What did you do on your layout today?

Craig, where did you get the flashers?

I bought the LEDs along with the 9 volt battery strap with an on/off button from Evan Designs, a forum sponsor.

Thanks Craig!

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Thanks guys and Merry Christmas to all of you.  I'll be spending mine working on the layout, just the way I like it.

Matt - I could sleep in there, but my bed is much more comfortable. However, in my younger days, I did nap under the layout at enterTRAINment. I brought a pad and crashed on the concrete, to the sound of trains running above.

Mark - There are a couple of ways in there, one from the Red Wing side, but my preferred access is through the opening under that terminal strip. It is just under 20", so I'm crawling on my belly. That's why I spend 15 - 20 minutes thinking of all the things I need for the task (and using the bathroom), before taking the plunge.

Mike - With any luck, when I'm done with this, I shouldn't have to go back there very often. Some of the feeder wires weren't connected to their buses. There were just enough to get power up to all the sections. Most engines made it up, no problem, but some liked to stall in a couple spots. One theory was that unconnected ground wires were creating stray TMCC signal. I'm anxious to power up and see if that theory was true, and the problems are corrected.

Looking good Elliot. Another "last" to check off the list. You must have a few miles of wire under that layout.

Bob

Once the beer reefers were unloaded - Finally, the FOOD reefers arrived in time for Christmas.  More overtime for the boys.

Libbys vegetables.

Hams,Bacon & Sausage

Dairy Products from the midwest

Mr Greenjeans Produce is busy 

The IGA is also a busy place for Holiday specialties

Merry Christmas everyone!

It has been a productive week as I have completed my Mt. Iron taconite buildings and they are primed and ready for the finish coat and weathering.  The summit has been moved into the family room, with full support from the household CEO, in order to complete track installation which included cork roadbed and a four track yard facility for loading taconite.  This area is designed to be a static display.  I also purchased some led yard lighting appliances on ebay that will be attached to the wood filler strip between the two loading tracks (middle two) and some building flood lights that will be mounted on some of the plant buildings.  This summit is not located in a brightly lit section of the layout and that will help create the illusion of the taconite plant by not drawing attention to its lack of detail.

The next step will be to celebrate Christmas with family followed by a family trip to the Wilderness Lodge in Disney World to ring in the New Year.  When the weather warms a bit, I will move the summit to the garage for ballasting and some scenic work with rock highlights, some greenery and trees, etc.

What’s left is to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and a Blessed New Year. 

May your stockings be stuffed with trains!!!!

Dave

60%  off these Christmas trees  At Lowe’s  and I added to my forest. took ornaments off and painted them 

darlander posted:

It has been a productive week as I have completed my Mt. Iron taconite buildings and they are primed and ready for the finish coat and weathering.  The summit has been moved into the family room, with full support from the household CEO, in order to complete track installation which included cork roadbed and a four track yard facility for loading taconite.  This area is designed to be a static display.  I also purchased some led yard lighting appliances on ebay that will be attached to the wood filler strip between the two loading tracks (middle two) and some building flood lights that will be mounted on some of the plant buildings.  This summit is not located in a brightly lit section of the layout and that will help create the illusion of the taconite plant by not drawing attention to its lack of detail.

The next step will be to celebrate Christmas with family followed by a family trip to the Wilderness Lodge in Disney World to ring in the New Year.  When the weather warms a bit, I will move the summit to the garage for ballasting and some scenic work with rock highlights, some greenery and trees, etc.

What’s left is to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and a Blessed New Year. 

May your stockings be stuffed with trains!!!!

Dave

Dave, that area looks great, and more realistic than you give yourself credit for.  What’s your source for the lighting?  I like the look.  TW

TedW posted:

darlander posted:

It has been a productive week as I have completed my Mt. Iron taconite buildings and they are primed and ready for the finish coat and weathering.  The summit has been moved into the family room, with full support from the household CEO, in order to complete track installation which included cork roadbed and a four track yard facility for loading taconite.  This area is designed to be a static display.  I also purchased some led yard lighting appliances on ebay that will be attached to the wood filler strip between the two loading tracks (middle two) and some building flood lights that will be mounted on some of the plant buildings.  This summit is not located in a brightly lit section of the layout and that will help create the illusion of the taconite plant by not drawing attention to its lack of detail.

The next step will be to celebrate Christmas with family followed by a family trip to the Wilderness Lodge in Disney World to ring in the New Year.  When the weather warms a bit, I will move the summit to the garage for ballasting and some scenic work with rock highlights, some greenery and trees, etc.

What’s left is to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and a Blessed New Year. 

May your stockings be stuffed with trains!!!!

