Bob, LOL!!!  I’m always glad to help!  LOL.  I do appreciate the idea and encouragement.

Mark.....things are moving along nicely.....excellent work!

Peter

Thank you, Peter!!

Yard looks good Mark. I used to foul my switches in my HO days. I would always have issues keeping things organized in the yards. What a mess. Of course this was way before I was an adult, but I should have learned.

Thank you, Dave!!  If I had space for much longer tracks, then I wouldn't have said I have room for one more car by fouling the switch.  Also, If I was trying to run a prototypically operated layout like is so common in HO, and the switch list said to take only the farthest back car on a particular track, it would be a problem.  I just want to be able to have a place to keep some cars ready to switch in and out and don't care which ones or what order so it works.  I haven't decided yet how I will store cars ready to be put on the yard and be taken off.  One problem at a time is all I can handle!  I don't know how I handled multiple problems during my working years.  

I agree Mark. One of the other things my brother and I did so long ago, we had the famous track that goes nowhere. Just sitting there holding cars that could only be accessed to trains by hands, lol. Sometimes that is necessary with no real space.

Dave, I was just looking at the layout today contemplating that very thing for a couple of heavy steamers.  It seems the only way for me to be comfortable moving engines.  I could keep shelves below the layout for cars, but I am afraid I would drop a hefty steamer.  The enginehouse is two spots, and I was thinking of a track with no connection adjacent that could store one.  Also, I have a spot on the lower level that could do the trick.  After two carpal tunnel surgeries in each hand, a broken dominant hand and arthritis especially in the thumbs, I just don't have confidence in my gripping power.  After so much therapy and exercises, I have to what my dad taught me as a teenager; "Use your brain, not brawn."  

Yeah, don't need a slip up. That is always the "not fun" situations we all try to avoid.

 I’m glad you have things on the move and trains running on the layout!

   I’m hoping for things to slow down so I can work on my layout this Fall.

Al

Al, Thank you very much!!  It's a jerry rigged mess of jumpers right now to check the functionality of all the track.  I am dawdling on starting to wire permanently.  As a recently retired electronics technician/engineer of 43 years, I do not like wiring and soldering.  Electronics and electricity was always a job to me, not fun.  I dread the thought of having to go back.   

I hope to see you are able to get back to your layout soon too!

I have not been able to get a lot done on the layout in September and October because of trying to get outside work done that I didn't do during the unusually hot summer.  Usually we do not get highs to 90 degrees in the summer, but it happened many times this summer.  Now I have everything done outside and am waiting for the rest of the leaves to fall.

I installed track and power drops for two long sidings that can be seen in the photographs.  Putting power to everything with alligator clips, all the tracks work and the trains move across the switches in either direction.  I have the leads for the switch machines for the yard through the table, but have not powered any yet.

Next will be putting new traction tires on the H9 that is sitting on the tabletop and building the supports for the enginehouse tracks and wye above the small yard.  I have several broom handles my late father-in-law had here that I can cut to length for supports.  When he bought something, he usually bought several, more than a lifetime supply so to speak.

Mark:

Your layout is shaping up well.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Al, Thank you very much!!  It's a jerry rigged mess of jumpers right now to check the functionality of all the track.  I am dawdling on starting to wire permanently.  As a recently retired electronics technician/engineer of 43 years, I do not like wiring and soldering.  Electronics and electricity was always a job to me, not fun.  I dread the thought of having to go back.   

I hope to see you are able to get back to your layout soon too!

Mark, I was an appliance tech for many years. Every house I entered held an unhappy customer because the thing quit had working. I am such a happy customer I'm delighted to do wiring&electrical work for myself.

Thank you, Randy!!

Lew, I do have to agree with you it is very beneficial to be able to do it myself than hire an electrician to or appliance technician to repair what I can do myself!

@Mark Boyce posted:

Thank you, Randy!!

Lew, I do have to agree with you it is very beneficial to be able to do it myself than hire an electrician to or appliance technician to repair what I can do myself!

Mark

I need this Covid thing to be over, so my son can come down here (from Canada) and do the wiring for me. I know how to, but at my age, I don't want to. As an engineer, I was always a reluctant technician. Although with only one technician for 6 engineers I didn't always have a choice. I was good with through hole components, but SMT was a challenge and that was 15 years ago. At no age, have I had good manual dexterity.

@Oman posted:

Mark

I need this Covid thing to be over, so my son can come down here (from Canada) and do the wiring for me. I know how to, but at my age, I don't want to. As an engineer, I was always a reluctant technician. Although with only one technician for 6 engineers I didn't always have a choice. I was good with through hole components, but SMT was a challenge and that was 15 years ago. At no age, have I had good manual dexterity.

Keith, my manual dexterity wasn’t  very good either.  I moved to engineering at age 51.  Now turning 64, I’m done.  Wiring is slow for me like carpentry.  Fortunately my layout is in a room that is 11x11.  😄

Looking great Mark. Track is coming together very nicely, pretty soon scenery will be coming in before you know it.

