What did you do on your layout today?

One of the first videos of great day.

We had a operating session at the NJ HiRailers today with a few special guests from other local clubs.

This is an MTH Premier (20-3412-1E) Pennsylvania 4-4-6-4 Q2 Duplex pulling K-Line die cast hoppers and the MTH Pennsylvania N8 Caboose (20-3412). The engine and caboose I bought as part of a breakup set from a person in Rhode Island who only wanted the cars. I have had this for at least two years and quite frankly forgot I had them. Amazing what you find when you organize your self.

Another shot quick video of the Pennsy Q2 and the KLine cars

We tore out a wall in the basement to open up a 12 x 11 space to expand the layout!

Returned to the slide out bank of transformers and replaced 6 amp breakers with 10 amp.   I finalized their installation by mounting them conveniently above the tranny posts.  Each power source received a number, with a breaker for each of the 12 binding posts.   I designated the 6, #1 and 4 handles as track power, tying them into 10 amp breakers.  The other #2 and 3 posts will supply accessory power through 6 amp breakers.  Wrapped things up by temporarily labeling each breaker designation.

  The addition of TVS diodes will come as soon as I get them.   I did manage to replenish my lumber supply but didn't get around to using it today. 

Bruce

Penny Q2 making it's way around the Helix on the Red Line 

I put in the rest of the hangers for my ceiling level layout.  While not much, it is a momentous occasion.  The ceiling level layout has been sitting for 2 years as a 3/4 completed loop since I gave up on it early 2012 because of my carpal tunnel.  It took a year to get to the point where they decided to do surgery, then recovery time made it so I got no winter work done last year.  While it is not easy working in that cramped quarters with arthritic hands, the worst of it is done.  In that two years, I have had time to reevaluate how to complete the project.

Mark,

I'm so glad to hear your recovery has progress enough that you can return to working on the ceiling layout.  Looking forward to seeing some pics when you get a chance. 

Bruce

Mark, can only imagine what it was like before the surgery. But at least you were able to complete most of the ceiling layout before hand leaving only a small portion to do now. Rome was never built in one day. So in a very short amount of time you will be able to stand back and admire what was accomplished. Recovery takes time but you will get there. The light at the end of the tunnel is much brighter now.............Paul

Cleaned layout track, and then MORE track. Once all that was done, I looked at the four (4) locos that operate ON the "now clean" track, and all the rolling stock wheels that make up the varying consist for them. And (you've been there, too) was compelled to clean all the wheel rolling surfaces before putting it back on my fresh clean track. Then threw out an armload of nasty rag pieces. By inspection, it appears I've transferred a significant amount of black crud form the layout to my hands and fingers, also.....

*Note: Will not discuss what was used for cleaning purposes, 'cause I don't want to open that door, again  !!!! (LOL)

Bruce and Paul,

Thank you very much for the encouragement!  I will post some photos in the future.

I decided to put down the wire strippers and the staple gun and decided to just have some fun today and I just ran some trains!

Been crawling under it wireing for two weeks. This is the worse part of a layout build., I Hope it is worth it.   

God blessed us with the joy of running O gauge trains, then for some odd reason or past offence, he made us wire them.

In my ongoing efforts to corner the world gi-raffe car market one giraffe at a time, I just took delivery of yet another 3386 in good nick from eBay.  After cleaning and oiling the wheels (and installing a new spring from the Train Tender), the new addition is seen trundling about in a 'shorty' train...

Also did a couple improvements on the basswood telltale mount, seen in action here!

Mitch

After getting back from the Medina show where I got a Marx light tower in like new condition I glued the backdrop to the foam board. I took it up to the layout and glued it into place. Filled in the void and now I can add some foliage in front of it.  After looking at it in the pic I think I'll take a piece of blue sky I cut off and go to the Depot to see if they can match it. It needs blue sky around it. Stands out too much. Pic................Paul

paul 2 posted:

With plaster dry I got busy adding the colors to the plaster and then washed it with a diluted black. Also got the earth tone on which I hope will be dark enough. I don't have any more color but this weekend is the Medina show here in Ohio and I hope to find some there. Two more areas to do after dinner and then I can add the foliage. Couple of pics.........Paul

Looking real nice Paul!

Took down a wall for the new and improved layout going to start this summer.

