Great Northern railway

A good day: train show and layout visit.

8 hours of trains was nice!

Train show at Springfield, Ohio county fairgrounds.

Only 60 miles away.

Two buildings plus a wide building connecting the two buildings.

Only a 'one day' show but, always, lots of 'stuff'.

First building.

2 rail S gauge.

Vintage metal cars.

Weird: a picture of me!

G gauge.

N gauge always has nice 'train sets'.

Lionel test panel are rare.

I've purchased many of these TM freight cars in plastic boxes back in the 70's.

Center section between the two buildings.

A lot of work to set up this HO layout for one day.

N gauge.

Live steam for 5 grand.

Old lanterns.

2nd building.

Railroad silverware.

HO.

Z gauge.

Topography maps.

Local Wendy's after the train show.

Visited this on the way home.

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfwCNEJRzq4

Layout visit to Alan's PRR before he 'tears it down' to moves 'out by me'.

custom painting he had done of his father's house where the PRR 'ran' behind the farm with him on the tractor and his dad coming home in his '55 Ford.

Picked up a few vintage metal freight cars.

Original Athearn boxes.

The flat with trailer is by Ulrich and weighs about a pound.

Plastic but nicely detailed plus they were cheap!

Sam, it seems to me that this southwestern Ohio area is The Place To Be for train shows.  Thank you for posting all the photographs!

South WEST Ohio is a high 'model railroad' area.

Besides an excellent NMRA MCR DIV 7 monthly meetings with presentations plus 2 layout visits,

Cincinnati, Dayton and Springfield has a Spring and Fall show plus there are other shows within about 100 miles, ie: Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio.

There are around 65 'registered' layouts in Div 7.

Layout listing:

https://cincy-div7.org/clubs-layouts.html

I do not know why I typed Southeast???    I knew you are in the Cincinnati area.

Thank you for the information and the link!

Youtube demo on updating a BLI steam locomotive with a new decoder.

Since I've purchase several BLI engines, knowing the 'wire orientation' is helpful (plus future diagnostics):

The 'wire orientation' is about 20 minutes into the video.

This is for an engine without smoke so there maybe some deviations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP8GkiTOk2E

PM a few engines.

New Haven I-5 4-6-4 imported by BLI as a brass hybrid in 2007.

Added some nomenclature and trim paint:

BEFORE:

NH nomenclature added to the front skirting.

All wheels, except the drivers, needed to be 'white walled'.

Plus 'paint trim' on the trailing truck.

N&W Jawn Henry imported by Alco Models in 1982.

I 'smoked' the decoder so I needed a new one trying to fix a wire going to the two motors.

Tested 'all good', almost!

New connector made.

The 0402  LED's were shorting against the brass when I put the superstructure onto the frame so some canopy glue used to insulate them.

All better.

While traveling to help Joe and his fellow railroaders move their remaining part of their layout to a new location using my truck, some pictures of nice bridges and viaduct in Hamilton.

Their new location is a huge basement in an abandoned department store building's basement.  The store takes up a city block.  Tried to take pictures but too dark.

Nice spring trees blooming on the trip home.

Very nice 4-4-0 video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StQNSoen1ms

Another nice video of the 1309:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOfw8-0exKk

My version of the 1309:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSG7BBXcilE

NMRA MCR DIV 7 meeting and layout pictures.

Meeting.

Zoom crew.

Awards.

Contest table.

===============

Donald Doctor's B&O and PRR layout.

Huge steel mills and easy to 'walk around' layout with no part of the layout against the walls.

====================

Gerry Alber's Virginian railroad.

Excellent layout with multiple 'walk ins'.

Those are certainly terrific layouts Donald and Gerry have!!  Great scenes on both!

PM two engines: new smoke unit in one and decoder in another.

C&O L-1 4-6-4 streamlined imported by BLI in 2021.

The smoke unit stopped working so I ordered new new parts from BLI (only 31  bucks including shipping).

They informed me they had all the parts except the motor but, fortunately, I knew that was good since I could hear it 'running' when I turned off the 'sound'.

There are two screws securing the weight/smoke unit to the boiler but I couldn't remove it so I used a small hammer and screwdriver to hit the front weight to force it from the boiler.

There were 'scrapes' along each side so I used a utility knife to remove some of the lead weight.

I didn't know if one or both of the smoke unit parts were defective so I just replaced both of them instead of doing any diagnostics.   Everything has connectors so the 'swap out' was quick.

