Thank you Andy! That stool is great! It is almost like a little platform! Dad made a good purchase!
I did some electrical drafting back in the days before CAD. In fact I took extra courses in drafting thinking I may do that for a living. That was a long time ago, but I was pleased with the drawing last week.
I noticed this thread has reached 90 pages of 40 replies per page!! When I started it 6 years ago, I had no idea it would generate such interest! I have learned so much, made so many good friends, and just had a great time!!
Thank you everyone for each comment, question, critique, and ‘like’! This topic would have died at 1 page if it wasn’t for you!
Mark,
This sounds like a valedictory message. I hope it’s not because you have so much more to share and teach. You I haven’t been along for the whole journey but I read and from almost every post. And it isn’t just your layout. It’s your true grit in the face of medical and physical adversity which I admire and which inspires others and me. Thank you.
A great milestone Mark. Both your perseverance and the support here on the forum.
Congrats!
Bob
@Mark Boyce posted:Thank you, Mike, Dave C, Bob, Jay, Bill, Dave, Steve, Rich, John, Eric, Andy!!!!
I do look forward to building scenery. That is my favorite part of the hobby; besides running trains and building buildings. It almost makes me sick it has taken me 6 years to get to this point!
Dave, here is how I get to the shelf above the layout. My dad bought it a number of years ago, and when I was cleaning out his shop, I brought it home along with some tools. It is soooo much better than the 3-step step ladder!!
I have one of those stools and it also makes a nice, sturdy platform for little ones to stand on and get a better view or operate the layout. 
Mark, what a milestone. It has been a pleasure to follow along and watch your progress, and enjoy all of the comments and conversations.
Andy
Congrats, Mark.......it's been a blast to follow you along.....I also love this stool/bench.
Peter
Thank you, Rubin, Bob, Richie, Andy, Peter!
I considered whether or not to make a comment about 90 pages. I didn't want to make it about me, but about everyone else. That is what it truly is.
Rubin, I think that is the point of so many threads and posts on this forum, They are really to inspire others. I'm glad you have been inspired. Yes, I still have ongoing physical issues I didn't expect when I am only 66, but I certainly am blessed. So many are far worse off than I am.
Yes, that stool/bench/platform (I need to look up what manufacturers call it) is a winner. Richie, you are right it would be great for children to use to see the layout built for the guy who can't stoop down constantly. We have no grandchildren, but maybe someday. I need to get the scenery going to make it more attractive to friends' children, much less myself! 
Mark your thread is enjoyable to follow and a great place to get new ideas. Keep it up.
I always enjoy your thread Mark. Your build is coming out great and yes your electrical work is a true inspiration! I haven’t met you in person but feel like I’ve come to know you through OGR. I sure do appreciate your interaction on several threads including mine which is approaching 9 pages LoL. You get 9 pages in 2 months! Can’t wait to see what plans you have in mind for the lighted Ford pickup truck I sent you. Thanks again for sharing with us all! Keep up the great work!!
Thank you, Bill and Rich!
I do certainly plan to keep up the work on the layout and to keep posting updates here!
I agree, Rich, I feel like I know quite a number of folks on the forum, though I have only met a few in person. I think I like these layout building threads best of all the threads on the forum. There are quite a few I follow. The pages can add up fast.
I don’t think I’ll be accompanying much construction on the layout itself for a while. I do have a small kit I started painting this week. Our older daughter gave me a Plasticville produce stand kit for Christmas. I’ll work on making it look a little more lifelike so I can show her I built it. I have a laser cut wooden fire house I started last fall, then put it aside. I’ll pick up on that later.
The bench/stool is a work platform. Your layout is great
Thank you, Jeff! Work platform. They named it well!
Thank you for taking a look at my layout!
Mark forgot to ask awhile back and it may have been touched on before and I missed it, how’s your trains handle the grades? I’m working on my new layout and the lower reverse loop is a bit over 4% which I’m nervous about for bigger steam engines if they can even handle it to begin with. Trying to decide if to scrap the idea all together or not.
Things are looking great for your layout! Wish I had a bit bigger of room currently but 10x10 will have to suffice for now.
Congratulations Mark! It's been fun to watch your progress. Besides all of your updates, it's pretty clear to see that contributors to the thread have a great deal of respect for you. Could it possibly be that you have always been a positive energy on this forum...yes of course. Onto 180 pages...
Dave
Thank you, Lance and Dave!
Lance, here is a video of a RailKing steam engine pulling a fairly heavy freight train up the 4+% grade. I have had single engines spin wheels near the top but still make the summit. The heavy Premier H9 Consolidation does well also. I don't have any larger engines than that. Of course 2-motor diesels handle it with no trouble at all.
Dave, Thank you! I do try to stay positive, I guess you found me out! 
Hi Mark, I am sorry I wasn't able to be here when you first hit the 90 page mark! Congratulations on your 90 pages and even more on your progress of your layout! You always make things looks so easy and encouraging others to do what is needed on their layouts! Your positive attitude is one of your wonderful attributes but not the only one, your willingness to help others and coach them along is at the top of my list! I could go on for a while, but I will leave more for the rest!
Thank you so much for the wiring diagram and the TIU to AIU cables! I hope to get to the train room tomorrow to work on some of the wiring. I might end up calling you! LOL I hope you don't mind.
Looking really good!