Today, FINALLY, I took some photos of my pickle train projects.... the double tank vinegar car, etc., and began on a passenger car for it, kit bashing a junk box Lionel Civil War car shell, and an Industrial Rail trolley shell.  I still am trying to think of an unusual caboose for the pickle train, as well, as maybe, a locomotive.  Defintely the place for a scale-sized Porter.

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

In my ongoing efforts to corner the world gi-raffe car market one giraffe at a time, I just took delivery of yet another 3386

 

Mitch

I have employed a security system and guard dog in an effort to keep my gi-raffe from trying to escape and migrate to Mitch's Gi-raffe Shangri-La!! 

Looking good, Mitch!!

I finally started work on adding a tunnel and mountain to my postwar style display layout.

Got the ballast I laid down last week all glued down and sprayed all my installed track's rails.

Got this landscaping installed under the btidge and began work on concrete retaining wall:

And got this in-between the tracks section in...

That lumber from yesterday was used up today.  Another milestone was reached as one end of the benchwork met the other.  There is still some fine tuning to be done on evening out elevation transitions but all the big cutting is done.

After a few additional boards this graded curve will be ready for track laying.   3 concentric tracks make the grade here, with the outer most track connecting to that 072 Wye turnout at lower left, just not in that exact location.  The sectional 072 curves were used as a template while constructing the roadbed.  I just love it when a plan comes together!

Bruce

Bruce,

Your plan is coming together nicely!  I really like how you are making use of your space 

Thanks, Mark.  Hopefully you can see the layout for the clutter.  Usable space just got a lot smaller and it looks like a lot of ducking will be in order.  The running changes meant I sacrificed a bit more square footage than planned, but there's still room to stretch out.  Now that the configuration is solidified I need to draw out an exact layout design.  It has changed considerably since this....

Bruce

I've been doing so much wiring lately, there have been very few photos to share. Today I switched gears and did a little construction for a change. I'm not ready to call this scenery, but it is the base for this scene.

I started by putting up a 23' long 1/8" thick Masonite wall.

The wall is 8" tall. My height checking car, an MTH double stack.

The 3 track yard will be under the bluff.

This is why the backdrop didn't need to be taller. The foam bluff will sit on the supports.

New camera for keeping an eye on the yard. You can just see another one in the upper left. That one will watch the hidden main along the east wall.

The Lionel auto rack is my curve clearance tester. There are some tight spots, but all OK.

This is two Lionel 450 signal bridges spliced together to span 4 tracks. I plan to keep the structure, but change the lights to 3 color LED searchlight style with prototypical multi head masts.

This is the real location, note the rock face. That's what's going to cover the Masonite.

This used to be such a great place to watch trains.

Elliot --- It's not anymore ???  Just curious

Layout looks great

dorfj2 posted:

Elliot --- It's not anymore ???  Just curious

Layout looks great

Thank you.

Nah, the railroads used to turn a blind eye and allow railfans to park on the gravel patch of their property. Ever since 9-11 they have tightened up a lot and patrol regularly. There's really no place to park anymore.

Elliot,

I watched trains in yard area I used the over head bridge from cement area nobody bothered me of course I stood for about 4 hours. you also can park in the lot for that trail they made for hikers over where the wye is where the St Paul Depot is take the road that went under the passenger tracks it was a short cut to downtown still there when we visited you. get a camp chair you can walk a bit to get a better view or at least I did.

in my boyhood days we used to scale down the cliffs from above and perch on some rocks and watch trains. mounds park and those cliffs were a big part of my childhood.

also I scaled the old warner road bridge that crossed the CBQ and yard area but the railroad bull frowned on that one!

I can relate to your foam cliff area once I spotted the wye I knew exactly where you were modeling.

didn't there used to be 3 signal bridges that crossed the mainlines at one time? and one was silver other 2 were black ?I can remember the old switch towers and the rods used to change the switches.

layout looking good!

Ray

Thanks Ray.

One of the bridges got hit by a train, and nearly collapsed. They took it out and replaced the signals with stacked dwarfs. Closer to the wye, they have replaced the bridge and the signals with the modern color position style. I think there are just the two black ones left on either end of the plant. They still have their searchlights, but I don't think they are going to be there for long.

Part of my problem is I can't sit out in the sun. It was so nice when I could just pull up and park the truck roll down the window and listen to my scanner. There is the grassy triangle right there that belongs to the city. You just have to jump the curb and hope it isn't muddy. Actually, when they have large work crews down there, that's where they park. Railroad property is reserved for heavy equipment and materials.

