What did you do on your layout today?

jim pastorius posted:

Steamer-is that a recent book ??  Wayne Cole has brought some out in the last few years similar to that.

Ghost Rails - Wayne A. Cole

While my wife Suzie was doing some after Christmas baking in the kitchen, I snuck into the train room and started laying about nine more feet of tubular track on my K-Line graduated trestle set.  I was able to pull her away for a few minutes as her fingers are smaller and easier to screw down the clamps where two sections come together.  I am now in the rear area of the Greyhound Station and I plan on placing a 40-inch straight section where the trestle straightens out, out of the final curve, and run the track toward my control area.  At this point, I'll place a track bumper on the end and run reversible trolleys around the outer main loop and around the trolley yard.  The overhead track on the trestle will stay like this for a while until we get more time to work on it !

KRK

I got a couple of simple kits for Christmas. I'm pretty happy with my first attempt at kit building. I'm hoping to add some weathering details as soon as I can get the supplies

I also started playing with scenery.

I think this means I'm officially committed  

I have been making slow progress on a long cut through which the mainline will climb from the lower to upper level of the layout.  Once I finish the cut scenery, I'll paint the backdrop hills. The landscape to the left in the first picture was just for practice and will be hidden by a hillside that extends to the curved track. 

Wanderer posted:

I got a couple of simple kits for Christmas. I'm pretty happy with my first attempt at kit building. I'm hoping to add some weathering details as soon as I can get the supplies

 

I also started playing with scenery.

 

I think this means I'm officially committed  

 

Yup, I would say you are committed!  Welcome to the club!!  The loading dock and the hobo scene look like a great start!

Yesterday I was able to open up the 3 old tin Marx passenger cars I bought on Sat. The thin tin Marx used helped. All 3 are now soaking in a very strong bleach solution to eat off the rust. Will strip paint too. I look down at the pail and can see the water moving slightly as the chemical reaction works. Will let it soak for several days then rinse and scrub the shells and frames off. after looking at them I think I will try to restore two at first. See how that goes.

going thru Uncle Jim's stuff, I had come across some neat stuff. some home made telephone poles, and a trestle pieces. Dad figures my Grandfather probably made these.

and some part envelopes,and a Marx sticker. the track pins are unopened, the conversion kit was empty, and the last one holds a Turbine smoke unit.

and spent some time with some tape and rebuilt the Derrick box, lots missing, but good enough for me.

and Dad had passed down his X6004 boxcar to Jim, and I held another 50+ year reunion.

and when I first went downstairs, my work was interrupted by someone wanting some attention......

and Dad's 1461S set runs with the CV that Dad and Jim shared......not sure which one growls more, but they sounded great to me.

Worked on more scenery. Probably do more after dinner..................Paul

I ran the Polar Express and the 671 Turbine pulling a mixed passenger tourist train on the Christmas layout.  While doing so, I took some more photos.  I'll post a couple here, and save the rest to drop in other posts, probably Weekend Photo Fun later on.  I have got to get a long beard on that PE fireman some day! 

Weather's cruddy so I decided to lay more ballast.

The hard part is getting started, once I got going I put down maybe 30 feet along the sides of the rail.

Looks like I need another shaker box of ballast if I want to finish.

Broke ground!!!

My son and I ran some trains today on our upper two levels and cleaned up some track faults. We also used our yard for the first time, though, the remote control switches were not yet fully hooked up and switches had to be thrown manually. The photos are of our yard. We had a GREAT time.

  ^  Built like the proverbial....

Bruce

here's what I got for xmas and what I worked on today.

Jhainer posted:

here's what I got for xmas and what I worked on today.

Jhainer, I like the 1st 2 Lionel standard gauge prints where could I locate a store to purchase ? 

Thanks,

"Supercat", formal name "Boots", for her white paws, died at about 10 AM yesterday.  Well merited that name, for she lived 21 years, equivalent to 100 human years.  (cats live longer than dogs...the oldest recorded cat lived to 38 years, 160+ human years!, the oldest dog made it 26 years).  She was a tuxedo cat, black with white paws and a white "napkin" under her chin.  Someone on here building a Colorado Midland caboose had their tuxedo cat in the pictures. Her illness and terminal diagnosis really put a damper on the holiday, and nothing was accomplished with trains.

My condolences on your loss over the holiday. I know what you mean, I lost "Jeb" about 2 months ago. He was over 20 yrs old and a real joy to have. i called him my "love" cat because of his sweet personality. 

sorry for the loss of Boots. these critters worm their way into our lives.

Seacoast posted:

Jhainer posted:

here's what I got for xmas and what I worked on today.

Jhainer, I like the 1st 2 Lionel standard gauge prints where could I locate a store to purchase ? 

Thanks,

they were at a train store in Athens Ga. I got them as a gift so I am not sure of the name of the store.