@Mark Boyce posted:
Congrats on 90 pages Mark! I also wanted to share that I went for a ride on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad yesterday. It was a great time! I was shocked at the grade on that stretch of track too! It's really an uphill journey from Cumberland to Frostburg. I immediately thought of your layout, particularly when we went over the bridge outside of Cumberland.
Great work! Your layout reminded me of a prototype!
Hey Mark, It's great to see that you have resolved the elevation situation and now have it working good. Those issues require a lot of patience. Way to stay with it. Great Job!!
Thank you, Mike, TBone, Bill, and Bill!
Mike, I don’t mind a call at all. Afternoon your time zone would be good if you need to.
The WMSR is great. We haven’t been there in years! Yes the grade is pretty steep and the bridge is cool. My layout does resemble it.
The way I was patient, was to just quit for the day when I got frustrated. Sometimes I would come up with another idea of how to approach the situation.
Our older daughter gave me a Plasticville produce stand. I painted and put it together last week. I didn’t glue the roof to the walls so I could do some more painting when I get a couple other colors. It was a nice diversion.
Congratulations Mark on reaching 90! Quite the accomplishment and a learning experience for us all!
Congratulations on the 90 pages Mark! I will say that it doesn’t feel like it at all. This thread moves along nicely thanks to the quality of the posts.
Andy
Thank you, Bob and Andy! I’m glad to have you both here providing input! 😊
90 pages? I only show 18! And, yes, I have read them all.
@PRRMP54 posted:90 pages? I only show 18!
90 pages of 40 replies per page. That seemed to me to be the default selection.
At the bottom of the page, you can select 20, 40, 100, or 200 replies per page. My guess is yours is set at 200.
I’m glad you have read them all. Thank you!
@Mark Boyce posted:90 pages of 40 replies per page. That seemed to me to be the default selection.
At the bottom of the page, you can select 20, 40, 100, or 200 replies per page. My guess is yours is set at 200.I’m glad you have read them all. Thank you!
That is correct, I use 200 per page; saves a lot of clicking! I wish that the default was user-selectable.
EDIT: I think that it would be interesting to back to the first post and start reading the thread.
@PRRMP54 posted:That is correct, I use 200 per page; saves a lot of clicking! I wish that the default was user-selectable.
EDIT: I think that it would be interesting to back to the first post and start reading the thread.
I was on the forum for years before I noticed the number of replies was selectable. 😄
I have gone back to the beginning of long threads that I didn’t find until there were a lot of replies/pages. It can be fascinating to see the beginnings of projects that are well underway by the time I learned of them.
I have not been able to work on the layout much, but did start a building kit. I saw a (I don't know what you call it; videocast, podcast, zoom - our younger son-in-law could tell me since he does it for a living) anyway it was the first session of an NMRA member building an HO version of the Motrak Alton Fire Station. I learned they had an O scale kit as well and bought it. The prototype is in New England, and I thought it would be a nice addition for my town.
Here is progress so far. The builder on the video suggested a drybrush method of painting for a weathered look. I took him up on it, and am pleased with the results. I painted thicker at the tops of the walls that would be protected under the eaves. The windows and doors are laser printed on a thin hardboard. The doors are two sections sandwiched together making it easy to paint the two colors first. The double hung windows are also made of multiple sections of hardboard.
The walls are a two-ply sandwich that needs glued together and weighted to dry. I still had to re-glue some corners and just clamped with plastic clamps to finish the job. The walls seem pretty strong now, but I may still brace them for strength even though the manufacturer doesn't suggest it. So far, I am pleased with the kit.
I thought this 1/50th scale '36 Mack would look good sitting outside. I may look for a less detailed truck for the inside.
@Mark Boyce looks like a well thought out kit. Wonder if they make any other buildings. Have to look into that company! Nice work so far. Thanks for sharing!
Mark, that looks.loke.the perfect size for your layout and is going to look great! I love the fire engine!
Congratulations on the 90 pages Mark. Keep going!
MELGAR
That looks pretty cool Mark. This weekend I started prep for family coming up in July. This is not going to be an easy task as I've got to move trains from one side of the house to the other for rooms for people to sleep in. Hopefully I can clear the back bedroom to a suitable degree for layout building as there's no bed in there for people to sleep on.
Looks like a couple of good acquisitions (structure and fire truck) for the layout.
And you're doing a nice job on the kit.
George
That's going to be a nice building Mark. Does the fire truck scale match the building?
Bob
Nice looking building Mark and my style of fire engine, like my Boston FD.
Gene
Thank you LT1Poncho, Mike, Mel, Dave, George, Bob, Gene!
LT1Poncho, They make other building kits, but I haven’t looked to see what is in O scale.
Dave, it sounds like you have your work cut out for you! I hope everyone has a nice visit!
Bob, the fire truck could pull into the building with room to spare.
Gene, your truck and Fire house look great!
Nice Kit Mark. I have the Ameri Town Fire Station. The only issue is for a 1/50 Modern Truck to fit it should be made longer. 
Thank you, Poconotrain! Your AmeriTown station looks great! Yes, it is a bit small for the modern fire truck. The model I'm building is about a scale 40 feet long and my 1/50th scale 1936 truck is only 24 scale feet long.
LT1Poncho, Motrak Models has 14 O kits on their website and a few detail parts. https://motrakmodelsusa.com/index.html
Last night I did a lot of touch up painting on the windows and frames after removing them from the laser cut panel. I also finished painting trim and assembled the windows.
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