What did you do on your layout today?

This was a couple of days ago, and is a minor thing compared to layout-construction progress reports, but it was very significant for me, for it led to being able to operate my DCS locomotives again after a problem that rendered all but one of them unable to run under command, a situation that I first became aware of in January 2021, and left my test-track loop out-of-service until a chance thought led me to swap polarity at the lockon..

Before this, none of my locos save for one that was already on the layout, could be found by my TIU. I never thought to check my wiring because the diesel that was on the layout was unaffected by the wiring error (and my loop is only able to accommodate one train at a time). The full sordid story can be found in the MTH DCS sub-forum here.

---PCJ

@Randy Harrison posted:

@Strap Hanger

Bravo to your station scene! I love urban passenger stations and yours is SUPERB! Thank you for sharing these great photos.

Thanks Randy and MikeG. Its so much fun to conceive a project and implement it as part of a regular layout urban renewal plan, LOL!.  I have a few other project ideas that i hope to begin in the next few years.  That's the beauty of this hobby for me - the layout is never really done and there is so much that a person can do.

That's a good idea for the guide chains, Mike. After my lower back pain dies down from installing everything (funny how once you break 50, these things start happening), I might attempt leaning over and placing a few on the structure.

Great pictures everyone, and Strap Hanger that’s a beautiful scene with the crane, station, and the ends of the passenger trains, it’s cool, I like the elevated station scenic effect with trains underneath, Tommy F, now your layout brings back lots of memories, Lionel’s 1958 catalog front cover and  your famous F3 Sante Fe’s pulling a fast freight over your nicely done model railroad is Super, it’s awesome, Mike g., thanks for the compliments on my layout, it’s simply a labor of love, and although the pictures posted here are not of my layout, they are a result of our aging group of model railroader friends, Ramos leading to the train room, even wheel chair friendly. My wife made these changes fo us, we seem to be getting older, although we are senior Kids. Happy Railroading Everyone

@mike g. post

Tom, I look forward to see what you have going in your tight areas!

Mike I was at first replacing some turnouts for appearance because I am now running some long passenger cars.  Plans called for small stock on multiple branch lines but I fell to temptation and picked up some large trains recently.

Then when I first ran a PRR Q it squirmed like a pig in mud wanting to climb over the stock rails of small turnouts rail .  So a major swapping out of  small branch line turnouts commenced all over the RR.

Railride, I am glad you were able to get it fixed! Gives me something to think about rewiring after my redo.

Straphanger, it's funny how the littlest things can make the back hurt! Just take your time.

Larry, it's wonderful what the wife has done for you! When we got our present home really only requirement was limited steps! Love the little video also!

Tom, I totally understand. When building my original layout I planned on using O-54 curves, but it doesn't work well with laser couplers and fixed piolets. Hence all the O-72 curves and switches.

Might as well check in.

Been having challenges for the past few weeks. Was bitten by a tick, and either had a hyper-allergic reaction, or (and most likely), picked up that bug named after a town in Connecticut (and not the popular citrus fruit). Got tested too late, but waiting to see what the latest blood work says. Be that as it may...

My O27 door-core layout is moving along a bit slower. Got a bevy of locomotives (<- real diesel/critter fan). Stalled on a planned conversion of a Rivarossi FM Consolidated Liner to O27 (shortening the shell, but discovering that it totally dwarfs much of my semi-scale rolling stock. Didn't think that out. Hat tip to Bill O for the spare). Rebuilt/remotored a Kusan dummy FA. Parts built a Lionel Navy Yard switcher (I have the parts to rebuild another).

When I do run, I do switching operations. Much of my equipment is rebuilt/formerly junk, so this is an opportunity to test things out.

Hopefully, I'll be getting more work done. I'm really happy to have gotten into this aspect of the model train hobby, as I am having a heck of a lot more fun than I did when I was worried about "rivet counting".

- Robert

A mixed bag today.
First I mounted my Cab-1L base and DCS remote commander. The RC is mounted to the front edge of the layout so it has a good line of site to the remote. I added a switch to the RC so I can keep it off when not in use. I only have two PS-2/3 engines at the moment. Many more on the TMCC/Legacy side.

I also did a bit more ground cover around the station, and cleaned the track.

Finally I dug out the old caboose I will use for a yard office. It's a Lionel Lines 6017. Looks like it was made in the late 50's- 61, so its a year or two older than me.

The installation looks good Bob!  

Excellent productivity. You deserve a beverage of your choice.

@Mark Boyce posted:

The installation looks good Bob!  

Thanks Mark

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

Excellent productivity. You deserve a beverage of your choice.

