A unique oppurtunity, might need some forum assistance

necrails,

Where is the layout located?

Also, SCALE or TINPLATE? AC or DC? Keep us posted when you learn more. 

Layout is in scotch plains nj, a three rail layout that looks to be professionally built to high rail standards.  I'll know more Sunday.  I'm not yet sure if the home was purchased with the layout or if it was left to these folks.  The current owner wants it operating for her husband's birthday.  Those of you who are PRR fans probably have some of the books authored by the original owner.  Until I have some indication it is ok to release personal info this is all I can share.  I plan on taking pictures however, stay tuned.

I'm looking forward to seeing/learning more about this layout. It could be a candidate for a good feature article for the magazine. If so, get in touch with me directly and we can see what develops. Most importantly, I would need original, high-resolution photos that have not been published elsewhere, including online. The author/photographer would, of course, be paid for the feature when it is published.

An update on the results of my visit.  The layout is in a completely finished room about 32 feet by 28 feet if I counted the drop ceiling tiles correctly.  One walks into the layout and can operate it from a control panel that appears to have been designed for cab control (you guys remember that don't you).  Table height is about 45 inches, built up on a very robust frame consisting of a grid and 2 x 4's.  All track appears to be gargraves, ballasted with either early Ross switches or the company that produced a similar product.   All turnouts are operated by tortoise switch machines, under the table.  It took some figuring out but my trusty old ZW got both main lines operational along with the switch machines although given the size of this layout it is going to take some time to match the operation of the turnouts to the control panel display.  My old can motor lionel switcher was able to navigate the layout despite the track needing a cleaning.  Unfortunately this loco was not up to the task of pulling my trackman 2000 around the layout so cleaning will take place later this week.  I will bring over something more robust with a flywheel so we can run the layout and get it fully cleaned up.  Now for those of you who would like pictures you are going to have to wait.  I received a private email offering some very good advice about posting pictures or writing an article.  You can see Allan Millers suggestion above as well.  The owner of the layout is open to photographs and a potential article and getting published is on my bucket list so I plan on going down that route.  Plus there is a story to be told here, the builder and original owner of this home and layout, who recently passed away, clearly had a plan.  This is a well thought out well constructed layout that was left behind when the home was sold.  I hope to find some of the relatives who might tell me more about how this came to be and share that in the article as well.  For now I have invited the current owner to join the forum, he is completely new to the hobby but would like to learn.  Today I am recommending transformer options and will provide some loaner locomotives so he can start to enjoy this treasure.   The best part is I have been invited to come over and operate trains whenever I want.  This sure beats the heck out of my layout so why not.  So stay tuned, this will be an evolving story.

I look forward to hearing the rest of the story as it develops.

MELGAR

Quite a unique opportunity, will also be looking to follow up on this.

Battery powered locomotives would work well for the track cleaning chores.

GRJ is correct as usual. I have such a battery powered loco made by PIKO with special ribbed cleaning pads for my G gauge layout, and it works like a charm. Someone might have a battery powered one for O gauge layouts.

Just curious: Did the owner of this layout also leave the trains that ran on it? Also, why did you have to use your own ZW? Was there no power source left behind?

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Battery powered locomotives would work well for the track cleaning chores.

Indeed.  I'll bet those BlueRail / Tam Valley folks could help you with that.  Either a permanent or temporary fit.

I recently did an F-7 on battery and ran it next to a DCS engine.   It performs very well.

Can't wait to hear more!

Ron

This is the type of thread that usually appears on April 1st.

This time, it's the real deal. We're all waiting for the pix!

My battery powered BlueRail equipped NW-2 does a great job pulling a track cleaning car around the layout. The idea is sound.

I have a Williams battery operated NW2 that you can borrow if you like for the track cleaning  

Looking forward to hearing the "rest of the story" when the time comes!!!!

Peter

Thank you all for the likes and interest.  This presents a unique opportunity for me in that I can hopefully get an article published and I believe this is a compelling story.  As far as track cleaning, the loco I provided was a bit on the light side, something heavier will be sufficient to drag the trackman 2000 around.  We made it around the room with few hiccups.  For now I am going to remain silent in order to collect some more information and catalog this layout in photographs.  Sorry but if you want to see them you will have to wait for the publication.  I am going to go some through due diligence to see if this layout hasn't been presented elsewhere.  Right now the goal is to number all of the turnouts and provide corresponding numbers on the control panel so the new owner has some idea what is going on.  Stay tuned, I think you will enjoy this discovery as much as I have.

Good luck with the effort - sounds like an interesting journey.

