What did you do on your layout today?

@ScoutingDad posted:

Spent some time trying to figure out why my GP38 would not power up. MTH tech suggested I make sure the DCS/DCC switch was in DCS. It was and I got a return authorization for repair as it was likely a blown board. Well after flipping the switch a couple of times to no avail, saw the 3rail/2rail switch was in the 2rail position. A quick flip and whaddayaknow? engine started up just fine. I must had switched it when putting it back or taking it out of the box.

Anyway the lead GP40 and following GP38 have gotten move orders - they are on their way. Pretty cool how DCS allows lashing the engines together.

Jeff, I am glad it was an easy fix!

Mike -- For background i'm attaching pics of some of the background i did behind some factory buildings. Some of them were just painted on, others done either on Strathmore board, some on 1/8" or 1/4" foam core. I used brick paper glued (3M Spray 77) to the backing in most instances. It all gives the illusion of depth. Don't restrict yourself to one material or style; mix it up.

Another place you might want to look for materials (brick paper, etc.) and ideas is Clever Models.

We had the layout engineer and Inspector working on the layout today. Going with outside mainline, inside loop and planning a spur for an engine to park with two cars. And someone is requesting an incline to upper level... Hmmmmm, and me, well, this is pretty high elevation for a carpet layout guy. Excuse me for a minute, I think I am getting a nosebleed from this high altitude.

DO I need a railing to keep engine from falling? EEEEKS! hope to test the main line for shorts with TIMEX. Video at eleven (Timex, a Mark Army400, "Takes a licking, keeps on ticking"

Hi Jackson, thank you. But I was looking for something I can print for inside the office and wearhouse.

My mistake - sorry.

@modeltrainsparts posted:

My mistake - sorry.

It's all good! That's what I love about this forum, everyone is so willing to help folks out!

@mike g. posted:

Looks great, Mike!

@p51 posted:

Looks great, Mike!

Thanks Lee, I still have a ways to go!

Posting this as more of a lesson learned.   Was opening the new CNW passenger cars and taking them out of the box to inspect and run on the track.   Well one of the cars coupler was not right.

So I took the car apart to see how to fix the coupler then noted I was missing a screw.   As per the picture (at joint at 90 degrees) you will possibly see where a missing screw is.  So looked in the packaging and no screw.  Between taking the car apart which was the least amount of time I spent over an hour finding the missing screw including looking for replacement as I keep all kinds of parts/screws.   This is one tiny screw.  

So between where I opened the passenger car to the layout I finally found the screw.    

My tip is open stuff and inspect in the same location and perhaps with some level of method to ensure any small parts that may fall out you might locate sooner.   I am sure there are many on this forum who have a method but I know I will be more methodical.  Now back to running trains.

@Miggy posted:

We had the layout engineer and Inspector working on the layout today. Going with outside mainline, inside loop and planning a spur for an engine to park with two cars. And someone is requesting an incline to upper level... Hmmmmm, and me, well, this is pretty high elevation for a carpet layout guy. Excuse me for a minute, I think I am getting a nosebleed from this high altitude.

DO I need a railing to keep engine from falling? EEEEKS! hope to test the main line for shorts with TIMEX. Video at eleven (Timex, a Mark Army400, "Takes a licking, keeps on ticking"

Chopper 5 Update on layout construction. Tethered Steam Engines, complete with Bell option, stand at the ready.

Jeff, I too like the lashup feature.  I have lashed similar diesels and double headed H9 consolidations.  Really cool.

Mike, The lights and stairs are a great enhancement on that building.

Jackson, Those are really nice backgrounds making for a nice railroady feel to your industrial area.

Scott, Nosebleed section reminds me of the top of the upper deck at Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium.  IT was all the rage when opened, than fans quickly realized it seemed like you were watching the game from a helicopter.  So after only 31 years they imploded it.  The layout looks good.  I had track that close to the edges on my original O gauge 4x8 and never lost an engine, but I don't run trains very fast and don't have any kids around.  The copter tour is great.  Is the boy in the first photograph your grandson.  He looks like he would be responsible.  He reminds me of me when I built my first train layout.  Congratulations on the planned expansion.

JJWyatt, Excellent advice on making sure you have everything intact right where you unbox trains.  I don't have room for a workbench, so I use the edge of the layout or the fold down table of an old sewing machine our older daughter has never picked up since she married and moved out.  She buys junkers and repairs them, but this machine has a fatal flaw that is beyond help, so it is my work area and place I do paperwork too.