It's coming along nicely, Mark. Great to see your progress.

Being a retired engineer, wiring control panels, adding timers, relays etc. is my main role at my club. I don't go under the table anymore though.

Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 Dave, Thank you!!  Once I got the main line in I would have started scenery because that is my favorite part of the hobby, besides running trains.  However, I wanted to see how these sidings would fit in, so I might as well get the track down.  Also, I wanted to get the yard in and make sure I could get the wye and enginehouse in since it was an afterthought.  I am looking forward to working on scenery.

Pat Kn Pat, Thank you!!  I worked for 43 years, mostly as an electronics technician, but the last 10 years as a network engineer.  I have crawled into so many tight spots and underneath desks, tables, and cubby holes, and up in ceilings over the years, that I don't like going under the layout.  I am like you, I don't want to go under the layout even though it is fairly high at 44 inches.  That is why I didn't power up the mainline permanently yet.  I have a good adjustable roll around stool now that helps.  I think I will work on the wiring in stages as I work on scenery to break up the time under the layout.

I worked four 44 years as an electronic engineer. At 68 years old with two bad knees it's not that I won't work under the table but I can't work under the table.

I understand completely, Pat!!  I know bad knees would keep you from going under the layout.  I had a knee replacement last November, so I can’t kneel on it.  The other knee isn’t bad, but that leg has sciatic nerve damage from two years ago making things tricky.  I can’t sit on a hard chair for very long.  The padded stool makes things better For a while.  Also, it is tough to get at the right focal distance to see what I’m doing sometimes.  

Good to see you are progressing so well! I feel your knee pain for sure and you are doing a lot with the wheels you have now. Keep up the great progress, taking breaks and alternating over and under work is certainly a good approach. It is just disheartening we cannot do what we used to do when we want to do it. To bad our bodies don't follow our brain... as I think I am still 40 years old, LOL

Keep up the great work!

The progress looks great! Glad to see it!

Bill and John, Thank you very much!

John, I just finished doing some work on my roll around stool under the layout, and that is enough for a while.   I know what you mean about thinking I'm 40.  Even when I look in the mirror, I don't see a 64 year old guy!  I can't see the sags and wrinkles unless I put my glasses on! 

@Mark Boyce posted:

..just finished doing some work on my roll around stool under the layout, ...

These stools are life savers. Saved me from crawling around on the ground during painting. I suspect it will save me from crawling under the layout when I get there.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Bill and John, Thank you very much!

John, I just finished doing some work on my roll around stool under the layout, and that is enough for a while.   I know what you mean about thinking I'm 40.  Even when I look in the mirror, I don't see a 64 year old guy!  I can't see the sags and wrinkles unless I put my glasses on! 

Ok, would it be possible to let me know what the brand of roll around stool you have, and where to purchase.

Thanks John

Nice work Mark.  I hope you are going to do a story for OGR on this.  Looks like a lot of layout in a small space.

@BillYo414 posted:

These stools are life savers. Saved me from crawling around on the ground during painting. I suspect it will save me from crawling under the layout when I get there.

Bill, definitely use it!  I waited around until I was 63 and had one knee replacement before I got one! 

@Aegis21 posted:

Ok, would it be possible to let me know what the brand of roll around stool you have, and where to purchase.

Thanks John

John, I got it on Amazon for around $45.  I see the model I got is now unavailable, but there are a lot of others to choose from.  The brand name is Amolife Amolife Multi-Purpose Hydraulic Adjustable Round Chair 

@MartyE posted:

Nice work Mark.  I hope you are going to do a story for OGR on this.  Looks like a lot of layout in a small space.

Marty, Thank you very much!!  You aren't the first to suggest I do an article.  I certainly doo have a lot of photographs and text already written to draw upon.  It sounds like a winter project.  Now that I am retired and we are working on getting my wife retired, I may just come up with some time to do some things I never had time for before.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Bill, definitely use it!  I waited around until I was 63 and had one knee replacement before I got one! 

John, I got it on Amazon for around $45.  I see the model I got is now unavailable, but there are a lot of others to choose from.  The brand name is Amolife Amolife Multi-Purpose Hydraulic Adjustable Round Chair 

Marty, Thank you very much!!  You aren't the first to suggest I do an article.  I certainly do have a lot of photographs and text already written to draw upon.  It sounds like a winter project.  Now that I am retired and we are working on getting my wife retired, I may just come up with some time to do some things I never had time for before.

Mark it is really coming along great. You are much further along than I am. I could not run any wiring until I installed the turntable.  Not knowing how it would fit and what support I would need to move held all the wiring up. I now have the turntable an early Christmas gift from the love of my life, my wife. The hole is cut and just as I thought directly in the center of the hole is where 4 2x4’s meet so under the table to add the needed support to remove that structure. So you keep up the great work and progress looking forward to your next set of pics. Are you up to meeting at Mercer Junction before he closes the doors?

Rick, Wow that is a lot of work to get the turntable in.  I think we could work out meeting at Mercer Junction! 

