@mike g. posted:Hi guys I hope your all having a great weekend.
I hope you all have a great Easter!
Thanks for sharing Mike. Hope you had a good Easter .
@Lionelski posted:Why the heck are you guys liking the above post?
That is just plain mean! LOL
We’re liking them out of respect for how many magazines and catalogs you have collected. Also, showing concern over the poor bent brackets! 😉
Finally got through a couple of switch orders on session no. 2. tonight and kept 2 B6 switchers busy. Pulled three x29s from mail/express in passenger team track. Spotted them in town team tracks for pick up. Spotted 3 coal hoppers at town coal business from main yard and picked up the 3 x29s and returned through main yard to business spur.
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https://ogrforum.com/member/lionelski
I can understand the shock seeing all the contents on the floor. Last year two rows of shelving (about 16 feet worth) and hanging clothes fell from the wall in my wife's walk- in closet. The shelf clips were plastic and apparently weakened with age and got brittle. The falling shelves and clothes jammed the closet door partly shut so it was difficult to even figure out where to start. The only good part was a forced reorganization of the entire closet!
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Last night, I was all excited to run my Lionel B&O passenger cars that I mentioned earlier. I brought my B&O Atlas F units out, and put the cars on the track, and realized one of the Lionel cars was not tracking well. Turned the track power on, and cars lit up and immediately I had a short that shut everything down. Upon further inspection the car that was not tracking well was not tracking well for a reason, the wheels were literally falling out of the axle. I looked at it for a while but 2 of the 3 wheels on one of the trucks literally were not in the truck. I am stunned that you could possibly miss this when putting the car together. Will call and let them know I am returning it to be fixed.
Victor - at least our shelve failures did not involve trains!
@Lionelski posted:Victor - at least our shelve failures did not involve trains!
Yes- that would be much worse John.
That's an impressive collection. I assume that structural inspections will be undertaken on all remaining shelving?
Bob
Don't see these very often:
Will be interesting to see what it sells for.
D-264 layout auction:
Afternoon guys, I hope your all having a good Monday!
@jbmccormick & @Alex M great looking cars guys! I have been thinking about getting some for my UP 4-8-4. Now it is making me want them even more!
@Lionelski WOW John! That's one heck of a mess to have to clean up! I feel for you! You might think about going digital or getting stronger brackets!
@pennsynut Looks like fun, but also a busy night at the RR! Sorry to hear about your short and that you have to send it back to have it fixed! Shouldn't be that way!
@samparfitt Sam, great little layout! I think I am going to have to build something like that for the set I just got for free, but on a 4 x 8 sheet.
Well guys I haven't done much today. I went out and made a couple videos of my layout as a forum member @jhl1963 asked if I had any photos past my 12/21/2018 update. So much has changed I thought it would be easier to just make the videos. Here they are for your enjoyment! LOL
I hope you all find time to have fun with your layouts and trains today!
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Great work guys! Nice motive power display.
John, sorry your shelves gave way, that stinks.
Mike, the layout looks great! Excellent videos, thanks. So many changes, man you work fast...
Andy
Painted and placed the cap that goes around the top of the turntable. I'll make it permanent shortly, then do some weathering.
Andy
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Today, I did benchwork. I have repurposed wood from previous projects to avoid costly wood purchases that I don't need. I cleaned out my railroad room of clutter to give myself space to see and think. Finally I took yet another look at my track plan in AnyRail to see how I would expand my proposed layout. I almost sent Ross an order but I'm still in shock over the taxes I had to pay this year(my own doing) so I need a few days to recover before spending more money but.....I have my track list and I'm going with Ross so in a few days I'll send out the order to get the track and start placing my track on the bench work( L shape 30' x 18'). I'm determined to make progress everyday even if its something small but today was a lot of work....feels good.
Just checking in guys!
@Steamfan77 Andy thank you! It's been a fun and frustrating adventure! LOL The turn table looks great,I wish I had a plan and room to allow one!
@Maxandy sounds like a good start. You sound like me, reuse everything you can and build what you can! I hope you will post some photos and maybe a track plan of your future layout. It's always fun to fallow a build from the start as it goes along!
Everyone have a great day, nothing but lots of rain here today. So I have been chasing water, cleaning gutters and drain pipes! LOL I should have been running trains! Maybe tomorrow as I know I wont be on Wednesday and we are having some trees taken down!
Remember please find time to have fun with your layouts and trains!
