I have been checking this site several times a day hoping for conversation and activity. With most of us being sequestered I would have thought more toy train chatter would be happening.
Let's have more fun and conversation. What are you people doing in our hobby????
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Bill,
I agree that the amount of posts has not increased.
Among other things, I have been using the time to update many of my passenger cars to LED, my cabeese as well.
With our club, we would normally get together weekly for what we call bragging rites, have a theme for that evening, and vote on the best consist of that theme for that weeks bragging rites member, with the shutdown, I am trying to make it a virtual bragging rites with video entries sent to a central point, our website, and let the members choose their favorite, and socialize in a virtual manner.
Jim Elster, of Scenic Express products, called me today to see how I was doing.
I have used his huge variety and excellent quality of products for decades, now, and recommend him to all of you, unequivocally. If you are looking for something to do, search through his site, and let your creative juices flow...
!
FrankM
Well, seeing my railroad is disassembled and waiting for the weather to stabilize so I can haul it out into Bagsters, there's not much to say, other than I've been packing up an awful lot of "Nothing's available in S Scale..."
Rusty
Believe it or not Bill, some of us are still working from home, so the trains are still relegated to our spare time.
I have a vintage Marklin HO layout in my work area and may take a break to enjoy a cup of coffee in my train room and run the Lionels.
Being 75 and with a bad heart I have hardly left the lot in over a month. I get several hours a day in the train room. I have been going through my American Flyer engines finding things to repair. All of my "Smoke-In-Tender" steam engines this week. 342, 322,and 312s
@Rusty Traque posted:Well, seeing my railroad is disassembled and waiting for the weather to stabilize so I can haul it out into Bagsters, there's not much to say, other than I've been packing up an awful lot of "Nothing's available in S Scale..."
Rusty
Rusty,
Preparing to move or rebuild?
What are your plans?
Bill-keep working on those old AF engines! I love to see them at Bay Area train shows!
Can you post us a photo of your layout?
One of the working from home people, but without the long commute I have the time. My problem, as I have mentioned elsewhere, is convincing myself that it is okay to lay out the funds for the next step, buying the track, which even on a relatively modest layout can be expensive (I am likely going to use Ross sectional and curve pieces, with gargraves for the straights). One of the frustrations of the time is that when I want to do something that requires materials, it isn't as easy as popping out to a store on a whim (for any kind of projects, not just trains), and with ordering stuff it takes time plus with people ordering truly essential stuff I get concerned about flooding shippers with what I have to admit is non essential stuff (unlike the dog chews that if I don't keep in stock, will mean two 100 pound dogs gnawing on my leg, or worse, looking all sad and depressed at my wife, who will in turn gnaw on my leg until I order them *lol*). Then too I am coming into the outdoor season, that involves such wonderful things as powerwashing the siding, fixing a concrete patio, building a ground level floating deck, etc.
On the other hand in the past weeks this has served as a refuge, plus I have accumulated a lot of knowledge that once I get over my reluctance to spend on the layout, will help a great deal as I start working on it, and just to have some moments when I don't have to think of the real world is a blessing.
@Monsoon, the travel trailer in one of your pictures, is that scenic express? Would be cool to have something like that as part of the scenery on my projected layout
@Lionelski posted:Rusty,
Preparing to move or rebuild?
What are your plans?
Lionelski, I'm preparing to move, but haven't bought a new basement yet. I'm still going through my current house preparing it for sale. There's also some things that can't happen until this C-19 thing settles down.
The old layout was designed to be taken apart, but not salvaged. I'm kicking around a couple of ideas in my head. I'll be starting fresh when the stars align.
Rusty
@Rusty Traque posted:Lionelski, I'm preparing to move, but haven't bought a new basement yet. I'm still going through my current house preparing it for sale. There's also some things that can't happen until this C-19 thing settles down.
The old layout was designed to be taken apart, but not salvaged. I'm kicking around a couple of ideas in my head. I'll be starting fresh when the stars align.
Rusty
For a minute there, my puny little brain was in confusion mode. I couldn't understand for the life of me why there was a problem with securing a D&RGW C-19 in any scale. I figured you were going to Sn3, and needed to sell off equipment so you could convert to narrow gauge.
Then reality set in..........................................................................................................
I liked my dream better. 
Regards,
Jerry
I ripped up the old layout and in the design stage for a new one, it will be a bit smaller because of my age and ability to do the wiring needed. I am going through train withdraw big time. I cuddles a f unit last night and stoked it. My wife says I need professional help I told her no I just need a loop of track and my meds.
@Ron_S posted:Bill,
I agree that the amount of posts has not increased.
Among other things, I have been using the time to update many of my passenger cars to LED, my cabeese as well.
With our club, we would normally get together weekly for what we call bragging rites, have a theme for that evening, and vote on the best consist of that theme for that weeks bragging rites member, with the shutdown, I am trying to make it a virtual bragging rites with video entries sent to a central point, our website, and let the members choose their favorite, and socialize in a virtual manner.
