What did you do on your layout today?

Here you go Mike. I made some headway today. The track bumpers I got are all in place and so are the uncouple tracks. So now the whole freight yard is screwed down. I had a Korber switch tower that I had used on the attic layout but I think with all the switches I found a perfect spot for it by the small pond. I still have to vacuum up from drilling holes for the screws and lay down ground foam. The track work around the power plant is on hold until I can buy a small step ladder so I can get to the back of the tables. I can't quite reach standing on the ground. After dinner I would like to start placing the cattails but I am still in negotiations with the CEO for layout time after dinner. While I am up here I'll get an order into Ross. I need a couple of more switches and a bunch of Caboose ground throws. Pics......................Paul

          looking GREAT Paul !!   very nice...

paul 2 posted:

Here you go Mike. I made some headway today. The track bumpers I got are all in place and so are the uncouple tracks. So now the whole freight yard is screwed down. I had a Korber switch tower that I had used on the attic layout but I think with all the switches I found a perfect spot for it by the small pond. I still have to vacuum up from drilling holes for the screws and lay down ground foam. The track work around the power plant is on hold until I can buy a small step ladder so I can get to the back of the tables. I can't quite reach standing on the ground. After dinner I would like to start placing the cattails but I am still in negotiations with the CEO for layout time after dinner. While I am up here I'll get an order into Ross. I need a couple of more switches and a bunch of Caboose ground throws. Pics......................Paul

Sure looks nice Paul! You do really wonderful work! Dad should be proud of you!

RSJB18 posted:

mike g. posted:

RSJB18 posted:

I think a good bucket list item would be a trip to see all of the amazing layouts of all the guys on this forum. Kind of like seeing a baseball game in every stadium around the country.

Bob

So I started a list;

Minnesota- Elliot

Michigan- Train Room Gary (I never turn down a lunch invite)

Ohio- Brian, Clem, and Paul2

Illinois- Art (Chugman)

Seattle and Pennsylvania- Mike and Mark- I'll bring my tools and we can knock out your layouts in no time. Lee- P51 too while I'm on the west coast.

Maryland- Patrick Trumptrain

Arkansas- M. Mitch.Marmell- I need to meet Fortesque in person

Locally Pat - St. James MRRC , and LI Steamer TMB Train Club, Arnold, Skip and SIRT.

Need to do more research on the dozens of awesome layouts, so many trains so little time

Bob

Bob, that is a nice offer, but I have to get the room built first! Sure does sound like fun!

Mike- I've got 30 years experience in construction. I can build more than just layouts

Bob

That's so unfair, Bob, that you do all kinds of construction and I don't. You have such a huge advantage building layouts over someone like me.  I'm even afraid of power saws and tools, but forced myself to use them to build the bench work for my current layout. LOL.

I did a good job, my bench work is very stable and I get very few derailments. I was very nervous using power saws.

My fear is that I might get distracted and saw off my fingers, and I kinda want to keep my fingers.

Do you know that Phil Rizzuto, former Yankee shortstop who won the MVP award in 1950, and who was obviously very well coordinated, sawed off a finger after he retired while using hedge clippers. Now I was a good, but not a great, baseball player, but not nearly as good as Phil Rizzuto. I figure if Phil could saw off a finger, I'm certainly capable of doing that. LOL

Very good looking, Paul.  I like your building flats.  You are able to run track right in close to them because they look like they are the backs of old mill buildings/ factories.  Nice job.

Warmed up enough so I could cut some lumber in my unheated garage

Was a nice day here today also.  So took down most of my Christmas display (outside). Then ran down to Home Depot to get a load of 2x4s and plywood.   Have to do some more getting rid of stuff and make the room I need to finish the bench work.  Just keep on chugging along!   

Jim 

Had another snow ice day on Monday so I am a few days ahead.  Got the rest of the rides wired up, all of the little rides (pony, miniature golf, swing set ect), and all of the midway food/beer establishments and midway games.  Everything is on its own switch and instead of using train/hobby controllers I just used regular light switches.  Can buy a ton of those cheaply from Menards/Lowes.  Future plans are to start landscaping around the areas with grass, dirt, asphalt, concrete walkways. 

Bryan, really came out great. You did a good job grasshopper LOL...........Paul

posted:

 

Very nice, Bryan

Okay Paul or anyone else how do I post a youtube video so it shows up here and not just a link to the site? 

Hopefully Bryan someone will chime in that does that stuff. I haven't a clue............Paul

Okay got it figured out here is a video with everything working....

Bryan- the amusement park looks great.

Arnold- As long as I've been using power tools I still give them plenty of respect. Doesn't take but a split second to loose a finger, eye, etc. No worries here, a little fear is not a bad thing. Call it a healthy respect.

As for the Scooter, Bobby Oheda of the Mets did the same thing on the day he was supposed to pitch in the '86 World Series. Don't know what he was thinking at the time but I wouldn't be trimming bushes right before pitching in the WS.

