What did you do on your layout today?

Mo985 posted:

Made a mock-up of my next scratch built industry, Troegs Brewery. A favorite local watering hole, in Hershey PA.

Im going to attempt this one in wood, with styrene details.

Looks groovy already, Mo985.

FrankM.

JHAINER, I am glad to hear your new switching boards are working great! Which one did you get?

brwebster posted:

Forget gun law's?  It's murder what some of us can do with a Dremel tool.

Classy concept, well executed!  Gives me ideas!  

brwebster posted:

Forget gun law's?  It's murder what some of us can do with a Dremel tool.

Bruce

 

I don't think a jury will convict you with this dremel incident.  It looks good.

The Great NWA Trainshow (http://www.trainshow-nwa.org/) is next weekend, so I've been doing some upgrades to the Marx layout: 

Instead of struggling to wire the lights to the tracks via lockons, the towers and streetlights now simply plug in:

Here's the underside wiring:

Instead of track voltage, the lights now go to the accessory terminals:

For the show, I plan to replace the rather underpowered Marx transformer with a Lionel 1033:

The wooden handle is a regular file handle, drilled out 3/8" with a small slot for the top ridge on the controller handle and friction fit into place.  For a permanent attachment, one could run a set screw or epoxy the handle in place.

Since my theme this year is "All gi-raffes, all the time,"  a giraffe ramp and telltale have been mounted next to where the station goes...

Mitch

As usual a lot of great work being done.  Yesterday finish replacing the fast track on the last curve and turnouts. Experimented with weathering the track with snow. Came out ok. Looks like I will be spreading some ballast to fill the gaps between the ties. Then it will look better. Although never intended to replace the fast track with Atlas( Atlas was for the new layout in the garage.) I now glad I did as my remaining DCS signal and power drops issues have gone away and the trains run smoother and virtually no noise from the track. Ok I know its not the big and fancy layout and its carpet central from hell. but you make do with the space and limitations you have.

  The pile gets bigger

Winterton operations have resumed with the reopening of the mainline and access to two of the sidings in the yard.  Williams GN FA1 Arriving from the south.

mike g. posted:

JHAINER, I am glad to hear your new switching boards are working great! Which one did you get?

Azatrax they were simple to install too.

Just running trains today. Figuring out where or what to work on next...........Paul

Visited my favorite antique store but nothing too exciting but he had a really neat book !! A big book on WW II pinups and original nose art. Would keep Menards busy a long time. He hasn't looked at it so wouldn't sell but I might have to bid against a military dealer that visits the place. I might have to trade some Lionels for this. we shall see.

I tell you if you ever have any problems with the Azatrax stuff John the owner is a great guy to deal with, I spent some nice time speaking with him on the phone!

trumptrain posted:

Its Friday and I love coming home from work and going to the train room!!  I had the entire layout running.  I did some fixing of things on the layout such as re - securing a bumper for the trolly.... and actually added another foot of trolly line ... so the run is a "bit" longer before the trolly tags the bumper, giving passengers a case of whip lash

I changed out a lockon that was heating up the rail.  I don't know why it was doing this.  The lockon looked perfectly fine and there was no foreign metal touching it.  However.problem is now solved.

Tweaked some scenery.  Changed out some engines.  Took photos/video for Switcher Saturday and other forums as well. 

Here's a video of some of Patsburg and a photo of a house under construction ... dedicated to my brother, Chris, who is a home builder.

A great photo! The video really shows off all aspects of Patsburg. Bravo!

Some progress on my layout backdrop and the back wall of the cut through which the main line will run.

Majority of the backdrop is painted with two colors: Primary Yellow and Mars Black.  These yield all the green shades.

Next step is foliage along the top of the cut to blend into the backdrop.

I did a lot today. started off with rerunning track on the upper level and wiring it up. so I was able to run a train up there but not a complete loop yet. then I wired up the station lights again in it's new home. then I decided to work on the signals again I got 2 more sets wired up and connected together. it's nice to see the signals function

Sure is looking great! Like the new location for your station. Also your signals look great, I just hope I can do just a part as good as you do on your layout! I was wondering how your wiring your signals, are you using all IR or is some track sensors?

mike g. posted:

Sure is looking great! Like the new location for your station. Also your signals look great, I just hope I can do just a part as good as you do on your layout! I was wondering how your wiring your signals, are you using all IR or is some track sensors?