Ah....in fact the activity on the forum has increased! Comparing to last year at this time, we are approximately 1.3 million page views ahead of last April...! All of the reports we are getting from our provider are showing a trend of more activity over the previous month as well as over last April's stats. Of course, we expected this since we are "homebound"....
By the way, we already have a long going thread which discusses what folks have/are doing on their layouts so lets try to post there instead of having another similar thread such as this one...that way it will be much easier for the membership to find what other's are doing as far as layout activity.
Thanks!
Alan, maybe there has been a lot on the O Gauge side but if you look is the S Gauge group.
Thanks for noting that you saw it.
I changed the topic to reflect S Gauge.
Bill
@John Pignatelli JR. posted:I am going through train withdraw big time. I cuddles a f unit last night and stoked it.
Woah there! 
This here is a family forum! 
Rusty
Don, some photos of my layout as you asked for.
As for Bay Area train shows that is hard for me as I live in Texas. I moved from San Francisco in 1995. I used to love to go to the monthly Norcal TCA shows in Oakland. Do they still happen?
@Roundhouse Bill posted:Don, some photos of my layout as you asked for.
As for Bay Area train shows that is hard for me as I live in Texas. I moved from San Francisco in 1995. I used to love to go to the monthly Norcal TCA shows in Oakland. Do they still happen?
My cousin had Flyer's growing up. I thought those transformers were the coolest. 
Well, the meters on the transformers were the coolest looking part. Lionel didn't have them on the early ZW. To tell you the truth I never really use them. Their voltage is less than a ZW, but Gilbert engines required less. New Flyonel Flyer use less than 21 volts also.
Prewar Gilbert had three rails.
Folks,
Now that I am stuck in the house, except to forage for food at the super market. I am working to write more material for "S Gauge Insights", a new section for the digital version of OGR magazine. We have already put one article in the Digital version and I am now finishing up two more S gauge articles that should appear in the Digital Edition of Run 313, the next issue of the magazine we will publish.
After that..more to come in a steady progression of S gauge articles for the Digital Edition of OGR.
So being stuck in the house is not so bad after all, when it comes to S and OGR
Ed Boyle, Partner, Associate Editor, O Gauge Railroading magazine
Right now, I"m doing absolutely nothing related to trains. We were within 2 weeks of getting a real estate agent and listing our house and looking for anther house to move to when the virus hit. I had disassembled my layout and 99% of my trains and put it all in a climate controlled storage unit. All I have is a few items on a display shelf in the basement to show potential buyers what can be done there. We aren't listing the house since we don't want people trooping through the house, nor do we want to visit other people at this time. And a "virtual" or video listing of a house is totally worthless. Would you buy a house online? So, we're stuck here.
Doing OK, but missing not only my trains, but our grandkids' hugs. When the weather breaks, I'll continue to do even more to spruce up the house and yard, and maybe take my hot rod out for an "attitude adjustment" from time to time.
I was really looking forward to the upcoming Train Season where I was planning on selling off a lot of surplus items and connecting with fellow train guys, but that ain't happening either. All those items are also in the storage unit, so online selling isn't in the cards.
Hope all of you out there are doing well and are staying healthy!
Right now I am 1200 miles from my trains and not going anywhere soon.
Thinking about it, it was six years ago when we moved. The layout did not survive but I built a modest 6 by 16 that is more than enough. Sorry no pictures.
All I have here is a few train mags that are so used they are hard to read.
Hopefully we will all get back to normal.
@poniaj posted:Right now, I"m doing absolutely nothing related to trains.
I'm pretty much in the same boat as you, Jerry. Except I'm a bachelor, so it's me, myself and I (we're getting pretty tired of talking among ourselves. And when I need to get something done, they're nowhere to be found. )
Rusty
Rusty,
Well stated What a grin about the two other guys who never get anything done either!
Ed boyle
@Roundhouse Bill posted:Don, some photos of my layout as you asked for.
As for Bay Area train shows that is hard for me as I live in Texas. I moved from San Francisco in 1995. I used to love to go to the monthly Norcal TCA shows in Oakland. Do they still happen?
Wow. These are great photos of a great looking Gilbert layout.
Wow! that is a very nice layout and train room.
I'm playing "supermarket treasure hunt" (now with a mask) almost every day. I'm 78, but this virus will NOT have me hiding in a closet. Not playing with trains much, but shooting air guns in my basement and arrows in the back yard. Reading 2-3 books a week, and doing yard work. I watch very little TV, but belong to a LOT of on-line forums (total 14). On eBay a fair amount. What, me bored?.
I just finished some 652 heavyweight cars and some 649 circus cars.
Now I am rebuilding a 332 Gilbert 4-8-4 that had a DC motor and a burned out smoke unit. Boy are these buggers hard to disassemble, especially when they are packed with 70 years of congealed smoke fluid.
The loco has a nice patina and all the drivers are straight. It will get a Timko can motor and a new smoke resistor wire and wick from LBR enterprises. It will be the first time I have ever replaced the smoke element heater, even though I have been working on my Gilbert trains since 1956. I hope it goes well.