Paul- the freight yard is coming together nicely.

Bob

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

RSJB18 posted:

mike g. posted:

RSJB18 posted:

I think a good bucket list item would be a trip to see all of the amazing layouts of all the guys on this forum. Kind of like seeing a baseball game in every stadium around the country.

Bob

So I started a list;

Minnesota- Elliot

Michigan- Train Room Gary (I never turn down a lunch invite)

Ohio- Brian, Clem, and Paul2

Illinois- Art (Chugman)

Seattle and Pennsylvania- Mike and Mark- I'll bring my tools and we can knock out your layouts in no time. Lee- P51 too while I'm on the west coast.

Maryland- Patrick Trumptrain

Arkansas- M. Mitch.Marmell- I need to meet Fortesque in person

Locally Pat - St. James MRRC , and LI Steamer TMB Train Club, Arnold, Skip and SIRT.

Need to do more research on the dozens of awesome layouts, so many trains so little time

Bob

Bob, that is a nice offer, but I have to get the room built first! Sure does sound like fun!

Mike- I've got 30 years experience in construction. I can build more than just layouts

Bob

That's so unfair, Bob, that you do all kinds of construction and I don't. You have such a huge advantage building layouts over someone like me.  I'm even afraid of power saws and tools, but forced myself to use them to build the bench work for my current layout. LOL.

I did a good job, my bench work is very stable and I get very few derailments. I was very nervous using power saws.

My fear is that I might get distracted and saw off my fingers, and I kinda want to keep my fingers.

Do you know that Phil Rizzuto, former Yankee shortstop who won the MVP award in 1950, and who was obviously very well coordinated, sawed off a finger after he retired while using hedge clippers. Now I was a good, but not a great, baseball player, but not nearly as good as Phil Rizzuto. I figure if Phil could saw off a finger, I'm certainly capable of doing that. LOL

My baseball glove I had as a boy had Phil Rizzuto’s signature emblazoned on it.  I know; trivia!!  LOL

Paul and Bryan, wow I wish I lived a bit closer!  Your work always looks great!!

Mark Boyce posted:

Paul and Bryan, wow I wish I lived a bit closer!  Your work always looks great!!

Your not that far away once the weather breaks this summer.  you could make it a day and see both as we are only about 30 minutes from each other.

WOOOO HOOOOO   Got the room cleaned out finally!   Have all the materials ready to build more bench work inside and ready!  Now it looks like a TRAIN ROOM!!! 

Jim 

Bryan, love the layout! I just bought a monorail set myself (identical to yours) and decided, as you did, that I needed to raise the stanchions. But, I am wondering if it's possible to buy additional straight pieces of track along with a few extra support stanchions. Do you happen to know? And are you happy with the way the monrail performs?  

Yes, they are on the bay all the time both curves and straights.  I just bought 3 curves a few weeks ago for about 12.00.  I didn't want a perfect oval so I needed the extra curves.  I really like the monorail as it adds interest to the outside of the amusement park and I haven't had any problems.  obviously you know it's not true o scale but doesn't look that bad since it higher than anything else.

Bryan in Ohio posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

Paul and Bryan, wow I wish I lived a bit closer!  Your work always looks great!!

Your not that far away once the weather breaks this summer.  you could make it a day and see both as we are only about 30 minutes from each other.

That’s nice, Bryan!  Thank you.  Yes it’s about 2 hours if I am right that Paul in Cuyahoga Falls.

Bryan in Ohio posted:

Yes, they are on the bay all the time both curves and straights.  I just bought 3 curves a few weeks ago for about 12.00.  I didn't want a perfect oval so I needed the extra curves.  I really like the monorail as it adds interest to the outside of the amusement park and I haven't had any problems.  obviously you know it's not true o scale but doesn't look that bad since it higher than anything else.

Thank you! Your prompt was all I needed. I went onto "the Bay" and found a few straights and will monitor it for more as they become available. I agree that they add tremendous interest!

Chugman posted:

My Mannhiem Road bridge was finished last night and traffic started on it right away this morning.  A trucker and a car got on it before it has been striped or road signs put up.   Greyhound is anxious to start using it to get to the downtown Chicago bus terminal beside my Union Station.  Streets and Sand dept has road work to do before it officially opens too.

There are Illinois State Police on both sides so this could get interesting.  I better hurry up and completely finish this area.

Art

Lovely work, but where are Jake and Elwood?

Mitch 

Cop tires, cop motor, cop suspension.....

Ha, ha!  I forgot about the chase scene and the bridge!

It could be like the "Bridge to Nowhere" in Pittsburgh.  They built the Fort Duquesne Bridge over the Allegheny River, then it sat there for several years before they built the North Shore approach which is now between PNC Park and Heinz Field.  And yes, someone drove off it and lived to tell about it!!

Wikipedea notes below.

