Mark
The layout looks great Love the firehouse I found that removable sections are better off having a hinge That was after many balancing acts on the layout trying to hold a section and place it somewhere Needless to say I fell through a couple of times.
@Mark Boyce posted:Thank you, Gene, Jay, Dave, Rubin, Larry, John, Alan, Bob, Mike!!!
...snip... when I dabbled in On30 because HO trains and models were getting too small
I barely started it when my mother-in-law enticed us to buy her in-law's house 12 years ago. I put it away and then discovered OGR Magazine in a Giant Eagle grocery store near where I worked. It was the issue that featured Dave Minarik's now closed Mercer Junction Train Shoppe store layout about a 45-minute drive from home. The next Saturday, I visited Dave and came home with a RailKing train set. It wasn't long before I sold the On30 engine and cars and the rest is history. ...snip...
Considering what you have done in three-rail O, I just can not imagine what your "could-have-been" On2½ layout would be like!
Prayers for your surgery and recovery.
Good luck on the surgery Mark, and take it easy while you recovery.
Thank you, Myles, T-Bone1214, Darrell, Rubin, Ben, Dave, and Dave!!
Myles, you are so right! This is group therapy. Does a member need physical support? Another member needs emotional support at the loss of a spouse or pet. I could go on.
In response to everyone, I have been through enough of these 'setbacks' to do just what I am told. Besides my dear wife Kim is a retired Registered Nurse, so she keeps me on the straight and narrow. Also, the doctor listed the possible problems, and that there is no guarantee that I will get back to 100%, but I will work towards that goal. Thank you! 
Darrell, what a great sentiment; Wunderbar! Thank you!
Ben, the hinge is a great idea. Even before looking at the layout, I was able to envision the hinged section. I can certainly imagine myself losing my balance and falling as well! I'll work that out after I recover!
Dave PRRMP54, I have imagined what I could have done in On2-1/2. Trying to cram what I have into an 11x11 room makes one think of those things. I bought a Bachmann 2-6-0 with DCC and sound and a Shay without DCC and sound at the Monroeville, Pennsylvania Greenberg Show at a great price even though I didn't have DCC. I also bought a few log cars. Bachmann really makes some sweet equipment in that scale. I didn't have DCC and was surprised by the sound worked on the 2-6-0 running conventional. I sold almost all my HO trains and used the money to help our daughters by books, etc. for college. It didn’t go far, but I was starting from scratch again with trains moneywise. Once I had the RailKing O gauge set, I couldn’t imagine running a narrow-gauge short line layout. I wanted to emulate mainline running. Of course, I could have run the On2-1/2 trains anyway I wanted, but the preaching by the HO media sources for prototype modeling and running was ingrained. I do like the freedom in O Gauge where nearly everyone says, “It’s your railroad, run it any way you want.”
Mark, it always impresses me how you are able to make something wonderful out of scrap. The lift out looks great. It’s positioned nicely and kind of prelude to what the visitor will see after they walk into the room more.
Sorry to hear about your pending back surgery, but as you mentioned, all things considered it does sound like a quicker recovery and hopefully a better outcome for you. I’ll keep a good thought for you and for a speedy recovery.
Best,
Andy
Thank you, Andy! I do what I can. 😊
I did spend some time working on the SCARM plan to show the as-built. It isn’t exactly correct, but close enough. I’ll post that later. I also need to type up the wiring and AIU and remote assignments since I only have what I documented by hand.
I am finding I made a mistake when wiring my Ross switches. I decided not to bother wiring for non-derail thinking I could remember to throw switches when needed. Wrong!!!!! Nearly every time I have a derailment, it is because I forgot to throw a switch. Once I get up and able to do it, I am going to have to rewire for non-detail. So far the only damage has been a broken step on two hopper cars, but I know I am on borrowed time. I am certainly glad I did install PSX1-AC fast breakers on each Z4000 output.
Mark,
I feel your pain. I did the same thing on my last layout and I’ve sworn not to make the same mistake again. We’ll see how well I do, especially since I really want to get some trains running by Labor Day when my New York grandchildren come out.
