What did you do on your layout today?

Oh, and here's a link to an article I wrote on modelling some real life trolley prototypes using O27 track:

https://ogrforum.com/t...olley-layout-designs

Enjoy! 

I finished up track and wiring on the last two 80 inch straight modules.

Next step is to clear the deck and set it all up for a serious test run.

I didn't realize you were that deep into light traction Mitch.

Detroit had a very extensive history with street cars.

 During the "other" turn of the century it had more coverage than any other city.

They couldn't run enough of them to keep up with demand.

Street maps and traction maps don't differ greatly

Here is some history if your bored. Start with the left menu & "horse car era"

By the way, the switch change, nice solution!

Thankee!  And thanks for the link.  Most interesting! 

Mitch

Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, I finished up my "SCROUNGE" P-51 consist!

First, I drilled pilot holes in the flatcar to mount the former Scout gondola ends using the truck kingpin holes:

The gondola ends were screwed into place using recycled screws from the donor MTH bump and go trolley:

Meanwhile, the flatcar stakes were epoxied into place on the former AEC disposal car:

In the best "SCROUNGE" tradition, I used wire from a burned out Lionel 44 tonner motor as tiedowns:

Here's the wing, securely trussed into place:

And the final consist, ready to roll!

Mitch

well yesterday I posted some pics of an area on my lower level where I had built a bridge (scrap box) and and plastered up a hill side. well today I decided to finish that area off a little. that was after I went to my daughters graduation.

Finally retrieved my LGB steam loco, a 2-4-0  with sound, I ran it around m outdoor layout for awhile. Ran good once I switched the power pack to G gauge. Duh !!  The engine is like new but is, probably 15 yeas old at last. Maybe 18-20. I had a Bachman Shay and a Climax but they are too heavy on my gravel ballasted outdoor track.

Solved a pesky derailment issue on one of the cured ends as the train comes out of a tunnel. Turns out is was a bad track.

Technically this was yesterday, but its still in progress. I started to repaint my Lionel "Hersey's Kisses" reefer. It was a Christmas gift a few years ago from my cousin, she likes candy/sweet things. I never really liked it so I'm making the sides white, the doors red, and the walkway on the roof a light blue. When finished, it will say "FH&J RR---Quality Fishing Roods Inc."

Today I am wiring my layout.  Tomorrow, no work on the layout.  I am attending a small town Memorial Day Parade to thank all the men and women who have protected our country and our freedoms since our wonderful country was founded.  A very special blessing to all those who have given their life doing so, the MIA's and a very special blessing to the families and friends they left behind.

Maybe our remembering these heroes with great respect makes what they did and are doing a little more meaningful to them.

I am an old fashioned patriotic American and proud of it!!!!

God Bless America and all of it's heroes past and present.

Jim Lawson

Ive never picked up a Bachmann in G. How much do they weigh?

God Bless you Jim! United States Navy 1968-1972

Adriatic- I don't have the Bachman Shay and Climax any more but they were heavy and clumsy to handle. They aren't weatherproof like the LGBs so they had to come in the house. They were a pain to get the wheels on the track, too. I have to work on a couple of switches to try to get them leveled and smoother. Last year I ballasted the track with lime sand from a landscaper/friend near me and that is nice. Dump it on the track, lift the track to let it fall through, then even and smooth it out. It hardens after it gets wet and helps hold the track it lace but easy to break loose if you have to. It would be fun to use limesand as ballast with stainless track like Gargraves and make an outdoor O gauge loop or two. Like a narrow gauge line.

Well, my Heavy Hauler trolley weighs in at about 2 pounds, 4 ounces if that's any help...

Mitch

Hi, Thanks all.

Mitch, Small, but that at least gives me a clue. Light compared to a PW GG-1, or Hudson. I think my heaviest O was a GG-1 at 7.5 or 8 pounds.

Jims post got me outside and running my New Bright junker.

  I mostly spent the time between posts re-laying the ballast.

That mole had another party to go to last night, and he seems to have found a favorite route under my porch & walkway, across my garden, and then two more yards before he dives deep. Total that's about a 300ft tunnel overnight.

 At least my lawn isn't getting lumpy like theirs is. 

That mole had another party to go to last night, and he seems to have found a favorite route under my porch & walkway, across my garden, and then two more yards before he dives deep. Total that's about a 300ft tunnel overnight.

You're going to have to start putting up signage! 

Mitch

I'm back. I stacked my train shelves....no, I'll start again.

  In true rail-baron fashion, I ordered my train shelves be stacked by my roomies before they went fishing.

 I did it just to see if I liked it this way too

 I will also give them orders to un-stack them promptly when they return.

Mitch, I think I might need brail for the mole. But these varmints are new to me.

What if its a baby ground hog? Now we are talking G scale subways in the future 

He would think the sign didn't even apply to him and get all bent

Will he move on with his partying lifestyle eventually?

Do you think if I talked calmly it would listen to reason?    

Or will I have to get nasty and shop for an extermination kit.

Anyone have an idea?

