figured then that it was probably included with the IGA building, but no harm in asking. As mentioned many times in the past; this Forum is a great source of info and folks like yourself willing to help a fellow hobbyist is much appreciated. Have a Merry Christmas!
TedW posted:Moonson posted:I've seen so many nice ideas along this thread, you guys are making me reconsider whether I am done with making changes to the layout (!!!!). Yeeegads, you are inspiring!
FrankM
I agree wholeheartedly. 95% of my small Xmas layout elements were taken from this forum. Execution, well maybe a little credit there, but learning from members like you are what keeps me in “da bidnez”.
Such a gracious thing for you to say! Thanks for including me amongst the hobbyists who have been an influence on you. That's a lot of fun to hear.
FrankM
horse is included.
In San Francisco so no progress today. I was going to try and visit Just Trains in Concord but the trip is over an hour away by Bart and bus.
RSJB18 posted:Big_Boy_4005 posted:Thanks guys and Merry Christmas to all of you.
Matt - I could sleep in there, but my bed is much more comfortable. However, in my younger days, I did nap under the layout at enterTRAINment. I brought a pad and crashed on the concrete, to the sound of trains running above.
Mark - There are a couple of ways in there, one from the Red Wing side, but my preferred access is through the opening under that terminal strip. It is just under 20", so I'm crawling on my belly. That's why I spend 15 - 20 minutes thinking of all the things I need for the task (and using the bathroom), before taking the plunge.
Mike - With any luck, when I'm done with this, I shouldn't have to go back there very often. Some of the feeder wires weren't connected to their buses. There were just enough to get power up to all the sections. Most engines made it up, no problem, but some liked to stall in a couple spots. One theory was that unconnected ground wires were creating stray TMCC signal. I'm anxious to power up and see if that theory was true, and the problems are corrected.
Looking good Elliot. Another "last" to check off the list. You must have a few miles of wire under that layout.
Bob
Thanks Bob, I expect there to be a few more lasts this last week of 2017. If you count a cat5 cable as 8 wires, I have more than 8000' right there, because I just finished off a 1000' box. When I get to signals, I'll probably go through another. I'll bet there's a mile of 12 gauge, and who knows how much 16 gauge. I better be careful, the copper vandals might be listening.
My grandson came over & we ran trains. The Pere Marquette steam engine.
Gary: Merry Christmas
Nothing better then Grandkids and trains!
Merry Christmas!!
Hi Guys, It has been a long time since I have posted, But did want to let you know I tested all systems on the layout the other night for tomorrow's Christmas Eve running with the grand-kids.
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Kev.
Ok Kev. we know the trains are ready! But is Grandpa!
Merry Christmas!
I am going the other way. Put away my O gauge engines and took up the track. Tired of tripping and kicking it over. For now the Standard gauge track stays while I fool with an engine or two.
mike g. posted:Ok Kev. we know the trains are ready! But is Grandpa!
Merry Christmas!
I think so Mike, Best to ask in about 24 hours. 
KRM posted:mike g. posted:Ok Kev. we know the trains are ready! But is Grandpa!
Merry Christmas!
I think so Mike, Best to ask in about 24 hours.
Will do! Checking back in 24 Hrs! I know it can be rough sometimes!
i have been doing little odds and ends to the layout. i do have a problem with 1 engine. all my trains are MTH with the DCS system. 1 ps3 Y6b Engine that runs very good but the other Y6B slows down at some parts in track. no other engine slow down signal strength is 9.6 at the slow spots. can anyone help me
Merry Christmas to everyone and happy new year from Coal and steel railroad, model railroader of canfield war vet museum and NMRA division 1 MCR 
Big_Boy_4005 posted:RSJB18 posted:Big_Boy_4005 posted:Thanks guys and Merry Christmas to all of you.
Matt - I could sleep in there, but my bed is much more comfortable. However, in my younger days, I did nap under the layout at enterTRAINment. I brought a pad and crashed on the concrete, to the sound of trains running above.
Mark - There are a couple of ways in there, one from the Red Wing side, but my preferred access is through the opening under that terminal strip. It is just under 20", so I'm crawling on my belly. That's why I spend 15 - 20 minutes thinking of all the things I need for the task (and using the bathroom), before taking the plunge.
Mike - With any luck, when I'm done with this, I shouldn't have to go back there very often. Some of the feeder wires weren't connected to their buses. There were just enough to get power up to all the sections. Most engines made it up, no problem, but some liked to stall in a couple spots. One theory was that unconnected ground wires were creating stray TMCC signal. I'm anxious to power up and see if that theory was true, and the problems are corrected.
