Sorry you need knee surgery, Mike.
@Mark Boyce posted:Sorry you need knee surgery, Mike.
It's all good, should make it easier to get out from under the layout and off the ground! Better then trying to find something to use to pull yourself up. Lol
Are you having a replacement or surgery to repair?
@DoubleDAZ posted:Are you having a replacement or surgery to repair?
Meniscus repair.
Good luck. Had a friend just go through that last week.
@DoubleDAZ posted:Good luck. Had a friend just go through that last week.
Thanks, I am hoping to get the bridge moved before then if I am lucky. I really have to get the left end track down, before I can start taking down the right side due to lack of storage space.
Mike, I like the plan modifications. I’m with Bob, lots of nice mid sized engines out there to accommodate the O-54. The plan has lots of storage and nice running opportunities. Best of luck on the knee repair. The recovery is fairly quick.
Andy
@Steamfan77 posted:Mike, I like the plan modifications. I’m with Bob, lots of nice mid sized engines out there to accommodate the O-54. The plan has lots of storage and nice running opportunities. Best of luck on the knee repair. The recovery is fairly quick.
Andy
Thanks Andy, I just got an order of 0-54 Curves yesterday. If I get time today I'm going to lay some out so I can mark the center line for the cork when it gets here.
Just a little side note, I guess I am going to have plenty of cork as I bought a case plus off the forum and the CEO told me the kids bought me a case also.
I might try left-over for auto roads.
I think the knee thing should be easy, doc said 3 days off the knee
Mike, that will be a lot of cork! I’m glad your surgery isn’t as involved as my meniscus was 15 years ago.
@Mark Boyce posted:Mike, that will be a lot of cork! I’m glad your surgery isn’t as involved as my meniscus was 15 years ago.
Sure is Mark, if I don't get into one of the cases I might sell it for layout funds! The knee is just s snip off a ripped section that is floating around. If it was a total repair it would really suck!
@mike g. posted:Sure is Mark, if I don't get into one of the cases I might sell it for layout funds! The knee is just s snip off a ripped section that is floating around. If it was a total repair it would really suck!
Good idea. However it gets used up fast, just like track. A friend was moving this summer and had some HO track and power supplies laying around. Since his grandson is grown he asked me to take the HO stuff off his hands. I had forgotten how small and flimsy HO track is when compared to O. Of course the cost difference is immense.
Mike, I am glad for you. My meniscus was more damaged and left we without a lot of it. I wonder if that is why I needed that knee replacement 10 years later. The other knee is fine.
I posted.it.on what did you do on the layout today. I was able to clean part of the train room, marked out for the inner loop, and got all the bridges installed.
Then about an hour ago I got.my cork, so I hope to get more track laid tomorrow.
Here are a couple photos for you guys.
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Looks nice, Mike. Looking forward to further updates and a successful surgery.
Looks great. You got a lot done.
Question, @Mike g., taking a look from this side of your bridges, looking at the glass sliding doors, in the picture on the right, the tracking going up to the higher level, Is there a slight dip in the grade in the middle of the large door? I am simply wondering if this is correct, or should there be a slight dip? On my layout, when there’s a slight dip, train cars can come loose. Your plan is really nice. Pictures tell a lot and we look at our pictures to see if there are any issues. This could be an illusion and I’m just askin…Happy Railroading Everyone
Hi Larry, I don't think so, but thanks for pointing it out. I will check it with a nice straight edge and report back to you all.
I do not think much will get done today due to weather and Dr. Appointment.
Mike, I thought there was a dip there too (optical illusion perhaps?), but what is that extra piece of plywood next to the support block? I thought it might be to support a joint in the decking, but the joint seems to be above the support block.
Hi Mike, I was looking at the different pictures of the risers in that area and possibly could be mistaken. Your frame work, and table work is great. I love seeing your BNSF trains on your layout. One day I plan to visit your part of the country and might like to pop in.
Thanks for the reply and Merry Christmas to you and your family. Happy Railroading Everyone
Thanks guys for pointing out a possible problem. Dave the piece of plywood under the main piece was for where I tied in the old upper loop on the previous layout. It was less destruction to just cut it off then try to pry it off as I use lots of wood glue to help hold things together.
Got it, Mike. Hopefully the “sag” is just an illusion, but should just need a slightly taller block is it isn’t.