Motor housing attached to new circuit board.

All wires 'connected'.

Happiness is....

===============

New decoder in a Bachmann PRR GG1.

I use these engines for testing the mainline 'quickly' before any railroaders 'show up' and for testing purposes.

Several moons ago (if not longer), I had some kind of short on the mainline and it 'smoked' both of my 'test engines'.

Better these than my 'good stuff'!

Ordered two new decoders from Bachmann. Bummer; they cost about 70 bucks and I only paid about 90 bucks for the engines!

I replaced each wire, 'one at a time'.

Did some 'internal' oiling while it was 'apart'.

Reloaded the existing data on Decoderpro.

Weird: just noticed that the 'decoder model' column does not say 'PRR GG1' but they work OK!

Cast metal chassis.

Interesting: 'pickups' are on the leading/trailing trucks.

All better.

========================

For you local Cincinnatians I got this from a 'seller' at one of this year's train shows.

Ross meeting.

One of the local clubs lost their 'space' so they held their first meeting at my house.

Joe set up his PC and monitor for his presentation for their new location.

One of the members brought her nephew.

There is one happy boy!! 

New Delivery;

NYC Empire State streamlined 4-6-4 Hudson.

Just purchased this MTH cast metal engine imported in 2012. Appears to be only 'test run' by previous owner. Very nice model. Besides smoke, has 6 LED 'running board' lights, well detailed cab with crew, cab curtains and nicely recessed back tender.  Besides myself, I've never seen an importer add 'running board' lights to their steam engines.  They did this on the NYC Dreyfuss Hudson but not on the other MTH engines that I have.   One other exception is the Division UP big boy which was imported for about $3,500!

Videos:

Departing Seattle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R9HBWQ2BBE

Marias Pass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHiaXSuYeLE

Departing Hillyard:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBL2yT2AV0Q

Made in 2012.

An old engine but I've bought MTH models that old in the past and 'no problems'.

I've had their 3-rail engines and I figured they'd carry their 'high quality' over to the HO segment and they do.

Spare parts.  Extra driver, traction tires, smoke, hex pin screwdriver and short 'deck plate'

Engine and tender are very heavy.  The tender weighs about as much as the engine.  On the MTH NYC Dreyfuss I disassembled the tender, thinking there was a lead weight in there, but the cast tender is the 'weight'!

Oiled all moving parts.

Nice cab detail, lighted, with crew and 'cab curtains'.

It comes with the large 'deck plate' attached.

On the Dreyfuss, I could attach the short 'deck plate' but this engine had trouble getting out of the passenger yard where I have commercial turnouts that aren't #10's (The only place that I used commercial turnouts and track).

Front of tender.

'Hot' and 'ground' are 'picked up' on the tender wheels.

Nice touch that only MTH does; no wires between engine and tender.

Just two metal sleeves on each side of the tender draw bar stud.

Couldn't upload and data on the programming track.

Got errors when trying to 'do so'.

Went back and looked at my post on the MTH NYC Dreyfuss.

Had to load via the throttle plus only a 2 digit address for that 2012 MTH decoder.

Since just a 2 digit decoder I used the first 2 digits of the engine's number.

Nicely painted.

LED's over each driver under the 'running boards'.

'Streamlining' extends past the end of the tender.

I didn't check but the water hatch was removable on the NYC Dreyfuss tender to access volume/smoke.

Could only pull 5 passenger cars.

Wilmar.

Whitefish.

Havre.

The Niagara pulls the usual 14 car passenger train. Imported by Nickle Plate models in 1977.

Behind it is the MTH Dreyfuss (2009)

Two engines that, yet, have to be painted, etc.

NYC Hudson by Sunset models (1990) and Mohawk 4-8-2 (A model, 1977) by Key models.

A Key models Mohawk (B model) imported in1977.

NYC 2-8-2 H-10B imported by PFM in 1981.

The last NYC engine is another Niagara by Tenshodo in 1985.  Engine has equalized drivers as on the prototype.

Not sure if I mentioned this, previously, but the new BLI UP 4-12-2 has 'see through 'walk boards.

A freight house by FSM.

A layout that I wish was closer to 'home'!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYPj1tguzq0

Visited a local railroader's layout.

A 'dog bone' double track layout with staging area.

Sam, his layout is really nice!

Ross club weekly meeting.

A club is in transition from one building to another so they come to the GNRW to 'operate/have a meeting' every Tuesday evening until their new layout can be constructed.

