Magnificent Obsession

I also admit I'm arguably, but not certainly, certifiable for having this Magnificent Obsession.

That is because I can't even run these trains, which require 042 curves, on my own layout with mostly 031 curves. However, I recently became an Associate Member of the NJ HiRailers, and plan to run these trains on their layout, the largest 3 rail layout in the World. While doing so, I will sing the City of New Orleans song.

How about you? Do you have, or have you had, a Model Railroad Magnificent Obsession. If so, tell us about it and/or show it to us in photos or videos.

Arnold

I once rode the City from Memphis to as far south as I could and catch a train back to Memphis in one day.

Arnold,

In my opinion, your obsession is just fine. But, you must figure out a way to run that beautiful train set on your layout or elsewhere at home - with "City of New Orleans" playing in the background. Is there somewhere you can temporarily put an oval of O-42 on the floor? Otherwise, you may have to de-obsess.

MELGAR

Arnold, could there be some way to add on an elevated loop with the wider curves to accommodate your set?

C'on Arnold, be creative. Here are are a couple of good suggestions already. Do you have a backyard?  How about finally taking the plunge and build a dedicated train shed?   Heh, heh, heh...

Building the layout was a total obsession, and before that, so was designing the track plan, placement of tunnel, mountains, rivers, towns, accessories and structures, using pencil and paper and, of course, an eraser 25 years ago.

I bet most of you fine Forum folks can relate to that, and I'm sure some of you are in the throes of that now. Arnold

i've been obsessed with trains since the age of 2 and have wanted a layout since the age of 6

i am obsessed with modern diesel locomotives and anything with female crew talk because i like to pretend my my characters Fenix Starr or Annah Knox are in the cab

i am obsessed with making the biggest longest and heaviest train possible with a super weird unorthodox consist at the front

i have a obsession particularly with lionchief and lionchief plus 2.0 especially that genesis engine . i want one so bad and don't get me started on the tier 4 . i love that thing but i still need to get one or 10 of them

i'm obsessed with DPU's and the weirder the better.

Arnold, your recently acquired IC City of New Orleans train certainly is beautiful. But isn’t there some way you could build an elevated loop above your existing layout using 048 curves that could accommodate this train?

I did that on my own layout back in 2015 and it worked very well. I used wood dowels attached from the bottom of the layout with long wood screws. That second level was very solid and I never lost a train off of it.

The only problem was, because I used Fastrack and in my hurry to get it done, I’d neglected to put a strip of Homosote under the track to absorb the sound. So when the 3 trains were running simultaneously, the noise level was so high, you couldn’t even carry on a conversation with guests. So after about a year, I took it down and went back to 2 train operation. Just a thought. 😉

Vern, you and several others who have been so kind as to make recommendations on what I can do to enable my City of New Orleans/Illinois Central passenger train run on my layout, are much more skilled than me using tools in order to construct an elevated, wide radius loop.

Assuming that I decided to take on that project, my concern is that the layout might become too cluttered, and detract from the pastoral and marine railroad scenes currently on my layout, including those shown below:

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Vern, you and several others who have been so kind as to make recommendations on what I can do to enable my City of New Orleans/Illinois Central passenger train run on my layout, are much more skilled than me using tools in order to construct an elevated, wide radius loop.

Assuming that I decided to take on that project, my concern is that the layout might become too cluttered, and detract from the pastoral and marine railroad scenes currently on my layout, including those shown below:

Good point, Arnold. An elevated loop obstructing views of the layout was also a concern I had. That’s why I found that using wood dowels to support the upper level seemed to be the least visually invasive and leaving the smallest foot prints.

I’ve just never been a club guy and hate to think of you having to pack up the train, take it over there, unpack it, put it on the layout, run it, then pack it back up and take it home. Even if it IS the New Jersey High Railers. But, maybe that’s just me. 😳

I’m no master carpenter, either. But if you can use a circular saw, jig saw, drill, and screwdriver, you could do it. 😉 👍

Beautiful train, Arnold!

Peter

Arnold, I admire your magnificent obsession, love, and enthusiasm for this hobby!!!  The City of New Orleans you purchased is absolutely gorgeous!!    You deserve to run this train anytime you wish, not just once in a while at the NJ High Railers, which is a fine club btw!    Finding a creative way to get this train running on your layout must be your next magnificent obsession.  AND I agree with MELGAR, we need to hear you singing the song as your City of N.O. runs along YOUR mainline on YOUR layout.  Sorry, I don't mean to sound pushy  Just rooting for you!!