Thank you very much i am using azatrax with ir sensors the station location was my daughters idea

The Layout looks very nice . 

Your Signals work with Relays ?

 Also There is some very nice Signals on Integrated Signals Systems .com .

Good luck, John

Well today I said enough of the fun stuff and hello to the lousy stuff, cleaning under the tables. A few days ago I took a trip to the depot and looking at their shelving.  I found a plastic four high shelve unit. I looked it over and though I could use it to store trains on but only using one high shelve. To my surprise it worked.  I had been storing the cars in boxes and I could only go one high under the tables. And after starting with two shelves I found I could get two and one half boxes in that area along with being able to see what they are. So now that I know they work better I will run back to the Depot and get a few more. I was   running trains all the while I was doing this and I found more stuff I had forgot I had. Some pics my storage idea and one of the finds under the table..................Paul........

Finally finished. Did the last two sidings today.  For the time being I leaving most of the yard fast Track. Had to make a couple of Transition tracks and I am done for now. Nice thing with the Atlas, I used a #5 turnout that allowed for a smoother  transition into the yard from the mainline. Previous turnout was an 072 leading into a 072 Wye. The other benefit was now it has the appearance of deep snow versus the fast track sitting high on the mats. Its also a lot quieter. My wife asked me what I was going to do with all the fast track? I told her I hadn't gotten that far yet. Yes I know carpet Central from hell, but under all that white stuff is a 1 inch wood base. 

WOW Great find Paul, I hope your going to put them to good use! I am sure you have room on your layout for something that nice!

Suzukovich, Great looking winter layout, Plus your son's race track in the middle! Every time I get on here and you update it looks even better then the time before Great Job!

Finished wiring the lights inside the house, now to figure out where I can find a motor and rig it up to the pulley on the flywheel to simulate it's operation. These are just old Wilesco steam engine parts, so toy like, but I am happy with the results. The first boilerhouse actually contains the Wilesco boilers.

I made some custom length sections with Realtrax.  A 2-5/16" section and a 8-1/16" section. I thought I'd share my epiphany on the latter. The short section was just the more difficult. The longer section was simple. MTH and other manufacturers make transition sections like from going from the vendors track section to tubular. MTH makes 5" sections, 2-1/2" is Realtrax and the other 2-1/2" is tubular. You need two transition pieces to do this. What I did was get the odd length space down to within 5" of each other then cut the tubular end of the transition track to the length I need. Actually if you can get the gap down to 2-1/2" or less then you only have to cut one piece. Then use track pins to connect the two. I found that O-27 track pins work well for Realtrax. This technique can be used for other manufacturers as well.

Steve

I didn't get to do a thing today on the layout but the weather was warm outside so I worked on my boat a little with my daughter.

daughter sanding the outdrive she is also my helper on the layout.  This boat I built when new when I worked for sensation now I am restoring it for myself.

Outdrive primed

Painted

Final outcome

For $100  ( $73 USD ) I greatly increased liquid transport capability yesterday.   To back date them, 5 got a splash of generic silver to cover their '80's themed roadnames and match the one AT&SF tanker.  Painting the nickle railings black really helped drag them out of the tin plate category.

Bruce

I bought a Train-master Lionel transformer yesterday for a fair price but it needed a lot of work. I had to replace the cord but the insides look good and the short indicator lamp works fine but the off position shows about seven volts. I need to look into that.

Those look nice Bruce. I had no idea you were Canadian until you posted the exchange rate.

Went out this morning and picked up two more shelve units. After lunch run some trains and move more cars to the shelves..................Paul

Matt,

    Brought the 3rd Z4K on line this last week, will need to pick up a 3rd side receiver before to long.

PCRR/Dave

I've been operating my new 7 ft X 11ft layout since Oct. I run my MTH proto sound 3 locos on two loops joined by a Ross dbl Crossover. Last week they wouldn't respond to my DCS remote controller . I ran a conventional loco all over the layout without incidence . I've been told the issue is related to dirty track. Which has never been cleaned in the 4 months I've been running trains. I've been told to clean with a rag and either carbontetrachloride , acetone, or denatured alcahol. All my track is Ross with wood ties. No ballast. What would be the best user friendly cleaner?