Finishing up a Trains of Texas Gilpin Hotel.  This kit, comprised of 4 large plaster walls, arrived with the windowed front wall broken in several pieces. Epoxy fixed that, but the unusual arched windows were in shards and had to be fabricated from sheet styrene, with something less than perfection.  Two other walls were broken during construction, but repaired, so this is not my finest effort.  It will be the hotel for Coal forest, my major junction with Class 1's,  and my largest hotel.

RR, how bout some pics. I have two layouts built on door slabs.

Just now, my dad and have acquired two rolls of forest green felts at Carlton Hobbies yesterday afternoon. I stapled down the felts on the surface with a stapler gun, and this is how my layout looks now!

Good morning everyone. Continuing work on the layout has been slow this week due to some health problems. But, this does not mean I was not able to get anything done. I continued work on the mountain, completed where I left off and continued around the upper platform. At first, I had planned on using foam for the curved section of the mountain, but unfortunately, it did not turn out as planned. As a result, I went back to the old reliable method of cardboard and newspaper. Currently, I have begun painting the plaster cloth and hopefully soon start ground cover today.

Worked on getting the stock yard finished.

Determined that my NH RS-1 will not make it through 5122 turnouts, no matter the amount of butchering  required 😢😢. The covers on the solenoids are the problem. The fuel tank is just too darn big.

Who can I call at ALCO to complain 😂😂😂

Still a beautiful engine.

@RSJB18 posted:

Determined that my NH RS-1 will not make it through 5122 turnouts, no matter the amount of butchering  required 😢😢. The covers on the solenoids are the problem. The fuel tank is just too darn big.

Who can I call at ALCO to complain 😂😂😂

Still a beautiful engine.

Let me be the first to suggest ( ) you need to expand with wider curves… gotta keep that gorgeous engine on the road

@Apples55 posted:

Let me be the first to suggest ( ) you need to expand with wider curves… gotta keep that gorgeous engine on the road

Agreed Paul. Would you like to speak to my wife about that? 😂😂😂😂

Today I finished the Trains of Texas "Gilpin Hotel" kit as my Hotel Coalforest, the railroad hotel for my HQ town for this logging, mining and ranching road.  Due to aforementioned broken plaster walls and badly damaged windows, not as good as l hoped.  I also may not have posted another constructed grain elevator.

@RSJB18 posted:

Agreed Paul. Would you like to speak to my wife about that? 😂😂😂😂

Sorry Bob... I am a fully paid-up, card carrying life member of the Brotherhood of the Happily Divorced. Our motto is “We May Be Crazy, But We’re Not Stupid“. You’re on your own

I agree with apples55, my motto is no wife, happy life.

Menard's first powered unit:

https://www.menards.com/main/g...tm_campaign=29O-2021(1)&utm_content=O-Gauge&spMailingID=33506686&spUserID=NjU0NjI4MDE5OTES1&spJobID=1983990893&spReportId=MTk4Mzk5MDg5MwS2

With only 200 being made they will, probably, be sold out in a few hours.

Looks like I was 'spot on' about selling fast: just tried to go to that web site and no longer access it.

Nice engine for the price! I was just at Menards and here is what I got! Lol

I know I will need more cars and buildings for my redo!

Whoa Mike, nice haul!

Mike g., wow nice selection of buildings, rolling stock, and DieCast cars and trucks, and Samparfitt, thanks for introducing Menards new Sante Fe F unit diesel to us here on the forum. I watched the video and it’s really cool, the colors great, the crew dialogue is very audible, and it appears to be a great runner, thanks for sharing. So, now we have a new comer to O gauge motive power. Happy Railroading Everyone

Nice haul @mike g.

I was able to snag one of the F3's. Cant wait to try it out.

Bob

Thanks guys! Bob lete know how it goes, if I wasn't on vacation I might have seen it posted ! Maybe next release!

*These are not Intermountain, all I remember is that I bought some "T" section Bettendorfs that were unassembled kits in plastic bags. These trucks were built the same way; the separately attached journal box lids were the give-away to me.

RSJB18 Bob, are you using a Fastrak turnout, or postwar turnout with the switch motor causing the diesel to not go through the curve? If you could post a picture, I might have an idea.

@leapinlarry posted:

RSJB18 Bob, are you using a Fastrak turnout, or postwar turnout with the switch motor causing the diesel to not go through the curve? If you could post a picture, I might have an idea.

I have 027 5121, 5122's Larry. The back end of the solenoid cover hits the fuel tanks. I dont mind cutting the plastic but the metal bracket for the solenoid is in the way too. Not going to cut up 14 switches for one loco.

I'll still listen to your ideas tho.

RSJB18 Bob, I forgot they were the 027 switches, my idea was to cut the motors off and replace them with DZ1000 switch machines, however that would be time consuming and a little pricey, but, now I would simply leave the diesel on a nice siding. However, just for kicks and giggles, Ross might make a low profile 027 turnout that could be switched out easier, I’m sure your CEO has a 14 month 0 interest program you could apply for, just kidding. Sometimes we just have to be content the way things are. Happy Railroading.

