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21 replies

Observations with my layout 90% completed (Now with VIDEO!!)

B BigRailOGR Forum Member

Yes..I am about 90% done (as close to done as I'll ever be).  A few quick observations for those of you in the process, getting ready or thinking about building a layout:

1)  My layout is against a wall with barely room to squeeze in on the sides (25ft x 8").  Anything derails in back I have to climb on the layout to get it.  My advice is too avoid this at all costs if possible.  Just too much of a pain to work on while building and climbing on any other time.  I did it because that was the way I designed my room and had little choice.  The good news is with a lot of trial and error and rock solid switches and track laying, I have just about eliminated all issues associated with derailments.  Weak couplers are the main thing I look out for now and fix when found.

2)  My top level is two tracks; one which makes a complete loop in the shape of a dog bone and one which parallels the other but doubles back on itself via Ross switches and DZ-2500 switch machines wired for non-derailing.  Got those switches and machines working like a swiss watch which was so important to keep me from climbing on the table for derailments.  So that's my pitch for Ross and Z stuff DZ-2500 machines.

3)  Test your accessories before installing.  Sounds obvious but I didn't.  I assumed they would work fine.  So far I have had to remove two; a Lionel bucket crane (the remote one that the cab moves and the bucket goes up and down...picks up coal, etc and the Lionel yard tower with the two guys chasing each other in the tower.  Whatever grease they used in the crane was like sticky paste and pretty much prevented operation.  Had to clean it all out, degrease and re grease with some Red and Tacky.  Works good now.  The Radio tower had a gear that kept jumping out from the motor so that required some messy fixing.  It's ugly under there but it works now.  So test those accessories before installing.

4)  Finally got Legacy up and running.  Love it.  Interesting note:  The Legacy remote controls the power masters hooked up to my PWC ZW Transformer.  I didn't think it would but it does so that is pretty cool for me.  Thought I would have to use the TMCC remote for that.  Everything else works great so far.

5)  I will be posting some pictures in the near future.  Still test running some trains and cleaning up.  I'm sure I will think of more tips in the future.

Thanks to all the forum members who provided such great tips, tricks and photos over the years.  I benefitted from almost everything I read.  So much to take in.    BigRail

Last edited by BigRail
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John C.John C.OGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

It is still amazing to this day the people that build these layouts so wide or position them in such a manner that you have to climb on top of your layout.  

I've written a million times advising against and I'm always piled on....oh well I figure, the person will figure it out the hard way like I did.

30 inches is the absolute maximum that anything should be from the average person's reach and if that thing is a turnout---24 inches is better--that is a maximum what I call "working reach."

I'm never trying to be critical or mean-spirited about reach/width issues, I'm merely trying to help people avoid costly, time consuming and unnecessary headaches that building a layout overly-wide will create.  

B BigRailOGR Forum Member

I know, I know...I learned the hard way about building things out of normal reach.  But I had to make some compromises to get what I wanted and I think I accomplished my goal.  But I definitely agree it stinks building a layout this way.  I am uploading some video now to YouTube in the hope that I can share it here and you can judge for yourself.  Give me about an hour or two...hope I can do this.  BigRail

c.samc.samOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Fantastic!

This is the first I'm seeing your thread but it appears that you've created a really nice layout here. As for being 'solid', I didn't detect any of the three trains missing a single beat during the whole 5 minutes!

Congratulations.

Q   Do you have any more of the Santa Fe cars to 'balance' out your handsome train?  Usually a mainline train will have more cars than engines when out running across the country!  :-)

Last edited by c.sam
B BigRailOGR Forum Member

Thanks all.  That train parked in the back with all the beer reefers is being pulled by a Vision Line Hudson.  I will show that one off soon.  That's a pretty long booze train.

Sam...I wish I had more of those Santa Fe passenger cars.  I forgot I had them and was thrilled to find out they are actually aluminum.  I never even realized that the number of engines was the same as the number of cars  I was just happy to get them running.  The bottom trains are a 3rd Rail Strasburg 475 with MTH wooden Strasburg cars and the other train is a Williams 773 Hudson pulling a whole bunch of Mernards military cars.  I'll do some better video of those too in future.  Plus I have my double track elevated subway cars to show off too.  Thanks again.  BigRail

B BigRailOGR Forum Member
ConrailFan posted:

Very Nice!! Excuse my ignorance, but what is the blue blinking light at the beginning/end of the tunnel for? Great Layout!

The blinking lights are actually white but look blue in the video.  I'm in the process of making "flat top tunnel" from the Polar Express.  I have a face just above the tunnel that I am working on which will have icecles for teeth.  When it's done the eyes will illuminate with red leds and the inside of the tunnel will have the flashing white leds....they will be wired to activate as the train enters the tunnel.  I have them on to see how it looks.  My 10 year old son insisted on this feature so it's for him.  BigRail 

 

Last edited by BigRail
NYC Z-MANNYC Z-MANOGR Forum Member
BigRail posted:

Thanks all.  That train parked in the back with all the beer reefers is being pulled by a Vision Line Hudson.  I will show that one off soon.  That's a pretty long booze train.

Sam...I wish I had more of those Santa Fe passenger cars.  I forgot I had them and was thrilled to find out they are actually aluminum.  I never even realized that the number of engines was the same as the number of cars  I was just happy to get them running.  The bottom trains are a 3rd Rail Strasburg 475 with MTH wooden Strasburg cars and the other train is a Williams 773 Hudson pulling a whole bunch of Mernards military cars.  I'll do some better video of those too in future.  Plus I have my double track elevated subway cars to show off too.  Thanks again.  BigRail

Bigrail, I have a nice 18" Kline Aluminum SF diner that would go good with that train if your interested. Nice layout as well.

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