OCSMR-Ocean County Society of Model Railroaders Club Latest update 3/5/2025

Looking good!  Yes, I can see what you mean about the downspout discharge needing extended.  That elevated line looks great!!  I don't think that foam is enough knee padding!  My knees hurt just looking at the photographs!!  

Looks great! Congratulations!

Mark,

We use the rubber padding for the knees even though I really don't need them. They are there for the "older" crowd who has to inspect the "younger" crowd's work!

Yes, had to pull off the bridge abutment to cut an 1/8" off of them so the bridges align equally to the gargraves track heights. With doing that, I was given 4 new screws for each abutment. The senior track layout manager approved me to use 8 screws. As for the track laying, the 2 apprentices used a few more than he would have used so his inventory of screws is lessening now. Think he has about 6,895 screws to use now.

The wooden trestle were installed and look really good. These came from the previous layout. They cleaned up and re-sprayed with black paint. Will finish up the inside elevated line to the bridge this week and commence work laying tracks through the entire trestle.

The senior track layout engineer/manager will start cutting wood for the other side of the layout to start the elevation there.

Ted,

It seems you are working with a tough crowd there!!    I heard of rivet counters, but not track screw counters!    All in good fun, I know!  The group is doing an excellent job!  since we don't like the beach, you are giving us an excuse to visit the Jersey Shore someday!!

Rivets, screws what's the difference?  We count 'em.

Mark (and for any other forum member), you're welcome to stop by anytime.

Thank you, Bud!

Rivets, screws what's the difference?  We count 'em.

Mark (and for any other forum member), you're welcome to stop by anytime.

You are welcome to stop by anytime and you even get a chance to inspect the "screwed more than many" layout. Bud is over using his weekly allotment. LOL!

So Ted, is Bud going to put you into a work stoppage before all the track is installed because he used up the allotment?

No stoppage. A waiver has been granted and will expire when the track screw quantity reaches a critical level (i.e. one track screw left).

That's good!

Only 1 track screw left? Thought the minimum to be left with stands at 100 so we can sell a 100 pack for $10 to recoup part of our investment on the 10,000 we initially bought.

Bud is using way too many screws. It shows in the layout as it will never come apart unless a bulldozer hits it!

Projected estimate for track screws remaining after completion of track work is 1776.  The 17 packs of 100 screws (with a few left over) should cover the investment in our original purchase.

No work stoppage here as we will be there Saturday am installing the 4 line to the line but working back from the bridge and drop a small straight after the curves are installed.

Wonder who reminded me to do this? Think his name could be the senior nutty track professor/layout engineer. 

Yes, the 2 track apprentices "screwed up" last week laying track directly to the bridge. Ohhh.. are you going to cut that curve down to fit it in? Oh no you are not. Cut it in on a straight. Oh... I forgot. The SNTP/LE does a few things correctly! Lol!

Line number 4 of the elevated lines was completed to the first bridge on Thursday. Next up is to solder all the rails on both elevated lines up the ramp to the bridge and lay straights all along the wooden trestle that Bud put into place.

We are making progress once again.

Pic of track 4 to bridge.

Tried DCS to see if the Passive TIU connection for tracks 1 and 2 works.  Initially had some problems.  Tried running my Red Arrow Electro Liner.  Even after charging, it didn't respond to either DCS or conventional.  Then tried a PRR ten wheeler that Dennis had with no response.  Since neither of these engines responded in even conventional, the batteries may not have been charged enough or need replacement.  Eventually tried Dennis' EDM diesel, and had success.  Track 1 and 2 worked well.  However, did not take any signal readings.  Used the cross-over to run on track 3 and had no problems.  Was a little concerned that the TIUs were not in Super TIU mode.  No problem.  Except, when the engine got up to the bridge and was stopped for a pic, it stalled.  Had to get out the ancient creaky crawler with the five-fingered crane to retrieve the engine.  Tried track 4 and had no problem.  From a DCS standpoint, looks like we're good to go on all tracks.  So we're able to run any type of train on our layout.

Looks good too, Bud!!

Had to get out the ancient creaky crawler with the five-fingered crane to retrieve the engine.  That would have been a great picture to see!  