Good Friday we entertained visitors to the museum, Easter Bunny was early but very busy.
@Doug W. : Loved the "Bunny" trains, I bet the young folks to the museum loved them!
Best Wishes
Don
Hey Y'all
I'm making progress on the rebuild of the Bald Rock Mountain Railroad. I have about 40 pieces of O gauge track down. I've added several power drops I did not have the first time. I will have to rewire everything. It feels good to screw down track. Color me satisfied.
Bill
Ran the long freight with the Berkshire locomotive. No, I did not even try to cleanup the layout!
@Victor Bertolina posted:Ran the long freight with the Berkshire locomotive. No, I did not even try to cleanup the layout!
Victor:
That is a great video. If that is the 736 Berkshire, that was my first locomotive in 1953. I still have it and still runs very well! That engine can really pull a train. My son got it up to 17 cars includung the caboose before it skidded too much to get the train in motion. Though we now run a bunch of MTH Proto-Sound 2 and 3 power, the Berkshire is till my favorite engine.
@mike g. posted:Afternoon guys, I hope your all having a good Monday!
@jbmccormick & @Alex M great looking cars guys! I have been thinking about getting some for my UP 4-8-4. Now it is making me want them even more!
@Lionelski WOW John! That's one heck of a mess to have to clean up! I feel for you! You might think about going digital or getting stronger brackets!
@pennsynut Looks like fun, but also a busy night at the RR! Sorry to hear about your short and that you have to send it back to have it fixed! Shouldn't be that way!
@samparfitt Sam, great little layout! I think I am going to have to build something like that for the set I just got for free, but on a 4 x 8 sheet.
Well guys I haven't done much today. I went out and made a couple videos of my layout as a forum member @jhl1963 asked if I had any photos past my 12/21/2018 update. So much has changed I thought it would be easier to just make the videos. Here they are for your enjoyment! LOL
I hope you all find time to have fun with your layouts and trains today!
Mike:
You have created a BEAUTIFUL layout!!!!!! Bravo!!!!!
@randy.harrison
Thanks
That is the 736 from the 50's. I received that locomotive and a bunch more from a very close friend. They all needed maintenance from resting for over 50 years and the Berkshire needed a lot from motor bearings to e unit rebuilding and replacing missing parts. The Berkshire is a really nice locomotive and pulls really well on the excessive grades on my layout.
Victor:
The good news about the engines of the 736's era is that they can still be serviced and partially rebuilt if necessary. As my father, the late Randolph Harrison Jr. (I am the third) said, "That was when trains were made to last a life-time, if you live that long."
My son's Berkshire record of 17 cars was set on a flat platform. Your record of 10 cars up elevations is quite good. Let's hear it for Magne-Traction!!!!!!!!!
@Don McErlean posted:@Doug W. : Loved the "Bunny" trains, I bet the young folks to the museum loved them!
Best Wishes
Don
Young folk of all ages. 
Love that phrase: "Young folk of all ages."
Today a poster asked about front couplers on steamers which triggered replies including mine. It also triggered action to remove the slanted catcher on my PRR Consolidation and make freight engine steps and supports. I used styrene, painted those black and glued the assembly to the sill with ca gell. Before and after.
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My trainroom is about 26' x 28'. I have had an around-the-room layout for several years. It is very basic: Mianne benchwork with plywood on top and then Fastrack screwed to the plywood. There are 3 mainlines with several sidings. There is also a second level for G gauge trains. I've never been very happy with it. With an around-the-room layout, it is difficult to do the recommended star wiring for DCS. I have multiple spots where the DCS signal is very weak. I have not had any problems with Legacy/TMCC engines.
Surprise, surprise...with Fastrack screwed directly to plywood, it is very loud.
I have decided to completely redo the layout. The wiring hubs and TIU's are mounted to plywood that is under the layout. I have pulled them out from under the layout and will reposition them closer to center of the room. And, the TIU's will be much higher. I should be able to do a better job of star wiring which will hopefully result in better DCS performance. And, with the TIU's higher, I will have more range using my remote.
I am putting padding on the plywood and will not screw the Fastrack down. It will be loosely secured to the plywood by using nylon wire ties. This should cut down on the noise level.
I find it increasingly difficult to crawl under the layout. Another reason to get the TIU's and wiring hubs out from under the layout is that they will be much higher and better illuminated so I can see what I am doing and not crawling on my knees.