Nice progress Mark!!  The layout is really coming along.  I finally found your thread and am now following along with all your progress.  I have been itching to get some work done on my layout but I have had limited time due to our ongoing family health situation we have been dealing with.

I did get the ceiling painted black and I am trying to put some finishing touches on the room which will finally allow me to do some real train work!

I will hopefully be posting an update soon.  Keep up the great work!

Michael

Looking good Mark. In my years as an electrician we used to use empty spackle buckets to sit on when installing outlets in the walls. At 15" off the floor kneeling for hours would be a killer. I know why all the flooring guys are young too.

Do a little bit of wiring each day and it will be done before you know it.

Bob

Michael, I am certainly glad you found my topic.  Thank you very much!  I know what you mean about dealing with family situations.  I'm praying all get well!  Getting your room ready is a great first step in building a layout!  I'm looking forward to seeing what you do in that room!!!

Bob, Yes indeed I know the 'bucket seat' scenario all too well.  In fact I was using a bucket with a cushion before I purchased the roll around!  When I worked at the power company while in my 30's we sat on wooden stools our director made for us in his home woodworking shop.  There was a guy who rose to mid-level management who still cared for his employees!!  At the telephone company in my 40's the equipment was in racks, some mounted 2" off the floor.  As guys got older, they would have to lay on their sides on the floor to see and work on equipment.  Once I moved to engineering I tried to design equipment mounting to not use the space below the knees if at all possible.  My brother-in-law (my sister's husband) had an uncle who laid carpet for a living.  His knees were shot by his mid-50s even wearing knee pads.  I went through the knee pad time until I finally had to get one knee replaced last November.  Now I avoid kneeling on the 'good' knee as much as possible.

Bob, I will have to post some photographs of adding the dowel supports for the enginehouse level that you suggested when I get time.  I did it yesterday which was a rainy day here.  It came out pretty good I think!!  Thank you for the suggestion!! 

@Mark Boyce posted:

Bill, definitely use it!  I waited around until I was 63 and had one knee replacement before I got one! 

John, I got it on Amazon for around $45.  I see the model I got is now unavailable, but there are a lot of others to choose from.

I have one in the garage that I used for working on the lawn mower, dirtbike, and cars. I love it! Now I keep one in the basement too.

Harbor Freight has one that has a little tray on the bottom. It hasn't broke after three years and it's been abused quite a bit (meaning I forgot to put the tailgate up when I put it in the truck bed to take to a friends house). I will totally recommend it.

Anybody know the official day for Mercer Junction closing?

Bill, You certainly have put the Harbor Freight one through the wringer!!

I just copied this off the email Dave sent out earlier this week.  All he says is End of the year.  I'm sure he will send something out what the last day will be since December 31st is a Thursday.

Thanks for the info! I do need some Ross Switches. I'll have to find some time to get up there.

I like the progress Mark. Wiring is one step above ballasting on my tedious meter, but it is gratifying when your engines run well. When the time is right perhaps a video of some running on the additions?

Andy

Bill, You're welcome.  I want two more Ross switches, and would like to take a run up there soon.  Rick, I'll send you an email or PM.

Thank you, Andy!  I posted a video a while back before I added some of the switches for sidings.  Right now I am having trouble with that GarGrave switch I added for the last siding.  Every diesel I have tried runs great over it.  However, every steam engine I have tried comes to it, there is a little spark, and it shuts down.  I have not been able to see what is causing it, so I may just replace it with a Ross switch after all.  This sparking makes me nervous.  Once I get this figured out, I'll take a video and post it!

I was able to start on the enginehouse area again now that the yard is in.  I used RSJB18 Bob's suggestion of dowels for supports.  I cut up two broom handles that my late father-in-law left behind (since 2011 we have lived in the house my wife's grandparents and parents lived in).  He would always buy several of everything for spares.  I think it worked out great giving me room to get my hands in to the yard when the 0-5-0 switcher is needed.  I mocked up the track placement, and it will work out fine.  In fact, I removed some mainline track where the switches will go and started putting in the cork roadbed to ramp down to the bare Homasote for the enginehouse area.  I didn't get a photograph of that.

Now I am looking for suggestions.  I have a 30"x24" painting my aunt painted in 1960.  I can recall my uncle leaning it against the wall next to the clothes closet while Dad hung up my uncle's coat.  The painting hung in Mum and Dad's living room for nearly 60 years until I brought it home before selling the house this past December.  It has been sitting here since with no good place to hang it.  I got the idea that maybe I could incorporate it into the backdrop for the layout.  The problem is it really doesn't match up with the rest of my backdrop which is positioned in place, but not adjusted for height yet.  I had two thoughts.  One is this area behind the lower town, but it isn't wide enough.  I don't know that I can blend it in well.

The other location is behind the enginehouse.  I think this location just doesn't fit well with an enginehouse in front.

This location at the bottom of the mountain grade makes the most sense, but it won't match up well.  Anyway, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.