Mark - If you saw that image, it'd be so horrible you would turn to stone.

LOL

So it must be the track laying "apprentice turned to expert" crew work that there were no problems operating on tracks 3 and 4! Guess they know how to lay down the track and screw it into the ceiling tiles properly with the correct amount of allotted screws.

Started to solder some rails on 3 and 4 and fix a few solder joints that were not soldered right to my standards, they are neatly done! Stopped soldering and cleaned all the new track joints with the Dremel to be soldered next week.

We are making progress. Have to get the senior layout engineer his wood so he can start cutting it to make the ramp on the other side of the trestle.

Not much activity construction wise.  Mostly due to Thanksgiving.  Still need to get additional plywood.

Got the Legacy Cab-2 software upgraded to ver. 1.61 ( the base w/ver, 1.60 didn't need upgrading).  A big thanks to Steve, part of the Command demo team at the Greenberg show in Edison this past weekend for doing the upgrade (guess who's also part of the team - hint name starts with "T").

Johnbrandt finished the second scenery panel and was installed by the crew.

Some scenery panels were given to us by a fellow O-gauger who was dismantling his layout.

Did some train runnin' tonite.

Ed's WBB 44 tonner.

Ted brought his newly acquired MTH UP Big-Boy.

Fortunately or unfortunately, we had a chance to check clearances on the curves.  Knew the Big-Boy has a pretty big overhang and it was confirmed.  Here it is on an 096 curve.

The Big-Boy approaching a 40 ft. box car.  Closest clearance is about a quarter inch.

Won't be able to run longer cars on track 1 with the Big-Boy on track 2.  Didn't try clearance into the trestle.  Looks like we'll have the capability of running only about 99 percent of engines.  Otherwise we will have to have restricted running.  We did experience a clearance issue on the curve in the northwest corner with my Polar RR train.  Track 2 curve is closer to track 1 than it should be.  Track 2 is slated to be relocated in that area.  The Big-Boy clipped the door of the Polar RR's first box car midway thru the curve.

A few shots of my Lionel Polar RR train.

Thank you for all the photographs, Bud!  Well it is good to check all clearances now!  Ted's Big Boy looks great!  The Polar train looks good moving along!  John did another fine job.  The backdrops that were given to you look great too, but of a more rugged terrain!

Won't be able to run longer cars on track 1 with the Big-Boy on track 2.  Didn't try clearance into the trestle.  Looks like we'll have the capability of running only about 99 percent of engines.  Otherwise we will have to have restricted running.  

What? Restricted running! Total blasphemy. Undo the layout, take out 3,236 screws from the track and re- lay the track. None of this 99% BS. The senior layout engineer/professor who claims to have built a few layouts to earn his credentials has not admitted a screw up and needs to unscrew the 3,236 track screws and do it all over again. It needs to be perfect like him. LOL!

Anyways, my big boy run real nice around the layout on track 2. We have to try track 1 and see the trestle clearances. Maybe Bud will have to re-locate the trestles? His wood for the other side of the elevated runs is coming this Wednesday so layout construction will commence this week. 

Soldering of all the track 3 and 4 lines up the ramp to the bridge plus his start on cutting wood for the other side's elevation.

Got a delivery of wood.  Marked 2 sheets of plywood for cutting of the straight and curved sections of the ramp.  A bit of a snow storm got in the way causing cutting to be delayed.

Today, OCSMR was at the Monmouth Museum in Colts Neck, NJ supporting the museum's train display that we had helped to set-up.  A bit of exposure for both the museum and OCSMR was an article that had appeared in the December 1st issue of USA Today listing train displays to see including the museum's and the mention of our club.

Here're a few pix of the display.

The display looks nice, Bud and all!

We did experience a clearance issue on the curve in the northwest corner with my Polar RR train.  Track 2 curve is closer to track 1 than it should be.  Track 2 is slated to be relocated in that area.  The Big-Boy clipped the door of the Polar RR's first box car midway thru the curve.

Track 2 got its re-location done last week with 4.5 to 5 inch clearance between the curves there. Bring on the Big Boy and the Polar Express train! No more restricted running there! Just have to test out track 1 and the trestles. 