Yes Larry. If I could start over I would have done a lot of things differently. I'm still having a blast with the world's best hobby.  I can use it to spot cars on the front of the layout so it's not a total loss.

My next layout will be perfect since I've made all the mistakes already. 😂😂😂😂

Another "cheating a bit" entry for me into this thread, as its a another "what I have done for my future layout", so if you could indulge me.

Came home from work and got to open my eBay present that was delivered today, an authentic metal 1970s era New York MTA Bus Stop Sign, weathered naturally from 40+ years ago.  It will be going on the wall in my train room as part of the decor.  This sign brings back pleasant memories.

The Domestic CEO was very happy for me and enjoyed taking the photo of me, my fishbowl buses, and the dog.

Amfleet, that’s a great find. In my career I operated numerous fishbowls; with and without AC.

Kevin, the sign is a great find on eBay, and the busses look great too!

Dave, you certainly have been busy!

Bob, Congratulations on getting one of the F3s!!  I saw it posted as I was laying on the heating pad with electrodes (don't know what else to call them at PT).  I knew they would all be gone by the time I finished PT, and I was right.  I'm looking forward to seeing how yours and others' responds.

Larry, great photographs as always.

Mike, that is quite a haul at Menards! 

I finished gluing on all the downspouts, etc to the Atlas signal tower and just have to do some trim painting.  I set it on the layout and it looks great!  Sorry, no photograph, It's 2:30 and I am on the computer in the basement, and the iPhone I use for photographs is in the bedroom.  I'll get some later.  I pulled out the AmeriTown building I was working on in the winter, and did a little more gluing and painting.

@Tommy_F posted:

Finished up the first phase of work in my rebuilt Super O layout, and what better engine to take the first lap than my 1948 Santa Fe F-3s. . .

Wow! I love Super O. I've been working on my 4x8 Super O layout since the beginning of the year. I love your layout. Very inspiring

@RSJB18 posted:

A mixed bag today.
First I mounted my Cab-1L base and DCS remote commander. The RC is mounted to the front edge of the layout so it has a good line of site to the remote. I added a switch to the RC so I can keep it off when not in use. I only have two PS-2/3 engines at the moment. Many more on the TMCC/Legacy side.

I also did a bit more ground cover around the station, and cleaned the track.

Finally I dug out the old caboose I will use for a yard office. It's a Lionel Lines 6017. Looks like it was made in the late 50's- 61, so its a year or two older than me.

How do you like the DCS controller? I have a fair amount of MTH engines but I've never crazy about DCS. I've thought about getting one of those boxes though and just have the plain jane version.

@Berkshirelover726 posted:

How do you like the DCS controller? I have a fair amount of MTH engines but I've never crazy about DCS. I've thought about getting one of those boxes though and just have the plain jane version.

Cody- It's works as advertised. The remote does forward/ reverse/ speed, front and rear couplers, and bell/ whistle. Also startup/ shutdown and crew announcements. You can only run one train at a time but that's all I need at the moment. Mine is wired in passive mode (connected to the black/red terminals on my track bus), when they were sold with RTR sets, the power supply plugs into the RC and then connects to the track.

The remote is line of sight IR so that's why I mounted the receiver where I did. Note that it only works with PS-2 or newer engines.

Bob

Today we had a quick visit to the temporary layout. I was holding my 5 month old while my 3 year old was jumping up and down on a chair to get a better view of the trains. What I did on the layout today was clear the misc off the top of it and the surrounding floor so we could have a safe and short operating session

Track 4 has Postwar F3s pulling a scale-versioned partial homage to the original 6464 series boxcars with a couple extras thrown in...

Track 3 has an all Northern Pacific freight pulled by a Weaver VO-1000 with an extra ATSF bobber caboose tagging along...

Track 2 has an idle Chicago Northwestern ten wheeler and a short reefer freight...

Track 1 has an idle (but motorized) Corgi Green Hornet streetcar...

@RSJB18 posted:

Cody- It's works as advertised. The remote does forward/ reverse/ speed, front and rear couplers, and bell/ whistle. Also startup/ shutdown and crew announcements. You can only run one train at a time but that's all I need at the moment. Mine is wired in passive mode (connected to the black/red terminals on my track bus), when they were sold with RTR sets, the power supply plugs into the RC and then connects to the track.

The remote is line of sight IR so that's why I mounted the receiver where I did. Note that it only works with PS-2 or newer engines.

Bob

Thanks Bob! I forgot it only runs one train at a time. I may have to go full DCS then. Which is fine. I have a lot of PS2 and PS3 engines. I have just always liked TMCC/ Legacy so I just run my MTH engines in conventional. Thanks for sharing.