Why does it have to be elevated on his existing layout?  Arnold, suspend a loop from the ceiling above your layout.  That should work fine for you - give it a thought.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Vern, you and several others who have been so kind as to make recommendations on what I can do to enable my City of New Orleans/Illinois Central passenger train run on my layout, are much more skilled than me using tools in order to construct an elevated, wide radius loop.

Assuming that I decided to take on that project, my concern is that the layout might become too cluttered, and detract from the pastoral and marine railroad scenes currently on my layout, including those shown below:

Congratulations on your new City of New Orleans, Arnold. Is there any chance you could run a single track along the wall just under those windows and through that mountain in the corner, and around the other side of the room? Or maybe a point to point along the wall with a loop at one end if that's all that would fit? Along the wall like that it wouldn't overshadow and obscure your existing scenes. You were skilled enough to build your beautiful layout and you're skilled enough to install another bridge if needed to pass a doorway. If not in your main train room maybe you can put a shelf along the wall in another room. Maybe there is a way for you to do this, in addition to running at your club.

John

That's a handsome set, Arnold! I didn't know you were (are) an IC fan.  Thought you were an ol' Put man through and through. Was it the song?

@Tuscan Jim posted:

That's a handsome set, Arnold! I didn't know you were (are) an IC fan.  Thought you were an ol' Put man through and through. Was it the song?

Yes!

It's my favorite train song of all time.

Arnold: Like Bill said hang a loop from the ceiling and do an around the room layout one track wide but with a siding to park that magnificent train on so when you want to run other trains you acquire that require wider curves you will have it. Have be just above the door and you can use the entire room for the layout . I am very sure that there are enough folks around that would be willing and able ( myself for one) to help you build such a layout. I would be there next weekend except I am about 5-6 hours away.

Your are not the only one with this obsession by the way, I also am addicted to and have the signs to prove it!

Arnold - that is where my "Illness" started. I picked up an MTH Zephyr 4 car set and realized my 042 curves would not cut it. That started yet another layout rebuild to include at least one 072 loop. Of course now that I had 072 that meant a BigBoy was a must!

I do not recall your room space availability, but going from 031 to 042 is not really that much extra space - 6 inches on either side. Maybe add 042 curves at the wall and then an extension track in front of the layout so it does not interfere with what you have already done.  Bonus is you could keep the New Orleans on that track ready to run.  My TPRR1 was a mix of 072/042 with some 031 in the yards. Worked well for me in my tight space. 

Just posted videos on the IC's City of Miami. The City of New Orleans is on my acquire list. Been thinking about the IC E6 3rd Rail has but I don't run Legacy - so spending on that is a question mark for me. Jeff

Scouting Dad, I noticed the IC's City of Miami in the Lionel catalogue. It's gorgeous.

Also, the City of Miami has the same number of syllables as City of New Orleans, so one could substitute one for the other when singing the song.

Funny I missed that set, I was choking over the retail price for the Milwaukee Road Atlantics and the Beaver Tail passenger set. I think I'll be very happy with both of my Weaver sets. I prefer the Art Deco tail over the tapered tail used in the Lionel set. I am surprised how many variations the Milwaukee Road had for this short lived passenger service.

Not sure the vocalization of "Mi am me" would sound right over "New Or Leans". Too bad the IC did not run alongside Lake Shore Drive - that is another great travel song. Have to admit I have blasted the song headed down the drive on summer evenings a couple of times.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Scouting Dad, I noticed the IC's City of Miami in the Lionel catalogue. It's gorgeous.

Also, the City of Miami has the same number of syllables as City of New Orleans, so one could substitute one for the other when singing the song.

I just tried that in my head and it really does not work too well. "New Orleans" being two words and "Miami" being one word has a major effect on the timing.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Also, the City of Miami has the same number of syllables as City of New Orleans, so one could substitute one for the other when singing the song.

Well Arnold, lemme know if you’d like a pedal steel guitar backup when you’re ready to debut the song.

My obsession is to capture real B&O operations through Cumberland MD circa 1950, including car-for-car passenger trains and appropriate switching of blocks between freights, all based on prototype historical materials.

@Arnold D. Cribari  What is the story on that top sail schooner that's docked on the layout?  Is this something you scratch built i.e. POF?  I'd like to see more of it.