What did you do on your layout today?

So everything under the snow is glued in place? Well done!

@Mark Boyce posted:

Ran my fairly new RailKing B&O SD9 after doing some test fitting for the lower tracks and a completely rebuilt high line.

I agree with Dave Ripp about the SD9  AND  the boxcars Mark.    Looking at your video I wondered if the SD9 was the SCALE model RK .                     Looks like your layout is growing too .

Sometime ago I picked up this RK GP7......

........I didn't realize it until much later that it turned out to be a SCALE  RK.   It didnt have the bells and whistles that the Premier has but it was larger.

A couple small fun projects today.

I balanced out an overpass area with a 2nd Lionel girder bridge. Here are the before and after pics:

Notice the small emergency water tower between the two girder bridges in the 2nd photo? I made it for free today. How? Find out how towards the end of this blog post: Free and Unique Stuff to Use: (warrenvillerailroad.com)

I also added guard rails to the top of my Lionel arch under bridge. I made these railings from plastic model sprues. Again, here are before and after pics:

Nothing compared with the great projects you guys have been sharing, but these kept me busy on this cold day on LI.

@John's Trains posted:

I just took a ride around my Whereazona Central Railroad layout. The engineer let me hitch a ride in the cab. I wanna go again!

A nice video looking out from the cab John.

That's a very interesting video .  I'm used to seeing  videos looking straight down the track ahead of the locomotive and this video certainly gave a unique and fun view of the scenery.

  At first I missed " a ride in the cab "  and thought you were in a passenger car. 

@John's Trains posted:

I just took a ride around my Whereazona Central Railroad layout. The engineer let me hitch a ride in the cab. I wanna go again!

A fun video John AND I love your pike's name!

@Mark Boyce posted:

Everyone has great projects!  I like the signal towers!

I ran my fairly new RailKing B&O SD9 after doing some test fitting for the lower tracks and a completely rebuilt high line.

Nice Mark, nice!

Thanks for sharing

@Dallas Joseph posted:

A nice video looking out from the cab John.

That's a very interesting video .  I'm used to seeing  videos looking straight down the track ahead of the locomotive and this video certainly gave a unique and fun view of the scenery.

  At first I missed " a ride in the cab "  and thought you were in a passenger car. 

Thank you, Dallas. You know what they say about necessity being the mother of invention. I don't have a caboose cam, so I rubber-banded my phone sideways to a flatcar. The phone is too wide to fit crossways looking forward or back because the clearances on my rr are 1/4" in places.

@Lionelski posted:

A fun video John AND I love your pike's name!

Thank you, John. I named it the Whereazona Central in honor of the 49th state because, as the smallest of the 51, it doesn't get enough attention. But it's every bit as much a part of the Union as bigger states like Delaware and Rhode Island.

@Dallas Joseph posted:

I agree with Dave Ripp about the SD9  AND  the boxcars Mark.    Looking at your video I wondered if the SD9 was the SCALE model RK .                     Looks like your layout is growing too .

Sometime ago I picked up this RK GP7......

........I didn't realize it until much later that it turned out to be a SCALE  RK.   It didnt have the bells and whistles that the Premier has but it was larger.

Your GP7 really looks sharp, Dallas!  Thank you!  I really like the scale RailKing diesels.  They are at a price that doesn't break the bank!!

@Lionelski posted:

Nice Mark, nice!

Thanks for sharing

Thank you very much, John!

I painted and installed these Ameri-Towne flats.  I wanted to draw semblance to the Morrison’s Doors factory, also pictured.  Thinking about a couple leds on the flats as well.

John

I promised to take a video of the Patriotic train that I displayed on Veterans Day. Here is the video taken on the in progress ETC Christmas layout.

This morning I witnessed the first haul of crude iron ore.   Spent the end of last week near Two Harbors, MN dog sitting.   Had to visit the shore of the big lake (Superior) to collect some more sand and gravel that I needed to complete the new loads.   It was icy cold but the lake kept the shoreline from freezing!  

Cheers, Dave

darlander - those ore cars look heavy moving down the rails. Nice modeling. You are much braver than I. The thought of Lake Superior in the winter makes me want to shiver. I'll take the 2 feet of snow we got in Grand Rapids - not the bone chilling cold.   

