What did you do on your layout today?

Darn.   Powered up the newly rewired track power and somewhere from the Z4000 to the TIU the electricity isn't going where it is supposed to go ....

 

Back under the layout to do the painful step-by-step tracing of the wires and current checking to see where all the volts and amps are leaking into the floor instead of going to the TIU ...

Sorry to hear that. Hope you find it quickly. That is why I like to approach my electrical like I do my blue jean cutoffs, one short leg at a time. I had better luck with the Z and KW last night, even ran a now dedicated lamp circuit for a bridge and yard light, another 2 lock-on's removed. I only had to flip the plug on one transformer to phase them. Then, one by one I set the throttles on the $35 Z , kicked back, hands free and watched as my rectifier and 10 ore hoppers climbed and descended around the ceiling smoothly, over and over and over.. ...now were are those relays I have for the main? I know they are here, I can hear them laughing at me.....pesky relays.

More track tweaking in preparation for the roadbed. Should be delivered any day now.

They should all be this easy!

 

I must have been "worked on it too long punch drunk" when I wired up the barrier strip for the Z4000 -> TIU circuits.

 

It helps when both sides are wired to the same circuit ...

Opened the boxes and examined 3 engines that Gary at Weaver returned after installing ERR and [RS in two]. Placed on the Yard rails but did not test run them, having a little health upset today. Maybe run this weekend.

 

Weaver Ps-4 "Tennessean" [ERR and RS].

Weaver E8 "A" unit [ERR and RS].

Weaver 0-6-0 Switcher [ ERR only,no room for RS]

Did some looking, measuring, and brainstorming for a small extension on my layout. Hope to have it done by June. I won't be able to really get started for a few more weeks but will likely swing by Home Depot soon with my list of lumber and other needed things to get started. 

 

I will be using my 4x4 Christmas layout. I will be putting legs on it and incorporating it into my current layout. 

Killed two command engines in one day. Not the best of days. Still managed to have a fun session. All projects on hold until I see what I drag home from York. 

Worked under the benchwork today. Connected wires to light six buildings. My wife had a procedure at the hospital that took up most of the day so time working on the layout was very limited.

Wired up three buildings with switches for the lights. Started laying track for coal spur. Cleaned all track and switches...then ran trains.

Back at it today under the layout; this time it's to hook up the now-found uncoupler wires for both freight yards.

Then I'm going to finalize the track plan for the engine terminal, pack up the turnouts for now, sand down the remaining joints, vacuum up the mess, and tape off for painting with "storm cloud" grey paint.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Worked on my Diesel Locomotive shop. Got the roof all done and painted , the sides are painted and weathered too now im just waiting for some styrene pieces to come in to trim the windows and overhead doors out. Then I need to cut some .020 lexan for windows and cut some window detail out on my vinyl cutter eh 

I did nothing on the layout today, I live about 60 miles west of Chicago and we got about 6" of rain last night and it wasn't nice. Well maybe I can still get out there this afternoon,And they say Chicago  and the west burbs  have it a lot worse.

One day to go before open house. Found two more items to wire in,started cleaning and dusting. I have two engines to change out wheelsets, pickup my loaner TIU today as a spare. Sure hope everything goes well the town is expecting a large crowd. Oh well time to get back at it.

Clem

started on second deck bridge this time I used 1/4" plywood as the beam and cut 1/8" hardwood to create the I beam at bottom is so much stronger.

will start the small detail wood work friday.

am going to order some flat rail from gargraves once this bridge is done so can order enough packages to do derail feature on both deck bridges.

 

$oo

It has been 2 years now since I've been to York. Would like to go back, but I certainly can say I CAN live without it very happily. What I DO miss from York are the people. The trains are only second. 

 

Anyway, I took today as a much needed "mental health day". I started my layout expansion. Not much, just my 4x4 Christmas layout but it will expand my mainline a tad which was the overall goal. Only downside is, despite doing everything I could with what I have, getting rid of the 0-42 curves and going with 0-31. Not what I really wanted to do but it was either put up with 0-31 curves or nothing at all. I don't anticipate any major issues with the tighter curves except my more rigid wheelbase steamers won't be particularly enthusiastic about it and my 60' Passenger cars will look like crap but whattayagonnadoaboutit?