Dave

Dave, that area looks great, and more realistic than you give yourself credit for.  What’s your source for the lighting?  I like the look.  TW

Ted,   I found them on ebay, I also have O scale LED street lighting and station platform lighting on my layout.   Google HO or O gauge LED lighting on ebay and you will find a large assortment of light options.  They come from China and are very inexpensive.   They are powered by a DC 3 volt plug-in power source - not included.   I use old 6-9 volt power sources I have around the house from old phones or radios, etc.   They come with resistors that need to be used with any power source over 3 volts.   The 10 pole lamps cost $14.99 and that included shipping.    The small black bracket floods (5) also came with resistors and cost $4.99 and that also included shipping.   The black lamps are painted brass and the pole lamps are metal and plastic.   You can't beat them for the price and scale.

Dave

Dave thanks.  As you can see, I like lighting.  Always looking for new sources. 

decoynh posted:

Once the beer reefers were unloaded - Finally, the FOOD reefers arrived in time for Christmas.  More overtime for the boys.

Libbys vegetables.

Hams,Bacon & Sausage

Dairy Products from the midwest

Mr Greenjeans Produce is busy 

The IGA is also a busy place for Holiday specialties

 

Merry Christmas everyone!

Hello Decoynh  May I ask where you got the 'The Lone Rider' hobby horse in front of your IGA?  Thank s   John (Jackiejr)

jackiejr posted:

decoynh posted:

Once the beer reefers were unloaded - Finally, the FOOD reefers arrived in time for Christmas.  More overtime for the boys.

 

 

 

The IGA is also a busy place for Holiday specialties

 

Merry Christmas everyone!

Hello Decoynh  May I ask where you got the 'The Lone Rider' hobby horse in front of your IGA?  Thank s   John (Jackiejr)

Good morning John,  The Lone Rider is part of the Woodland Scenics IGA Building.  The buildings can be a bit pricey.  The good thing is that these buildings come with lighting, and a variety of many little things like the gum ball machine, dumpsters, crates, boxes, garbage cans, fire escapes, flower pots, loading docks, etc.

Late yesterday afternoon my track bumpers arrived. No I can install them on the sidings and get to adding the ground turf today...............Paul

I've seen so many nice ideas along this thread, you guys are making me reconsider whether I am done with making changes to the layout (!!!!). Yeeegads, you are inspiring!

FrankM

Moonson posted:

I've seen so many nice ideas along this thread, you guys are making me reconsider whether I am done with making changes to the layout (!!!!). Yeeegads, you are inspiring!

FrankM

I agree wholeheartedly. 95% of my small Xmas layout elements were taken from this forum.  Execution, well maybe a little credit there, but learning from members like you are what keeps me in “da bidnez”.   

decoynh posted:

jackiejr posted:

decoynh posted:

Once the beer reefers were unloaded - Finally, the FOOD reefers arrived in time for Christmas.  More overtime for the boys.

 

 

 

The IGA is also a busy place for Holiday specialties

 

Merry Christmas everyone!

Hello Decoynh  May I ask where you got the 'The Lone Rider' hobby horse in front of your IGA?  Thank s   John (Jackiejr)

Good morning John,  The Lone Rider is part of the Woodland Scenics IGA Building.  The buildings can be a bit pricey.  The good thing is that these buildings come with lighting, and a variety of many little things like the gum ball machine, dumpsters, crates, boxes, garbage cans, fire escapes, flower pots, loading docks, etc.

Thank You for the come back Decoynh. I have a scratch built market I built and thought what a great addition a hobby horse would be as you have yours displayed. The toy horses I have found just don't get it. Yours is the second IGA with the hobby horse I've seen in the last couple of days. I kind of figured then that it was probably included with the IGA building, but no harm in asking. As mentioned many times in the past; this Forum is a great source of info and folks like yourself willing to help a fellow hobbyist  is much appreciated. Have a Merry Christmas!

TedW posted:

Moonson posted:

I've seen so many nice ideas along this thread, you guys are making me reconsider whether I am done with making changes to the layout (!!!!). Yeeegads, you are inspiring!

FrankM

I agree wholeheartedly. 95% of my small Xmas layout elements were taken from this forum.  Execution, well maybe a little credit there, but learning from members like you are what keeps me in “da bidnez”.   

Such a gracious thing for you to say! Thanks for including me amongst the hobbyists who have been an influence on you. That's a lot of fun to hear.

FrankM

horse is included. 

In San Francisco so no progress today. I was going to try and visit Just Trains in Concord but the trip is over an hour away by Bart and bus.

RSJB18 posted:

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Thanks guys and Merry Christmas to all of you.  I'll be spending mine working on the layout, just the way I like it.

Matt - I could sleep in there, but my bed is much more comfortable. However, in my younger days, I did nap under the layout at enterTRAINment. I brought a pad and crashed on the concrete, to the sound of trains running above.

Mark - There are a couple of ways in there, one from the Red Wing side, but my preferred access is through the opening under that terminal strip. It is just under 20", so I'm crawling on my belly. That's why I spend 15 - 20 minutes thinking of all the things I need for the task (and using the bathroom), before taking the plunge.

