Front End Friday

I got this MTH "Rugged Rails" 027 NYC heavyweight set to pull behind my MPC Joshua Lionel Cohen Hudson. I thought it a fitting passenger set to feature with this loco as MPC only produced freight cars to go with it:

Happy FeF, all!

@Bill Swatos posted:

I got this MTH "Rugged Rails" 027 NYC heavyweight set to pull behind my MPC Joshua Lionel Cohen Hudson. I thought it a fitting passenger set to feature with this loco as MPC only produced freight cars to go with it:

Happy FeF, all!

Nice looking set, like that blue comet also Bill wtg

I'm at last caught up to my latest Christmas Layout.  2021

walt

Happy FEF to our Fine Forum Friends!

John

Happy FEF!

Bob

Have a safe FEF all! Couple PW Lionel Berks

@Bill Swatos posted:

I got this MTH "Rugged Rails" 027 NYC heavyweight set to pull behind my MPC Joshua Lionel Cohen Hudson. I thought it a fitting passenger set to feature with this loco as MPC only produced freight cars to go with it:

Happy FeF, all!

Love the new steamer. Looks right at home pulling those coaches.

Not sure if you are aware of the issues with those mighty sounds of steam tenders. The boards were mounted on a piece of foam that deteriorates over time. There are many posts about the foam failing causing the board to get fried on the tender frame.

If that's what yours has, I would check it before running it again. It's an easy repair with some fresh double stick tape to hold the board in place.

Bob

Here's my ends of the front kind for this fine Friday!   Front ends on 3 levels.  

The Santa Fe PA approaches the South Main Street crossing, as the Gulf service van waits patiently

@RSJB18 posted:

Love the new steamer. Looks right at home pulling those coaches.

Not sure if you are aware of the issues with those mighty sounds of steam tenders. The boards were mounted on a piece of foam that deteriorates over time. There are many posts about the foam failing causing the board to get fried on the tender frame.

If that's what yours has, I would check it before running it again. It's an easy repair with some fresh double stick tape to hold the board in place.

Bob

Thanks for the "heads-up" Bob; it's folks like you looking out for us that make this forum great! I first discovered this problem with the degraded PU foam circuit board pad in the tender of my MPC Blue Comet several years ago. I fixed the problem using an adhesive-backed pressed-felt pad that the circuit board rests on in the tender that holds it in place but also allows it to be lifted up for maintenance in case the wires for the connectors to the locomotive fray, etc. Check it out in the tender for the JLC Hudson:

i

Again, thanks for looking out for us and the nice comments on my "fantasy" JLC Hudson NYC passenger train!

@Bill Swatos posted:

Thanks for the "heads-up" Bob; it's folks like you looking out for us that make this forum great! I first discovered this problem with the degraded PU foam circuit board pad in the tender of my MPC Blue Comet several years ago. I fixed the problem using an adhesive-backed pressed-felt pad that the circuit board rests on in the tender that holds it in place but also allows it to be lifted up for maintenance in case the wires for the connectors to the locomotive fray, etc.

Interesting -- the Marx "Sound O' Power" tenders have exactly the same problem, with degraded foam padding putting the electronics in jeopardy of shorting out. The solution is also the same -- removing the original foam, and replacing it with something hopefully more durable. Of course, lasting a half century or so is not a bad track record, I guess, but checking and replacing the foam padding is a must for any rolling stock with electronics that used that foam to hold it in place!

@Bill Swatos posted:

Thanks for the "heads-up" Bob; it's folks like you looking out for us that make this forum great! I first discovered this problem with the degraded PU foam circuit board pad in the tender of my MPC Blue Comet several years ago. I fixed the problem using an adhesive-backed pressed-felt pad that the circuit board rests on in the tender that holds it in place but also allows it to be lifted up for maintenance in case the wires for the connectors to the locomotive fray, etc. Check it out in the tender for the JLC Hudson:

i

Again, thanks for looking out for us and the nice comments on my "fantasy" JLC Hudson NYC passenger train!

My pleasure Bill. Not knowing one's experience with these things it's always best to ask the question.

It probably will help someone else though.

Bob

@trumpettrain posted:

Here's my ends of the front kind for this fine Friday!   Front ends on 3 levels.  

This reminds me of the three bridges set from Thomas. Great pic as always, sir!

Happy Front End Friday night.

Here's the K-Line Midnight Chief rolling out of the hills.

HAPPY FRONT END FRIDAY EVERYBODY!!! My first official!

I’m actually posting a side image as well just to show the scene. It is the center most of the left arm of the layout and the first I completed. The locomotive on the right is the Lionel 3005 NYC Mohawk which has been ‘re-detailed’ and weathered. I’ll do a post of it in the future on my 3 rail scale thread. On the left is the 1950 773 Hudson. It actually belongs to my dad who’s been nice enough to let me bring it in for the boys to overhaul and is the only postwar piece in the collection at the moment. Hope it smells okay when he gets it back!🦨

  I’m doing a nightly step by step on a farm scene over at the Scenery & Structures part of the forum. ‘Phase 3 Layout Build’. Come check it out if ya get a chance. Love to know what ya think!