All the track sections on line 3 and 4 have soldered together up until the elevated Atlas bridge. Next is to cut 2 small track sections between the switches on the other side of the bridge along the elevated trestle.

Wood to be cut next week to begin elevated construction on the other end of the elevated 3 and 4 lines.

OCSMR was running train at Hobbytown in Toms River, NJ for their grand opening.

Here's Bill who is used to running trains with a "transformer" and had to learn to use  the Legacy Cab-2 to run his 70s General thru the TPC.  With some trepidation he did get his train to respond.  Don't know if we have a new convert to the beginning of command control.

Dennis and Ted.  Dennis running his Christmas General.  The Polar RR is mine.  The snow globe car was a big attention getter.  Later Ted ran his C&O Allegheny with aquarium cars and eventually gave the Cab-2 to a young guest who had no trouble operating Ted's train (wish I would have gotten a pic ).

Customer traffic was brisk through our stay 'til 4pm.  Wish Hobbytown success.

Looks like a worthwhile visit to Hobbytown!

The young boy who was there had no trouble mastering a cab-2 with my 30 second tutorial lesson. Was running my scale mallet and was having a load of fun. Unlike that guy named Bill who got the 15 second tutorial and was saying" what is this thing"! Lol!

Johnbrandt brought a few festive buildings for the holidays.  Dennis' Rudolf train made a holiday appearance.

Later, added some of our AmeriTown buildings that had been in boxes damaged by our "flood" couple of months ago.  Looks like a good place to add more of the same since space is at a premium for buildings.  Rudolf is still there.  Must be a stash of magic corn in those buildings.  Wonder if he'll fly away or is he got too much of a load.

Cut most of the ramps for the north side of the layout.  Replaced my 45 year old saber saw, which did a good job but used an old style blade which is hard to come by (makes you feel good when tools you have are now obsolete).  The new one does a good job and almost cuts by itself.  This piece goes around the roundhouse.

The ramp will go up toward the north end.

From the north end, the ramp goes down.

Ted soldered the track to the twin bridges and connected the "Y" to the outer tracks on the trestle.  He's taken his track laying skill to Level III.  Holding off doing the north end until we locate the end of the trestle.

The west wall is a scenic challenge, especially with the inset of the windows and the trim.  The scenery committee has some decisions to make.  The trestle just cries "urban" background, not the scenery of our acquired scenery panels.  Added a few of the crude cardboard building fronts I made long ago just to see how they look.

The members of OCSMR wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.

Good progress Bud!  Thank you for the update and photographs!  Your saber saw was 45 years old.  Hmmm....Mine is almost as old, and I haven't used it in a few years.  I hope to be needing it this winter, but I remember it was a chore to cut roadbed with it.  Maybe I will upgrade too whether blades are available or not!  Thank you for the tip!!!

Mark, 

We used ceiling tiles painted upside as the roadbed over plywood instead of using homosote board. Ceiling tiles were easier to cut. 

As for my Level III track laying certification, it look a little fiddling to get both switches aligned with the Y switch using a Dremel cutting wheel to fit both pieces of slightly bent track between the switches. And with little to no help from the professor!

Ted

Good luck in your new location. Curious will the HO layout overlap with the "O" gauge layour or is there seperate space dedicated for HO?

Steve

L.I.TRAIN posted:

Ted

Good luck in your new location. Curious will the HO layout overlap with the "O" gauge layour or is there seperate space dedicated for HO?

Steve

The layouts are separate. The HO is a layout depicting the NY&LB from South Amboy to Bay Head with PRR/CNJ operations. O scale layout is freelance. Both are in separate rooms which helps honestly because the goal of each layout is different.

Steve - Here're a few pix of the HO layout.  It will be multilevel with 3 levels.

A helix will be located in the corner.

More pix are on our Facebook page which is linked on our website.

Our club is temporarily closed due to the 16 inches of snow from last Thursday and the township not doing a very good job plowing there.

So... we wait for it to melt and/or the town finally plows the roadway and parking lot there.

The ice age has ended with the coming of a moderate temperature monsoon and slowing making a return to colder temps.

