The new Lionel Polar Express Observation Car.  Yes the text is above the window but once that gets sorted out the rest of the car is pretty nice!  Still no love for Photo Fun on social media.

New York Central Big Steam this week on the home layout.......

Have a great and safe weekend, everyone!

Peter

A few quick, New York Central big steam videos......

Peter

A group of us got together to run trains yesterday......

This is Lionel cataloged Set 1575 from the 1957 catalog that was donated to us.......

Have a great and safe weekend, everyone!

Peter

Here are a few closeup photos of engineers, firemen, and other “personnel” occupying locomotive cabs and other places on my 10’-by-5’ model railroad.

MELGAR

A 2024 Christmas Layout memory

- walt

Still showing the back right corner.  I posted this picture before, but include it here for perspective.

2 closeups

This guy looks ready for TGIF.

Choose the correct answer to explain the downed citizen:
A.  Another earthquake near Magoothur Park
B.  Three martini lunch
C.  My daughter's cat has been playing in the trainroom again

Taking a break and enjoy the fresh air, there will be lots of train activity during his watch today.

Gene

I recently obtained this Huebner E194. Before making gauge 1, Huebner was a producer of 0 scale Germany. This locos is all metal and powered by two Swiss made Hermann motors. A great addition to my fleet. Miketg

Thanks Scott for getting us started for this fine weekend!  Here's some B&O F units by Williams.

I am very proud to announce that after over 27 years of construction, my layout is almost done. Yesterday, I ballasted the last 18" of track and installed the parapets on the PA Route 655 overpass in Mapleton. All that remains to be done are a few details and placement of the fascia.

Here is the last 18" of track that needed to be ballasted:

Here is the model of the Route 655 overpass showing the parapets in place and a photo of the prototype taken from Google Street View for comparison (clearance sign still to be installed):

And finally, here is the first train to travel over the finished trackwork....an NS coal drag.

More to come next week. Enjoy!

@PRRMiddleDivision posted:

I am very proud to announce that after over 27 years of construction, my layout is almost done. Yesterday, I ballasted the last 18" of track and installed the parapets on the PA Route 655 overpass in Mapleton. All that remains to be done are a few details and placement of the fascia.

And finally, here is the first train to travel over the finished trackwork....an NS coal drag.

More to come next week. Enjoy!

Outstanding!

@Putnam Division posted:

A group of us got together to run trains yesterday......

This is Lionel cataloged Set 1575 from the 1957 catalog that was donated to us.......

Have a great and safe weekend, everyone!

Peter

Peter, I remember he club lost it's "permanent" home in the mall so where was tis layout assembled for the run day?

@PRRMiddleDivision posted:

I am very proud to announce that after over 27 years of construction, my layout is almost done. Yesterday, I ballasted the last 18" of track and installed the parapets on the PA Route 655 overpass in Mapleton. All that remains to be done are a few details and placement of the fascia.

Here is the last 18" of track that needed to be ballasted:

Here is the model of the Route 655 overpass showing the parapets in place and a photo of the prototype taken from Google Street View for comparison (clearance sign still to be installed):

And finally, here is the first train to travel over the finished trackwork....an NS coal drag.

More to come next week. Enjoy!

Congratulations Neal!  I'm sure with your attention to detail you'll continually tweak, add and modify details and scenery to bring the layout alive and keep it evolving.

@PRRMiddleDivision posted:

I am very proud to announce that after over 27 years of construction, my layout is almost done. Yesterday, I ballasted the last 18" of track and installed the parapets on the PA Route 655 overpass in Mapleton. All that remains to be done are a few details and placement of the fascia.

Here is the last 18" of track that needed to be ballasted:

Here is the model of the Route 655 overpass showing the parapets in place and a photo of the prototype taken from Google Street View for comparison (clearance sign still to be installed):

And finally, here is the first train to travel over the finished trackwork....an NS coal drag.

More to come next week. Enjoy!

Magnificent, Neal!

Peterr

@coach joe posted:

Peter, I remember he club lost it's "permanent" home in the mall so where was tis layout assembled for the run day?

We have it back until late March…….then we’re homeless, again.

We are always looking for a spot…..and, enjoying it while we can.

I got re-elected as club President this year and I need everyone’s prayers……keeping the group together and engaged without a home will be challenging…..

Peter

@scott.smith posted:

It's time for Weekend Photo Fun!!!

Last night I visited Charlie Pierce's layout.

Let's see your pictures.

Scott Smith

wow, thats a very impressive looking backdrop.  I’m not familiar with Charley Pierce, don’t know the name.  Do you know whether he painted that backdrop himself?  Looks pretty great.

@PRRMiddleDivision posted:

I am very proud to announce that after over 27 years of construction, my layout is almost done. Yesterday, I ballasted the last 18" of track and installed the parapets on the PA Route 655 overpass in Mapleton. All that remains to be done are a few details and placement of the fascia.

