Weekend Photo Fun 2-16-24-??

Scott Smith

I finally completed the scenery around the western portal of Spruce Creek tunnel. Here is a view of a Norfolk Southern stack train emerging from the tunnel. The concrete portal to the left was the one that was reconstructed by Conrail in 1994 to allow the passage of double stack trains. The stone tunnel to the right was then closed after the track was removed and was then used by maintenance of way vehicles until the roof collapsed about 10 years ago::

Then high above the tunnel, Pennsylvania state Route 45 passes over the mountain, carrying traffic from US Route 22 to the small town of Spruce Creek and to State College. It can be seen off to the right in the first photo below   There are also some closeup views of the highway which I also just finished:

That last photo by the way, it shows my son Steven out railfanning in the area in his Subaru Impreza! He also 3D the printed the W Beam guard rail in the picture.

Picked up a 8755/8756 & 9317 caboose this week & continued putting snow down on the already completed scenes -

Before the snow storm  -

After the storm hit -

A 2023 Christmas Layout memory

Starting to show closeups of things on the 4'x8' plateau.

walt

The whole thing:

The biggest car show ever held in Waltburg as a train rolls by loaded with goodies

PRR -you have talent, keep it up.

A new old hotel coming to Schenectady!

Looks like 3D printing may make it easier to replicate some iconic buildings than trying to scratch build turrets, bay windows and roof lines like you've had to do in the past Don.

PRR: I always have to study your pictures to determine if they are real pictures or your layout !!!  WOW!

Don - that building is fantastic!  Whose workshop is shown?

Is there really a dome light in that car??  If not, how did you pull that off?  Great shot Scott.

walt

@walt rapp posted:

Is there really a dome light in that car??  If not, how did you pull that off?  Great shot Scott.

walt

I bought the Evans lights to install headlights in my cars only to find out this particular car had no access to the headlight. So I decided to park the car at the station and glue the lamp to the inside roof of the car so it would look like a dome lamp.

Scott Smith

Yes, I’m still wiring……..wired node points for lights and animated accessories. Placed momentary switches where they could be accessible and easily wired……….and, it was Conrail week on the layout.……with one short video….

Have a great and safe weekend, everyone!

Peter

Thanks Scott for getting us started for this fine weekend!  Great set of photos you have there... especially the one with the woman getting out of the car ... the lighting is astounding!!!  

Here are my photos of the fun kind for this fine weekend!

Goings on at the scrap yard.   A crane lifts a junk car off the flatbed of a truck.  Willbilly Baitley directs the crane operator as Lucky Dog Spencer looks on.

Kegs of Baltimore American Beer are being transferred from rail to truck.  Hanging out down by the tracks is all these kids on bikes want to do.  "Hey!  You kids belong in school today!"  shouts out foreman Moe Mobley.  " Nah, not at all!  We are in the Future Railroaders of America Club and we are on a field trip today!   Lumpy Larson yells from his bike.  

Going to do a little digging today!  

This morning's traffic on Patburg Ave.

Butler Junction.  

I bought this Miller MTH sign from a Forum member this week and chose to install it back to back with a Miller Lionel sign that already sat atop a Lionel Hobby Shop building on my layout. Luckily it slipped right in behind the Lionel sign:

Plenty of room inside the building for wiring:

My installation method is to drill a series of holes, then file smooth-ish so that the sign connector can be pushed through the roof for access for better connectivity to the sign electrical contacts. This works better for me than if only a cut was made with a Dremel tool since the plastic is kind of thick and the connector may not make good contact with the sign:

Lucky for me that I had the good sense to bring up wiring from under the layout with a euro style connector:

The harbor on a busy Friday morning.

Up, up and away!!!!!!!!!!!!

The scrap yard.

dk122trains

Thank you for posting pictures of your latest model of old Schenectady—the Vendome Hotel. I have been visiting my wife’s family in the Schenectady area for over 55 years and have seen the prototype of several of your models. They are truly amazing.

Where was the Vendome Hotel located? Was it on the corner of Erie  Boulevard and State Street? Nicklaus’s.

@ctr posted:

dk122trains

Thank you for posting pictures of your latest model of old Schenectady—the Vendome Hotel. I have been visiting my wife’s family in the Schenectady area for over 55 years and have seen the prototype of several of your models. They are truly amazing.

Where was the Vendome Hotel located? Was it on the corner of Erie  Boulevard and State Street? Nicklaus’s.

The Vendome was located at what is now the corner of State and Broadway which was then called Center Street. The Vendome was torn down and later was the site of Woolworth department store and is now the  NYS Office of Disabilities.. The Vendome was originally red brick which was later painted.

Patrick, it looks as if the excavator has cable failure and the operator doesn't have a clue what to do.

@scott.smith posted:

I bought the Evans lights to install headlights in my cars only to find out this particular car had no access to the headlight. So I decided to park the car at the station and glue the lamp to the inside roof of the car so it would look like a dome lamp.

Scott Smith

Thanks for answering Scott.  I put headlites in some of my vehicles and now I wish I would have seen your creative use of them first!

One question in the event that i try this with some of the lites that I still have: were you able to hide the wires and if so, how?

thanks - walt

Unloading some fresh brew for the local pub.

when all your engines drop in to inactive and you can’t get them out you run Williams. They never let you down.

@walt rapp posted:

Thanks for answering Scott.  I put headlites in some of my vehicles and now I wish I would have seen your creative use of them first!

One question in the event that i try this with some of the lites that I still have: were you able to hide the wires and if so, how?

thanks - walt

The wires are small and black, the light is behind the front seat on the roof, you just don't see the wire. You can route the wire from the back away from the widows and it is not seen.

Scott Smith

thanks @scott.smith

walt

CB&Q Silver Lariat has lived a long life.  From 2004-2006 it operated as part of UP's Operation Lifesaver train along with the sleeper Silver Rapids.  I figured this car would look good behind the few UP modern diesels I own.

@PRRMiddleDivision posted:

I finally completed the scenery around the western portal of Spruce Creek tunnel.

Neal, you build the best roads!  All of your scenery is something to envy, but your highways are simply stunning!