Yesterday I acquired two Lionel vista dome cars, a GN 19181 Prairie View Vista Dome #1394, and a GN 19119 Vista Dome car #1322. One has the long dome and one has the short dome. The long dome is populated by a bunch of people, but the short dome has what appears to be a piece of white cardboard instead.

I would like to add some people to the short dome, but before I do anything stupid, I am wondering just what is the proper way to disassemble the car. I’d hate to screw something up through ignorance. Also, does anyone make an interior for this dome, or will I have to improvise?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.  (I am posting on this thread because I couldn't get a reply when I posted it just by itself.)

@Fendermain posted:

I painted and installed these Ameri-Towne flats.  I wanted to draw semblance to the Morrison’s Doors factory, also pictured.  Thinking about a couple leds on the flats as well.

John

Looking good John .

I've never seen those good looking Ameri-Towne flats . They will go well with the Morrison Door Factory.    That factory has been in my dreams for a long time........alas.....no room on my layout for it.

Its OK though.......I really enjoy seeing it on all the different forumites layouts.

@John's Trains posted:

Thank you, Dallas. You know what they say about necessity being the mother of invention. I don't have a caboose cam, so I rubber-banded my phone sideways to a flatcar. The phone is too wide to fit crossways looking forward or back because the clearances on my rr are 1/4" in places.

Well John, the video was really special.

@Fendermain posted:

I painted and installed these Ameri-Towne flats.  I wanted to draw semblance to the Morrison’s Doors factory, also pictured.  Thinking about a couple leds on the flats as well.

John

I like those buildings and how creatively you painted them. They're varied like real buildings would be.

John

@ScoutingDad posted:

darlander - those ore cars look heavy moving down the rails. Nice modeling. You are much braver than I. The thought of Lake Superior in the winter makes me want to shiver. I'll take the 2 feet of snow we got in Grand Rapids - not the bone chilling cold.   

Actually, in winter, the lake provides a moderate temperate zone close to shore.   It seldom freezes over completely and the lake temperature of 32+ degrees can provide some comfort when the air temp is much colder.   I first stopped at Brighton Beach, that is where Dennis Brennan collects what he calls Superior sand, but it was difficult to get to the waters edge because of the park renovation that is taking place.  Also some snow, ice and a steep bank made me think twice.   I did my collecting at Stoney Point which is very close to Two Harbors and our daughter's home.    The lake was as smooth as glass that day and the shore was easy digging!   I also had my son-in-law and grandson along to do all the hard work!!!   Mother didn't raise a fool!!!

Thanks for your concern!

Cheers, Dave

@darlander posted:

Actually, in winter, the lake provides a moderate temperate zone close to shore.   It seldom freezes over completely and the lake temperature of 32+ degrees can provide some comfort when the air temp is much colder.   I first stopped at Brighten Beach, that is where Dennis Brennan collects what he calls Superior sand, but it was difficult to get to the waters edge because of the park renovation that is taking place.  Also some snow, ice and a steep bank made me think twice.   I did my collecting at Stoney Point which is very close to Two Harbors and our daughter's home.    The lake was as smooth as glass that day and the shore was easy digging!   I also had my son-in-law and grandson along to do all the hard work!!!   Mother didn't raise a fool!!!

Thanks for your concern!

Cheers, Dave

Dave, the loads really look great!  The next to last supervisor I had lives in Duluth.  He loves the Big Lake, as he calls it.  He was kayaking on it just a week or two ago.  On the other hand, there was a day that week that the water was very choppy, so the seasoned veteran stayed on shore.  Yes, my last four supervisors were located here in Northwestern Pennsylvania, central Illinois, East Texas, and Duluth.  That company liked to shuffle the deck every 3 years or so.  They finally shuffled this old guy out the door! 

Long time coming but I finished the Duck Under

@John's Trains posted:

I like those buildings and how creatively you painted them. They're varied like real buildings would be.

John

Thank you very much John,

Fendermain aka John

@Dallas Joseph posted:

Looking good John .

I've never seen those good looking Ameri-Towne flats . They will go well with the Morrison Door Factory.    That factory has been in my dreams for a long time........alas.....no room on my layout for it.

Its OK though.......I really enjoy seeing it on all the different forumites layouts.

Thank you Dallas.  It’s my first attempt with flats and Morrison’s Doors is indeed very special.

John

Great progress everyone, especially all the bridge ideas people have posted.  Today painted my freelance attempt at the various former GTW girder bridges I remember around metro Detroit, where I grew up.