Here is the last 18" of track that needed to be ballasted:

Here is the model of the Route 655 overpass showing the parapets in place and a photo of the prototype taken from Google Street View for comparison (clearance sign still to be installed):

And finally, here is the first train to travel over the finished trackwork....an NS coal drag.

More to come next week. Enjoy!

Beautifully done!

Gene

Running with the Trackers last weekend at the Great Scale Model Train show at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Maryland…

To complement Craignor's great video......I was able to get up to Baltimore last Friday to help the Trackers with setup. I love setup.......you take an empty space and turn it into something great...........

Unfortunately, I couldn't stay.....I had "Grandpa duty" back in DC for Saturday and Sunday......

These two Bar Mills buildings are something special!!!!

Have a great and safe weekend, everyone!

Peter

@mike.caruso posted:

wow, thats a very impressive looking backdrop.  I’m not familiar with Charley Pierce, don’t know the name.  Do you know whether he painted that backdrop himself?  Looks pretty great.

Someone painted it for him years ago.

Scott Smith

Something different for me today.  I was looking for an AF UP Northern (4-8-4) that I inherited from my brother when I ran across this AF set that my wife's brother had.  After her father passed away, we were going through his belongings and found this AF set in a box that had not been opened in a long time.  Her brother was killed in Vietnam and his belongings that were still at his parent's house were put into storage and forgotten.  I put it in storage and forgot about it again.  Need to find a good place to display these.

Night Ops

My new favorite locomotive for awhile - TMCC Pacific from 2006

@PRRMiddleDivision posted:

I am very proud to announce that after over 27 years of construction, my layout is almost done. Yesterday, I ballasted the last 18" of track and installed the parapets on the PA Route 655 overpass in Mapleton. All that remains to be done are a few details and placement of the fascia.

Congratulations Neal!  Now you get to go back and redo all the sections you did earlier using all the new techniques you learned since you started

@c.sam posted:

My new favorite locomotive for awhile - TMCC Pacific from 2006

This is great. The "for a while" solidified the statement. I'm not sure when the last time you ran this unit but I tend to feel the same about a unit I haven't run in some time. It's my favorite until I pull out another that hasn't been run. For me there's a "newness" because I haven't seen them run in a while.

Dave

Thanks Dave, my sentiments exactly - Lol!

Curious, but why is my video so washed/blownout out after posting here?  I've had several clips appear like this on the site whereas the video appears normal on my phone or viewed on the computer?

@c.sam posted:

Curious, but why is my video so washed out after posting here?  I've had several clips appear like this on the site whereas the video appears normal on my phone or viewed on the computer?

I'm not sure why but it won't play for me.

@Putnam Division posted:

We have it back until late March…….then we’re homeless, again.

We are always looking for a spot…..and, enjoying it while we can.

I got re-elected as club President this year and I need everyone’s prayers……keeping the group together and engaged without a home will be challenging…..

Peter

I know you've got that Club President thing handled.  I'm sure a breakfast or two will keep that group interested.

@c.sam posted:

My new favorite locomotive for awhile - TMCC Pacific from 2006

Love them whitewalls.

@coach joe posted:

I know you've got that Club President thing handled.  I'm sure a breakfast or two will keep that group interested.

We meet for breakfast nearly every Wednesday AM at Chick-Fil-A……..I’m there so much that if I come it at 10AM, the manager says, “Hi Peter. Do you want your usual breakfast order or your lunch one.”

This past week's topic was new plexiglas. We are increasing the height.

Here is the previous height for contrast……

Peter

@scott.smith posted:

Thanks for posting the video. His layout is very nice!!

@Putnam Division posted:

This past week's topic was new plexiglas. We are increasing the height.

Peter

uh oh! Did you have some incursions lately that called for the higher glass?

@bigtruckpete posted:

uh oh! Did you have some incursions lately that called for the higher glass?

Yup……and human nature being what it is, this should deter things a bit more. We don’t want to be policemen……..

Peter

@c.sam posted:

My new favorite locomotive for awhile - TMCC Pacific from 2006

Gorgeous layout as well as locomotive.

Peter,  if I may make a simple suggestion for photos like this - using your camera/phone's EDIT program, go to settings and select 'shadows' and increase the exposure to bring out the details on these handsome brutes. Usually works well to greatly improve the image!

A basket-case Lionel 804 restored to respectability:

I used to find these cars in horrific condition in the antique malls and the local indoor flea market...couldn't just leave them. Fortunately I stocked up on handrails, stanchions, ladders, and other bits before George Tebolt closed up shop. A bit of work to disassemble, clean up, possibly repaint, then reassemble, but well worth it. Now when they turn up, I try to just look away

Gave this one a postwar Flyer "Gulf" decal.

PD