She is going to breed and multiply- my $$ is on the mole.  Dragged out all my G gauge cars in to the sunlight  today. Have 3 log cars but they need a few repairs. Ran my O gauge layout and tomorrow I change out some rolling stock and engines.

back to work on my layout I did what we all dread under the table wiring the layout not easy when you are doing it all alone but I got all my buildings lit and my last siding done I still have the street lights 4 sets of crossing gates to install and continue to work on the signal system and computer control system and then I can work on more scenery   

Between yard work and a couple of short trips this is the first time I have been able to do something on the layout in a good number of days. I am working on the final corner underneath the upper mainlines. This time instead of doing just one piece I decided to do three separate sections. I got the last one glued together today. Hope to start plaster wrapping them today. Some pics. On the dark side I forgot to turn the flash back on..................Paul

After finishing my test stand more than a week ago I had to order a few more roller parts from Bachruss in order to test the stand completely.

Finally got to try it today and ...it actually worked as planned.

No fires, no shorts and no crashes.

Larry

Still having fun

Test stand looks great! Terry

I'm taking a breather from mowing, so I will write what I did yesterday.  If someone had told me at any time over the 40 plus years of HO and N modeling that I would one day build a layout using indoor outdoor carpet as a scenery and track base I would never had believed it.  That is what I did yesterday.  The FasTrack was just too noisy to suit my tastes on the WS ground cover sheet.  I pulled everything up and put down a remnant I got at Lowes a couple of weeks ago.  I have both track loops and yard down, hooked them up to the TIU and did a test run.  It is quieter.  This will do on my temporary layout, until I gain the 12x12 room in a couple of years and build a more realistically sceniced hi rail layout.  We went to the Memorial Day parade and service this morning, and will be having a picnic this evening so I will get some photos up at a later date.

Well back to the old lawn mower for now.  Please remember those who served and died to make America free!!

I started the simple control stand for my "Simplicity in 6x8" layout.

 My old ZW and Type V tranformers

The top of the panel is 18 " off the floor. Perfect height for sitting on the sofa.

Plenty of leg room.

I have a ton of Atlas on/off switches that you can gang together.  They will be used to turn on and off accessories and lights.  

Coal Bin.

Got the plaster wrap on my three sections. I'll let it dry and tomorrow I'll apply the plaster. Pics ..................Paul

Larry Sr, Great test stand! Would like to know more. I could sure use one.

Wally

Ran my indoor layout-put a PW Am.Flyer engine with 3 nice passenger cars and ran that for awhile. It was nice outside so took some pictures of the outdoor layout, it is the Saxonburg, Connoquenessing, Zelienople and Pacific RR with Doyle Lewis as president. Cleaned and repaired my  log bunk cars and put them in service. Can run 5 different kinds of trains.  Worked on the ballast some more, just fine tuning things. Might ut another siding in for car storage.

Yesterday I finished testing all the very lightweight modules.

Hay Wally

This is the original post I made about it. Titled :

My new Locomotive Running Stands Bench

Search it for the information.

If I can help you at all my e-mail is in my pro file.

Jim

Cleaned up the BEER cans and took pictures..........Priceless!!

Been there Done that!!!!!

Larry

Did a test spray out of the Chas. Wood Texas Special 2245 red paint using the insides of the shells; just waiting for it to dry so I can inspect the application before spraying the exteriors.

Will shoot the passenger cars for the GN Empire Builder this evening for a second time having thinned the Scalecoat I orange too much on initial application.

Getting very proficient at cleaning my Badger single action airbrush.

Jim,

Your outdoor layout sure has a Butler County name if I ever heard of one.  I did not know you ran trains outdoors until recently.  I would like to see your pictures some day! Maybe I should name my layout the Mars, Valencia, and Butler, for places I have lived and my wife's and my high schools.  It is a thought...

Snagged some 3/8" dowels for future G scale overhead poles at Lowes.  

Mitch

Just got done exercising my older MTH PRR E8's and pax set.   They haven't seen rails in a couple years. A little oil and grease, and off they went.

 I like the way my trains look on my "Weathered" Fastrack.

Larry Sr- I went back a few pages but couldn't find your test bench. I went to your profile but couldn't open to your email. Help! How do I locate your original posting? Thanks.

Wally

Click Here

Mark

You can still do scenery with the indoor out door carpet and it doesn't look that bad in the first pic that is scenery and where the 4 trees are is indoor out door carpet.  which you can see in the second pic

now what did I doo on the layout in the past 2 days well not much yesterday. and today I cleaned the train room it really needed it also threw out a bunch of bits a pieces I was tired of them laying around. I'll probably need one for the bit and pieces next Friday why do I say Friday cause garbage day is Thursday . but oh well it needed straightened up and cleaned up . I ran trains both bays non stop tho different ones steam and diesel fixed another traction tire on the challenger then ran it. I cut out a hole in the lower level to be able to get to a hard to reach area . I always had the plan to cut it out but never did until today. we are now calling the Bella Hole for my granddaughter to pop up and watch trains I just don't know what to do with the space. any ideas would be appreciated.   these are photos doing 360 degrees from inside the hole and a shot from outside the hole and then the challenger smoking up a storm all day. I swear I went through a half bottle of smoke fluid between all the engines today.

John,

Thank you.  I have seen your modeling and that of others combining other scenic material with the carpet for very nice results.  You are doing a great job.  My guess is I will just get the buildings and temporary roads set out over the summer, then come fall start trying my hand at some other scenic effects.  Thank you.