What did you do on your layout today?

Wow...I love it!  Nice work!

Good Evening Everyone. I see some great work happening as I try to catch up to what I missed on the thread.

farmerjohn, the town is laid out nicely and busy. You have added a lot of detail. I also like the "back" road beside the gully. It was a clever way to show off the back of the buildings.

I have been working on a background building and just got to the point where I'm able to start assembling it. Here are a couple of the roof sections I have completed. More to come...

Dave

Beautiful work everyone , here’s a UP FEF lower frame chassis being changed.

Excellent job Alex. If that was an undertaking of mine, then there would be left over parts.

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

Excellent job Alex. If that was an undertaking of mine, then there would be left over parts.

Jay , thank you for the kind words , I'm sure you would do fine .

Alex

@Alex M that's probably more than I'm willing to take on. Looks like you've been taking lessons from Pat @harmonyards. Nice work! 👍

Finally getting back to my F3's. Starting on the lighting in the dummy A unit.  I painted the marker light holes that I repaired. Thanks to Andy @Steamfan77 for recommending Durham's water putty. Not perfect but acceptable.

I'm building the lighting harnesses and will then install after they are done.

Oh and it's my Birthday today....the BIG 60! 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯. Sure don't feel like I'm 60.......👍👍👍

Bob

@RSJB18 It's May 25th.  Is it not your Birthday... 🤔 I possibly the big six oh...😄 

Your work on the F3 units improves each day...The lighting will look great.  Have a good evening at the layout.

Seth

Happy birthday, Bob! 

Happy Birthday Bob! The big 60 calls for a celebratory purchase 🎉🚂

@RSJB18 Bob, Happy Birthday to you, and a wish for many more, however your still a youngster, we do enjoy our toys. I’ll turn 78 soon and I think this hobby keeps us young. Happy Railroading Everyone

@RSJB18 posted:

@Alex M that's probably more than I'm willing to take on. Looks like you've been taking lessons from Pat @harmonyards. Nice work! 👍

Finally getting back to my F3's. Starting on the lighting in the dummy A unit.  I painted the marker light holes that I repaired. Thanks to Andy @Steamfan77 for recommending Durham's water putty. Not perfect but acceptable.

I'm building the lighting harnesses and will then install after they are done.

Oh and it's my Birthday today....the BIG 60! 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯. Sure don't feel like I'm 60.......👍👍👍

Bob

Bob, F3 looking good, can't wait to see the results!

Happy Birthday you youngster!!! ;-)

@leapinlarry posted:

@RSJB18 Bob, Happy Birthday to you, and a wish for many more, however your still a youngster, we do enjoy our toys. I’ll turn 78 soon and I think this hobby keeps us young. Happy Railroading Everyone

Larry, I like all the equipment on your layout, that New York Central dinner has a really nice interior! Is it factory or modified, and who is the manufacturer?

@leapinlarry posted:

@RSJB18 Bob, Happy Birthday to you, and a wish for many more, however your still a youngster, we do enjoy our toys. I’ll turn 78 soon and I think this hobby keeps us young. Happy Railroading Everyone

Larry, I think you are right, our hobby keeps us young.

Thanks for the well wishes guys. As the old saying goes.....age is just a number....

Larry, you hit the nail on the head! We all need interests outside of family and work obligations. I've known too many people over the years who don't have hobbies or things they enjoy to do, and who just fret over aging, etc.

Well, that ain't me that's for sure. So a little more work on the lighting today and then I'm playing golf this afternoon.

So many trains, so little time....

Bob

This project has been ongoing for almost a month now. We are hopeful to get it placed back on the layout this weekend. It is a top of a scenery divider. After preparing the base, poly fiber was used as the base for the trees and rolled into a ball shape. Then 3M adhesive was sprayed on and them and different ground foams were applied. They were then glued on randomly with white glue. Batting was used as a base for the ground cover. Pieces were cut and then spray painted before again spraying them with adhesive and applying the ground foams. I transitioned the tree area to the ground foam sheets using various lichens and clump foliages. There are about 225 trees on the module.

Out of sheer orneriness, here's the near-century old Vandy with a state of the art LED headlight bulb:

Naturally, a Certain Personage decides to get into the act...

And Fortescue completes the trifecta! 

Mitch

@WesternPacific Scott, thank you for the compliment on the NYC StationSounds Diner, St. Mary of the Lake, a recent purchase. I love StationSounds diners and this one will be added to my NYC passenger train pulled by a fully renovated K-Line Hudson that’s been through the Harmon Shops at Harmonyards. With the Pittman motor upgrade with the stainless steel drive shaft, it’s a stump puller. It will be a 10 car passenger train all heavyweight cars. Pictures to be posted soon.

