N&W Passenger Trains and Layout Progress

Chris, I just now got an email from the 2018 SONC convention that you plan on moving. please tell me its not so.

I don't think it can get more real than this.

Yves

Terrific !!    

Makes me want to shrink to quarter inch scale, climb up into the cab of that J, and open the throttle.  Would hope to find some o scale food and water, too.

christopher N&W posted:

"Now it is time to get back to working on the layout. Enjoy."

Looking GREAT AS ALWAYS, Chris! Those are some serious land forms you've got going there. 

Appreciate your time and talent...

MF

WOW!!!!!  Unbelievable, a 2-Rail O SCALE layout with sound, smoke AND spectacular SCENERY.

the mainlines are perfect!

p.s. are those framing squares you've used to brace your benchwork?

Awesome 

David Eisinger posted:

Chris, I just now got an email from the 2018 SONC convention that you plan on moving. please tell me its not so.

I got the same email and also wonder what's up with the move.

Bob

Yep.  That looks real.  Even the trees look real. I have always thought the "J" was among the most handsome machines ever built.  Nice work.  Make the train go slower, so we can savor each car?

Can never get enough of this beautiful layout!

Interesting texture on the pink foam. Are you roughing it up after cutting with a hot knife or do you cut it with some method that does that?

Cant wait to get there. I only hope Amtrak can get me there.

Dick

Guys, thanks for the comments.

My wife and I bought a home in Florida and will be moving gradually.  I am having a building constructed on the new property to house the layout. The builder is preparing to break ground soon. The new building will be a little larger than what I have now and with no support poles (rafters span the whole ceiling), no impeding ductwork, no washer and dryer. It'll be better. Once the building is done, then the layout moves. Once the layout moves, then I move.

I can make a few minor adjustments to the layout that will make it better like adding more train storage and widening one aisle a few feet. Otherwise the layout will be the same. I'm glad I hedged my bets when I built the layout. It took a bit longer to build the layout this way but all of the scenery is liftout and the subroadbed is just scabbed together with Westcott style benchwork. 

Chris,

   Very nicely done sir.

PCRR/Dave

Will Ebbert posted:

Interesting texture on the pink foam. Are you roughing it up after cutting with a hot knife or do you cut it with some method that does that?

Will, 

The tool I use is a 4" rotary wheel paint and rust remover for a drill. The product is from Home Depot. The brand is Gator and it is extra course. I use this to sculpt the moutains along with hand saws.

Dick,

I hope Amtrak gets you here, too. Whenever you make it, I'll have the layout open for you.

Chris,

Outstanding.....as usual.  We've grown to expect this kind of modeling from you.

Thanks for sharing.

Jay

Thanks, Jay. Are you going to be able to make it to the convention? One of the guys has a really incredible Proto 48 layout you'd probably be interested in. No pressure or anything, just curious.

Hey Bud,

You bet, we'll be there.  We're coming in by train and may rent a car.  It really depends on the weather.  Not real excited about driving around Chicago if snowing or icy.

Jay

What kind of smoke units to you use?  The J looks great with the steam roaring out!

Also, what part of Florida?  I'm looking to do the same exact thing.  I was born and raised there.  I have been in the midwest for over 18 years. 

Jay C posted:

Hey Bud,

You bet, we'll be there.  We're coming in by train and may rent a car.  It really depends on the weather.  Not real excited about driving around Chicago if snowing or icy.

Jay

I think Chris might be referring to the O Scale National in August in Rockville,MD!

https://groups.io/g/proto48/to...cky,,,20,2,0,6033758

Simon

world class!!!!

Thanks again, guys.

Railthunder, It is an MTH J with MTH smoke unit. I'm moving to Ponte Vedra Beach which is 30 minutes due east of Jacksonville. There is a hoity toity part of Ponte Vedra but I'm not there.