Mike - With any luck, when I'm done with this, I shouldn't have to go back there very often. Some of the feeder wires weren't connected to their buses. There were just enough to get power up to all the sections. Most engines made it up, no problem, but some liked to stall in a couple spots. One theory was that unconnected ground wires were creating stray TMCC signal. I'm anxious to power up and see if that theory was true, and the problems are corrected.

Looking good Elliot. Another "last" to check off the list. You must have a few miles of wire under that layout.

Bob

Thanks Bob, I expect there to be a few more lasts this last week of 2017. If you count a cat5 cable as 8 wires, I have more than 8000' right there, because I just finished off a 1000' box. When I get to signals, I'll probably go through another. I'll bet there's a mile of 12 gauge, and who knows how much 16 gauge. I better be careful, the copper vandals might be listening.

My grandson came over & we ran trains. The Pere Marquette steam engine. 

Gary: Merry Christmas

Nothing better then Grandkids and trains!

Merry Christmas!!

Hi Guys, It has been a long time since I have posted, But did want to let you know I tested all systems on the layout the other night for tomorrow's Christmas Eve running with the grand-kids.

 Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Kev.

Ok Kev. we know the trains are ready! But is Grandpa!

Merry Christmas!

I am going the other way. Put away my O gauge engines and took up the track. Tired of tripping and kicking it over. For now the Standard gauge track stays while I fool with an engine or two. 

mike g. posted:

Ok Kev. we know the trains are ready! But is Grandpa!

Merry Christmas!

I think so Mike, Best to ask in about 24 hours.

KRM posted:

mike g. posted:

Ok Kev. we know the trains are ready! But is Grandpa!

Merry Christmas!

I think so Mike, Best to ask in about 24 hours.

Will do! Checking back in 24 Hrs! I know it can be rough sometimes!

i have been doing little odds and ends to the layout. i do have a problem with 1 engine. all my trains are MTH with the DCS system. 1 ps3 Y6b Engine that runs very good but the other Y6B slows down at some parts in track. no other engine slow down signal strength is 9.6 at the slow spots. can anyone help me 

Merry Christmas to everyone and happy new year from Coal and steel railroad, model railroader of canfield war vet museum and NMRA division 1 MCR 

The latest "Under The Hood" is up!

https://ogrforum.com/...i-raffe-express-gxii

Mitch 

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Thanks guys and Merry Christmas to all of you.  I'll be spending mine working on the layout, just the way I like it.

Matt - I could sleep in there, but my bed is much more comfortable. However, in my younger days, I did nap under the layout at enterTRAINment. I brought a pad and crashed on the concrete, to the sound of trains running above.

Mark - There are a couple of ways in there, one from the Red Wing side, but my preferred access is through the opening under that terminal strip. It is just under 20", so I'm crawling on my belly. That's why I spend 15 - 20 minutes thinking of all the things I need for the task (and using the bathroom), before taking the plunge.

Mike - With any luck, when I'm done with this, I shouldn't have to go back there very often. Some of the feeder wires weren't connected to their buses. There were just enough to get power up to all the sections. Most engines made it up, no problem, but some liked to stall in a couple spots. One theory was that unconnected ground wires were creating stray TMCC signal. I'm anxious to power up and see if that theory was true, and the problems are corrected.

Looking good Elliot. Another "last" to check off the list. You must have a few miles of wire under that layout.

Bob

Thanks Bob, I expect there to be a few more lasts this last week of 2017. If you count a cat5 cable as 8 wires, I have more than 8000' right there, because I just finished off a 1000' box. When I get to signals, I'll probably go through another. I'll bet there's a mile of 12 gauge, and who knows how much 16 gauge. I better be careful, the copper vandals might be listening.

LOL!- I use to keep the bigger stuff left over from jobs and sell it for scrap. Nice little bonus at the end of the year depending on the price of copper. Stripping the insulation off small wires wasn't worth it but I know some guys who do it.

Bob

Hi All- haven't been doing anything on the layout. Been wiped out by a respiratory infection since Thursday. Finally feeling a little better today.

Merry Christmas to all

Bob

          Bob, glad you 're feeling better, have a Merry Christmas    brian

briansilvermustang posted:

          Bob, glad you 're feeling better, have a Merry Christmas    brian

Thanks Brian. Same to you

Bob, glad you are feeling better. And just in time for Christmas. Seems like in the winter these things drag out for too long...................Paul

Thanks Paul- it never fails that someone in the family gets sick around the Holidays. I happy to be on the upswing now so I can enjoy the day tomorrow.

Bob

Mitch, it turned out looking wonderful! Merry Christmas!

Bob, its nice to hear your feeling better just in time for Christmas! Hope you and your Family have a wonderful day!

Brian, I am a firm believer that you have more trains then anyone I know! Merry Christmas!

Paul, I hope you have a great Christmas and find more room around the washer and dryer!