I finished wiring the lighting for eleven structures in the new business district. I separated those structures that have a  mechanical feature, a Grain Mill with water wheel and two wind mills, and put them on their own on/off switch. Pretty cool to watch.

Yesterday and today are all about shelves.  I removed 10 feet of narrow shelving and put up 27 feet of much deeper shelving for a net gain of 20 square feet of shelf space in my workshop.  Today is all about adding 43 linear feet of additional display shelves in my train room, which will give me room to display everything I have on counters now so I keep them clear, and still have room for every loco and the City of LA, etc., that I have on order now. 

Ran trains all day

 Well I made it finished putting the people and cars down 30 minutes before showtime. First day of Blissfield Railroad Days 144 visitors at my house, don't now how many at the other layouts in town. The shuttle tram worked pretty good getting people out to my place. Had an electrical glitch for the first two hours of operation, turned out to be the K- line TV camera car. Took it off and everything started working good again. Left it on a powered siding and no problem. Tomorrow another day 10:00 to 4:00. Met a lot of great people and a lot of happy kids.

Thanks for stopping by Locodan great to meet you and Donna

 

clem 

Ran trains and repaired a Williams GG1. 

PROGRESS FROM the mythical town of PATSBURG on the FREE STATE JUNCTION RAILWAY.

Since my last entry, I have weathered an MTH B&O Docksider, an MTH bobber B&O caboose, and a MTH Western Maryland scale test car..... all of which run on my mountain division along with a weathered ( bought this way ) Lionel flatcar with a log load.

 

I've also rearranged yard tracks at the west end of my layout ( The Free State Junction Railway ) 

 

While at the York TCA show yesterday I bought a wooden tunnel portal ( one of several purchases )  for my " new mountain to be".

 

Last week I aquired wire mesh from a friend.  Also purchased Fushion Fiber, Whitison Ballast ( great looking stuff!! )  from Harrison Trains at the Great Scale Model Train Show in Timonium, Md. I'll use the Whitison Ballast to ballast the tracks of my mountain division.   I also bought some tools at Harbor Freight.  Now I'm ready to begin phase two of building my mountain to the ceiling ( or just about ).  I just hope once built this mountain won't make my layout look like "Whoville" from Dr. Suess Cat in the Hat.  Well even it does, kids will probably dig it and it might lure them into the hobby :-)

 

Keep driving the spikes and happy railroading.

Patrick W.

Friday, I wrapped up making a new video taken on the Mid Atlantic Railway System (MARS) and then today took it easy only testing out a new static grass applicator I picked up and changing out a traction tire on a 3rd Rail locomotive.  Here is the video I titled "Rail Action on the MARS".

 

Here is a photo of the Bollman Bridge I purchased at York from Vernon Peachy in the fall of 2011.  The prototype  bridge is two blocks from my house in Savage, Maryland.  Although there were around a hundred of these bridges used throughout the B&O railway system this one is the only survivor.  The model came with a 5 page historical briefing of the prototype and photos.  I had been searching for a model of this bridge for almost 10 years.... I walked into the orange hall and there it was :-)!!

 

This bridge is the catalyst for my building a mountain to the ceiling and will take the mountain division of the Free State Junction Railway across Lake Christopher.  

 

Keep driving those spikes and happy railroading!

Patrick W.

Went down to Blissfield Railroad Days (Michigan) and got to meet Clem K and see his layout. Looking very nice with a very good track plan for running trains.

Dan

I feel like I'm on a chain gang. I've been making rocks all day from molds. Still have to detail them.  Don

 

Worked on sidewalks today. Installed eleven of them in various sizes to fit their locations. The business district is really coming along now.

Ran trains all day again Actually for the last two days the trains ran all day, thanks to my volunteer engineers, they ran I'm. I just talked to everyone that came in. 209 people toured the layout today, total of 353 for two days. What a good time we all had !! Even had a couple of human error derailments. Only one mainline engineer today, three trains on one 3 scale mile line. I was going to help but he was having to much fun, kept running trains 30 minutes after doors closed. Just one more lap! The switcher kept the industrial park with all the operating accessories going, the kids really kept him busy. The kids love the Lionel coal,lumber mill, and oil drum loader. the adults liked the MTH gas station, the musical diner phone and the Harley dealer with the custom sounds.  everyone liked the lighted vehicles, and the I SPY items scattered about. The large area's of countryside scenery was also noticed by fellow modelers. All in all a great train weekend. Now to start thinking about next winters rail projects.

