@RSJB18 posted:I finished up the landscaping work on the front of the layout. I'm very happy with the results. Considering most of the photos I take are on this section of the layout, I put it off for too long. Remember, this started with the modification of the two switches. Sometimes one project leads to another.
I cleared off the mains and ran trains for a while too.
Need to run the track cleaning car next.
Bob
Lookin' good, Bob.
@Alan Rogers posted:I have begun a pop-out for the middle of the layout. It will be a Bayou. The inspiration for the scene is from a painting by an artist in the Central Valley of California.
Thanks to the artist John Harrell, who has given me permission to post his painting "Moonlight on the Bayou."
That painting as a backdrop could make the scene spectacular.
@Dallas Joseph, @Arnold D. Cribari- Thanks gents. Imagine what I could accomplish on a big layout....one day....
@Alan Rogers- That is going to be a great scene. The painting does remind me of a VanGoh too.
Bob
Although my active years/decades of collecting and operating O-gauge trains of the Rock Island (CRI&P) railroad are more-or-less over, I just added the new ROCKET DINER by Menard's to my L-shaped layout as an homage to my favorite "fallen flag" -- the railroad that served my home town (Peoria, IL) when I was a boy.
For decades, I collected RI trains by Lionel, MTH, Marx, Williams, Weaver, Atlas O, and some defunct brands. My inventory list was 8 pages long when I offered all the items to Stout Auctions for sale because of then-current medical issues. However, I kept a few favorite trains for display in my Train Room. Since then, I "caved" and bought a 3rd Rail train (the RI Peoria Rocket), the MTH Aerotrain with RI décor, and the current Menard's diner, which is based on a RI diesel body shell.
My layout platform is "full," but I removed an existing diner (Stella's Diner by K-Line) to make room for the new Rocket Diner. This accessory has a water-activated smoke feature but no sound effects, so I ordered and installed a diesel horn sound chip as an "accompaniment" to it.
I now have three Menard's accessories, each one has the iconic family dog in place.
Mike Mottler LCCA 12394
@Arnold D. Cribari posted:That painting as a backdrop could make the scene spectacular.
That would have to be a different layout. The new scene is surrounded by structures.
Painting done.......preliminary track work started.......
Sorry......they were showing up on my computer......I decided to do an edit....and they "disappeared".......I reloaded them.
Peter
MNRA MCR DIV 7 train show in West Chester, Ohio pictures.
Rich and I cut plywood and homasote all afternoon yesterday after doing the same the afternoon before. We are working to extend levels 2 and 3 down the left rear of the layout and determine where hills, mountains, and bridges, will go.
Paula wants a coal mine in the left rear and is talking about having a bridge similar to the New River Gorge bridge in W Va. She and Rich want a power station and Millhouse River coal dump beside the walkway.
Bill wants to go speckled trout fishing. Train wants are getting expensive and the boat is in the driveway almost ready to go.
No train photos. The blower took care of the sawdust.
With the help of my Son in law and Grandson I got a few things done. I had two buildings in town go dark awhile ago. I wasn’t sure if it was the wall wart or a bad connection. Getting under the table is becoming a real chore so I had put it on the list. I had purchased an AF /Lionel dispatch Mystic station. I wanted to install it in place of an original AF station with crane. The microphone cable has a large connector so that was another under the table job. The original was to large for the spot; the crane had no room to work. However it had come from under a good friend’s layout after he passed. So now there is room for an pedestrian overpass. The original found a home on the tinplate layout. Next I had tripped over a Lionel golf accessory. I wanted to install it near my park setting. Since I had recently decided that the Streets connection to the main line was a bad idea I placed the golf there. But like the other park accessories it was unrealistically high. So after checking under the table for obstructions or wires we cut a hole for the accessory. The track foreman issued a form D for track 3 because of the open switch. That will be cut out in the coming weeks. Then I have plenty of landscaping to do around the golf course and by the station. All in all a good day. 
Everyone's work looks great. Crews on my layout have spent the last week continuing to eliminate the paper-backed grass mat and replace it with upgraded scenery. Since grass matting is split between the railroad, town property, and private ownership, this project is being coordinated by a public-private partnership. Dobie Spangler, project manager and proprietor of Dobie Spangler Chrysler-Dodge-Plymouth, expects de-grassmatification to be completed by the end of next year.
Landscaping around the water and coal towers replaced what was grass mat.
A gravel access road for the water tower and some tall grass finished off this corner.
The Clark Brothers' barber shop was open just this past Friday night, filling what was until now a vacant lot on the far corner. Curt had his beautiful new '58 Plymouth Fury parked outside while he was inside getting a trim. (By the way, he got a great deal on the Plymouth at Dobie Spangler's.)
Another project was adding a marsh. Decades from now this will be a protected wetland, but right now in 1958 it's just a smelly swamp across the track from a fuel oil distributor.
@Putnam Division posted:Painting done.......preliminary track work started.......
