New Layout 2021-24......Update, August 12, 2024

So true Peter. I joined in 2016 and have enjoyed every minute. Next is to start meeting some of you guys in person.

Bob

100% if not for the forum, York for me would just be a place on the map around Gettysburg instead of one of the best places for friends of the hobby to meet, share stories, drinks and laughs.

Very true, Peter!  I joined in 2012, and the forum has greatly influenced my hobby experience, both in knowledge and many friends like you!

Progress is great Peter, I'm jealous of all the skilled help you have there.

In addition to their skills, Peter's club members are very much ambassadors for the hobby when they set-up their magnificent large layout and smaller layouts throughout the year. Like Peter, they will engage their audience and visitors -- adult and children; train people and novices alike.

The progress photos are most welcome, Peter. Thanks.

@Putnam Division posted:

Brian......I trust this will answer your question............

Peter

Peter, this is awesome!  Thank you for putting the transfer table installation together.  It sure is some masterful engineering!  

Now to see if I can replicate it or turn it into a debacle comedy show for myself!

@Traindiesel posted:

Peter, this is awesome!  Thank you for putting the transfer table installation together.  It sure is some masterful engineering!  

Now to see if I can replicate it or turn it into a debacle comedy show for myself!

Brian…….I’m sure that if you had questions, Tom would be happy to answer them.

Peter

Wow, @Putnam Division, Peter, your transfer table facility is awesome, I forget the brand, but your helpful workers have done a fantastic job installing this wonderful accessory. You are so correct, friends in the hobby, this awesome OGR Forum, and I must admit, the TCA train meet at York, (where you can meet so many of the fine folks contributing to the hobby is worth so much), we are so blessed. As always, I look forward to more pictures of your progress. 22 pages of beautiful pictures and your layout will be so much fun to run. Have fun. Happy Railroading Everyone

@leapinlarry posted:

Wow, @Putnam Division, Peter, your transfer table facility is awesome, I forget the brand, but your helpful workers have done a fantastic job installing this wonderful accessory. You are so correct, friends in the hobby, this awesome OGR Forum, and I must admit, the TCA train meet at York, (where you can meet so many of the fine folks contributing to the hobby is worth so much), we are so blessed. As always, I look forward to more pictures of your progress. 22 pages of beautiful pictures and your layout will be so much fun to run. Have fun. Happy Railroading Everyone

Ross Transfer Table Delivered in December

Larry, it's a Ross one, see the link above when it was delivered.

@leapinlarry posted:

Wow, @Putnam Division, Peter, your transfer table facility is awesome, I forget the brand, but your helpful workers have done a fantastic job installing this wonderful accessory. You are so correct, friends in the hobby, this awesome OGR Forum, and I must admit, the TCA train meet at York, (where you can meet so many of the fine folks contributing to the hobby is worth so much), we are so blessed. As always, I look forward to more pictures of your progress. 22 pages of beautiful pictures and your layout will be so much fun to run. Have fun. Happy Railroading Everyone

Yes, as Dave has shown us……Ross, delivered in 2022 and taken out of the box last December.

Peter

Peter looks awesome great work. Enjoy seeing the progress!

Jeff

Mid-September.......entering "train season".....here is where I am leaving off as work will likely continue for the next month (likely, more) underneath the layout to complete the wiring.

I am fortunate that I can run my two major loops and have both Legacy and DCS wired up. Then, the focus will move back to buildings and trackwork/ballasting/ground scenery.

I am giving myself 12-18 months and I will be "done" (and, you all know how good predictions are.....I have no allusions.....it's just a goal).

This is a photo trip around the perimeter.

Have a great and safe week, everyone!

Peter

Peter, looking Great!

Peter,

This is turning out to be a fantastic project Peter! Between your buddies coming over to help out, you constructing your building kits and watching you set them up on the layout, this is very fun to watch. Scenery is right around the corner. I think 18 month is possible, at least to get the basics completed. Details are a forever.

Dave

Looking good, Peter!

Will we see you at York in October?

Chris

LVHR

The layout looks great, Peter!  You have made a lot of progress.

That's a lot of progress Peter! 

Very nice!

Great work Peter, can’t wait to see more!

Great work Peter! Top notch collaborations produce top notch results. Well done.

Andy

Things are really coming along great!  Love your buildings.  It looks like you have a very long reach to access the middle of some of your benchwork.  Do you have access holes that don't show up in the pictures?  Great progress.

Art

@Chugman posted:

Things are really coming along great!  Love your buildings.  It looks like you have a very long reach to access the middle of some of your benchwork.  Do you have access holes that don't show up in the pictures?  Great progress.

Art

Maybe I will have to do a hatch……I’m going to try to keep those areas filled with a static display and see how it works out…..

Peter

Peter, great work and vision. Could you share your original 3 level Mianne Benchwork plan. I want to build a multilevel layout and would like to get a visual reference as to spacing and different level visibility. Thank you, Dennis

Peter:

Sorry if you have already said.  Is your engine repair building scratch built?