Thanks to all the forum members that answered my questions and gave me ideas.

 

clem k   

Cut and installed the last section of plywood top. Next step, fill the joints and paint the tops...

 

Gilly

Jim,

Believe it or not I got to spend the whole weekend working on the layout.  Been about 5 months since I did anything besides clean up around it.  Got to building the new 12x12 benchwork in what was my workshop.  Finished 4 large benches that an elephant could sleep on, just need to cut the holes for wiring and will be able to lay track soon.  Will Give me a total of 25 x 13 of layout space.

NEWS FROM PATSBURG home of TH FREE STATE JUNCTION RAILROAD .... Today I put together and glued a Plasticville log cabin that I bought for 2 bucks at the GSMTS in Timonium, Md. a week ago.  Used my Sinbad glue I bought at York this past weekend.   Sinbad is great stuff!  I've been using it for several years now.

 

Also glued a pantograph on one my Williams GG1s.  Tried several location on the layout to place my house of ill- rupute ( a watered down version bought at York of Wicked Wanda's by Scale University )   I am looking at a spot on "the other side of the tracks" which may work quite well for this establishment.  The town's zoning ordinance is really strict :-)

 

I ran a 19 car mixed freight powered by two scale Williams GG1 ( powered an dummy ) on the lower main line...... and a 3 car train on my mountain division.  Spending lots of time running trains as a test before I continue covering track with the mountain.

 

Viewed a Alan Keller video of Howard Zane's layout. ( I think Vol 48 )  Great instruction on how to make a water falls.  I think I will use Howard's technique of water fall making on my mountain. Howard makes things look so simple and really gives good precise instruction on how to  build things.  I really appreciate him as a person , his talents,  and find him very inspiring!!

 

Keep driving those spikes and have BIG FUN with your Railroad!

 

Cheers

Patrick W 

Here are some photos of the Westend of Patsburg and of the Free State Junction Railway under construction

Finished that part of the renovation project that is a triangular shaped retail district. Here are a couple of photos.

 

I recently doubleheaded my Lionel Milwaukee Road S-3s...#265 on the point, and #267 behind the 265. My friend did a quick video on U Tube, and I am going to try and see if it is included here, if not I'll try something else, or perhaps someone out there can tell me how to post it here...or I can post the U-Tube link. By the way, the engines starting up sounded great! Out of beat exhausts until we got the engines running, just like doubleheading a real pair of locomotives!!

 

I see the attempt did not work, so here is the link if you'd like to take a look...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF6L7JhFP7Q

 

Thanks for looking!

 

Jeff

Hello today I built the table that I need to continue on the layout, after a long day driving  a total of 146.3 miles round trip to go see a DR. for my leg. Now tomorrow I'll add the legs to the table and continue building it. and hopefully ad the top to it also. this layout is the only thing that keeps me going since I lost the leg 2.5 years ago. So don't let things bring you down and think positively  If I can do it so can you. It may take me a lot longer to build the layout but it relaxes my mind and the pain I go thru sometimes..

Today, I put together two pieces of rolling stock. I used two B&O MTH premier flat cars acquired last week in York, and added the MTH B&O RR bus on one, and the Ertel Baltimore Transit PCC car on the other.

I moved to the new refinery area of the layout and glued roadway to the benchwork. I also painted station platforms that will go with the new train station complex.

 

I had a limited opportunity to work on the layout today, but I wanted to get a few things done. I have a goal of finishing the renovation project within a couple of weeks so any progress at this time is a help.

I just finished a building for a friend. He's in his 70's and still mows others peoples lawns.  So he needed a office building for his lawn service. He does not know that I'm building this for him.

CBS072  That's is great that you spent the time to build this 2 story building for your friend. You did a great job on this, your friend will be happy that you built this for him

 

Well, so far (the afternoon is only half done - I'm taking a break while glue dries) I've added another thirty-two feet of display shelves.  I got so into shelves this past weekend, adding 41 feet, that I worked at figuring out how to squeeze another two 16-foot long train display shelves in a nicely viewable area above the shelf portion of my layout, but still low enough that I can reach them without a ladder. 

Still cleaning up after this:

 

 

The waters were finally receding at this point.

 

Rusty