I’ve never installed any breakers beyond those on my Z-4000, without harm, but I’ve probably just been lucky.
Get well soon
Rubin
@Mark Boyce posted:I am finding I made a mistake when wiring my Ross switches. I decided not to bother wiring for non-derail thinking I could remember to throw switches when needed. Wrong!!!!! Nearly every time I have a derailment, it is because I forgot to throw a switch. Once I get up and able to do it, I am going to have to rewire for non-detail. So far the only damage has been a broken step on two hopper cars, but I know I am on borrowed time. I am certainly glad I did install PSX1-AC fast breakers on each Z4000 output.
Don't ask me how many times I've forgotten to throw the two switches that I converted to manual.......
And they are right in front of me on the edge of the layout too......
Mark just read about your upcoming surgery. We will be praying for you.
Great job on the buildings. Your layout is outstanding!
At least the work on the turnouts is simple… after you get to them.
I have come to appreciate this feature with my fastrack switches.
Gene
@Mark Boyce, Mark, yes we will be praying for your upcoming surgery, may the Lord Bless you. Now, you hit the nail on the head, wire the Ross switches for non-derailing when you install them, years later our bodies may not bend easily as when we were younger… I did the same thing with a few switches thinking my memory would allow the switching. Nope, it didn’t….So, to remedy the issue, we set up Routes via the Lionel ASC’s with the Cab 1L and Cab2 remotes, ta-da, problem solved. Each of my switches work with the remotes. Good luck, we are here for you. Your friend in Tennessee. Happy Railroading Everyone
Mark, I have my fair share of derailments. But most of mine are usually involved in train movements to get at a area I’m working on. Or getting a car or engine to the layouts edge to remove it to be worked on. My thought process is more on doing the the job I’m going to do than running trains. When I do just sit down and operate a train. Running that train becomes my main focus. I seldom if ever have a lapse and forget to throw a turnout. Running more of a rural road. I’ve got into the habit of stopping the train and pausing while the turnout is hand thrown. Then stopping again to throw it back.
While a non derailing feature is nice. I think when you get past the major construction and just run trains it will happen less.
Mark, Best of luck with your upcoming surgery.
Thank you, Bob, Bill, Gene, Larry, Dave!
I see I am in good company. 😊
Larry, I do have switches controlled by the remote and should set up routes to get the best use of it. I just haven’t done that yet. I think Bill mentioned it to me a few months ago since he helped me with the wiring requirements to set it all up. 😊
Dave, I run trains slowly and could slow or stop them to throw a switch as you do. One mistake is I try to set them up ahead of time, then don’t think the whole way ahead. I’m sure you are right, when I get more used to running the layout I will be able to do better.
Many thanks ahead of time for thoughts and prayers for my upcoming surgery Wednesday!!!
I still don't know how to run my layout as well as I should considering the track's been down for over 10 years. I'm just not running it enough to become a habit. I still have to physically look at each switch to make sure it's set right. I don't trust the lights on the Z-Stuff for Train operating buttons. I've lost line-of-sight on some of the switches with installations, so it's really better to run the layout with helpers (which I don't seem to have any longer now that they've grown up).
Mark…….feel better……best of luck with your surgery…..
Peter
Mark - wishing you a speedy recovery! Green signals going forward my friend!
Thank you, Myles, Peter, Pat!!
Myles, I had a time with those Z-Stuff LEDs as well. I thought I wired correctly, but still have a couple that I couldn’t figure out and finally gave up.
Bob, I have 4 switches for the new yard that I made manual. They are right up at the layout edge, within easy reach. I can remember those except the one that connects to the lower mainline. 🤷♂️
I know the surgeon and the therapists, and they know all my previous surgeries. That has to count for something. 👍🏻👍🏻
Best wishes on your surgery, you are in our prayers for sure. May God Bless you!
Continuing to enjoy and take inspiration by the quality and quantity of your work. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Smart of you to set aside some projects that you can work on during the downtime. Do you get frequent-flyer miles from the surgeons?
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