Your layout is amazing.  See you in York.

Robert

Beautiful layout in a beautiful room. 

Peter is certainly building a first class layout, I'm going to have to arrange to see it in person one day.

@Zac posted:

Peter:

Sorry if you have already said.  Is your engine repair building scratch built?

Your layout is amazing.  See you in York.

Robert

TW TrainWorx kit.......click on the link above. Lots of painting, glue, blue tape and clamps......but, loads of fun to do.

.....and, looking forward to catching up at York!

Peter

@dennis32 posted:

Peter, great work and vision. Could you share your original 3 level Mianne Benchwork plan. I want to build a multilevel layout and would like to get a visual reference as to spacing and different level visibility. Thank you, Dennis

Sure.....but, I will need a day or so to find it.....

Peter

Hi @Putnam Division, Peter, as I’ve said several times, your man cave, (Train Room) is absolutely beautiful, well planned and I just want to point out your unique roof top transfer table controller, neat idea… Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures of your masterpiece. It’s a Wow. Happy Railroading Everyone

@leapinlarry posted:

Hi @Putnam Division, Peter, as I’ve said several times, your man cave, (Train Room) is absolutely beautiful, well planned and I just want to point out your unique roof top transfer table controller, neat idea… Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures of your masterpiece. It’s a Wow. Happy Railroading Everyone

TW TrainWorx makes the kit and it has a plate for the Ross turntable; for the Ross transfer table; for the Millhouse Studio turntable; and, for the Millhouse Studio transfer table.

Peter

Peter the service house looks amazing! I am glad you still have the weather to get it painted! It is already raining here, but oh well I still have a garage to paint in!

Every step you take shows your skills and why you are able to build such a wonderful layout!

@Putnam Division, Peter, duh? I’m getting old, I completely looked over your cool new 3 stall engine facility, a TW TrainWorx kit, beautifully painted at put together… a Wow. also, thanks for the information on the TW TrainWorx kit to house the turntable/transfer table controllers…. It’s 2023, and we learn something new daily. Happy Railroading Everyone

@dennis32 posted:

Peter, great work and vision. Could you share your original 3 level Mianne Benchwork plan. I want to build a multilevel layout and would like to get a visual reference as to spacing and different level visibility. Thank you, Dennis

Here is the 3D rendering:

The pencil marks show the changes I made.

I took off 2 ft of the width on the L side and on the R side, I moved one cross brace and moved it 12 inches, so I could have a space to place the transfer table in.

Peter

@lehighline posted:

Looking good, Peter!

Will we see you at York in October?

Chris

LVHR

Absolutely!

Peter

Last Update was 4 months ago. I've been busy, but it hardly looks it on thelayout because my efforts are mostly underneath the it. This is "train-running season" and  and since Labor Day the modular group has been busy with shows and displays. In fact, a 10 week run, which began the weekend before Thanksgiving, ends on January 20th. Then I hope to be back regularly working on the layout. I did finish one building over this time: a Buildings Unlimited factory/warehouse.....

My most recent project is wiring up the switch motors.

I'm approaching the next step with a little trepidation......phasing my ZWL and PotWar ZW.....

Why? Well, let's flashback to 2014 when I did it following the instructions in the Lionel PostWar instruction pamphlet......I wired up 21 Atlas O switches.....and, started using them. Many of you will remember these pictures......

My HHP-8 had a whole gondola load to pull to the junk yard......and, they were replaced with DZ-1000s, and Tom (Gilly@N&W) came over to phase the transformers correctly.......

This time, I have consulted with my modular group colleagues; have watched numerous You Tube videos; and, have downloaded Susan Deats' instruction pages. I am confident that it will go better......

I'll report back when I'm done.

Peter

Peter, good to see you back at your home layout.  Your under layout connections look like mine.  What an easy way to do it for old guys.  😃

That was a lot of scrap way back then.  I’m sure you gents will get the phasing right this time!!

Peter glad to see you back at your layout, I am sure with all the knowledge you have it will be just a walk in the park. Glad I am glad I don't have to worry about that with 1 MTH Z4000.

Peter,

Just got done going through the thread and wanted to thank you for your detailed information! Your work is outstanding in every aspect!

I've been worried about phasing when the time comes and your problem with it has reaffirmed my decision I recently made to use a dedicated MTH brick connected to the 14v side just for the switches.

Update.......transformers phased using a voltmeter and then to keep it straight, I added a directional plug and taped them together.......then, wiring, wiring and more wiring.....

Years ago, I bought 250' of 16 gauge stranded copper speaker wire.....I have dedicated it to all my D2500 switch machines.....and, that has been my latest project. Tom (Gilly&N&W) was over Wednesday and continued on the track power wiring. One more session should finish that.

Have a greatand safe weekend, folks!

Peter

Way to go Peter! I knew you could handle that transformer phasing.

Nice work, Peter and Tom!