Mike g. I see where you painted you're ceiling black. Best thing you ever did in my opinion. That's the first thing I did in my basement before I started on my layout . It took 55 gal of dry fall paint to paint all the trusses and uprights but it's the best thing you can do for a visualy appealing layout. Great job. You're eye is not drawn to a black ceiling. You can put all kinds of things up there and no one will notice. GOOD JOB. FARMERJOHN .
Wow FarmerJohn…Love your layout.
@farmerjohn posted:Mike g. I see where you painted you're ceiling black. Best thing you ever did in my opinion. That's the first thing I did in my basement before I started on my layout . It took 55 gal of dry fall paint to paint all the trusses and uprights but it's the best thing you can do for a visualy appealing layout. Great job. You're eye is not drawn to a black ceiling. You can put all kinds of things up there and no one will notice. GOOD JOB. FARMERJOHN .
Thanks John, I got the idea for the black ceiling from you and your amazing layout!
As for the height not only do I have to take in account working over or under the layout the CEO who happens to be the CFO also! For that reason I chose 40".
A couple of us diehard railfans took some time to venture out in the rain to photograph some trains from various locations in “Canyon Creek “ near the China Bar Highway 33 tunnel.
The air was quite cool but we caught a break. With a few raindrops still falling , the sun momentarily broke through the clouds drifting along the valley. Some loose rock was keeping road workers busy mending a slide detector fence lining the highway . The Westbound was waiting at a red flag for permission from a work train clearing a few miles ahead. There’s a good chance there’ll be fresh snow East of here in the Roger’s Pass region. 
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That black ceiling above the layout looks great. I noticed you are working with what appears to be an 8’ ceiling height. I’m wondering how the black paint would look over a 15’x10’ layout with a 6’4” ceiling height that I have in my basement. I’ll be starting the basement reconstruction/layout soon and I’m trying to plan this and more now.
It’s so low I thought I might be painting clouds and aircraft!
@Tim A#1 posted:That black ceiling above the layout looks great. I noticed you are working with what appears to be an 8’ ceiling height. I’m wondering how the black paint would look over a 15’x10’ layout with a 6’4” ceiling height that I have in my basement. I’ll be starting the basement reconstruction/layout soon and I’m trying to plan this and more now.
It’s so low I thought I might be painting clouds and aircraft!
Farmer John is correct with a black ceiling you can put whatever you want up there as black doesn't draw the eye to it! I want to @farmerjohn to see his layout and pick up some stuff, He has an AMAZING layout! Back to my point, his ceiling is open and all painted black, he has a track hanging down from the ceiling and if you didn't look hard, you would never know until the train and plane went over your head!
@myles posted:A couple of us diehard railfans took some time to venture out in the rain to photograph some trains from various locations in “Canyon Creek “ near the China Bar Highway 33 tunnel.
The air was quite cool but we caught a break. With a few raindrops still falling , the sun momentarily broke through the clouds drifting along the valley. Some loose rock was keeping road workers busy mending a slide detector fence lining the highway . The Westbound was waiting at a red flag for permission from a work train clearing a few miles ahead. There’s a good chance there’ll be fresh snow East of here in the Roger’s Pass region.
Great scenery and story, Myles!
Installed a Dallee crossing flasher circuit for a Marx grade crossing signal - Marx version of the Lionel 154.
Replaced the Menard's board on a Santa Fe F7 with a Dallee electronic E unit. Lose sounds but get a nice running F7. 1.1 amps at 16 volts pulling a 12 car freight train.
Added a Z-Stuff Pennsy style signal and DZ-1000 switch machines to my RCS #4 crossover. This is my first experience with DZ-1000 switch machines. Installation and setup was all fine. A minor nit is that the LED illumination as installed defies convention - the LEDs (controller and both switch machines) indicate red when the crossover is set for straight through (and green when set to crossover). The instructions indicate that the LEDs can be removed and swapped to correct that. I'm hesitant to try that with all working well as is. Should I be, or is swapping the LEDs straightforward?