Here are those pictures, I promised in my previous post,  of the gorge walls that I created ( using heavy gauge aluminum foil )  the other day.  I've also included the scenicing of the top side of a tunnel portal and temporary placement of a new log cabin that I bought at York from Rich of the Railroad Crossing.     Top photo: use of foil between bridge abutment and real stone.     Second photo: shows more panoramic view of top photo.    Third photo shows use of real stone overtop of portal.  Forth photo: shows temporary placement of log cabin I purchased at York from Richard Kreig of The Railroad Crossing.    Fifth photo: shows finished gorge walls made from heavy gauge aluminum foil.   This photo was taken from beneath the Bollman bridge.                                                                   

JD,

   We put the final touches on the Christmas layout with the addition of the Santa Toy Train Express, and the new to us, 2004 Lionelville Operating Ornament.

Merry Christmas buddy!

PCRR/Dave

a

Bench work has begun!

Well all I did today was run trains. Did not get into any work just had some fun running them. Spent part of the day searching for a MTH engine made a few years ago. No luck so far. Tonight heading for a train night at one of the guys houses...............Paul

Today I spent most of the day scenicing Lake Christopher and surroundings.  Lot of fun!!!  I LOVE this part of model railroading the most by far!!!!

Here are some pictures of Mt. Randolph, Lake Christopher, the lake side log cabin, and surrounding areas.  I couldn't help creating and including a lovers lane on a dead end street down by the lake complete with two young people getting friendly in a 58 Edsal convertible ( by Franklin Mint ) 

Over the last 2 days there has been more rearranging of clutter and some progress on the bench work.  As of right now, I'm on a break but plan to continue the bench work after dinner.  I reached a minor milestone yesterday by laying the last 3 foot section of GarGraves from the full box of 51.  I'll make a trip to the LHS tomorrow to replenish stocks, plus a few GG, 100 switches.  I never worked out how much track would be needed prior to starting but it has become apparent that it will take at least another full box.  

That kind of "play it by ear" attitude in construction continues throughout.  While there are some rough sketches and an idea on where to locate features, progress is in 5 - 10 foot increments, with bench work followed immediately by roadbed and track laying.  After I tie in the electrical I move on to the next section.  There are usually indications of design troubles in the immediate future so running changes are, and have been easily adapted.  One such change cancelled a single helix loop of double track ( planned but never built ) and replaced it with a horseshoe curve.   I'll post some pics and explain the reasoning once that section is roughed in.  This has to be one of the most exhilarating experiences in layout building yet.

Bruce

We once had a pink phase around the shop, Patrick.  Both gone to new owners now.

Bruce

trumptrain posted:

Today I spent most of the day scenicing Lake Christopher and surroundings.  Lot of fun!!!  I LOVE this part of model railroading the most by far!!!!

Here are some pictures of Mt. Randolph, Lake Christopher, the lake side log cabin, and surrounding areas.  I couldn't help creating and including a lovers lane on a dead end street down by the lake complete with two young people getting friendly in a 58 Edsal convertible ( by Franklin Mint ) 

Pat:

Bravo!!!!! You da man!!!!!!!!!!! Chris and I will see you tomorrow to view this masterpiece in person.

Last night of my Christmas open house.  Ran trains for two and a half hours.  Had 38 visitors in to see the layout.  These open houses are the most rewarding part of the hobby for me.  It is great to share the layout with others. 

Have one more special open house on Sunday afternoon for a group coming  from the Forest Hill Train Station.  Then I can put the Christmas cars away till next year, all 75 of them.

Karl

Don't usually contribute to this topic on the forum,  (I figure that my life would be too boring for most of you, anyway) but I just had to report on last night's get together at my house.  Here in the Cleveland area, we have a very informal, Tuesday nite get together at various members homes, every week, all year from Sept to June.  No rules, no officers, no dues, just friends. 

So last nite was my "turn in the barrel" and it was just great.  Had about 40 guys, and some gals, too, for an evening of train running, eating and some drinking and just general B.S.  Lots to eat and drink, great conversations and some train running.  My home is small, and thus, so is my basement, but I do have a multi level layout, overall 22' X 24' with all levels connected and about 750 feet of track and 65 switches.  BUT, because of the track plan, you can only run one train at a time if you want to walk away and leave it run.  To run more trains requires more people.  So last nite we ran a "hotshot" reefer freight pulled by my Lionel Milwaukee Rd S-3.  At times we also ran a short peddler freight pulled by a Weaver Consolidation, which was called a "patrol" on the old Milw.  Then we also ran my Weaver F6a Baltic (sometimes incorrectly called a "Hudson") with a string of heavyweight passenger cars.