Dick Frederick Bethlehem pa

Frederic posted:

I've been operating my new 7 ft X 11ft layout since Oct. I run my MTH proto sound 3 locos on two loops joined by a Ross dbl Crossover. Last week they wouldn't respond to my DCS remote controller . I ran a conventional loco all over the layout without incidence . I've been told the issue is related to dirty track. Which has never been cleaned in the 4 months I've been running trains. I've been told to clean with a rag and either carbontetrachloride , acetone, or denatured alcahol. All my track is Ross with wood ties. No ballast. What would be the best user friendly cleaner?

Carbon tet is highly toxic, acetone nearly as much plus it melts plastic.  I'd go with the alcohol, myself, wearing protective gloves. 

Mitch

Frederic posted:

I've been operating my new 7 ft X 11ft layout since Oct. I run my MTH proto sound 3 locos on two loops joined by a Ross dbl Crossover. Last week they wouldn't respond to my DCS remote controller . I ran a conventional loco all over the layout without incidence . I've been told the issue is related to dirty track. Which has never been cleaned in the 4 months I've been running trains. I've been told to clean with a rag and either carbontetrachloride , acetone, or denatured alcahol. All my track is Ross with wood ties. No ballast. What would be the best user friendly cleaner?

Dick Frederick Bethlehem pa

Dick:

A cleaning product called Goo Gone worked very well to clean tracks. Use it full strength but wipe the tracks very dry afterwards. Goo Gone residue is a bit slippery.

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Matt,

    Brought the 3rd Z4K on line this last week, will need to pick up a 3rd side receiver before to long.

PCRR/Dave

Why do you have/need so many Z's on your layout?  What do they power?

Took a walk out to the mailbox. Surprise • Tore off the plastic wrapper and took a look. I think I will start with the Product Review Articles and 2-Rail O Gauge Action on "The Moose River Valley". Like a kid in a candy store, when the OGR, shows up.

jmiller320 posted:

Why do you have/need so many Z's on your layout?  What do they power?

I'm guessing the landing lights at the Pittsburgh airport. 

Mitch

Did a motor transplant in a Lionel  2035. Took the motor out of a 675 shell which I got in a "deal", the 2035 shell is much nicer. Needs a boiler front so will be looking for one and a better trailing truck at the train show this weekend. I found a plastic dome shaped knob on my work bench and glued it on as a temporary fix so now I have a bullet nose 2035. I have a couple more shells but don't plan to do anything with them.

trainroomgary posted:

Took a walk out to the mailbox. Surprise • Tore off the plastic wrapper and took a look. I think I will start with the Product Review Articles and 2-Rail O Gauge Action on "The Moose River Valley". Like a kid in a candy store, when the OGR, shows up.

Found this in the plastic bag. SAY IT AIN'T SO - This has been paid. I will have to check with my accounting department. • Linda Melvin / Subscription Manager, please check the records. I am paid in full for one more year. 

Broke the piggy bank badly. We're talking about ordering the Lionel Y6B and a BTO Allegheny from Pat's Trains.  

Also started laying roadbed on a woodland scenics 4% incline set. 

I seriously need to get my butt in gear with pics and more participation on the forums. Crazy busy work and life of mine. 

Finished re-wiring the main level after track re-arrangement. 

Then entertained a visit from the good idea fairy, and proceeded to re-arrange the lower level. It actually worked in my favor, I ended up getting a larger staging area for my intermodal yard, and larger 4 track yard area! And I still have room for an engine service area.

Next up: re-wire lower level.

As I edge closer to the Golden Spike on the Ceiling Central RR, I am getting excited, since this project has been just over 3 years in the making.  Here's a couple of photos.  I will be videoing the first run.  Stay tuned!!

Mark, looking very good. Congratulations on the up coming golden spike ceremony. It is not so much how long it may have taken to get there. The important thing is you completed it and will soon be enjoying the fruits of your labor .......Paul

Thanks Paul!  I agree 100%%!