@gunrunnerjohn posted:

One suggestion for the GS shelves.  Lose the middle 3rd rail!  It is useless and only makes it harder to put stuff with center track rollers back on the shelves.  I have no idea why they think you need that center rail, clearly I won't be powering anything up on the shelves!  That's really my major complaint with the product!

That would require a change to the extrusion die which may not be possible or might cost a lot of money to do.

I've enjoyed seeing all these displays.  Surely is a better way to appreciate the treasures than as stacked boxes on roll-out dollies beneath the layout.  While the train room (basement) is basically all layout along the walls, eliminating convenient space for creating this sort of mass display, we have quite a few items...engines, cars, structures, small vignettes...on display throughout the house.  And these get changed out periodically as mood, money, and the moment dictate.

OTOH, there is this other problem...D-U-S-T.  I dislike having to deal with it.

We do what we can with filters on the home HVAC system.   And, really, there's nothing special that can be done re dust on the layout and everything on it.  I know it's a whole different topic, that 'dust'.  But to put up more shelves and openly display more of the trains....well...it ain't gonna happen.  Couple that with this septuagenarian having to get on a step ladder, or down on the knees to dust floor-to-ceiling jewelry is akin to self-flagellation.

And my better half, my wife, is not about to take on the task, either...and we're both into this hobby!!

We could hire a 'duster'...

or...

But it's not in the 'infrastructure funding' plan for the household.

So, while mass displays of this sort are a better way to appreciate the hobby's investment, the flip side is to wonder why we have so much 'hidden' away?  Too much for the layout, too much for open celebration.  Too much to dust.

IOW...a reminder that, for us at least, it may be time to think about 'unvesting'.

But, as we all know, that'll never happen!

So.....time for another cup o' Joe.

KD/DK

Rails or grooves on shelves are fine for rolling stock, but for engines I'd much rather their weight be on the flange of the wheels and not on the traction tires. I've been wanting to purchase some, new or used, but would like to know if the grooves are shallow enough or rails low enough to keep a gap between the tires and the shelf?

Is Glen Snyder still in business? I left a message like their website directs and never received a response.

Call them, don't waste time with the website.

I did  call them at the number on the website, no response.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

How did you remove the 3rd Rail?  I'm about to put several hundred feet of it up, and I'd like to do that if it's not a ton of work!

John - instead of wasting track do you have a friend with a table saw and dado blade? Have your friend dado two grooves from end to end then plug the ends with a 'bumper'.
I made one shelf and put some old Lionel track on it before buying Snyder shelving. I had to end up gluing the track to the wood to stop it from moving around.

@beardog49 posted:

I did  call them at the number on the website, no response.

Yes, I believe his daughter runs it. You have write up what you want to order, call her to get shipping, and mail her a check. No cc accepted.

Joe Gozzo

@beardog49 posted:

Is Glen Snyder still in business? I left a message like their website directs and never received a response.

Yes. Just received some shelving a few weeks ago. I had called in February and they were out of stock on O Gauge shelves, but she took my name and gave me a call back when they received their shipment a few weeks ago.

My initial contact with Glenn Snyder Shelving was via email. Carolyn replied fairly soon after I sent her the email.  They are a small Mom and Pop business, so cut them some slack, guys!

I would think that a nice sharp chisel would be able to take out that center rail.

Jim, I suspect you haven't had a 6 foot piece of aluminum shelving and actually tried this!

Yes they are still in business. Sometimes they call back right away and sometimes it takes a few days. I live in the area and picked up some shelves a couple of weeks ago. Carolyn and husband are running the business since Glenn passed. They were very nice and accommodating.

I would think that a nice sharp chisel would be able to take out that center rail.

How about a horizontal milling machine, instead?

@dkdkrd posted:

How about a horizontal milling machine, instead?

Yep, we all have one of those sitting around.

I actually like the center rail.    My GS shelves display all my rolling stock .   I like lightning up all the rolling stock that has lights when they're on display.   I do have a couple shelves I don't power that display an engine or two now and then

How do you do that?

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Yep, we all have one of those sitting around.

Oh, gee...If not, I'm sure Harbor Freight has one...cheap. 

Lucas Gudinov

@NJCJOE posted:

How do you do that?

Well, not how I did it, but some chap who sold us his room full of trains...including a wall of GS shelving.

He put a layer of thin tape...of some dielectric sort...on top of the 'center' rail.  On top of that he had put a strip of thin copper foil...the stuff Micro-Mark and others sell...that has peel-and-stick adhesive on the back side.