Two of the three free scenery panels were removed since they were in the way for installation of the NW elevated area.

Ted and Jim, our O-Gauge Superintendent, worked on replacing the old Gargrave's track pins on the trestle track with new ones.  Unfortunately, our stock of new track pins is near depleted and we'll have to clean the old ones before final assembly.  Want to insure conductivity thru the pins even though we're soldering all joints.

Ted's Big Boy reappeared.  Checked clearance on some cars at the NW corner curve between tracks 1 and 2 (an area where the curves were relocated).  Cars were short and had no problems but the track spacing gradually decreases to 4 inches at the beginning of the trestle and may cause some problems with the Big Boy.  At the other end, coming into the trestle on track 1, have a big clearance problem with the Big Boy, so can't run it in that direction.  Running it out of the trestle at that end was not a problem.  At the NW end, coming into the trestle, there is interference with the vertical support.  This will be eliminated with a redesign when the flat area is installed.

Started to layout and cut the plywood for the elevated flat area at the NW corner.  Thru a minor miscalculation, the plywood was too long and was recut.  Unfortunately, the recut was also a tad too long (the upper right hand corner in the pic).  Decided to call it quits since it was getting late and my right knee was acting up making it uncomfortable to stand or walk.

Two museum guests visited hoping to tour the museum but the museum was closed.  They are past residents of Lakewood.  We had some historical discussions about the building and Lakewood.  Ted gave them a cook's tour of the dungeon.

Bud,

I hear you on the ice age ending, monsoon, then the next ice age; with a sizable amount of snow preceding it too!  What a mess here in Western Pennsylvania!

I'm glad to see that I am not the only one who measures twice and still cuts it wrong twice!  Oh well, as the barber back in teenage days used to say, "I can take more off, but I can't put it back on."  Also, as a former supervisor used to tell us, "when things are going wrong or you can't figure out what is causing the problem, walk away from it, get a cup of coffee, and come back later to readdress it."  

Having met Ted at York, I think he would be a great tour guide!  Knowledgeable and Personable!!

We are back up and running again as a club and back "working on the railroad". While Bud is doing all his wood cutting, we will be proceeding on the final painting in the hallway so we can re-hang our pictures there and get that area completed. One part of our club said they would paint the hallway but never finished so the more active ones are going to get it done.

After about 2 weeks of non-activity, we are back to finishing the wood cutting and build the last part of the elevated runs. As our senior layout engineer has been suffering with a hurting knee and our club president will be getting his other, right, knee replaced on next Monday, progress has been slowed due to non-oiling of the knees.

We were there on Wednesday morning and made a little progress and hope the Senior layout engineer will be there this Saturday to give his expert apprentices the guidance they need.

Pictures to follow when Bud is there.

I'll be glad to see everyone all 'repaired' and back at work on the layout.  I just got my left knee 'oiled' again this morning.  By 'oiled' I mean I got my second of three Euflexxa shots.  

LocoBudd posted:

Not much activity construction wise.  Mostly due to Thanksgiving.  Still need to get additional plywood.

Some scenery panels were given to us by a fellow O-gauger who was dismantling his layout.

 

Wow!  Great backdrop.

NH Joe

Hobbled into the club at my usual fashionable time.

The "Wrecking Crew" (Bob, Jack, Ted and Tom) accomplished quite a bit.  Got the corner piece cut as needed.  Pic of the underside, the trains will see as they pass under.

Cut the straight pieces connecting the curved sections of the ramp and located.

Next will be installing supports for the corner section and the ramp.  The corner supports with be checked with Ted's "Golden" Standard Big Boy for any clearance problems before buttoning down the corner section.

Johnbrandt was also busy with continuing the painting of the back drop.

Hobbled into the club at my usual fashionable time.

Yep, the crew of highly accredited apprentices were patiently awaiting the arrival of their professor. A lot of work got accomplished today as the crew whipped the professor into mental jaw action  while his crew did all the heavy dirty work! 

We are once again chugging along down the line towards completion.

Bud, Ted, and crew, I'm glad to see you are back in action!!!

Friday nite went over a club members house to run some trains.

Here's Ted with his "new" baby the Big Boy.