Looking good Elliot. Another "last" to check off the list. You must have a few miles of wire under that layout.
Bob
Thanks Bob, I expect there to be a few more lasts this last week of 2017. If you count a cat5 cable as 8 wires, I have more than 8000' right there, because I just finished off a 1000' box. When I get to signals, I'll probably go through another. I'll bet there's a mile of 12 gauge, and who knows how much 16 gauge. I better be careful, the copper vandals might be listening.
LOL!- I use to keep the bigger stuff left over from jobs and sell it for scrap. Nice little bonus at the end of the year depending on the price of copper. Stripping the insulation off small wires wasn't worth it but I know some guys who do it.
Bob
Hi All- haven't been doing anything on the layout. Been wiped out by a respiratory infection since Thursday. Finally feeling a little better today.
Merry Christmas to all 
Bob
Bob, glad you 're feeling better, have a Merry Christmas brian
briansilvermustang posted:Bob, glad you 're feeling better, have a Merry Christmas
Thanks Brian. Same to you
Bob, glad you are feeling better. And just in time for Christmas. Seems like in the winter these things drag out for too long...................Paul
Thanks Paul- it never fails that someone in the family gets sick around the Holidays. I happy to be on the upswing now so I can enjoy the day tomorrow.
Bob
Mitch, it turned out looking wonderful! Merry Christmas!
Bob, its nice to hear your feeling better just in time for Christmas! Hope you and your Family have a wonderful day!
Brian, I am a firm believer that you have more trains then anyone I know! Merry Christmas!
Paul, I hope you have a great Christmas and find more room around the washer and dryer!
have a Merry Christmas also Mike
Brian and Ted, nice displays of the train world! I would love to have both they are very impressive!
Notning on the layout yet but making progress on the new train room. And the last one is this years Christmas Gift form my family the Thomas Kinkad "All Aboard for Christmas" framed print.
Nice Rick, things are looking nice, Plus I have the same clock! LOL
Merry Christmas!
last minute, late night shoppers in Elizabeth City......
Gandydancer, those crazy fools! Don't they know SNOW is coming!
snow crews are getting ready...
some are already hard at work to the north of Cleveland...
Finished converting 12 K-Line Heavyweights from incandescent bulbs to LEDs. I used the DC LED power circuit designed by GunrunnerJohn. Put the train on the track and tested it. Looks great, plus I substantially decreased the power consumption.
Chris
LVHR
gandydancer1950 posted:last minute, late night shoppers in Elizabeth City......
Looks exactly what I saw when I was out earlier!
RJT posted:Notning on the layout yet but making progress on the new train room. And the last one is this years Christmas Gift form my family the Thomas Kinkad "All Aboard for Christmas" framed print.
This is going to be a good one. Keep us posted!
gandydancer1950 posted:last minute, late night shoppers in Elizabeth City......
Haha guess not, but I can assure you that they are freezing their you know what's off!
Heads up East Coast folks! It's SNOWING here in Washington State at my house! LOL
help is on the way...
clearing a way, for Santa's new Sleigh...
while the Elf's have been busy on his new concept sleigh...
What did I do on my layout today? I greased the gears on several locos, put a few K-line Add-A-Ties on a few sections of tubular track, ran a few trains with my adult son, and most importantly SWORE INCESSANTLY AT A SWITCH THAT REFUSED TO SWITCH! (Son and I will try to seriously figure out its problem after Christmas).
Kerrigan posted:Finished the interior of the Electric Motor House on the Cabin Lake & Western. Also services the turbines and some diesel units.
Awesome!
Really delightful, Kerrigan, a real treasure.
FrankM
mike g. posted:KRM posted:mike g. posted:Ok Kev. we know the trains are ready! But is Grandpa!
Merry Christmas!
I think so Mike, Best to ask in about 24 hours.
Will do! Checking back in 24 Hrs! I know it can be rough sometimes!
Mike,
Still alive after the Christmas Eve bash. House is now quiet the belly full and new oil in the daughters car.
We got a good snowfall so the kids wanted to be outside in the snow. First snow of the year and on Christmas Eve, can't do better than that for a 4 and 7 year old.
Everything went well, the only bummer is we never made it into the basement to run trains. The new tires on the JD Gator are good in the snow and it had no problems driving around the yard and woods in the almost 5" we got.
Fire in the fireplace and all is good!
Kicking back and getting ready for tomorrow's stuffing at their house. We will run trains there! 
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