Today, I’m planning on wiring two more accessories that have been on the layout for years. I love Lionel accessories and hopefully they blend in with the scenic effects. I have several more that will be wired soon. Thank you for the likes on my post, I simply love working on the railroad, (layout). Happy Railroading Everyone

Well, today I began wiring up the Hobo Tower, with the campfire and harmonica player, as pictured earlier. So, knowing there could possibly be issues, I did a test run on my work table. Surprise, it worked. Happy Railroading Everyone

Disaster strikes Paradise, what did I do on my layout yesterday, REPAIR!

This last Wednesday I was switching out locomotives and consists. I removed the Santa Fe Chief and F3 set from the layout and replaced it with WP 485 GS-64. I placed the WP GS on the outer siding getting it ready to move 3 freight cars so 485 could come back and get the Zephyr passenger cars behind parked behind the freight cars. I started up 485, backed it up and lashed up the 3 freight cars, everything looked good. I selected forward on my CAB-2 and started the consist moving slowly. As you can see from the photo below the siding is right on the edge of my layout and it's a 3-foot drop. When 485 began the first turn heading from right to left in the photo below, it rolled over on its right side and fell 3 feet to the floor, freight cars and all!!! I was just to the right in the photo and could do nothing about it! It was a jaw dropping moment! I guess I was in a moment of shock as I didn't think to take a photo of the mess on the floor (landing on the carpet and not the hard wood at least saved it from more damage than the locomotive and consist had).

Damage report and repairs:

WP 485 - When it rolled over it landed on the floor on its top, but the tender landed on its side. Absolutely no damage to the locomotives diecast body anywhere!!! However, the drawbar was bent 90 degrees and the ladders were slightly tweaked. That's all the external damage there was. The tender was not damaged at all.  I decided I better have look inside the locomotive before putting it back the track to test it, plus I had to straighter out the drawbar. I used smooth needle nose pliers to straighten out the drawbar (sheet metal), and it went right back into shape with a little messing around. I removed the boiler and found that the wires coming from the drawbar infrared sensor must have broken the positive wire off at the electric motor when it twisted. Then I noticed the dog bone drive between the motor and drivers was not in the motor! I had to remove the motor anyway to resolder the power wire back on, so I'll see what's up with the dog bone then. After soldering the positive wire to the motor, I reinstalled it and realized the dog bone was too short?! Wow, the motor mount had bent in the impact! I readjusted the mount, and the dog bone fit fine, back to normal. I buttoned up the locomotive, put it back on the track, started it up and off it went like nothing had happened. Whew!

WP Box car - Broke the front truck and all the springs went flying, I could only find one. These are the flimsy sheet metal trucks, so I ordered the Lionel metal spung trucks and I'll replace both of the trucks. Also, the load inside the box car came unglued. I'll have to remove the top to replace the trucks anyway, so I'll glue it back in place. The metal sprung trucks are supposed to arrive today. As soon as I get the trucks it will be back on the track.

WP Black Gondola with auto frames - It's plastic and light, so only one of the foot ladders came off. I just glued it back on and tested the gondola on the track and it rolls and looks like nothing ever happened.

The diecast UP flat car with bulkheads and pipe load - Landed bulkhead first and bent the flat car just slightly. I removed the bulkhead (2 screws) and was able to straighten out the flat car without damaging it further. I used a vise with plastic jaws to hold the flat car and then used a little hand and arm force. It's back on the track and rolls just fine and tracks straight.

Here's a photo of the 485 after the repairs and back on the track, engineer and fireman happy they're alive. :-0

I was lucky! I still have no idea of what derailed 485, there was nothing on the track. The only thing it could have been is operator error! When I put 485 on the track, the front truck may not have been on the track completely! I've done it before, but never has it caused the locomotive to roll over on its side! Usually, it just shorts the track out. Lesson: Use my LED strap on forehead light to make sure ALL the wheels are engaged on the track!!!

You got pretty lucky Scott.

So when is the guard rail going up? 🤣🤣

Oh my

your expression jaw dropping is right.

I enjoy my layout with the low lights in the train room. Therefore I have always practiced shining the trucks with my small flashlights.

When I upgraded my light source with LED. It’s wonderful.  I recommend everyone to check and re-check their cars and engines trucks are setting correctly on the rails. Use anLED flash light when available.

You have a great engine there in the 485 photos Scott.

a great weekend to you.

Seth

@RSJB18 posted:

You got pretty lucky Scott.

So when is the guard rail going up? 🤣🤣

Bob, the thought has crossed my mind more than once!!! 🤪

@Seth Thomas posted:

Oh my

your expression jaw dropping is right.

I enjoy my layout with the low lights in the train room. Therefore I have always practiced shining the trucks with my small flashlights.

When I upgraded my light source with LED. It’s wonderful.  I recommend everyone to check and re-check their cars and engines trucks are setting correctly on the rails. Use anLED flash light when available.

You have a great engine there in the 485 photos Scott.

a great weekend to you.