Joe's new F-7 Black Widows by Walthers (all powered).

They look right at home.  They may just decide to make your layout their club layout. 

That is certainly nice of you to let them meet at your house while they are making plans for a new club layout.

GNRW operating session pictures.

Usual pizza, first.

PRR J-1 2-10-4 imported by Westside models in 1977.

John with B&O EM-1 2-8-8-4 imported by Westside in 1979.

Bob running a NYC Niagara 4-8-4 passenger train imported by Nickle plate products in 1977.

PRR J-1 departing Seattle.

B&O EM-1 at Chumstick canyon trestle.

EM-1 at Wilmar.

Joe dispatching.

Niagara at Chumstick canyon trestle.

PRR J-1 at Hillyard.

RF&P 4-8-4  imported by Fujiyama in 1976 at Hillyard.

PRR J-1 at Wilmar.

EM-1 and J-1 meet at Waverly.

NYC Niagara arriving at passenger yard.

RF&P at Wilmar.

NYC H-10B 2-8-2 imported by PFM in 1981 departing Seattle.

Skykomish.

NYC H-10B at Chumstick canyon trestle.

RF&P at Skykomish.

DM&IR 2-8-8-4 imported by MTH in 2021 at Seattle's roundhouse.

DM&IR M-3 at Wilmar.

Orange creamsicle time!

Some custom brass 'number plates' made by a railroader.

Started PM'ing my RC planes for the summer.  Did some battery 'charging'.

A Jug, a Hog, and a SBD that's a nice little air wing you have there.

I did think your corsair would be a Marine version though.

Got 2 corsairs and 2 P-47's.

I picked up the one Corsair last Fall and need to sand/re paint it.

Also, have a F6F Hellcat, Spitfire, FM-190 and a Nieuport 28.

Back in my 'younger' days:

=============

PM after the OPS session.

2 engines didn't pull many cars.

NYC 2-8-2 H-10B got some 'canopy' glue on the drivers.

As well as the NYC Niagara.

Done with those.

Both B&O EM-1's (2-8-8-4) had a few issues.

Lead truck on one EM-1 was not 'rolling' well.  Added some weight but that still didn't help so I reversed it and much better.

The brass is 'bent' to secure the axle but the opposite side is smooth brass so the axle rolls better when 'riding' against that side of the brass support.

The other EM-1 drivers 'locked up' due to one of the crank pins working loose and causing the crank to bind.

All better.

This one had the loose crank pin.

Lead truck on this one now 'rolls' nicely.

========

Another strange occurrence on some electronics.  The 'auto reverser' circuit board went into a 'short' mode in the middle of the OPS session.  Replaced it with a new one, last night, and all was 'good'.

Today, tested the 'shorted' one and it's functioning properly with no short.  Not sure 'what happened' but, next time, will just disconnect and re-connect the input wires to see if that 'works'.  First time that I've had the 'reverser' give me 'problems'.

Remote 'power tester' says "all's good".

Ross club weekly Tuesday night meeting and 'train running' where 3 members brought their own 'motive power'; a C&O 2-8-2 and a couple of contemporary diesels.

Another fine time!

A very nice layout.

Amazing amount of track and scenery for a private layout.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC6QKz8_8yQ

That is amazing!  It has everything!

Abandoned trestles and tunnels.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzYrr_kc2r0

Ross club meeting and operating GNRW pictures.

video:

UP 2-tone grey challenger 4-6-6-4 freight drag at Tye:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94HzK3z7tFA

Meeting.

operating.

The kid seems bored during the meeting portion, but looks to be enjoying himself running trains. Go figure.

He wasn't too happy during the meeting though he did really enjoy running the UP challenger with smoke!

=========================

B&O memories.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp3CtLzDrao

Sounds like a normal kid!

@samparfitt do you stage any rolling stock/locomotives for operating sessions? Or do you leave them where they lie and operate from there?

Only changes I do are to the passenger cars to get them re-oriented 'front to rear'.