Thanks for l👀kin!!!

@ceckenrodt74 posted:

HAPPY FRONT END FRIDAY EVERYBODY!!! My first official!

I’m actually posting a side image as well just to show the scene. It is the center most of the left arm of the layout and the first I completed. The locomotive on the right is the Lionel 3005 NYC Mohawk which has been ‘re-detailed’ and weathered. I’ll do a post of it in the future on my 3 rail scale thread. On the left is the 1950 773 Hudson. It actually belongs to my dad who’s been nice enough to let me bring it in for the boys to overhaul and is the only postwar piece in the collection at the moment. Hope it smells okay when he gets it back!🦨

  I’m doing a nightly step by step on a farm scene over at the Scenery & Structures part of the forum. ‘Phase 3 Layout Build’. Come check it out if ya get a chance. Love to know what ya think!

Thanks for l👀kin!!!

Well done. That is one of the most realistic scenes of a railroad yard I've looked at.  Junk, over grown and nasty buildings. Nice!

I missed yesterday do to honey do projects, but still want to stay involved as this thread is a really fun to review thread, lots of beautiful pictures of amazing layouts. Happy Railroading Everyone

Wow leapinlarry! Amazing layout!!! Got my eyes leapin outta my head! I see some good ideas in there already. My other passion is sign painting and hand lettering so I’m really into your signage.
The Lionel one in the rock face knocks me off my feet!

What’s your rock made of?   Rock?

Nice job my man!!!

Happy FEF fellow forum fanciers!

My new annex is in need of detail but I created some low light images of it just for fun.

A Chesapeake and Ohio GP30 with a two car set out near the flats.  These structures are reminiscent of the commercial district of the once vibrant and somewhat saucy Thurmond WV.  Thurmond had a number of businesses and facilities for the C and O, now a ghost town and mostly owned by the National Park Service for the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

CSX still uses the main line, running several trains a day, just a few yards from the old commercial district.

Also, here is a video of my C and O legacy 2-8-0.  I have been having problems with videos lately....hope it works.

John

@Fendermain posted:

Happy FEF fellow forum fanciers!

My new annex is in need of detail but I created some low light images of it just for fun.

A Chesapeake and Ohio GP30 with a two car set out near the flats.  These structures are reminiscent of the commercial district of the once vibrant and somewhat saucy Thurmond WV.  Thurmond had a number of businesses and facilities for the C and O, now a ghost town and mostly owned by the National Park Service for the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Thurmond is known for the longest game of poker ever played, 14 years.

CSX still uses the main line, running several trains a day, just a few yards from the old commercial district.

Also, here is a video of my C and O legacy 2-8-0.  I have been having problems with videos lately....hope it works.

John

Video worked on Chrome, not Firefox.

The new yard looks good John.

Happy FEF!

New power on the RSJ&B.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Video worked on Chrome, not Firefox.

The new yard looks good John.

Thanks Bob.

Happy FeF!  Here's the front end of our MTA maintenance engine -

Lionel Southern Crescent circa 1977 headed your way!

Happy FEF !!!  
Frisco 1522 will be 100 years old in 2026. Wouldn’t it be a Hoot to see it back again under steam for its anniversary.  If you google it you can find videos from when it was last in use.
I’m just a fan of the 1522. If you’d like to see it return and could support the effort, let the Museum of Transportation in St Louis know. It was put up in pretty good shape.
So here’s an FEF appropriate picture.

Cheers !!! 🙂

A Weaver, brass, PRR, 2-8-0 on the track of weathering artist Harry Heike before it comes home to me for assignment to the Great Northeastern Railway.

An MTH Proto-Sound 2 PRR K-4s, on our former store layout at Richardson Farms in Eastern Baltimore County.

Here's my ends of the front kind for this fine Friday!   The N&W J class 611 front ends both in the real and model forms.  ( The photo of the actual real life 611 was taken by me in Manassas Va in 2015 )

Wow everyone!  What great photo's and video's...makes me love Friday's even more .  @Fendermain - Yard looking good John, but I am curious where did you get the big standing clock? @RSJB18- neat switcher, who made that?  @Strap Hanger - love the nose of the engine between the buildings, great scenery by the way. @Donnie Kennedy - love the 1977 Crescent, I bought that set (really engine + cars) in 1977 myself and still really love it. @TrainBub , @Randy Harrison. @trumpettrain, Great 1:1 pictures of some famous engines both in model form and real life.  Patrick, the 611 remains one of my all time favorites.

