Ok guys, now that you have seen my new layout plan. Who wants to step up and help me figure out the proper way to wire it?
Lol
It looks like a go Mike. If Dave worked on the design then it will be impressive.
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:It looks like a go Mike. If Dave worked on the design then it will be impressive.
Dave is a great guy to work with! I gave him a rough draft and between him and comments here he got it ironed out!
Mike’s being too kind. I helped with the current design, but this new one was all Mike, I just helped with some tutoring for snipping tracks in SCARM.
@DoubleDAZ posted:Mike’s being too kind. I helped with the current design, but this new one was all Mike, I just helped with some tutoring for snipping tracks in SCARM.
LOL Dave, I hope you dont thing I was throwing you under the bus!
Not at all, Mike. I just want to give credit where credit’s due. I enjoy seeing folks learn SCARM and you’ve done a good job.
Thank you Sir, its folks like you that are willing to teach others that make this forum a great place to be!
@mike g. posted:Thank you Sir, its folks like you that are willing to teach others that make this forum a great place to be!
That is so right, Mike!
I like where this is going Mike.
I'm making the popcorn 😂
Just saw this on Ebay by Trainz:
Looks too good to be an original without some 'improvements'!
@Windy City posted:I would well come suggestion for my layout. I'm including two pdf files. The second has a purple section which will be elevated to run my CTA/Subway cars. All four main loops are separated by insulated center rails.
There is end to end for the gang cars around the yard. I know I will need to cut access holes (one is shown). All curves are 072 except (gang car which is 031, Figure 8 is 054 on one side and 063 around the turntable, coal tipple spur has one section of 063). The elevated CTA will be using Super O.
Coal Tipple (6-32910) is set 3" below the table top to give me a grade of 2.5%
I am using Lionel tubular track and switches
This is intended to be a TOY train layout with lots of accessories and OMGs for me and my guest.
I have a variety of engines from GPs to a BigBoy and Veranda.
Most of my engines are Lionel and a few MTH (PS1 and PS2).
I'm debating wether to use a TIU for the limited amount of engines. Can I run PS-2 engines from my Cab2, if I use a TIU? Would I have to limit the TIU to specific loops?
I used RR-Track v5.3 to design the layout, if that helps.
I'm looking for constructive critiques of the proposed layout. I appreciate the compliments.
Windy City, I do like the concept. I would suggest that in the yard area that you create some space for an industry or something other than an extensive line up of cars. With the open space on the left I would contemplate an extension about 4’ wide that could have an additional yard/industrial area. The length, of course, would be what you consider to be feasible.
Mike, Windy City, both layouts look like fun to me. Mike, I love my three level layout. When your track is down I'd be glad to test it for you. Windy City, I like the long runs. I'm debating a sub level to park my cars. Both y'all, please post your progress.
Bill
PS: Good Morning to all y'all.
Ok guys, I have a couple of crazy questions for you all. Let me start by saying its because I am on a low budget and try to reuse or build what I can.
1)Has anyone ever tried to reuse glued down Ballast and if so how did you go about it? and
2) is there any way to take up glued down cork so it can be reused?
I told you they were crazy!
I’ve reused ballast. Put it in a bucket of water to get the glue off it and rinse a lot before drying it. As for roadbed it depends on how well it was glued down. If you can get a wide putty knife under it you might be able to get it up without destroying it..
You might try a hairdryer on high or a heat gun on low on the roadbed. It might soften the
glue.
Thanks guys, I will give both a try!
@mike g. posted:Ok guys, I have a couple of crazy questions for you all. Let me start by saying its because I am on a low budget and try to reuse or build what I can.
1)Has anyone ever tried to reuse glued down Ballast and if so how did you go about it? and
2) is there any way to take up glued down cork so it can be reused?
I told you they were crazy!
Mike- I agree with the previous posts. If you used white (CA) glue for the ballast, it's water soluble and will soften up after a good soak. A wide putty knife with a sharp edge should lift the cork off the board.
Bob
The problem with reusing roadbed is getting it smooth enough on the bottom to lay flat. You don’t need waves and bumps.
Been to busy with other stuff (golf, honey-do's) to work on the layout. I've been thinking about how I want to scenic the new yard tracks and decided to do a mock-up before messing things up on the layout. I did this last night. It's OK so far, I used the same foam board that I had painted but I set it flush to the ties instead of on top and will ballast up to the rail head. I won't let the ballast go all over the place and will keep it along the track edge too. The rest is a mix of light and mixed WS turf and some fine sand.
The glue was still wet in these pix.
Bob
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Looks good Bob. Consider adding some weeds to the final product.
