Show us your test track/workbench

Here is my home made test track, also MTH RealTrax with a operating section. I also use the rollers under most of the engines.  Since I don't have a Z4000 I added volt and amp meters. 

Excellent Pennsydave.

It looks like a shorter version of mine.... 

I did put an outlet on the back and front of the very left side of the test track...

I will post additional pictures of that. 

Did you clean your bench before you took the pic.

Ben

My actual work area is to the right of the test track, but the area is relatively clean as I took the photo.  The orange car near the track is an operating barrel car, I had to replace the solenoid to make it work.  

I built this test bench with folding legs, four years ago...it now uses a Z-1000 transformer.  I has a set of JAK rollers and a sliding top rail to handle every locomotive I own.  There is a operating track section wired in and attached to the back with Velcro so I can easily put it to use to test operating cars.

Not a very good picture of the test bench, but you can see some of the workbenches.

Art

All very nice

Brent

Great stuff.

I really enjoy train repair.  Lots more to learn with the electronics, but tuning up a postwar engine or repairing an operating car is more fun to me than golf, or TV.....

Ben

This summer I am going to build all the stuff I need to restore Prewar trains.  Strip booth, Paint booth, Got the rubber stamps.  I like the idea of bringing that old stuff back to life and make it sparkle again!!!!!

Ben

My work area is in an L-shaped, walk-in closet off the train room. The layout's upper level pokes through the closet's wall to allow a 5-track yard with made-up trains.

The first photo shows the entire 8-foot length of the workbench. The workbench has two separate areas

The first area, shown below, is for general work, including disassembly and repair of engines and cars. I have a foam cradle (not shown) that is used to turn engines upside-down for disassembly. Parts are stored above in the plastic drawers, along with two larger, wall mounted parts organizers (not shown). Supplies and assorted items sit on two shelves above.

 The following picture shows the "electronics"work area. It has, left to right, a laptop (with external keyboard and mouse in the under-counter drawer) for doing DCS upgrades and sound file transfers, a TIU, PS2 test fixture, PS3 test fixture, and KW transformer. A test track runs across the counter, and a roller base and supplies sit on a shelf above. Documentation and reference books sit on a shelf below.

Sitting above the work areas are fluorescent lights mounted under the wider shelf that holds the 5-track yard.

Whenever this subject comes up, my shop is a mess. I cleaned it a few weeks ago, but disaster crept in. I'll try to organize tomorrow and take some photos. I don't have anything to do.

dON

Two work lights with (2) F30 T8 tubes. Showcase lighting, with a compact right angle design.

Also note the two (4) tube F30 T8 fixtures above.  For most intricate, small detailed work, designers talk about 100 foot candles of light or more.   Sorry no test track. 

Big consideration is:  Do you want to stand, or be seated, working on items???  Each has advantages.

Enjoyed all of your pictures.

very nice guys

fortunately, mine is dedicated and I don't have to share it for anything else... or maybe just a spousal craft repair...

I still have the garage for drill press and band saw!!

Nice stuff guys

Ben

Her's my rendition, tools are in various locations in the shop. The bench is multi purpose, so I can't keep train specific tools nearby.

Don

Mine gets a lot of use.  I service for two local shops and they keep me busy with Lionel, Flyer, Marx and some K Line.

    Something for those new to the hobby to consider. 

Most of the work areas you see belong to experienced longtime operators. You should start small and work your way up. Do not think that you must have everything you see to service your newly purchased trains. In the past many threads covered what tools you need to start. 

This is my bench, Arduk tester, and tools from my shop before I retired. Now it's in my garage. The small bench with the mini-drill press and arbor press are out of the picture to the right.

Typically messy. But with the layout getting down to finishing detail stuff it is getting a little neater around here . Hopefully this winter I will have plenty of time to do some fine tuning on the layout. That's the plan anyway.

The only thing done now in the train room is in reference to trains.

I do have a small work shop with all the other typical construction tools. Table saw, chop saws, drill press, band saws, compressors ect.

Larry

Mine is a semi-plain workbench, my test track is a 40" piece of Atlas track that I just plop on the workbench when I need it.  I have three sets of rollers which serves for anything I've had to work on so far.  I have a TIU & TMCC base connected, and the TIU is connected to a computer in the other end of the room for DCS engine loads.

My workbench is in the train room so all parts are stored in cabinets and tools are in their tool boxes so that the room looks neat.There is a power strip that powers the various tools and a test track on top and this is where I build structures and service my trains.

Mikey,

I like that workbench of yours.  Especially the fact that it is on wheels.  Could you tell me where you picked it up from?

Steve

My workbench/test track.

I gotta love the Ship Auger with brace.  I haven't seen one since days I climbed poles, doing TV cable construction.   When you drill holes through poles by hand, you quickly learned how to sharpen the auger bit. 

That's p[art of my classic tool collection. I have most of it outside on the walls of the shop and wall above the pond, but I'm out of room. I also have a work island in the center of the shop. It is on wheels, and folds in half to make a 4'X4' work top, or it can be opened to a 2'X8' table. It is set at the right height for the table saw, so it doubles for ripping long boards or plywood.

Don

Here are a couple of pictures of my benchwork, as basic and schlockish as it is/was.

After another flood, I've given it up and I'm beginning the process of tearing it all down.

It'll take a while to get it broken down, section by section, over a 16' x 34' area, but if there's anyone in the South Jersey area who'd like to take the 2x4 cut pieces, cut press board and portioned homosote sections, send me a note.  You can have it all for free, instead of the landfill getting it.

Train repair bench in workroom when not using my previously posted portable test bench.

Portable test track. The complete DCS system modules not shown. All the various modules are portable.  This includes the TIU/AIU modules, TIU input circuit breaker panels, TIU output voltmeter/circuit breaker modules and Z4000s.

Thanks Happy Pappy for thinking of those of us new to the hobby.  After a mere nine months' my "workbench" is called the "dining room table". It seems fitting as it goes well with the living room floor layout and the repurposed mahogany dresser drawer that I keep my tools, meter, smoke bottles, track cleaner, etc. in.

My test track is a 10" straight Lionel track section connected to a Marx 12-volt transformer via two jumper wires. I add more track if I need it. If I'm feeling lazy, I just use a 9-volt battery instead of the transformer. But, these posts give us something to dream about. Wow.

Tomlinson Run Railroad

Laundry room

I have shown this before.  I can drive trans onto the work bench from the layout through a hole in a closet wall.  The track is hinged on the entry end to raise up out of the way when not in use.

.....

Dennis

That works fine if they're running Dennis, but sometimes they're dead!

Hi Steve,

It is an, old computer work station that I got from a soft ware company and then I built a frame to hold the light and test track and it came with the wheels.

Mikey

Gunrunner is right of course.  An entry track is fine for servicing engines that run but if it is a dead one you can get a hernia carrying it in there. 

.....

Dennis

It's a pretty cool setup anyway Dennis.

All these workbenches are clean and well organized. I'm thinking that there was about

1/2 hour or more spent cleaning up most of these before the photos were taken!  Seriously guys, thanks for posting. it shows that there is hope for those of us with cluttered work areas. 

You got that right Grandpa.  You should see my workbench today.  Uh, . . . well, you actually can't see it.

.....

Dennis

This is how MINE looks all the time!!!  LOL

Fred