Back to Mike.  After cleaning up a lot of leaves, (still more to do, but it is raining and snow is predicted later this afternoon) I fiddled and fiddled trying to get the wiring to work on my limit switches.  I finally did a search for your original build in the Forum search function.  I got Stan's drawing quickly by entering the phrase "linear actuator" and mike g.  It pulled up links that took me to your topic back in the fall of 2016!  I was surprised it was over 4 years ago.  So here is Stan's drawing.

I really feel like a fool, but I can't seem to think outside the box.  And I was passing myself off as an electronics technician and engineer for 43 years!!!   (I guess that was me big accomplishment in life!)    I couldn't figure out how to tie the power and the normally closed contacts together.  Since it is raining I hope to knock this out today.  I'll get the soldering iron out as soon as I leave the computer.

Good luck on your connection Mark!

Success!!  I finished wiring my limit switches for the bridges.  I have to thank Mike again for sharing the ideas and helping me so much along the way.  Also many thanks to Stan2004 for the wiring diagram.

Here they are from the aisle.

Here they are from the center of the layout.

Here is a video of the complete action.  Please pardon the movement of the camera.  There really isn't room here to set up the phone for a complete view.

Great video, Mark. Neat hearing your voice, too.

Great Mark!

@Mark Boyce posted:

Success!!  I finished wiring my limit switches for the bridges.  I have to thank Mike again for sharing the ideas and helping me so much along the way.  Also many thanks to Stan2004 for the wiring diagram

Here is a video of the complete action.  Please pardon the movement of the camera.  There really isn't room here to set up the phone for a complete view.

Beautiful Mark!! Is the crossbar teflon coated for less drag? Yes, Two Grandsons, Birthdays next month, 9 and 6 at that time. Seems like just yesterday. Yes, they are both adept with all the basics. They  make it fun! Nice work on the Bridges Mark! Exceptional! (Gomez CrAsH soon to follow, haha)

Mark: great work on the bridges.

Redball342

Mark. Those bridges are great. A lot of extra work I'm sure but things like that make a layout really neat but more convenient  as you well know. Great work.

Thank you Lee, Seth, Scott, Redball!!

Scott, right now it is a poplar 1x2.  From the beginning I thought about needing something different that provides less drag and won't rub off some details from the underside of the bridge.  Teflon coated would certainly provide less drag.  I guess any smaller project on a layout is just like a layout as a whole; they both are never really finished.  There is always room for improvement.  Congratulations on bringing the grandsons up right!!  I'm sure it does seem like yesterday.  I was 35 when our first daughter was born, and she will be 30 soon.

@farmerjohn posted:

Mark. Those bridges are great. A lot of extra work I'm sure but things like that make a layout really neat but more convenient  as you well know. Great work.

John, Thank you!!  I missed your post as I typed!  It was a lot of extra work, but I'm glad I did it. 

Mark B, Wow, thats a great video, great Bridge lifting idea, you have good voice for narration, and it’s simply very impressive. Mike G., Stan, and I’m sure others chimed in giving you creative ideas. Farmerjohn has a great helper, Steve Kimble, who really shares in his success, Farmerjohn is creative with lots of unique ways to run trains, they appear, disappear, and re-appear, so neatly. There are so many folks having modeling fun on this forum. RSJB18, Bob is creating a super switch yard and is also very creative. Happy Railroading Everyone

Out of town visitors !  Power outage across town !

Farmerjohn,

Great work and I like most, am anticipating the progress on this area of your layout. Every time you post it makes me want to do work on my layout. I guess that makes you a motivator.

Mike,

The kit-bash is really well done. This will look great lit up. Will you add any interior...people, machinery, etc? Keep the progress coming.

Dave

Thank you, Larry!!  Thank you for all the great photographs and encouragement!!

Clifford, you have to really keep an eye on those out of town visitors!

Finally making some headway on the "Charles Street Yard!"  Still some scenery touches needed here and there.  Activity is beginning to pick up...more to come...

"I love the smell of diesel in the morning"

I just finished wiring a jumper on the inner loop of my layout.  The loop is a simple 031 by 10' dogbone without turnouts, so I figured I didn't need a jumper.  I figured wrong and have put up with it for the past 4 months or so.  Now it's fixed and the trains run flawlessly at constant speed!