Jay- yes weeds and other details will be added once it's on the layout. I have a bunch of grass clumps (from paint brush bristles), from my corner tunnel along with lot's of clump foliage.
Thanks
Thanks for all the advice guys! I will give it a try here in a little bit.
Bob this came today. I like the look but the bell housing looks bent and the bell was off. I hope I can fix it!
I still have to put a battery replacement in it before I put it on the track. Once I get to see it run then I will start my redo of the layout.
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Bob, your sample looks good!
Mike, the engine looks great! I have had success gluing bell housings and other add on parts if I can’t get them bent back right or they break. The more details engines and rolling stock have, the more I have to get out the bottle of glue. As for the roadbed, I don’t put much glue underneath, so it is easy to lift up with a putty knife and reuse. If the underside is too uneven with glue, I think it is better to use new roadbed.
Hi guys, I did a little test on both the ballast and cork. I'm still waiting for the ballast to dry out to see if I need to rinse some more.
The cork roadbed, well I don't have a heat gun, so the wife let me here try her hair dryer. It took a little bit and a nice sharp putty knife, after some heat it was coming up nicely. Some had some glue still on the back, so I soaked it in hot water for about 10 minutes and it came off easy.
Thanks for all the ideas!
I did a wash with some acrylic paints on my yard track mock up to make it look dirtier. I used mostly black with some brown mixed in, diluted with a little water. I'm heading in the right direction for sure. I went over the track and rail with it too. Looks like we have a winner!
On the layout I will do this before adding any foliage so I don't mute those colors. Green is green no mater where it grows. 
Bob
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That's looking really good! Remember weeds, etc, do not grow very well in oily dirt found around railroad yards.
I bought a Lionel B & O "Timesaver" boxcar (6-36281) and put it in service. Little joys.
Live steam pictures.
Ran some trains today - postwar F3s and modern LC+ FTs. Happy weekend, all!
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You've made great progress out there on the coast.
I enjoyed the vista passengers passing ...
Last couple days in the waning hours after kids go to bed I finally built the first of my double bridge drop down bridges. This one is drop down and the upper track will be lift up. I still have to cut the track but before I do that I need to get a power wire to the bridge. It is 40” Long and I ran the big boy over it to make sure it was good and solid. Here are some pics, I’ll do a video when it’s all done.
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Gerhardt, I like your drop down bridge. I'll look forward to seeing your lift up bridge and a video when it is all done!!!
Just for curiosity, where do you live in Canada. Province is good enough, I'm not trying to pen you in. 
Bob, Things are really looking good! Once you get that on the layout you will have to put together a MOW crew to keep the weeds down! LOL
Kevin, great scenery and I love how the folks are railfaning! LOL Great little videos, Thanks for sharing!
Gerhardt, that is one impressive bridge @ 40", I would almost make some kind of safety arm that swings out under it while in use. I would hate to see those little wood screws give way and your big boy tumble to the floor!
Well guys I am a little PO'ed and I need some more advice. As most of you know I purchased my first steam engine. With the advice of many folks here I waited till I got a battery replacement before even getting it near the tracks. Well they came in yesterday and I was so excited like a little kid, I was going to run my first steam engine with smoke, bell and whistle!
I put the battery replacement in the tender, set the engine and tender on the track, hooked them both together, powered up the track, added engine to my DCS system and let it sit there for a few minutes. Started it up and man it sounded great, whistle was wonderful, so I started down the track chuffing away. 6 feet later DEAD ON THE TRACK!
So my question to you all is now what do I do?
I'm not sure if this counts as "layout", but I did add a couple sets of shelves and reorganized things. Slowly I'm able to get more stuff out of boxes and it's like Christmas, I haven't seen some of these in a long time!
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Gerhart,
Love the whole layout's design - looks well thought out.
Please keep updating for us
Started some scenic work on a little corner of the layout that is more of a nook but ideal for a wooded rural cabin scene. I have a Woodland scenics Rustic Cabin which is the right size for the area. So far i have created the forest back drop and the water on the ground from images i found on the internet and printed locally. Probably will raise the cabin a bit to create depth . Will be adding trees and foliage to embellish the scene. It gives a nice impression.
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John, wonderful looking trains! I would say something about the Shelf's but cant really see them! LOL
LIRR, looks like a great start! Its nice to see the little things that folks do to add just a little detail !
Well guys, it started today. I started dismantling the section of the layout where the city was to get ready to change things up. I will have to do one section at a time as I dont have all the room to store all the trains stuff I have! LOL here are a couple photos!
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Good start, Mike!