Seth

Seth, thx, WP 485 is a great engine and it’s my favorite! I would have been more than bummed if it’s injuries were more severe. I don’t know if I could find a replacement, WP stuff is hard to find.

you have a great weekend as well!

You can expect the FRA and NTSB to pay you a visit Scott. Better get your train orders and maintenance records organized.😄

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

You can expect the FRA and NTSB to pay you a visit Scott. Better get your train orders and maintenance records organized.😄

You got that right Jay! WP already fired me for negligence, and I’ll still have to face FRA and NTSB. I guess they’ll be grilling me about locomotive inspection processes! 😉

@RSJB18 posted:

@Alex M that's probably more than I'm willing to take on. Looks like you've been taking lessons from Pat @harmonyards. Nice work! 👍

Finally getting back to my F3's. Starting on the lighting in the dummy A unit.  I painted the marker light holes that I repaired. Thanks to Andy @Steamfan77 for recommending Durham's water putty. Not perfect but acceptable.

I'm building the lighting harnesses and will then install after they are done.

Oh and it's my Birthday today....the BIG 60! 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯. Sure don't feel like I'm 60.......👍👍👍

Bob

Happy belated birthday Bob! Nice job on the body work and the project overall.

Andy

Happy B'day!  I recently hit 75 and I have no idea how I got so old.

I’m glad it wasn’t a catastrophe, Scott!

Currently constructing a Korber roundhouse for someone. This is just the beginning.

Alex, looks like quite the project.  I wish I had used your method of clamping to set the adhesive on the building panels.  What did you use foe adhesive?  My Korber engine house is a nice addition to the layout.  I did replace the kit roof panels with a foamboard product, spray painted the panels flat black, and applied small gray granules to the roof while the paint was wet.  The finished product looks good...

@Alex M  Alex, the Korber building tend to have a lot of warpage and so can be tough to flatten out.  Its not clear in photo are you clamping the walls to a stiffener behind the walls of just clamping to glue the ends together?  THX

Paul, I use three methods for locking panels together...

SUPER GLUE

HOT GLUE

23 GAUGE AIR PIN NAILER

Twin pines Railroad, I have a rolling model workbench i use to build models. I use this bench to clamp my work to the table top. I put heavy steel flat stock on top to hold and flatten my work.

Thanks, Alex

Alex M

I used a Korber kit for my roundhouse but if my friend Steve hadn't  built it for me I wouldn't have ever got it right. They are tricky.

Nothing done the layout lately as I am on a vacation at the Nevada Northern Railway. I just got got done participating in their “Be an Engineer” program and I can say it is a dream come true. I currently do not have photos, or videos, of me driving the locomotive right now. I do however have a couple videos of the locomotive I operated in the depot.

@Alex M- Going by Farmer John's finished model, you're gonna need a bigger table (or boat ). How many bays will it be when complete?

@Trainmaster04- nice steamer. I like the hand car riders going by too.

@Steamfan77 @Papa Dave- Thanks gents.

I've been working on my F3 dummy unit today. I finished up all of the lighting and will install them in the shell next.

The cab interior is done and the relief crew has reported for duty. I used the Lionel figures for this one.

Rear coil coupler installed and power and common wires are ready to go.

I'm also working out how the tether will connect between the engines. Since there is very little room between the two, I'm going to let it slide in and out of the dummy and plug straight into the lead A. I cut a small slot in the base of the shell to make room for the harness. I will fabricate some sort of strain relief to hold it in place to prevent the wires from getting pulled out if the two engines should separate accidentally.

to be continued.......

Bob

My layout continues to rise from the dust.  I have about 90 pieces of tubular track down and powered.  It's just nice watching them go around.  I've wired 6 out of 19 switches.  If I can clear the track again I could install accessories and wire the action tracks.  So today, I ran trains on my layout.

I wonder if I have time to lash up a passenger train before my wife gets home?

Bill

A few posts back were some comments about a turntable - that didn't have the sort of "fan tracks" of a round house. This is out of my dad's notebook - he carried it as a trainmaster/roadmaster for the FRISCO circa 1965. He made the sketches over countless nights traveling -  they served as his "laptop" route map - he would finish the little drawings in ink and shade them with colored pencils. This little facility at Newburg had some necessary features connected to the turntable - sand house - the old ash pit - spots to stage the AB lash-ups - a "run-around" and so forth. all located near "Milepole 119.1". I've been there with him as he counted the poles!

Follow up to my previous post. Also, sorry if some of the videos are not the greatest. They were done by my father.

Today, was a good weather day here in Tennessee and the wife had many outdoor projects lined up, however last evening, I placed the Lionel Hobo Watertower on the layout. It’s been there for over 15 years, the holes were drilled for the wires to drop, a simple hook up for a 25 year old, it took a few more minutes for a 77 year old, but, mission accomplished. Happy Railroading Everyone (next is the Family Vacation accessory)