The muddy triangle with all the crew vehicles.

The area where I used to park is used to stage materials and build new switches. This doesn't happen very often. I found it fascinating.

Yesterday, after coming home from the Timonium show, I ran my new purchases..... Lionel ballast tamper, K line small industrial switcher, and a William brass B&O caboose.... all of which look great on the layout.  Of course I had to fish an engine and two milk cars out of the tunnel on the Mountain Division before running the new motorized units.  

Big milestone...recently "finished" ballasting the layout like I wanted (no ballast between the rails).  It took me a couple of days (ran out of ballast) and I'm glad that's out of the way.

Next thing is scenic-king each industry, need to get some small detailed pieces for each.

I just hope I don't go wild and get bored with it and tear it up to try something else!

Last night, I laid out several large sheets of paper over parts of the layout, cutting out 1:1 templates to cut pieces of insulation foam sheets from. I will be using these so I can just drop them into place once they’re cut and shaped to the right size and form I’m looking for (done away from the layout to make cleanup far easier), for terrain. The back two corners will be mounted on plywood pieces I already cut to drop in there, so those entire scenery sections can be completed well away from the layout them simply dropped into place and a little bit of ground cover applied to cover the seams. In a few places, the scenery is totally flat as there are several places along the real Stoney Creek that aren’t undulating and any railroad would build yards and sidings where they were easy to get to (in other words, flat). There’ll be enough changes in terrain to show it’s in the ‘bottom land’ of a valley. I’ll put a few ‘bumps’ here and there to break up the completely flat look of a couple of spots on the layout where there are yard areas.

I’ve never understood layouts that show what looks like a representation of the Big Thunder roller coaster at Disney. As most of you well know, even the Colorado/New Mexico 3-foot lines were built on level terrain where they could do so.

Elliot, side question. You know where I can get replacement parts for the 450 Signal Bridge?

Another vote for Menard's...after checking a closer big box home store looking for a screw-in type headlight bulb for a Marx #999,  with no luck (expecting to maybe find them for old flashlights) I found Menard's had close matches in packets of two.  I brought a packet home, screwed a bulb in, and it lighted brightly.  In addition, I was going through parts stashes looking for things I can use to build an odd-ball caboose for my pickle train. Still have more of that search to do.

mike g. posted:

Elliot, side question. You know where I can get replacement parts for the 450 Signal Bridge?

Which parts do you need Mike? Those four heads are expendable, as well as some from more bridges that I have could be be for sale.

Hi Elliot, if I just want it to show one direction, I just need 1 complete head unless you have extra parts so I could build one like yours. I dont want to buy a new one. I also put a post on here for other missing parts.

Had a couple of "good ideas" which led to rearranging track again

Hopefully it will be "good enough for now" soon, so I can start laying down some scenery. 

mike g. posted:

Hi Elliot, if I just want it to show one direction, I just need 1 complete head unless you have extra parts so I could build one like yours. I dont want to buy a new one. I also put a post on here for other missing parts.

Mike, let's continue this via email. I can probably help you.

Mo985 posted:

Had a couple of "good ideas" which led to rearranging track again

Hopefully it will be "good enough for now" soon, so I can start laying down some scenery. 

Despite the frowning face there, don't you actually like it when those "good ideas" come along and interrupt the plans? I do. The new ideas become a challenge moving us for the better and toward more creative adventure. have fun. You're on-a-roll.

FrankM.

Moonson posted:

Mo985 posted:

Had a couple of "good ideas" which led to rearranging track again

Hopefully it will be "good enough for now" soon, so I can start laying down some scenery. 

Despite the frowning face there, don't you actually like it when those "good ideas" come along and interrupt the plans? I do. The new ideas become a challenge moving us for the better and toward more creative adventure. have fun. You're on-a-roll.

FrankM.

Frank - I love your optimistic thinking!!  Yes, problems on the layout can open us to new creative ideas, new directions, open us to various new possibilities, outside the box thinking.    

Yes we have all been there with you Mo985 ... in the land of frustration ... and I for one can empathize with your frowning face.  I can also tell you that most every problem I've encountered, while constructing my layout, has led to some wonderful "ah ha" moments.  Its those "ah ha" moments which fuel the creative energy to keep me moving forward.  May the force be with you!