Then he soldered wires to the foils and to a buss strip on the left edge of a simple wood frame (1x3's stained/varnished) that served as left/right 'bumpers'.  He screwed wires w/ring terminals to each shelf for the common polarity, all likewise soldered to another buss strip.  A 12 v DC landscape lighting transformer w/on-off switch powered the whole shebang.

I suppose there are more elegant ways of doing the same thing.  Maybe it wasn't "code"-acceptable.  They had no small kids in the house.  But he demonstrated the effect with the room lighting dimmed....totally awesome!!  Talk about mood lighting for the hobbyist!!!!  Heck, I'd have put the bed in that room and had no problem drifting off to sleep staring at that wall!!

Not having any empty wall for the whole shelving shebang, I sold it to a local fellow hobbyist...who removed all the electrical-ities, not having the same interest.

FWIW...

KD

I’m a big fan of Glenn Snyder Display shelves. Attached is a photo with shelves in the wall boxes I had the contractor add when the basement was finished. Also, I just ordered more shelves by phone. (Caroline called back same day I left vm) They will be in the Orange Hall at York so saving on shipping and picking up at the show.

I'm going to need more, so I think I'll do the same thing, pick them up at York.  I'm covering an 18 foot wall as well as a smaller 3 foot section.

I know this is a long shot but I need just 1 6ft length of GSS IN THE COMBO O/STD, just in case anyone has a leftover piece they would like to sell. Email in my profile

Thks,

Joe Gozzo

Yes - they are still in business. They were out of material for awhile, but I just received my order that I placed in July. Call or email them.  They usually get back to you in a couple days.

Agree with a few others above. I always pick my GS shelving up at York. I know it's not an option for everyone, but so convenient for me and saves on shipping.

It's my first stop so I can hump them out to the car and get them stowed away. Don't recommend carrying them around the Hall.

@johnstrains posted:

It's my first stop so I can hump them out to the car and get them stowed away. Don't recommend carrying them around the Hall.

Let's see, about 50 6 foot sections...  You're right, I don't fancy carrying that around with me while I shop!

These are my shelves. I packed them in so they would fit in the space. Have almost every engine on it less 2 traditional 4-4-2s and a 4-6-4. And a PRR 44 tonner (MPC era) that needs some work. And the Southern Crescent on the track. Mainly I just wanted them out of boxes and off the utility shelves they were jammed on.

The room is the new extension we put in for me. Still in a state of chaos after bringing everything out there but improving steadily. Sorry the camera was tilted. That's 8 6' and then 2 6' joined with the clips they give you. They are close but they fit easily and come out Ok. I still have more passenger trains plus maybe 3 boxes of freight. I may try building some wood shelves for them since they are much lighter.

I dithered quite a while but once I started they just went up so easily. I drilled one hole in the center and 2 more towards the ends of each shelf. I just spaced them at 5" anchor to anchor in the middle then marked and drilled the side holes using a long level to to keep the shelf level. When the bubble was dead center I marked the walls through the screw holes, used a punch (the spring loaded kind) and drilled there. Seemed to work.

How are the GS shelves attached to the walls? I have plaster-over-lathe walls (the building dates back to 1883) and so far have used free-standing display cases, from ClassyWoods, which is now out of business.

These; one stacked on top of the other:

Please help me identify my aluminum shelving.  Some are grooved where the flanges sit down into slots and others have raised rail type profile which are a pain in the neck to mount anything with a center roller.

Andrew-Porter, holes are drilled into the back flange of the shelving at stud locations.(see photo, lower right).  If necessary, some shims may be used if your drywall is wavy.  Your application may be difficult with plaster/lathe construction.

Tom, see the profile of GS shelving in the photo.

@Tom Tee posted:

Please help me identify my aluminum shelving.  Some are grooved where the flanges sit down into slots and others have raised rail type profile which are a pain in the neck to mount anything with a center roller.

The ones with the raised rails and the PITA center roller rail are the Glen Snyder shelves.

@TedW posted:

Andrew-Porter, holes are drilled into the back flange of the shelving at stud locations.(see photo, lower right).  If necessary, some shims may be used if your drywall is wavy.  Your application may be difficult with plaster/lathe construction.

Even with plaster/lathe, there are studs, you just need longer screws.

I received 3 more O Gauge shelves this past Friday. Expanded my display to 5 O and 2 Standard. Carolyn kept me up to date about the shelves and called me when they came in. I have attached a picture.