This going to be a l-o-n-g project.
Today I had help from my grandson sealing and shaping contours around some segments of the layout for the purpose of final ballasting and scenery completion. One of the finest parts of model railroading is getting younger people involved.
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Bill,
This is fantastic! Would really enjoy seeing more of your layout.
Dave
Got a delivery of an MTH Premier N&W J Class 611 from @Cabin Fever Auctions unpacked it and set it on the rails. Been looking for one for a while now and barely won it at auction. Bidding hit my max and stopped. Too much going on to do anything with it except to appreciate its size relative to a RailKing version I had and sold a while back. Before I power this up, I need to replace the battery with a BCR. Will send photos after I get back from my new train room hunting trip. We are supposed to see 4 good prospects this weekend. The CEO gets the rest of the facilities.
Wow! A lot of fantastic work to catch up on!
I am contemplating my next project.......the TW TrainWorx New Haven style switch tower.....I start off with a picture from the TW website:
....opening the box......
......and here we go!
Lastly, everything may be on hold.......my additional Mianne Benchwork arrives later today!
Have a great and safe weekend, folks!
Peter
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Hi Peter, What a great looking switch tower. I have a smaller version of what you have displayed here but it pales in comparison. Who is the vendor and are they now available? Bill
@Bill Park posted:Hi Peter, What a great looking switch tower. I have a smaller version of what you have displayed here but it pales in comparison. Who is the vendor and are they now available? Bill
TW TrainWorx.....and yes, they are available.......
Peter
I've had the K-line 15" WP California Zephyr for two weeks and decided I needed to fix the doors that didn't shut all the way. And while I was at it retrieve the conductor that had come loose and was stuck under one of the tables! I've named him Stuckey Wedgewood do to his unfortunate predicament.
These aluminum passenger cars are not easy to take apart. The metal frame is in a groove in the aluminum shell and has to be pulled out of the front of the car. It was resistant to being pulled out, and I had to spread the aluminum body out at the bottom to pull the chassis out. Can't wait to put it back together! LoL
Stuckey Wedgewood is seen in the middle of all the parts.
I don't like the perforated floor, I'm on the hunt for doll house carpet that might be similar to was was in the real Zephyr cars. Plus, more passengers are required. Updates later.
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@WesternPacific2217 posted:
I don't like the perforated floor, I'm on the hunt for doll house carpet that might be similar to was was in the real Zephyr cars. Plus, more passengers are required. Updates later.
Doll house carpet is a great idea as an option. I use dollhouse building parts as well as interior decor in a lot of my scratchbuilt structures. Another option is to do a Google search for color photos of carpeting, save the photos and print them. It may be a cheaper option and give you a larger variety from which to choose.
@Randy Harrison posted:Doll house carpet is a great idea as an option. I use dollhouse building parts as well as interior decor in a lot of my scratchbuilt structures. Another option is to do a Google search for color photos of carpeting, save the photos and print them. It may be a cheaper option and give you a larger variety from which to choose.
Randy, that’s a great idea and I have a Canon photo printer and several types of paper to choose from! I’ll let you know how it goes. Thanks!!
@WesternPacific2217 posted:Randy, that’s a great idea and I have a Canon photo printer and several types of paper to choose from! I’ll let you know how it goes. Thanks!!
Check this site too Scott.
Lots of interesting images. I've used it frequently, and the free account gives you a decent amount of downloads.
Thanks for the site Bob, I’ll check it out.
Andy
I’ve made a change in the yard around the turntable area. I’ve been playing with the idea to pull the foam board up and today I finally pulled the trigger. I did this with the idea in mind to create a slightly different height so everything in the area doesn’t look so uniform. First step was to remove some ballast and pull out the foam board. I’ll touch up some spots with flat brown latex next.
Andy
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@RSJB18 posted:Check this site too Scott.
Lots of interesting images. I've used it frequently, and the free account gives you a decent amount of downloads.
Bob, thanks for the link, I signed up and there’s some great stuff on the site! Appreciate you sharing that!
Noodling around with my F3. Been hitting a wall with the lighting....again.
Fixed one problem this afternoon. More to go....
@WesternPacific2217 posted:
I don't like the perforated floor, I'm on the hunt for doll house carpet that might be similar to was was in the real Zephyr cars. Plus, more passengers are required. Updates later.
What was the purpose for the original perforated floor Scott ? 🤔 I never saw this done on a passenger car .