Lots of conversations, good friends getting together, some just meeting new folks.  Lots of food, plenty to drink, including a couple of beers from my step-son's micro-brewery in Cincy, the "Bad Tom Smith Brewery".  Trains generally ran pretty good once we figured out what was causing a derailment, and, I believe that everyone had a great time!

Happy New Year to you All!

Paul Fischer

The BW continues..... Got all the lower level framed, most all the decking put on, half of my helix deck cut out, framed 2/3 of the main level, got the first deck sheet put on, with the downgrade on the back side started.  I'll be out 1st thing in the AM tomLowes, for hardware,and more lumber!

P.S. Has anyone seen a blacksmith shop kit?

Mo985,

Great progress!  Are you going to make the top plywood removable for track access underneath, or haven't we seen enough yet to know the final method?

The sides are all going to remain open. 42" deep in the middle, 5' roughly on each leg  

I am planning on a third level against the wall on the right, just covering that area, so I can put my tunnel portals to good use! That area will have an access cut out. The area underneath it, actually isn't planned for yet. I was thinking of maybe an engine depot.

The lower level is going to be all yard, maybe a fuel area, hence my thought of an engine service area

Here's what I've done over the last few days.  

Tried unsuccessfully to get two "new" K line 027 switches to work.  These two switches the two crucial switches for my wye.   I hooked them up according to directions for track power.  Double, triple, and quadruple checked the instruction sheet but switches fail to work.  I will next try to connect them with independent power and see what happens.  I hope this way works.

Yesterday, my good friend Randy and his son Christopher came over to view the now completed Mt. Randolph and the rest of layout as well.   I totally enjoyed having them come visit!  They were both amazed!!  Of course  when I have visitors over to view the layout it seems that something ( thats been working great for years ) fails to go smoothly.  This time it was a switch failure off the main line.  Luckily it was only a wire that came loose. That switch is back functioning again after reconnection last night. 

Last night, after splicing the wiring for a remote control track,  I ran trains for a couple hours.  I'm still loving my 1990 Williams camelback ( an exceptional score from the bay )  She looked great pulling 3 scale passenger cars last night!  My logging train on the Mountain Division is running again ( had to remove the Bollman bridge to complete Mt. Randolph, install Lake Christopher, create the gorge walls, and do scenicing around the base of Mt. Randolph earlier this week ) and looks great coming out of the wooden portal tunnel opening and crossing Lake Christopher via the Bollman Bridge.  The Reading Trainmaster did the honors of pulling the beer train last night. It was fun to sit there and just watch em run!!!!

The guy who's painting the interior of my house wanted to photograph the layout this morning.  So I turned the trains on and let him have at it.  He was thrilled!!!

This afternoon I drove up to Cockeysville, Maryland to MB Kliens and picked up a repair, my MTH SW 9 B&O switcher.   Bought some smoke fluid for my Williams steamers and some glue for scenery work.

Its been a great week of making considerable progress on the Free State Junction Railway.  Now if only I can get those blasted K line switches to work!

Happy New Year to all forum members and to the OGR staff!!!

Paul Fischer,  Just saw your reply and indeed it was a great turnout and a great time.  Tell your wife once again she did a fantastic job playing hostess upstairs while people were taking turns going upstairs and down. 

As for me, got to unpack my FedEx delivery today from Charles Ro (25 atlas 108 curves) and did more dismantling of the old layout.  At this pace should have everything down by Sunday.

Got the helix finished, it was a pain, but a necessary one so my trains can reach the lower level, and remains semi-scale. My grade is 4% with 16" from top to bottom levels.

I don't have any more length for my layout, I was told I had to share the basement with the rest of the family, so I figured a second level was the way to go. 

An additional module for my friend Tom's layout.  A lift bridge module.  Tom supplied all the parts/track/switch. All parts pictured are used/recycled.  Solder work and wiring today.   Maybe functional next week.  

Best wishes  Mike CT.

Mike CT posted:

An additional module for my friend Tom's layout.  A lift bridge module.  Tom supplied all the parts/track/switch. All parts pictured are used/recycled.  Solder work and wiring today.   Maybe functional next week.  

 

Any photo of the hinge mechanism? It looks like it simply rotates on a rod/pins or something.

I have decided to take some time away from building the layout in 2016 and work on other projects like the 7 locos that need repair or upgrading I can take comfort in the fact I got done more than I hope for and I think a break will recharge my focus and this summer get ready to get back to work 

DoubleDAZ posted:

Mike CT posted:

An additional module for my friend Tom's layout.  A lift bridge module.  Tom supplied all the parts/track/switch. All parts pictured are used/recycled.  Solder work and wiring today.   Maybe functional next week.  

 

Any photo of the hinge mechanism? It looks like it simply rotates on a rod/pins or something.

There is a fair amount of wobble in this hinge, note the attempts to tighten the end mounting(s) with a pair of vice-grips. A better quality hinge may be in order.