I've been rereading my collection of S Gaugian magazines from 1985 until 2012. The years 1992 through 1995 were very impressive with almost each issue announcing a new release from American Models and/or S Helper Service. Southwind Models and River Raisin were no slackers either! I had forgotten so many great tips and suggestions in the issues that I'm taking notes on what I can do to improve the layout. The review of the American Models GP9 noted that it was missing the handbrake on the long end of the locomotive, so I got that part plus MU stands and lift rings from B.T.S. and dressed up that model. Improving ballast and vehicles is a follow-up project. I thank every day that model railroading and not golf is my hobby.
@Caldwell posted:Thinking about it, it was six years ago when we moved. The layout did not survive but I built a modest 6 by 16 that is more than enough. Sorry no pictures.
Cal,
Luckily, when I built my layout I was mindful in constructing it with an eventual move in mind. So I made it sectional. I tested the concept years ago when I needed to do a home electrical repair where the layout was. I removed one section, did the repair and replaced the section with no hassle. Anyway, here's the tubs containing most of my trains awaiting transport to the storage facility:
And the layout itself in the storage unit:
Rusty,
At least with an argument among yourselves, at least one of you is right! Too bad about those other two slackers, though.
Stay safe all of you guys out there!
This is going great. Thanks to those that have written!!!
There have been a lot more who have viewed this topic. How about instead of just viewing let us all know what you are up to while sequestered??
I just finished installing a bridge rectifier in my brakeman caboose. No more buzzing.
I’ve been sorting out the wiring on my O27 door layout. I’m still at work, as a “key worker” on a rail construction project.
I was hoping to paint this before packing it up, but such is not the case. Instead I just reassembled it so I wouldn't lose the parts:
Rusty
Jerry, smart to make the layout movable. The realtor told me to leave it up during showings so I had to scramble to pack up and tear down. The layout was bolted together in sections so it might have been movable. But it wasn't to be. Did you use the same construction as the club layout. Looks like it would make moving easy.
Just to make Bill happy and keeping it going, I am posting one of two pictures of my current layout.
Hopefully one of these days things will improve and I'll feel comfortable to travel to see it and work on it again.
What a great idea! Painting a Marx water tower in American Flyer colors. I have a couple of them and yours looks much better.
Thanks for the tip.
Ed Boyle
@Caldwell posted:Jerry, smart to make the layout movable. The realtor told me to leave it up during showings so I had to scramble to pack up and tear down. The layout was bolted together in sections so it might have been movable. But it wasn't to be. Did you use the same construction as the club layout. Looks like it would make moving easy.
Just to make Bill happy and keeping it going, I am posting one of two pictures of my current layout.
Hopefully one of these days things will improve and I'll feel comfortable to travel to see it and work on it again.
Cal,
Yes, I followed a similar way of construction as the club layout, foam and light weight construction. I didn't use the same connectors because they're too expensive, so I just used spade connectors instead. Since I don't plan on a lot of set ups and take downs, that's fine.
Every realtor I've talked to didn't want the trains in the basement since they took up too much room. Too bad, since I could really use a bit of a train fix about now. It took me almost two weeks to pack up my trains and I'm still not completely done!
It measured 10'x18'
Here it is at the lasst time I hosted a club meeting
I guess now it will never be finished.
BTW, I like the water tower too!
Sorry I couldn't find a way to send it "off line".
Take care,
I have been busy on my S gauge layout. I built an unloading dock and a coal bin, added a farm scene in a corner of the layout and installed two uncouplers. I also cleaned the dust off my buildings and touched up the ground cover. These are things I’ve wanted to do for a long time but procrastinated.
Jim Z
Thanks Ed, the colors just happened that way. I just looked in the stash of craft paint and went at it. Actually I had the water tower since I was a kid. I broke one of stands off from the leg. No super glue then so my Dad took a stick match and melted it back together. A little wobble but still functioning 65 years later.
Jerry, I was surprised the realtor did not want it torn down. Everything I have seen always said tear them down. Unless your email changed I'll try and contact you later.
I think I have spent more time on this forum in the last six weeks than the last six years.
Along with the virus thing I have also been blessed with consistently crappy weather so springtime activities have been limited. Finally got to complete one of my to do items. I had several of the TMCC and railsounds kits that I had accumulated in the last few years with the intent to convert a few AM trainmaster engines. Finally got around to taking one apart and couldn't figure out how to fit the boards in without great difficulty. Sent one off to Ed Goldin for a retrofit that I could use for an template and it was on from there. Run and sound great. The fleet is done!
Next on the list is to get a few Flyer steam and diesel locos running and then on to building and trying to install TMCC in a Smokey Mountain GE 44 tonner.
Rich
@Kelpieflyer posted:I just finished installing a bridge rectifier in my brakeman caboose. No more buzzing.
Russ(?),
I've done that modification too, and it's worth it! Much less distracting and not hard to do! Photos?
Here's mine:
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