Sorry......they were showing up on my computer......I decided to do an edit....and they "disappeared".......I reloaded them.
Peter
Now that looks great Peter. I wonder what it is going to look like with more rails on it?
Wow...I like it already!
Enjoyable storyline John and excellent scenery.
Peter that is a quite a vista on your horizon.
Jay
Updated my layout with O48 curves, had to make a small expansion to the layout to handle the curves.
Always nice to be able to add some inches to the table. The O48 curves help. Nice work for your busy layout.
I used BridgeBoss for my elevated track and love it. You could also make your own stands and it would look good.
Bridge Boss
Home built
Very nice, love the Reading Company equipment.
Thanks for the tour John, lots of action.
The extension looks great Art, nice work.
Wood, I like both versions of the elevation, gives it some nice visual interest.
Andy
Transformer table added.....
Peter
Very nice Peter.
Andy
Wow...lots of activity here and great work. I have not posted much since last spring as summer activities keep me busy.
I have decided to expand the layout and have removed shelves, wall hangings and a cabinet in the photo with the chairs. The last expansion was 15 years ago.
I also ran my new Legacy 2-8-0 and a Kline A5.
Fendermain
@Fendermain
That's a nice looking layout. Nice space to work in. Good luck on your expansion. Take pics and post them.
Had a good day running my military train on my friends layout.
SIRT, wow, that must be painful packing up your beautiful trains, and I’m wondering if you are moving somewhere near the same area. Hopefully you will be in the Nashville area. I enjoyed seeing your beautiful layout several years ago. Good luck with your move. Happy Railroading Everyone
Great looking train.
I know that layout but I cannot remember the owners handle or name. He helped me with a building. Would you let me know his handle and name?
(Edit) He used to be a prolific poster and I think his Father helped him build the layout. I watched the video again and he also turned me on to the maker of the murals on the walls.
Would enjoy contacting him.
Thanks.
@Fendermain, Wow, super nice layout and I like your new 2-8-0 C&O Consolidation steamer, and it looks like you also have an original American Flyer water tower, and a fun to run layout. @Drummer3, your American Flyer train and tracks brings back good memories to me, are you using the original American Flyer track rubber roadbed, your layout is really interesting, Happy Railroading Everyone 
@SIRT posted:Moving
Sirt, now that is packing up very well, very well indeed(cue John Cleese).
Steve, it looks like you planned well for moving your layout and train related items. Are you moving to a new state or locally? Have a good move!
Back to Pasco CO. FL. (Tampa Bay area)
@SIRT posted:Moving
Sirt,
I don't recall ever seeing the entire room and your entire layout. Do you have any overview/panoramic photos of the layout?
Dave
@Fendermain posted:Wow...lots of activity here and great work. I have not posted much since last spring as summer activities keep me busy.
I have decided to expand the layout and have removed shelves, wall hangings and a cabinet in the photo with the chairs. The last expansion was 15 years ago.
I also ran my new Legacy 2-8-0 and a Kline A5.
Fendermain
So what's the plan?
Bob
Hi Leapinlarry! Yes, this is original Flyer track and roadbed which is in like-new to excellent condition. Then there are some Gargraves straights with wooden ties. I cut strips of in/out grey carpet for the Gargraves road bed, and for the O27 Lionel track. Deadens the sound quite well when running the trains. Thanks for the 'likes' everyone!
@SIRT posted:Back to Pasco CO. FL. (Tampa Bay area)
Sounds like a great plan!! Thank you!
@luvindemtrains posted:Sirt,
I don't recall ever seeing the entire room and your entire layout. Do you have any overview/panoramic photos of the layout?
Dave
All on my link. Was featured in CTT.
Shutterfly 112 Photo Albums, 21,000 model photos here -
@SIRT, WOW, I have that issue of CTT magazine, thank you for all of the pictures you post, I’m almost sure you will have a new and larger layout in your new home. Have safe travels. Happy Railroading Everyone
@SIRT posted:Moving
TO or FROM ? 
Whichever......it seems like an excellent area for model railroading to me. 
@RSJB18 posted:So what's the plan?
Bob
Hey Bob, good to hear from you. The current plan, since I need to reach the trains above, is a 2 ft wide and 8 ft long shelf that is supported with angle braces along the wall. It will have the same top trim as the current layout. An 042 switch will connect a single track from outer loop on the left.
The track will then curve to the right with another section that will have support legs. That section will reconnect to the main layout via a hinged 30 in lift bridge then back to the outer loop with another 042 switch.
The 042 Ross switches are on route from Hennings.
If there is enough room, I would like a spur track, probably 027, on the 2x8. I’m thinking about flats only buildings. Do you have flats on your layout?
Anyway, the plan is to trim it out well to match the main layout. It will not have the bead board below as it would overwhelm the area.
That’s the plan so far. Test fit of the 042 switches is the determining factor. Below is an old photo of the section on the right.
John
Hope the move goes smoothly Steve.
Sounds like fun Lee, enjoy the sessions.
Andy
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