Now I see the possible sag too. Sometimes a photograph points out a problem we don’t notice with our eyes and sometimes it is an optical delusion. 😉 I’m deluded often building my layout! 🥸
@Mark Boyce posted:Now I see the possible sag too. Sometimes a photograph points out a problem we don’t notice with our eyes and sometimes it is an optical delusion. 😉 I’m deluded often building my layout! 🥸
I agree Mark, and have made this same observation in the past.
A number of times I've seen things that need fixing in pics of Warrenville that I didn't notice when taking them nor on a day-to-day basis.
Hi guys you have some great eyes! I did go out and checked the dip and up it was there! it was about a 3/16th dip I just added an extra block and repositioned the other 2 to make it better. Put the level back on and dip is gone. I even rolled a longer car over it and it looks good.
Thank you so much guys for catching that! If you see anything else please let me know!
Good news and an easy fix.
Mike, that’s why we’re here! 😄
Hi guys I hope your all having a Merry Christmas! Thanks again for all your help!
I was able to get the rest of the track laid in the area to the left, but now I have to relocate the control station. Then I am going to work on getting everything wired up as for right now there is nothing under the table! LOL I just ordered 200' of red and black 18-gauge wire to rewire everything. I had been using 18G speaker wire, but it too hard with my aging eyes to tell positive to negative. Then I will put in 20G drops every 13 sections. Once I get that done then I will move everything under the right side and start dismantling that section and rebuild! LOL
Here are a couple photos of the left-hand section.
Again thanks for your help and Merry Christmas!
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@Mike g., Mike, your hill in the background looks lots better and your track work is neat, the bridges side by side make a great scene. It’s very impressive. Merry Christmas and keep the pictures coming. Happy Railroading Everyone
Thanks Larry, I have a long way to go! I just got a AIU and it looks like I am going to have to buy a cable that goes from the TIU to the AIU. New learning experience for me for sure!
Mike, you got a lot of work done. It is looking good! Ordering wire is something I need to do.
Merry Christmas!
Afternoon guys and gals!
Thanks for the nice words Mark!
Well I was able to get out to the train room this morning and got my new control station put together. The only thing I have to do is try to remember how to wire in the GRJ Watchdog into the system! LOL Here are a couple pictures. I used an old rolling cabinet I had in the train room. Thinking it will be easier to roll it out to wire everything else up to it! LOL
As you can see the AIU is not connected to the TIU, I bought it from a forum member that posted it new in original package, but it is missing the AIU to TIU cable. I am waiting to hear back from him about it. It could be a simple mistake as he was selling it for someone else.
I hope you all had a great Christmas and found time to share your layout and trains with all your family and friends!
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That looks very nice, Mike!
Looking good Mike. Good idea to get the power wired up so you can test the track as you build. Nothing worse than having to take newly installed track apart to fix a problem.
I found this explanation on connecting John's WD generator to the track.
Bob
The Control Station looks great Mike. Great idea to keep the components and wiring neat and organized.
Andy
@mike g. you and @Mark Boyce have my little train brain just spinning.
I'm enjoying seeing the new layout build. Hopefully next time I login I will not be 5 pages behind!
Hi guys thanks for the nice words, I am sorry I haven't been on here for a couple of days but between having a late Christmas with the kids and grandkids and trying to find time to get more work done on the layout is a little tough! LOL
I did get a chance to get to the train room and was able to get the track on the left side of the room wired 3/4 of the way around the right side. Which is fine considering I have to remove the rest of the old track plan before I move on with wiring.
Well once I got that done, I once again had to do a lot of cleaning. Then I had to move everything from under the layout on the right side to the left side. What a chore! LOL Yesterday I was able to get the upper and lower track and cork removed. I plan on getting the upper deck plywood removed along with the mountain today and maybe some more if I have time.
Here are a couple of photos for you all to admire! LOL 
Before cleaning up.
Then after Cleaning up.
And last but not least the right side ready to be taken down.
I hope you all are having a great weekend and looking forward to a fun filled new year with your trains and layouts!
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Happy New Year Mike.
The train room is looking good.
Bob
Everything looks good, Mike! I have to keep moving things around to make changes to my layout too.
Looking good brother, keep it up. I need to hurry up and get going on mine.
Hi guys, Thanks Mark and Nate,
I was able to get back out to the train room yesterday and was able to get the top level off and removed all the track and cork from the lower level.
Today I hope to get some of the track planning done for the lower level and check things on the upper level. It was funny I received my 18G black/Red wire on Saturday and thinking it would come on a roll, I was totally wrong! LOL here is how I got 200' of wire and it doesnt even look like 18G but the printed cover states it is.
I hope you all have a great week!
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