Weekend Photo Fun 3-30-12-??

Keith (Cando),

Great Job. I love the colors and just how neat the structure came out. Enjoy it.

 

Alan Graziano

New Conrail Equipment!

 

Willbacker, IMO, you do groundcover, weathered track, and ballasting really well. And in the background of that shot is that hillside I told you previously I admire. I'll bet your overall layout is a treat to experience in-person.

Frank

Diesel, Steam, Electric

 

 

Thank you Alan.  The switch tower and the crossing shanty were part of the "Triple Play" offered by the LCCA in 2009.  I transferred the the holes from its original base and cut out the footers.  The trolley just makes it under the edge of the tower.

 

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SIRT: can you tell me center rail to center rail the distance between tracks in your yard?

 

I am planning a 6-track yard this year and an anticipating using 6" center to center.  Why?  So that the car sides' can be seen and enjoyed.  I'm now wondering if 6" is enough spacing, thus my question.

 

BTW: with the remarkable weathering that you magically pull off, it would be nice if all of your cars were in full view.  But, alack, as with all of us, I suppose space rules.

 

"ALACK"?  Where the heck did I dig that word up!?

 

thanks - walt

Spring is in the air!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jim

Fallen Layout - never before published.  Wally P's layout - he's moving and has to tear it down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fallen Layout - never before published.  Wally P's layout - he's moving and has to tear it down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walt, the photo is not intended for car viewing. I needed to get about 70 cars off the main lines when splitting up all the operating trains.

 

Even all 4 sidings are full including the terminal area.

I'm getting tired of removing and adding cars from the container bins under the layout.

 

If I choose to view cars in the yard, every other track would be empty in order to see them.

 

As for space - I don’t go by any rules or books; they don’t cover all the variables in silly 3 rail O.

Using 2 PecosRiver cars side by side or 2 Weaver 50’ PD cars dictates the widest spacing and clearance for my layout.

Other wide cars are MTH B/W cabooses. They are needed to clear platforms as the bay section can scrape the platforms. You won’t find that in a book anywhere.

Any cars under those mentioned above will not present a clearance or space issue.

So spacing for me is really based on my rolling stock.

I get the most I can out of the small real estate even if takes

mating G.G. track with 036 Super O.

“No rules, just right”

 

 

Boo Man, I enjoyed the photos of Wally P's layout. The color and weathering on the Hellsgate bridge looks perfect in it's location.

Inside a 1:1 scale switch machine/motor. (Norfolk Southern maintenance man in Waterloo, Indiana, at the double-track main by the Amtrak station.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy!

 

Alex

Finally poured the water under this bridge,

 

Double click for close up

 

 

Its a Big ONE!  Get the NET!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Smoke coming out the chimneys, weathering next

 

 

 

Thanks everyone, this is the only way I can get a layout fix for now. Patrick, beautiful job. I don't see any fish in the river, does that guy know? Don

Wow, Patrick!   That first shot is so realistic looking I can almost see the fish on the line!!

 

Larry

Hey Larry, I was going to say that! It seems like you could almost see that fish pulling on the line .

 

And the tree trunk that is leaning over the fisherman most ceratinly adds to the realism.

 

Great job, Patrick!

 

Alex

 

Moonson,

Where do you find these wonderul figures. Is there a website or  ??????

Starting a new project.

Walt:

 

On straight track, you can space the rails as close as 3 1/4", but 3 1/2" is better as you have an easier time getting your fingers around cars. You also want to mark "foul points" where your tracks come closer than 3 1/4" as they approach turnouts so you don't spot cars too close.

Keith, that new blue and orange trolley line looks great!  That new textured paint for the support piers opens up so many uses on a train layout.

 

Jumijo, nice station.  I didn't think your winter this year was that severe that you had time to do inside projects.  Finishes a great scene on your layout.

 

Every week the photo's posted by forum members just blows my mind on how talented  O gauge hobbyists are.  No doubt all are works of art and craft.

 

TEX

Steve

SIRT and Matt: thanks for your comments.  The question that I asked SIRT wasn't because I don't know how far apart to place my tracks.  I've been building those goofy Christmas layouts for 40 years now so I'm pretty good at knowing spacing.

 

I was only interested in how far apart to space the tracks so that the sides of the cars that are parked on those staging tracks can seen: all of my cars are Pittsburgh related (some 80 of them) and I like to show off the graphics.  All 6 of the staging tracks will be parallel to the front of the layout, the viewing angle, and I'd like the graphics to be seen.  Since my layouts are always on the floor that creates a nice viewing angle for the cars in the stage tracks - at least that's what I'm hoping for!!!  Maybe I'll just get some stuff out of storage and experiment.  This is a "this year only" concern anyways.

 

thanks - walt

MTH made some nice Buffalo and Pittsburgh SD45s last year, like this one pictured. 

 

However the B&P has recently stored most of thier SD45s and is retiring them in favor of some ex-KCS SD40-2s and -3s. The 45s are congregating at the B&P Butler shops, so forum member revolgnad (Dan) and I went to Butler today to get some pics from the route 68 bridge before the SD45s go to LTEX.

 

 

Some other sights at the shop today:

 

 

 

After leaving the shop, we encountered the BTNC returning from New Castle with OHC 3328 leading the reamaining SD45 452.

 

 

Finally, we found the AVR train returning from interchange with the B&P.  Here are AVR SD40-3s running long hood forward elephant style in Valencia, PA.

 

Roger, I've been buying them for years, as I find them at shows and meets, by happenstance, or see some done by various individuals, not sure at all how I may use them. I figure that out later down the railroad.

Frank

Frank thank you very very much for the kind words! It means a lot coming from you!

PatrickH, You haven't just modeled. You've created a place w/ atmosphere. Those two photos show a beautifully bucolic place that would be restful to visit for relaxation.

 

You've captured a feeling that goes beyond the basic, skilled manipulation and configuring of materials and miniatures, which you are using - "painting" with - to speak a narrative about a place in life many of us have known.

Congratulations,

Frank

The Railfan Trailer park is now open.

 

Each unit features Union Station in your backyard, the high line freight spur overhead, and the mainline in your front yard.

 

What more could you want !

Some pics of my weathered cars and other areas of the layout including the forestry area that my friend Frank Mullan crafted for me. Not a great picture taker but here they are.

Some more pictures

 

I was in Indianapolis over the weekend and I was able to take this photo of a "shuttlewagon" moving grain cars.  The engine was equiped with both road and rail wheels. 

Training the next generation.

My 4 year old grandson learning DCS on his first MTH remote.

And in 2 weeks, he'll be attending  his first YORK! He want's to see Thomas, and that man - Mr. Chuck that he got his streetcar from, who we all know as Trainpop

Everybody had good photos to share this week.  My hat is off to all of you who posted.

Thanks CandO.  Wally will appreciate your compliment.