Mike g. You're kit bashed flat factory building looks really good. I need to do several for my layout. May I ask if you put a back on it which I'm sure you will how deep are you going to make it.

@CLIFFORD posted:

Out of town visitors !  Power outage across town !

Wonderful. Does it light up? Thanks for sharing.

Mikeg: Like your building very much.

Larry: Always enjoy your videos and new locos.

Mark: Enjoyed the explanantion about the electrical details for bridge lift operation. Quite a project and the video is proof a job well done.

Getting busy with so many other things in the works so my posts will taper off but I will catch up with the gang later.  Cheers.

Thank you, Pennsynut!

Hi everyone looks like alot of great work!

Mark, congrats on everything working well for your bridge's! They look great and nice and smooth!

Larry, what a great looking layout! I just sit and drool looking at your photos! LOL

Clifford, wonderful scenes! Cant get much better then that!

Paul, your Charles Street yard is looking outstanding!

Farmer John and Dave, I plan on putting a back on it with print outs of people and cargo inside, the back will be 1 1/2" deep. Yesterday I added some outside lights and signage and still have to put the company name on. Today I hope to get all the lighting wired in, if not there is always tomorrow! LOL Here is a photo for your pleasure!

I hope everyone has a great day!

Mike -- drive around a nearby warehouse district -- i think you'll most of the older warehouses have pretty dirty windows  (especially on the lower floors) that you can't really see through.

Thank you, Mike!  The building flat looks great!!!

After a relocation and a hiatus from the hobby, I am back to working on a railroad.  The Ozark Midland & Southern Railway is under development.  Yesterday I roughed-in where there will be a river and a girder bridge and later painted the top of the new table with a base coat of light brown acrylic paint.  Tomorrow I am expecting a delivery of 1/8" hardboard to be used for the backdrop.

Railhead53, sure looks like you have a good start!

Modeltrainparts, most of the wearhouse's near me are about an hour drive! LOL So I will take your wordfor it. Right now I am debating weather to install the glass in the windows or not as the building will be about 3 feet from the edge of the layout. I want people to see the inside and the people working there!

Well guys today I got all the outside lighting hooked up and then one has a bad connection so I tomorrow I will have to figure that out. I also got the inside back drop done with cargo on the lower level and a main lobby, the second floor is office space. Here are a couple photos for you all to enjoy!

Tomorrow is Friday and the start of the weekend, I hope everyone has a great Friday and a wonderful weekend! Remember to love the ones you have and thank them for allowing you your time for fun with your layout and trains!

This is what I did on my layout today:

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It took over 3 hours to diagnose the underlying issue.

That looks so real Mike, excellent job. It appears that business is so good that they even have a night shift; sounds fishy to me.

Thanks Mike for the comment about the progress.  It has been a while since I've worked on a railroad layout.  Feels good to be back at it.

Your project is really looking good.  My initial thinking about the glass in the windows would be to install it.  I always think adding the glass improves the overall appearance.  Perhaps the best thing to do would be to temporarily install some of it and then put your in place on the layout and then see what you think.  I'll be interested in what you decide.  Have a nice weekend.  Bill B.

@mike g. posted:

Railhead53, sure looks like you have a good start!

Modeltrainparts, most of the wearhouse's near me are about an hour drive! LOL So I will take your wordfor it. Right now I am debating weather to install the glass in the windows or not as the building will be about 3 feet from the edge of the layout. I want people to see the inside and the people working there!

Well guys today I got all the outside lighting hooked up and then one has a bad connection so I tomorrow I will have to figure that out. I also got the inside back drop done with cargo on the lower level and a main lobby, the second floor is office space. Here are a couple photos for you all to enjoy!

Tomorrow is Friday and the start of the weekend, I hope everyone has a great Friday and a wonderful weekend! Remember to love the ones you have and thank them for allowing you your time for fun with your layout and trains!

Mike, great progress on the building!  I like the loading dock you made and the figures in the building interior...looks very realistic.  It's good you created a separate door for "Shipping" and "Receiving"...much more efficient that way! 

Thanks guys for the nice words!

Jay, the beaches are worked all hours of the day and night, depending on the tied's.

Bill, I will put some glass in and see how I like it, who knows you might be right.

Paul, thank you I added the will call door cause it was smaller door and right next to the office, then that left me with what to do with the other 2 guess I could have always left them blank. But like you, I like the look.