Well no one has ventured into Marx land this morning so I thought I would take the plunge.  Here is the Marx #52 Union Pacific E7 A&B and the Marx #3900 UP caboose.  These items are quite far separated in manufacturing, the E7 from 1960 and the caboose from 1974-75 but they still look good together.  Anyway here is my "front end" for today:

Here is the Front End Friday point of view.  Handsome and I am told by diesel experts reasonably close in outline to the prototype of  the E7 except of course the "giant" screw head under the headlight.  Someday I will figure out what to do with that but unfortunately it holds everything in the shell so I just cant remove it and fill the hole.

A better view of the winged shield logo and the side vents.

Here is the A & B unit coupled up to a matching caboose.  Yes Marx also made a "dummy" A besides the unpowered B and it remains on my "want" list but so far no luck.  This outfit was however sold by Marx as an AB pair.

A little better look at the #3900 UP matching caboose as the train departs.  OBTW in case you are curious, at 63 years old, she (like most Marx) still runs great and pulls a modest train (wheel slip not power appears to be the limiting factor on payload).

Best wishes everyone.  Only 15 days till Christmas!

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

Wow everyone!  What great photo's and video's...makes me love Friday's even more .  @Fendermain - Yard looking good John, but I am curious where did you get the big standing clock? @RSJB18- neat switcher, who made that?  @Strap Hanger - love the nose of the engine between the buildings, great scenery by the way. @Donnie Kennedy - love the 1977 Crescent, I bought that set (really engine + cars) in 1977 myself and still really love it. @TrainBub , @Randy Harrison. @trumpettrain, Great 1:1 pictures of some famous engines both in model form and real life.  Patrick, the 611 remains one of my all time favorites.

It's a MTH w/PS2.

Thanks

Happy FEF.

Pennsy K4 Basking in the sun, have a good Friday all

@Don McErlean posted:

Wow everyone!  What great photo's and video's...makes me love Friday's even more .  @Fendermain - Yard looking good John, but I am curious where did you get the big standing clock?

Thank you Don for the compliment and another glimpse of your wonderful collection.  The die-cast street clock was made by MTH that I purchased at train shop.  They were made in various colors and are available on the secondary market now, train shows or eBay if care to venture there, for less than $40.

Best wishes,

John

@BAR GP7 #63 posted:

Happy FEF.

I like this picture. Well done!

Ron H

@Ron H posted:

I like this picture. Well done!

Ron H

Ron,

Thank you. 🤝

Johan

@Sitka wonderful photos with all the trees, It looks very inviting!

@BAR GP7 #63 Johan, outstanding picture, it is so cool! Looks like you're looking through walking areas around a town store or something!

Great photos everyone! I have no FEF as all my engines are packed up while I am in the process of the layout REDO!

@RSJB18-Thanks for the info on your switcher.  That looks like it would work well on my tight radius layout so I will keep a lookout for one. @BAR GP7 #63-Great picture, framed by the opening, neat! @Sitka - like your "sunny" backlit pictures, the K4 is handsome in the sun and you can see the keystone on the boiler front.  I have to say that I also noticed a Marx news stand on your passenger platform.  I love to see these old accessories find new uses.  @Fendermain- thank you for your comment on my collection and for the information on the clock.  I would not have guessed MTH but now I will surely keep an eye out for one being offered.

Best wishes for everyone to enjoy the weekend.  Happy Holiday season

Don

@Sitka posted:

Pennsy K4 Basking in the sun, have a good Friday all

Did I see your layout recently on a certain blog run by a guy named Al in the UK?

@Don McErlean posted:

@RSJB18-Thanks for the info on your switcher.  That looks like it would work well on my tight radius layout so I will keep a lookout for one. @BAR GP7 #63-Great picture, framed by the opening, neat! @Sitka - like your "sunny" backlit pictures, the K4 is handsome in the sun and you can see the keystone on the boiler front.  I have to say that I also noticed a Marx news stand on your passenger platform.  I love to see these old accessories find new uses.  @Fendermain- thank you for your comment on my collection and for the information on the clock.  I would not have guessed MTH but now I will surely keep an eye out for one being offered.

Best wishes for everyone to enjoy the weekend.  Happy Holiday season

Don

Thanks Don. Yea- I'm all 027 so you can't get much tighter. It does hiccup over a few of my switches but I'm used to it at this point.

I've been wanting a SW-1 for a while. They are great models.

Bob

@mike g. posted:

@Sitka wonderful photos with all the trees, It looks very inviting!

@BAR GP7 #63 Johan, outstanding picture, it is so cool! Looks like you're looking through walking areas around a town store or something!

Great photos everyone! I have no FEF as all my engines are packed up while I am in the process of the layout REDO!

Thanks  mike g.

@RSJB18 posted:

Did I see your layout recently on a certain blog run by a guy named Al in the UK?

Yes sir, sent Al a few shots over the years has a nice site good man.  Mark