Checked the Big Boy's clearance coming thru the portal on a 120 curve.

A few more pix of Joe's layout.  The architect is someone who's been know to really "screw-up" a layout.

A vintage Lionel dealer crossing signal display was donated to our club by a relative of the long closed Hazlet Train Stop.

Johnbrandt  painted more of the backdrop on the south wall.  Plus, the elevated section has been closed and covered with tile and awaits painting.

The elevated plywood covering the NW corner was installed.

The crew made great strides in assembling the ramp sections and supports.  Half of the vertical supports were positioned.  Before final installation,  will have to cut into the layout where the ramp comes down in back of the roundhouse.

Had to reposition the first support and was a bit short since it no longer was under the joiner.  Ted's solution to clamp the shim while the glue dries.

Someone is going to be busy at remedial spelling school.  Has something to do with marking the color of a paint can conrete.

The crew is back working so fast with the expertise of our "screwed up" layout designer, architect and builder, Bud, making suggestions and giving us explicit directions on installing the lines 3 and 4 ramp. We were going so fast, his bum knee got the exercise it needed, he was able to climb the steps there "in a single bound".

I found the paint can to be used on the unpainted ceiling tiles and our professor named it "conrete" color, not concrete? Think he needs to go back to school.

Nice Big Boy, Ted!!  Looks like the crew is making progress no matter what obstacles they face!  Don't over use the bum knee too fast!!

Mark,

Bud has the bum knee but seems to be getting better. The crew is determined to get the track finished.

Ted,

I admire everyone’s energy!

I hope Bud gets his knee feeling better!  I just had the last of my shots in my left knee.  Since my wife needs another knee replaced, and the dog hurt her ACL, I can appreciate the trouble bad knees cause!

Mark - Thanks for the concern.  Had fluid removed from my right knee.  Recovery has its ups and downs.  Trying not to overdo it.  Generally, knee seems to be slowly getting better.

Bud,

You had fluid taken off and I jus had my third shot to add lubricating fluid.  Glad to hear yours seems to be getting better 

Mark - Too bad we hadn't gotten together.  I had plenty of excess fluid.  The left knee was dry.

LocoBudd posted:

Mark - Too bad we hadn't gotten together.  I had plenty of excess fluid.  The left knee was dry.

 

That’s right!  Just pump it out of yours into mine! 

Had a good sized crew today consisting of Al, Bob, Jack and Tom.  Bob painted the south upper level.  Tom and Jack concentrated on fastening the ramp and supports.   Later moved onto cutting into the layout for the "up" transition at the end of the ramp.

Jack cutting into the plywood "bridges" over layout supports with his Multi-Tool.

The result of the surgery.  Had to hack away part of a support to allow clearance for the connecting doubler.

The final result.

Have to add tiling, paint and lay track.  Tho, there is some tweaking to do on the end of the upper level before it can be connected to the trestle.

It's amazing what gets done when the vice president goes away for the weekend. Looking good. Guess we will start cutting ceiling tiles.

Johnbrandt sitting down on the...er...working on the backdrop.

With the help of Ed, re-aligned right support, added filler to left support, and installed fascia to hide the plywood and tile edges of the upper level.

Edge and supports of upper level still need to be filled and painted before final installation of the trestle.

Budd,

In my line of work, an artist can do his/her magic in any position.

If it worked for Michelangelo, it can work for me!

Great analogy, John!  Great work!!

Thank you, Mark.

With Bob as a crew of one, we got a fair amount of work done.  Ted was at his daughters building a crib.  Jack made a cameo visit to drop off a track spacing tool and hovered over the cutting of the trestle (wish I would have taken some pix...oh well).

Fascia and supports at the trestle end were painted.  The trestle was cut and trial fitted.  Will install after a clearance test with Ted's "golden" Big Boy.

Tiles were cut and installed (with screws of course) on the upper level and the ramp.

The southern end upper level and serves as Johnbrandt's work area.  Hope he doesn't have any problems with urban development when the track work is done.  Michelangelo apparently didn't have that problem with painting the Sistine Chapel.  His biggest problem was the Pope.