On your next visit take along a container of Wahl oil.  About $4 most places.  Available at barber / beauty supply houses.  Put a very small drop on each of the three rails, move 20 feet or so down the track and repeat!  Now run your track cleaning car around the layout, about three trips ought to do it!  Have fun.  Russ  

This post just goes to show that there are/were many, many model railroaders that are/were lone wolf’s, preferring to spend their entire life flying under the radar, keeping their activities low key. There are probably hundreds if not thousands of large, fully built layouts that no one outside of the owners and their immediate family know exist, not even the neighbors.

@Guitarmike posted:

This post just goes to show that there are/were many, many model railroaders that are/were lone wolf’s, preferring to spend their entire life flying under the radar, keeping their activities low key...

That perfectly describes me, when I modeled in HO scale 40+ years ago. Only one of my friends ever saw the layout. Tore it down a long time ago. I have no pictures of it, either.

Rich - same here.

...and then I met the OGR magazine staff - and the rest is history! 

Jim

I just came back from Scotch Plains visiting family. I'll be going back up in a month or 2 to put a new kitchen for my sister. I could be available if you felt you needed a hand.

So are the owners not wanting you to post information and pictures or is this your own choice?

A good question. The poster started this thread asking for our assistance, and then it devolved into secrecy, based on the premise that someone would possibly jeopardize his submitting an article about it. A little puzzling to say the least.

Probably wise to not divulge too much information maybe out of respect for the family/owner of the layout or by their request. 

Nothing I wouldn't give for a 32 by 28 finished room.

Let's put this to rest shall we?  The original post stated quite clearly I might need help.  That has not been the case.  Divulging additional information including pictures would jeopardize the possibility of producing an article.  I am not interested in debating that point, I intend to follow the direction and advice offered.  Suffice to say the layout is now operational, a rough draft of the article is in the works, photos will be staged and edited.  All of this will be submitted to the nice folks at OGR for consideration and when the smoke clears there should be something to share.  Then and only then will I add to the thread.  As I have said to the current layout owner, patience grasshopper, all will be clear in time.

These are just questions. You came asking others for help. In turn others have asked you questions. I simply wanted to know if the secrecy was your own or the owners choice.  I would venture to guess that if they posted to a public group on FB that's not the case. Which begs the question of what your motivation is. FYI the forum participation is a give and take relationship.  Personally I find your whole method to this off putting.

@TexasSP posted:

...Which begs the question of what your motivation is...

A prior post in this thread stated: "The author/photographer would, of course, be paid for the feature when it is published."

That tells me all I need to know about motivation.

@Training Wheels posted:

A prior post in this thread stated: "The author/photographer would, of course, be paid for the feature when it is published."

That tells me all I need to know about motivation.

I doubt that any of us would put in the time and effort solely for what a train magazine will pay for an article.  IMO, the sense of satisfaction for providing entertainment for our fellow train buffs, along with the gratification of seeing one's byline published, would provide greater motivation.

The OP was advised by OGR management that it would be best to have unpublished pictures and an original story in order to provide content for the magazine, so that's what it sounds like he's doing.  Given a choice between an ephemeral thread with a few pictures vs. a well-written and professionally photographed story in the magazine, I'll take the magazine any day of the week.  

"The OP was advised by OGR management that it would be best to have unpublished pictures and an original story in order to provide content for the magazine, so that's what it sounds like he's doing. "  

I have no problem with that, but don't tease everyone on the Forum with phrases such as "prolific and accomplished RR book author that many of you might have read" and "museum quality layout professionally built" and "compelling story" and  then "received a private e-mail about publication" and "jeopardize producing an article". 

Just do it and let us know when the article will be published.

@Richie C. posted:

"The OP was advised by OGR management that it would be best to have unpublished pictures and an original story in order to provide content for the magazine, so that's what it sounds like he's doing. "  

I have no problem with that, but don't tease everyone on the Forum with phrases such as "prolific and accomplished RR book author that many of you might have read" and "museum quality layout professionally built" and "compelling story" and  then "received a private e-mail about publication" and "jeopardize producing an article". 

Just do it and let us know when the article will be published.

Most of what you have there was in the first post, where the OP was waiting to get more information and permission from the families.  As the topic progressed, other opportunities were presented to the OP so things changed.

I agree to what TexasSP has stated.

Additionally, while your thinking of how to ask for help may have been "in flux" the whole deal, and layout pics, doesnt interest me anymore. You sure could have put up a few pictures. That large of a layout could supply PLENTY different photo angles...literally. Kinda stinks...kinda stinks...

SORRY, but I have no further interest in this self-centered tease project. Disappointing!

I hope this turns out to be a win-win for everyone.

If the OP can help the layout owners out they will have a functional layout without paying hundreds or thousands to an electrician   who probably would be lost trying to fix a layout.  

The OP makes new friends and gets to run trains on a museum quality layout now and then.

The rest of us get to see pics in an article and find out who designed and built it.

I think I forgot a win.

This will take a while but here's hoping it all turns out well in the end.  Looking forward to the article.