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@Scott R the Pennsy style signal looks good. I installed 15 DZ1000 switch machines on my layout. I tried swapping lights in several of my machines. I got a couple done the way I wanted, but it was extremely difficult for me to align the leads in the small holes. One I broke, so the lights don’t work, but it still switches the track. I finally decided to give up on the rest and live with them the way they were produced. I’m sure other modelers don’t have trouble, so it is probably just me. Otherwise, the DZ1000 is a great product in my opinion! 👍🏻
Hi Mark, Thanks for the feedback. I'll leave my crossover DZ-1000s configured as is. I can live with the convention.
I took care of a small repair today. The fascia on my upper level has been cracked for a while. Some fat guy keeps leaning over this area to reach the back of the layout.....
. I cut out the damaged piece and replaced it with a new one.
Next is a diet......
Ran a train or two as well 
Bob
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@Scott R. Scott, the LEDs are easy to switch. Each has a flat area to ensure they are inserted with the correct polarity. I use angled pliers to remove and reinsert. Pull straight out, insert straight down.
@Scott R posted:I'll leave my crossover DZ-1000s configured as is. I can live with the convention.
Scott,
Don't be intimidated by the LED's in the DZ-1000 switches and controllers. They always seem to be reversed out of the box, as if it is intentional, just to frustrate you.
Use a small pair of flush cutting wire nippers and gently grasp the bulb at the base. You don't need much force at all to pry it up and out of its socket. When swapping them back in, observe polarity. The flat part on the LED base must line up with the flat part on the socket. Use the same tool to place them back in. Good light and maybe magnification will make it easy.
Bob
ps I was wondering about your Ontario Southern Railway. Any relation to the Ontario Southland Railway?
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I started taking up track and switches today. There are a few issues on the main level. I removed almost half of the third level just for access below. I will repair the lights on four mainline switches. I will move three UCS tracks. I will also improve the lighting in two dark corners. Another spur and a Y turn will join in the rebuild. 
I also serviced my Lionel 736.
Bill
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@RSJB18 posted:I took care of a small repair today. The fascia on my upper level has been cracked for a while. Some fat guy keeps leaning over this area to reach the back of the layout.....
Next is a diet......
Ran a train or two as well
Bob
Nice looking layout Bob! I do like the look of your trestle system. Close enough for the LIRR!
@Tim A#1 posted:Nice looking layout Bob! I do like the look of your trestle system. Close enough for the LIRR!
Thanks Tim.
I grew up in Baldwin around the time the LIRR elevated the Montauk Branch. Spent a lot of time around those concrete piers and trestles. Scaled the berms and jumped the tracks way too many times too....😎😎
Bob
Hi guys I hope everyone is doing well.
@Scott R I am sure you can do it. Those guys make it look so easy.
@RSJB18 Bob you might have to get you helper buddy to trim up a little 😆 the repairs look great!
@Odenville Bill I hope everything is an easy fix and goes back with no issues. The engine looks like it will scoot right along.
As for me just another couple days in the train room. Yesterday I finished all the painting and then this morning I was able to get all the carpet padding down. While I was waiting for the brother in law to help me get the carpet into the driveway so I could cut it I decided to mount the train room. T.V. a nice 55"!
Tomorrow after the carpet gets a chance to relax in a heated room over night I will make the final cut. Then it will be time to move all this into the train room. So I have a place to cut wood for my bench work.
I hope you all have a great weekend and find time to have fun with your layouts and trains! 😀
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Thanks Mike.
@mike g. posted:Wow Tim what a great looking collection of trains to be running on a nice layout!
I like the progress you’re making Mike. I’m anxious to get to that phase. My plan is next year this time doing the bench work. Inspiring to see all that’s going on here in the Community forum!
Mike, the room is looking great!!!
Tim, your Long Island trains look great!
Glad you like them Mark!
