Layout change's 08/05/2023

Thanks Dallas and Peter, Now its time to do some clean up and painting the new track I put in.

Mike, I'm glad you solved the problem.  The solution is something all of us will remember...I hope I will remember! 

Looking good Mike! You’re solving the problems as you go, and making for a better running layout in the end, well done.

Andy

Hi thanks guys! I did get out to the train room yesterday and was able to get my painting done, I will have to get more Earth  Brown brush paint for the lower staging yard.

So I spent some time just putting stuff out and kind of brain storming. First I laid out the sidings that will go inside the upper loop.

While I was at it I figured I might as well put out some building and flats, of course I had to run trains around to check clearance, which is a good thing. I found a couple clearance issues, first both the 4-8-4 and the SD70 hit the loading docks on the flats in the right of the photo.

If you look close in the photo below behind the gas station you will see a 4" X  6" post, the tailing edge of that will have to be shaved off by an 1/8th of an inch. Both engines will go by it but both also rub on the front right side.

Last but not least I want to get your guys opinion on this, I am thinking about installing the upper level sidings right on top of the plywood as there is not going to be a lot of rail noise. What do you all think?

I hope you all are having a great weekend!

@mike g. posted:

Hi thanks guys! I did get out to the train room yesterday and was able to get my painting done, I will have to get more Earth  Brown brush paint for the lower staging yard.

So I spent some time just putting stuff out and kind of brain storming. First I laid out the sidings that will go inside the upper loop.

While I was at it I figured I might as well put out some building and flats, of course I had to run trains around to check clearance, which is a good thing. I found a couple clearance issues, first both the 4-8-4 and the SD70 hit the loading docks on the flats in the right of the photo.

If you look close in the photo below behind the gas station you will see a 4" X  6" post, the tailing edge of that will have to be shaved off by an 1/8th of an inch. Both engines will go by it but both also rub on the front right side.

Last but not least I want to get your guys opinion on this, I am thinking about installing the upper-level sidings right on top of the plywood as there is not going to be a lot of rail noise. What do you all think?

I hope you all are having a great weekend!

I agree with you Mike. There should be no noise issue with the sidings mounted on the plywood. You won't be highballing cars onto a siding LOL.

@Dave Ripp. posted:

I agree with you Mike. There should be no noise issue with the sidings mounted on the plywood. You won't be highballing cars onto a siding LOL.

Heck I am thinking maybe the same thing for my lower staging yard!

@mike g. posted:

Heck I am thinking maybe the same thing for my lower staging yard!

Also, slow traffic and if I remember right, it's out of eye view so you don't have to ballast.

@Dave Ripp. posted:

Also, slow traffic and if I remember right, it's out of eye view so you don't have to ballast.

Your right on that, after last time anything out of sight that isn't already ballasted is staying bare! LOL

Great progress, Mike. It’s fun to see your hard work come together. Looking forward to  more videos as you get more done!

Mike,

Your progress has been really fun to watch. You are really putting in some work. You must be on your mojo right now. When it happens, great things are in its conclusion. As far as a roadbed, the main purpose is for sound deadening right? If you are not experiencing loud train running then I say be prototypical and not add roadbed so that the sidings are slightly lower than the main.

Dave

Looks great, Mike!

Everything looks great Mike. I'm with the group, no cork under the sidings, no ballast where it can't be seen.

Bob

@mike g. posted:

Last but not least I want to get your guys opinion on this, I am thinking about installing the upper level sidings right on top of the plywood as there is not going to be a lot of rail noise. What do you all think?

I hope you all are having a great weekend!

Prototype sidings are not maintained as well as the mainline and usually are at a slightly lower grade anyways so other than needing to provide a few thin shims to drop the track from cork level to the plywood it would be visually ok to do so.  Check the siding in this link:  https://www.railpictures.net/i.../3682.1041387240.jpg

~Joe

I think the changes look great so far!

-Greg

Hi thanks everyone for looking and commenting! I am with the rest of the group and no cork on the siding and no ballast where it cant be seen! Which is a great idea as it means less work for me! LOL

So yesterday I got out to the train room to move some trains around so I could put up some shelves and my darn 4-8-4 kept shorting on one switch I put liquid electrical tape on the leading edge of the from and if I go fast enough it is ok, but if I go slow enough it throws the RED short light. Then come to find out the tender behind the 4-8-4 doesn't like to go backwards through the curve before the switch. I replace that curve the day before with flex track and yesterday I took out the flex track and put 054 curves back in. I still don't like the way it looks or rides so I am thinking that section over for improvements!

Shorting Switch.

UP derailment!                                     

And for the whole plan for yesterday! LOL the shelves!

Today I hope to get the siding track put down, and rolling stock out of cardboard moving boxes and on the shelves.

I hope you all have a great day!

Mike, reading your post reminds me of when I planned a quick trip to visit my parents years ago and I planned to replace all the gargraves brand switches on Dad’s layout with Ross. It should be easy right? Nope! 5 years later and 3 of the 11 are still waiting to be done. I spent the original trip chasing my tail with electrical problems and each time I go out, I sneak in another switch changeout. Then I spend the next 6 months dealing with the issues that came from making the latest change.  All of it complicated because of the 900 miles between us.  
keep up the great work!!

Mike, it is tricky to get track and switches in a way that every engine works correctly in forward and reverse.  I have been working on the same problems with my layout.

Mike I  posted a reply to your short issue on the WDYDT thread.  Can't keep track of multiple locations.

Thanks guys I am just taking a short break to check in here!

Jeff I will give it a look!