I don't do 'cards', etc.: I have about 1000 cars and I'm not about to make a card for each car.  The two yards hold about 350-400 cars each so imagine trying to find a car in the yard! Plus I'm a 'rail fan'.  I like to, randomly, pick an engine and run it with a string of cars.  I allow those to operate the layout to do the same.  Someone wants to run an engine, 'hook' it to a string of cars and run it on the mainline.  With 175 engines, I think operators enjoy just picking out an engine and 'running' a train. They get to run an engine that they, probably, have never run or seen on a layout. I don't want to dictate that an engineer has to run this/that train.  The mainline is made to 'run trains' being  400' long: if one goes to the upper loop enter-change and back the run is 950'.  That's over 3 football fields.  I enjoy watching several 'engineers' on the mainline, both going East and West, and the dispatcher routing/holding trains on passing sidings.  I do have 4 towns where one could do some 'switching' plus one can do a lot of switching on the logging railroad.  I think most of the engineers enjoy the 'laissez faire' atmosphere.

Personally, I have no interest in 'thinking' when I operate my railroad; I just want to enjoy it with trains running through the scenery.  Maintaining a large layout, installing decoders, lights, etc. is a lot of work so I just want to 'run trains' after 'working' on layout 'stuff'.

==================

PM the layout.

PRR centipedes imported by BLI in 2019.

Last Tuesday the 2 engines were shorting when pulling a 14 passenger car train.

Disconnecting the engines and they ran fine.  The same was with the 14 passenger cars; moving them, by hand' along the train and no shorts.

I thought I'd try the engines with a freight train and they departed the yard OK but the engines started to short when on the 'grade' pulling 23 freight cars.

These engine use to work fine pulling the passenger cars.

I removed the shell and checked the 'guts' and all looks good plus no 'burned' decoder.

I'll have to email BLI and see if they think I need new decoders.

I know it's not the CB or 'command station' since I run 4 SF PA's, all powered, by Walthers and no shorts.

The engine and freight cars ran fine on the 'level' track:

video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VivS0MoZ34

The PRR passenger cars; of the 14, 8 are brass plus lighted so I thought, initially, too much 'juice' for the CB's.

Initially, I thought the 2 engines were 'pulling' over 1.5 amps but, after turning off power to the layout, the amp draw was at 1 amp so total for the centipedes was not as high as I, initially, thought.

I have ON/OFF switches to the right of each CB so I can turn off power to each district.

The centipede with the 'shell' removed.

Only one motor so there shouldn't be an 'overload'.

Today I ran these 4 'all powered' PA's and no 'overload' problems so the centipedes have some internal problems.

==========================

I, also, ran my 'heavy weight' GN R-2 2-8-8-2 to test if the CB's were being 'over loaded' but she ran fine.

Imported by Tenshodo in 1972.

video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR3C07IMB5M

Wilmar.

Tye.

Skykomish.

=======================

SF PA A-B-B-A.

The lead unit, in the past, was 'not running' for a second or 2 and then 'run' again.

I took the shell off and added some oil and ran it as well as with the other 3 units and all seems OK now!

4 'indentations' to remove the shell.

Testing.

I had to 'reverse' the SP passenger cars so I used them in the test.

An AC-5 imported by KEY in 1984 is 'normal' power for the SP passenger cars.

==================================

Had two 'breaks' in the rail that I had to re-solder.

====================

This throttle was not 'working' correctly but is OK now.  Maybe a 'low voltage' battery!

==================

New deliveries.

Ordered some more Scalecoat paint.

Found some more TCS 1517's at around 100 bucks each.  I used to buy them for $93 but they now sell for around $125.

That gives me about an extra 15 1517 decoders.

Intermountain wheel sets.

Didn't need these but they were at a good price and rather have them in case they stop making them.

I can understand where you're coming from. I designed my track plan to accommodate free running as well running with destinations and tasks. My last layout lost the magic for me because it just a small square. I grew bored with it until I started to do switching. Then I enjoyed it again before work and college took over.

Now I want to be able to go downstairs and run a coal drag for fun or run it with purpose, making it up and breaking it down. I have enjoyed the flexibility on the test layout I built. I think I'll appreciate it on the full size layout.

Thank you for the insights!!

There are a lot of railroaders that like to operate their layout like the prototype.  As long as we are having fun, that's all that matters. Like most things, there is no 'right/wrong' way.

@samparfitt posted:

As long as we are having fun, that's all that matters. Like most things, there is no 'right/wrong' way.

Most definitely!!

San Francisco, 1906, colorized.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHkc83XA2dY

Right before the quake.  Exactly 50 years before I was born.  50 years ago, I was finishing my sophomore year of high school.  Hard to believe.

Ross club meeting pictures:

Meeting.

A member brought his Trix big boy.

comes with a nice wooden case.