Entrance to the tunnel at the other end of the northern level.

Will probably have a portal similar to this.

The two track portal on the southern end will probably be similar to this.

Next will be painting the ramp and upper level, laying out the curves at the end of the trestle (curves will start more than half-way into the first bay), and finish laying track (about 130-140 feet total for the trestle and ramp).

Thank you for the great update Bud!!

Wow Bud, you and Bob got a lot done yesterday. I might bring the golden big boy down today for another trial run while the museum is open.

I can only imagine how Jack was "hovering" over the work progress like Trump's drone spying on the Russians!

Think we need to get another can of gray paint and get that done so Bud can draw his track lines. The expert track laying crew is patiently waiting.

LocoBudd posted:

The southern end upper level and serves as Johnbrandt's work area.  Hope he doesn't have any problems with urban development when the track work is done.  Michelangelo apparently didn't have that problem with painting the Sistine Chapel.  His biggest problem was the Pope.

With any luck and timing, Budd, I should be done with trees in the third panel before urban develpment does begin.

 

The big boy was tested out today on line 1 and passed the "Bud" test so the last trestle can be screwed down into place and the trestle track can be secured. Painting of the ramp to be done on Thursday and ready for the "Bud" to lay down the track lines so the expert track laying crew can commence operations.

As for Johnbrandt, better finish those trees quickly ad urban development will be starting soon when the housing applications have been approved by the Dennis and Bud administration.

Also to be done is the corner pop ups to be installed. 

Passed the Bud test!  Things are moving right along!

Today, gave a special tour of the O-Gauge and HO-Gauge layouts to a Cub Scout Troop.

Here're a few candid shots of the O-Gauge layout tour.

Ran a special train for the Scouts.

That's great you ran trains for the scouts!!  The BSA train looks great!!  I wish I had a mentor to get a railroading merit badge when I was in scouts.  We didn't know anyone.  I was a lone wolf modeler way back then!!  The overview photographs of the layout are great!

The upper completed ramp gets painted on Thursday with some track wiring being soldered for better connections. Once the paint dries, our nutty track professor can scribe his pencil lines so the track laying crew can commence operations and complete tracks 3 and 4. Soldering of those rails and wiring after that. We should have all lines operating within the next 3 weeks.

Tom finished the supports and removable cover over the pop-up in the northwest corner (area where the trestle meets the upper level).  Plans are to recreate the military funeral scene we had on our old layout in the corner in honor of one of our members who passed several years ago.  Here's a pic of the scene from our old layout.

Fastened most of the curved track on the ramp around the roundhouse.  Relatively easy since it's preformed.

Ted was lowering the ground throws on the switches on those where the pin wasn't long enough to stay in the crossbar and then painting the bare wood black (as in the pic above), and adding ground throws where needed.

Located the centers and track locations for the track coming off the trestle.  Ted did the marking with the trammel.

Marked up the rest of the ramp, locating track for straights and curves.

Keep up the good work, men!  It is really shaping up!!

Ted great effort by the club~!!!.  Hope you have a club / OGR FOrum open house some day. I'd make the trip from Long Island

I was thinking the same as Steve, but it’s 300 miles one way

L.I.Train (Steve) - We are having an Open House on Sunday, April 8th from 12 to 4 pm.  Hope you can make it.

Mark - The Blue Comet's down for restoration.  So, an excursion to pick you up is not possible at this time.  Wish you could be here.

LocoBudd posted:

L.I.Train (Steve) - We are having an Open House on Sunday, April 8th from 12 to 4 pm.  Hope you can make it.

Mark - The Blue Comet's down for restoration.  So, an excursion to pick you up is not possible at this time.  Wish you could be here.

 

Blue Comet!  Wouldn’t that be a great trip?!  Thank you!  It’s the thought that counts!!

You guys have made great progress since our visit back in October.  

BTW, the one pic. of Ted explaining things with no one listening is priceless.  Ted:  Get a few pointers on talking to kids from your daughter.  LOL!!  

Ted making the curved track connection to the switch on track 3.

Finished installation of curve to track 3 switch.  Bit of an overhang of the track on the trestle.  Couldn't be avoided and should be okay.  Track 4 will also overhang.