@darlander- The loads in both sets of cars look great Dave. I have some work to do to equal your work but you've set the bar for sure.

@Fendermain- The yard extension is shaping up John. The flats are nice and what can I say about Morrison's.....

@poconotrain , @Mick60- two excellent bridge jobs.

@RSJB18 posted:

@darlander- The loads in both sets of cars look great Dave. I have some work to do to equal your work but you've set the bar for sure.

I am no longer using a form, I found it more work and not necessary.   I paint the top of the insert with full strength carpenters glue.   Then place it in an ice cream pail and dust the top with a layer of sand/gravel.    Place it on a layer of paper towel and add the ballast set mixture and wet water.  Blot up excess moisture along the sides and top and let it cure - simple!   The process goes much faster with less mess.   It's probably what most people have been doing for years but it took me a while to wise up!      I may also have to make loads for my Lionel LV 25000 two bay hoppers that I have on display.   Kind of fun to make the loads.   Good luck with your load project.

Cheers, Dave

@darlander posted:

I am no longer using a form, I found it more work and not necessary.  

Very nice work. I was about to respond asking why are you no longer using a forum. I’m glad I reread your post. Yes I have an eye exam coming up.

Started painting/weathering rails, small sections at a time so I can clean rail tops as I go.  Just using a small brush and acrylic paint since I didn't have the foresight to paint them before I put track an scenery down.

Looks pretty good to me.  Curious as to color and brand. I tried a cheap rust acrylic which did not look like rust. Thanks

@RSJB18 posted:

@darlander- The loads in both sets of cars look great Dave. I have some work to do to equal your work but you've set the bar for sure.

@Fendermain- The yard extension is shaping up John. The flats are nice and what can I say about Morrison's.....

@poconotrain , @Mick60- two excellent bridge jobs.

Thank you Bob.

Jeff G. - Thanks for the advice.  I finally made it work.  Wow...Things have sure changed since the last time I sold anything on Ebay!

@romiller49 posted:

Very nice work. I was about to respond asking why are you no longer using a forum. I’m glad I reread your post. Yes I have an eye exam coming up.

I think the key procedure is a the first full coat of carpenter glue over the insert.   It really holds the edges in place.   I follow quickly by adding more material until I like the look.   If careful, you can take the insert out of the bucket without loosing too much material.  Another advantage is that the ore cars are short and the inserts for the jennies easily fit in the ice cream bucket.  

Cheers, Dave  

I'm now working from home, click here to see WHERE.

@ScoutingDad posted:

Looks pretty good to me.  Curious as to color and brand. I tried a cheap rust acrylic which did not look like rust. Thanks

I tried several colors, but as for now this is the best I've come up with so far.

Lots of great stuff, everyone. Layout work for me has been slowed.....I'm watching my two grand dogs over the Thanksgiving holiday and we started 9 straight weekends of modular displays. This is such a great thread.....I love the ideas and techniques.....and, I "file" many of these for use down the road.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Peter

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Taking down the last of the old layout.  The rebuild will start after Christmas.

Bob

@Trainmaster04 posted:

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

..........and a happy Thanksgiving to you Trainmaster and to all forumites from me and my stepdaughter from Rochester NY 's creation........

.........yum yum .

Cleaned up my layout for Thanksgiving guests, no scenery yet but I have plans once the turnout panel is done.

Happy Thanksgiving to all !

Bob

@Farmall-Joe posted:

Not to be "that guy", but being in the fire protection industry i thought i'd point out/inquire about your floor joist insulation...it looks to be paper side down when it should be insulation side down if its going to be left exposed. This is because the paper is more readily combustible than the fiber glass.  If it is paper side exposed, (i cant quite tell from the pics) add it to the styrofoam insulation board on the layout, well...it'd be a bad day should a fire start in the vicinity.  Before you get too far on the layout you might want to add a sheetrock ceiling or reversing the insulation. Sheetrock would be best for dust control too.

It does look like its going to be a great layout tho!

Regards

Joe

I saw what you saw re: the insulation.

Housekeeping wise I learned that unfinished basement ceilings result in excessive dirt/grit on the layout especially with older homes. My last home was built just after WWII, even with just two of us there the walking around on the first floor in addition to older insulation between the joists it all contributed to excess dust/dirt/grit on the layout. Best to cover that crap up now before the layout is completed.