Simon and Jay,

Yes, I was referring to the 0 Scale National Convention in DC in August. http://2018oscalenational.com

There is a Proto 48 layout which I think will be on the tour. The guy is not on the forums as far as I know. He might be on the P48 forum though. The layout is upwards of 40'x70' and really is amazing. When I first saw it, it was jawdropping. Western Maryland and all nice stuff, Bultmann Challengers, Potomacs, Overland H9's

christopher N&W posted:

Thanks again, guys.

 

Railthunder, It is an MTH J with MTH smoke unit. I'm moving to Ponte Vedra Beach which is 30 minutes due east of Jacksonville. There is a hoity toity part of Ponte Vedra but I'm not there.

 

Simon and Jay,

Yes, I was referring to the 0 Scale National Convention in DC in August. http://2018oscalenational.com

There is a Proto 48 layout which I think will be on the tour. The guy is not on the forums as far as I know. He might be on the P48 forum though. The layout is upwards of 40'x70' and really is amazing. When I first saw it, it was jawdropping. Western Maryland and all nice stuff, Bultmann Challengers, Potomacs, Overland H9's

 

that would be Pat Mitchell's layout in Finksburg Maryland

Fantastic work, I've always digged your mountains and trees!

What's the narrowest width of one of those background mountains?

Great work Chris.

Really nice layout! 

jpv in France

Thanks Slugger, Matt and JPV.

Slugger, 

Some of the Mountain backdrops get down to 1" deep. Some parts are just 1/8" deep in some places.

Sorry I have not been more attentive here. Work has become very busy. When I get a chance I'll post some images of the least deep scenery to show you.

Atanz,

There are framing squares to give some support on some cantilevered areas and other places. It is so a I don't need to use a riser which would hinder access to the trains.

Chris, thanks for the clarification.  I don't see us getting to the National this year.  Wish we could but it's just too far away and thus too expensive.  Shoot, the March Meet costs me $2500.  Gotta sell a bunch of frogs to cover that!

Jay

Unless you had tiny scale fish swimming up moving water......

I'm not sure how this could look any more realistic!!!

Hot Water posted:

WOW!!!!!  Unbelievable, a 2-Rail O SCALE layout with sound, smoke AND spectacular SCENERY.

outstanding work!  thanks for sharing.

Great pics, this is one of the things I will miss if O scale trains fails to find a buyer.  I saved any article that included your layout.

Thank you so much for sharing these videos.  Absolutely fantastic. 

Regards,

Jerry

A very good-looking portrayal of the J in model form that you really have to look twice to see it's not old footage of the 'real' 604!

Beautiful work Chris

Hi Chris,

I wish you the best on your move to Florida.  Your move will be a big loss for the DC crowd.

Regarding that N&W J by MTH as shown in your posted videos;  did you do any modifications to it?  Change out the pilot truck wheelsets for larger diameter wheelsets?

The engine and tender appears to be close coupled and looks prototypical.  Did you adjust the distance between them?

Are you running the engine in conventional DC power or are you using MTH's DCS command system to run the train?

Steve

I can tell you that when Chris was building his benchwork, it was impossible to fine a square  in any of the local hardware stores.

Thanks guys. The videos were enjoyable to make and share.

Wes, you probably would have needed to go to Virginia to get a square.

Steam Guy posted:

Regarding that N&W J by MTH as shown in your posted videos;  did you do any modifications to it?  Change out the pilot truck wheelsets for larger diameter wheelsets?

The engine and tender appears to be close coupled and looks prototypical.  Did you adjust the distance between them?

Are you running the engine in conventional DC power or are you using MTH's DCS command system to run the train?

Steve

 

 

 

Steve,

The pilot wheels on the new MTH 2 rail engines come with larger pilot wheels.

I forgot that I did use a closer MTH drawbar. I had to file down the plate to make it work.

I am using MTH DCC stock electronics on this engine.

You'll have to get in touch the next time you are in the area.

Chris,
You do realize that it is only a matter of time before Florida and consequently your layout will be under water. You may want to rethink the move!