Bob aligning ties so track 4 can be fastened to the trestle cross supports.

Finished the curves on the ramp around the roundhouse and left the last piece of track loose so track being installed down the ramp can be connected.

As far was we got with track 3 on the downside.  Bob fastened the track 4 track on the trestle.  Just a couple of feet to go.

Spent some time working with Tom.  Ted had to spend some time at that radio station WORK.  Tom made the final track connection on track 3.  It's now a complete loop.

Found some black wire (to blend in with the trestle) and connected the section of track 3 on the trestle between the switches which will also serve as a siding later.  Ran the BBW Conrail SD-45 on as much of track 3 as is powered without a problem.  Still need at least one additional power drop and a jumper or two.

We will commence track laying operation on this Thursday on loop number 4 and get that completed by this weekend. Next will be track wiring and ballasting with some temporary scenery work being done in preparation of our open house on Sunday, April 8th.

More pictures to follow.

Ted and Tom completed the track work on track 4 but left a joint needing fastening on the ramp.

Yours truly and Tom installing the final golden spikes...er screws on track 4 at our Honorary Promontory Point.

Made the final electrical connection to track 3 on the ramp and added some jumpers across the switches by the station.  Still have to make a panel for the sidings and power them.  The WBB SD-45 was, once again, called to test the track.  Nice to see a train run the full loop.  Next is wiring track 4.

Buildings and accessories were dug out of their boxes and started cropping up on the layout.

If in the area, stop by the Manalapan Community Center for the Train Show.  See the thread above this one.

Bud, Those are some nice photographs of you, Tom, and Ted making good progress!!  I'm glad you are getting more tracks operating!

On Sunday, we were at the Manalapan Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee Train Show.

Militaria.

Stephen Baker of the NY Giants who brought his race car and virtual reality simulators for the guests to try.

OCSMR's set-up.

When Ted gets tired running trains, he hands the Cab II over to one of the younger guests.

Don't know if Ted's trying to get his Cab II back or is just distracted.

Brought along my snow globe and target launching cars.  The target launching car seemed to get the most attention.

Had kids waited to take turns "capturing" the magically floating balloon or trying to get it to "float" again.  Not everyone got it on the first try.  Lots of opportunities for the guests to "retrieve" the target since it didn't always stay floating as the train moved. 

Sean, one of our Junior members is heavy into Lego and brought a display.

And, the others...

Looks like a nice show!  That is a nice variety of displays, and it is good many were interactive.

Here is a clip of my layout from the show.

Joe - Thanks for posting the vid.  Thought I got pix of everyone.

Joe, The video looks good!!  Is that a full size milk can on your layout?  Can you tell us about that?  

Thanks Mark, this milk can was my grandpa's. He gave it to me a few days ago actually as he was given it from a pharmaceutical company he used to work for.

Now called Bristol Meyer Squibb, the company was originally called E.R. Squibb and was actually served by the Raritan River Railroad. (Which you can see puttering around in the video) Anyways, there are faded orange letters on the can saying PEN ONLY. Apparently when my grandpa worked there they used to make or store penicillin inside the milk cans.

Joe,

That is a very interesting story!  Thank you for replying!!

RaritanRiverRailroadFan4 posted:

Thanks Mark, this milk can was my grandpa's. He gave it to me a few days ago actually as he was given it from a pharmaceutical company he used to work for.

Now called Bristol Meyer Squibb, the company was originally called E.R. Squibb and was actually served by the Raritan River Railroad. (Which you can see puttering around in the video) Anyways, there are faded orange letters on the can saying PEN ONLY. Apparently when my grandpa worked there they used to make or store penicillin inside the milk cans.

While I was attending Cook College, which is adjacent to Squibb, in the 1970s, I often witnessed RRRR trains working the plant and surrounding area. It was usually while I was fishing Westons Mill Pond or exploring the local woods, and was more interested in those things and in railroading at the time and took little more than casual note of the trains.  Oh, the regrets! One thing I don't want to revisit is the smell emanating from the Squibb plant. The livestock pens on campus (it is an environmental/agricultural school) smelled far-better!