Hi guys I didn't get alot of time out in the train room today, but what I did get done was carving a little room for my 4-8-4 and SD70 or is it 80? LOL

Then I started pulling things out from under the layout to try and figure out again what I had and what I can get rid of! I think that might have been a mistake! LOL     

Oh well tomorrow is another day!

Mike, I think it is a good idea to bring out all the structures so you can see what will fit where.

Hi guys I hope it has been a good Thursday for you all!

Mark, Thanks but it sure makes for a mess! LOL

Well guys I got out to the train room today and worked on pulling more stuff out and placing it on the layout. I decided to install my walking bridge which took some doing and will need some repair, but that is the name of the game when things sit under the layout with to much other stuff! LOL

Here are a couple of photos from todays fun! I had to get the scratch built Coors Brewery up for sure! LOL

Worked on the walking bridge and now down the road I am going to have to give the folks a place to go play! LOL

I also worked on placing things for the service area and tank farm.

The Sky crane will stay in that location as soon as I can run some trains past it for a clearance test. It is able to do a complete 360 degree spin in that location!

Well I hope you all have a great night and a wonderful Friday along with the upcoming weekend!

Mike, Layout is coming along nicely and looks great. I really like your bridges and tank farm. Keep the pics coming.

Tom

Afternoon guys I hope your all having a great Saturday! Well I was able to get out to the train room the last couple of days and got some work done!

I was able to get my air field out from under the layout and get it mounted after some redesign of the mounting for its new location. It left a little gap that I plan on filling with some foam board. I also cleaned up a little rearranged some buildings, I still have 4 boxes of cars and trucks to get out, but I dont want to do to much till I get the holes drilled and the building wired up. But here are a few photos.

I hope you enjoy!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Looks great, Mike!

@Mark Boyce posted:

Looks great, Mike!

Thanks Mark, I appreciate it and am almost ready for your help with the wiring of the AIU LOL!

It's looking like a layout again Mike.

Bob

Good morning guys I hope your all doing well!

My plans for Sunday didn't pan out I went out and started cleaning track and came across another dead area on the outside loop. I guess I didn't put enough solder on the joint and after a couple runs of heave trains was enough to break the solder. I resoldered it and all is working fine now, it just sucks it took me a good amount of time to figure it out.

Yesterday I placed autos and big rigs like I was going to do Sunday. I emptied every box of autos and trucks I could find, If I can get to it today I plan on putting people on the layout.

I know it all is going to have to be moved but this Saturday is the first time in a long time there will be most of our friends here at the same time for the wife's retirement party so I want them to see a good start to the rebuild.

It looks great for your visitors! Congratulations to your wife on her retirement!!

@Mark Boyce posted:

It looks great for your visitors! Congratulations to your wife on her retirement!!

Thanks Mark, if you get a chance can you see if you can find the photos that Bill shared with you? I think after this weekend it will be time for me to try and start wiring the AIU.

Mike, he sent me a document and photographs.  I’ll send them to you soon.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Mike, he sent me a document and photographs.  I’ll send them to you soon.

Thanks Mark!

Mike, great progress on the layout. Congratulations to your wife and to you on getting a new train partner.

I was reading back a few days and saw you mention a problem with a tender on a turnout. We do them the same way that you mentioned with cork, ballast, etc. The first thing that we do when we have a problem is put a shim under the appropriate track to try and correct the problem. Most of the time that corrects things.

A week ago nothing worked so Rich took a pair of pliers and carefully bent the end of the rail to fit; Bingo.

If you need any help on the AIU, let me know. Mark does some of the nicest wiring I have seen so I would definitely use him first.

@Bill Webb posted:

Mike, great progress on the layout. Congratulations to your wife and to you on getting a new train partner.

I was reading back a few days and saw you mention a problem with a tender on a turnout. We do them the same way that you mentioned with cork, ballast, etc. The first thing that we do when we have a problem is put a shim under the appropriate track to try and correct the problem. Most of the time that corrects things.

A week ago nothing worked so Rich took a pair of pliers and carefully bent the end of the rail to fit; Bingo.

If you need any help on the AIU, let me know. Mark does some of the nicest wiring I have seen so I would definitely use him first.

Thanks Bill, the funny thing is I only have the problem with the 4-8-4 engine and tender. I think it is the tightness of the curve, but then again I might need to service the engine so it rolls easier. I just need to figure out how and where to get the grease for it from.

As for the AIU thank you very much I have a felling it will take both of you as I am not electronic savvy! LOL

@mike g. posted:

Thanks Bill, the funny thing is I only have the problem with the 4-8-4 engine and tender. I think it is the tightness of the curve, but then again I might need to service the engine so it rolls easier. I just need to figure out how and where to get the grease for it from.

As for the AIU thank you very much I have a felling it will take both of you as I am not electronic savvy! LOL

Mike isn't  your 4-8-4 a Lionel model ?   Is it a UP ?

I have an MTH / RK . UP 4-8-4.     Where I have back to back switches the 4-8-4 has difficulties.    The UP tender has 10 fixed rigid wheels of which the front two and the rear two have flanges and 4 that turn with the tender. 

The combination of the 10 fixed straight line wheel configuration  on the tender and the 8 fixed straight line on the engine trying to negotiate curves cause the headache for me when backing up.  So I avoid the back to back switches.

Don't know if any of this helps you get your issue resolved .   Good luck.

Hi Dallas, I also have the MTH 4-8-4, just premiere.  Same wheel set up. I guess I will do everything I can to not have to back up! Lol

Looking good Mike, you’re making great progress. I agree with the others. Less ballast and cork - less $

Andy

Wow, Mike! A lot of great progress!

Peter

Can't read your update and not comment Mike. I will go back to your airfield and plane taking off. That was one great bit of engineering and modeling!

Bob