Speaking of livestock, the dairy farm was the closest part of the campus to the plant. Considering that a milk can would be more often associated with a dairy farm than a pharmaceutical plant, I wonder if there might have been a connection. 

Friday nite some rogue members hacked track 4  and added jumpers to make the loop operational.  Rumor has it that they were running trains at breakneck speeds without any derailments.  Other than their clever hacking, they were impressed with the track work  which allowed their unprecedented train operations.  The apprentice has come a long way (tho he didn't start the track work on 3 and 4 but finished most of it, along with Bob and Tom).  The hack was neutralized and electrical connections to track 4 have been completed making it fully operational.

Jim, our O-Gauge Superintendent, cleans track joints in preparation for Ted's soldering the joints.  On the 080 curves of track 4, we apparently used stainless steel track and proved problematic in soldering.  Center rail appears to be steel and soldered with little difficulty.  Will leave outer rail unsoldered for now.

Test run (conventional) on track 4.  No problems.  Ted also ran a Niagra with TMCC, again, no problems.  Have yet to run a DCS engine.

The wrecking crew added a short section on Masonite backer board so Johnbrandt can complete the painting of the scenery on the south wall.  Unfortunately, the bracing obstructed running thru the complete loops on tracks 3 and 4.

We had a guest who visited last year and was the one who pointed out where he sat in the chem lab when he attended the school in the late 50s.  He told the story of one student who had a chemical spill that burned a hole in the top of one of the tables.  He tried to locate it to no avail.  Maybe the ghost will locate it for the paranormal group (aka ghostbusters) when they attend tonite.

We're sufficiently operational for our Open House on April 8th.  Would also like to wire the sidings on tracks 1 and 2.

I'm glad to learn the hackers were successful in getting the track ready for operation!  If the speed demons are able to run safely, you should be in good shape!!  Yes, I can see soldering to stainless would be most difficult!!  Ted will come through!  That is really neat that someone who went to school in the '50s came by.  Wow, now I know why we had no chemicals in chemistry class.  Strictly lecture!!  The open house should be great!!

Here's panorama shot of the O-Gauge layout.

Bud, Thank you for the great panoramic photograph!  It really shows us how parts of the whole layout relate to each other!  Keep up the great work everyone!!

Mark - Guess it's not to bad for a layout concept that started with a 2D drawing.

And, a panorama shot of the HO-Gauge layout.  A helix to be located in the lower right corner will be installed to connect the levels.

More pix of out HO layout are on our FaceBook page.  Use the FaceBook link on our website (link on signature).

BTW the panorama pix were taken by our HO Superintendent, Chris.

Today we had the golden solder spike installed by me witnessed by the nutty layout professor while he was constructing a wiring panel for the various sidings.

So as of now, we have 4 operating lines which you can run conventional or command however you like.

Promontory Summit, New Jersey!  Congratulations on 4 operating lines everyone!!

Promontory Summit, NJ...hmmmm...will have to Google that.  Might find that it's located in the area of Pine Park, Lakewood, NJ.

Ted and Tom continued soldering track Joints.  Tom left early.  So, that left Ted having the honor of the Golden Solder Joint.  Thereby solidifying the electrical connections of the 4 loops.   There are still some minor jumpers and joints to solder, mostly in the turntable and station area.

The control panel didn't get as far as anticipated.  It's inset in the tile on the layout.  The "blue" color of the panel will be "black".  The blue is from using the Masonite of a small backdrop panel.  The panel will control sidings on tracks 1 thru 4 except in the area of the station and turntable.

The control panel and switches were installed.

Ted was busy installing jumpers and ground throws.  Bob, later in the evening, shimmed some areas of track.  Ted took his EM-1 for a spin on tracks 3 and 4 and did find some areas that needed tweaking.  And, here's his EM-1 around the layout.

Did experience some close clearances in a couple of places  but all made it thru.

Wow! You guys are making great progress. That panoramic photo really does a nice job of showing us the track plan. Looks amazing!

The panel looks very handsome and functional.  Ted's EM-1 certainly does show the layout in a great light!  The layout looks great everyone!  Ted, The EM-1 really looks great!!  What a fine locomotive!