The bridge was given the name "The Bridge to Nowhere" because the main span was finished in 1963, but due to delays in acquiring right of ways for the northern approach ramps, it did not connect on the north side of the Allegheny River. The total cost was budgeted at $5 million in 1962.^[1] The lack of approach ramps meant the bridge ended in midair, rendering it useless. The northwestern ramps were completed in 1969, allowing access to Pennsylvania Route 65. The northeastern ramps were completed in 1986, with the construction of the northern section of Interstate 279 (North Shore Expressway) which runs through Downtown Pittsburgh's Golden Triangle and north towards Interstate 79. The bridge touches down halfway between Heinz Field and PNC Park Baseball Stadium on the City's North Shore.

 

"Bridge to Nowhere" in 1966

On December 12, 1964, Frederick Williams, a 21-year-old chemistry major at the University of Pittsburgh from Basking Ridge, New Jersey, drove a 1959 Chrysler station wagon off the end of the bridge and landed unhurt on the other side. His adventure is documented in WQED-TV's double Mid-Atlantic region Emmy Award-winning documentary "Flying off the Bridge to Nowhere and Other Tales of Pittsburgh Bridges", narrated by Rick Sebak.

Within a few weeks of this near tragedy, an iconic Pittsburgh radio personality, Rege Cordic, distributed commemorative bumper stickers which read "Official Entry, Cordic & Company Bridge Leap Contest." With thousands of vehicles bearing these stickers on Pittsburgh's streets, the city responded by blocking off the end of the bridge with concrete barriers.

Good story Mark ! I remember seeing that bridge last week when I was in Pittsburgh.

Thank you Bob!  I venture down to the big city once in a while, but I quit using that bridge getting off in downtown.  It is a killer on the lower deck to see the signs up in the support beams of the upper level.  I have to cross over too many lanes of traffic or I would be heading to Monroeville or across it’s twin, the Fort Pitt Bridge, and the Fort Pitt Tunnel.  It happens so fast, and then you are crossing the Monongahela River!

Have I mentioned lately that I love Pittsburgh?  Really loved the city and the people when we lived there.  Always enjoy hearing stories about the Pittsburgh area.

Art

RSJB18 posted:

Cop tires, cop motor, cop suspension.....

 

A little known fact is that Jake and Elwood were inspired by the Toonerville Trolley... 

Mitch 

  Tree gone.  Christmas is over...  But winter isn’t,  will keep the layout up a few more days. Then back in the basement.

Chugman posted:

It looks like somebody didn't get the road barriers up?   I wonder who will get thrown under the bus for that?  I have to go to lunch with my train buddies.

Art

Looks great Art! The road crew was on break, or they will say the machine that sets the barriers was broken. But that's ok cause we know you sill get them in line and get it done!

Progress is slowly creeping forward. I ended up taking all of the track off the table, painting everything green, then putting all of the track back on. The 022 switches that I had to resolder the strap to the curved control rail mostly worked :/ Two of the resoldered switches didn't work as expected. I think I'm just going to add a insulated rail section next to the curve and tie it to the binding post. 

I built a sloped control panel, but after adding it to the side, it was taking up too much room. (I'm in the garage, still need to park cars, exercise equipment, etc). So I just placed transformers and switch controls on the table top. I'm still going to add some toggle switches to control the passing sidings.  All of the accessories will be controlled from arcade style buttons on the front fascia.

Here is an overall view. Should be able to run 3 separate trains, juggling them between the top loop, bottom loop, and passing siding. 

Most everything still needs wired, which I try to chip away when I have a spare 10 mins here or there. I really need a couple hours to just knock the whole thing out. 

Having fun - and the kids really like it, and they haven't even seen it go full bore with the buttons and accessories. 

Chugman posted:

Have I mentioned lately that I love Pittsburgh?  Really loved the city and the people when we lived there.  Always enjoy hearing stories about the Pittsburgh area.

Art

Thank you, Art!  I wish you were still in the area!!

TedW posted:

  Tree gone.  Christmas is over...  But winter isn’t,  will keep the layout up a few more days. Then back in the basement.

 

I agree, Ted!  Who would want to take your railroad down!!  My Christmas layout is still up as well!

Hi Mark, I too appreciate your posting about the unfinished bridge in Pittsburgh, and Thanks especially for the picture of it.

Back in the mid-60's, on a visit home from college, in Ohio, I deliberately ventured out onto that unfinished span riding my little Honda50 "motorcycle", knowing the bridge was unfinished and would end in midair, not reaching the other side. I eased past the barriers and went, cautiously, right up to the edge, and looked down into the very dark, very deep waters. It was nightfall. Then, I zipped theheck out of there. But I can still see that bridge edge and the dark waters below. It was a remarkable feeling, never repeated again. But at least I got to see it close-up.

FrankM (from Duquesne)

First had to get the grocery shopping out of the way. Working with something new or you never used it before can be a small learning curve. I started out following the gluing directions but found out that I had to hold each one in place for far too long. So I had a drill bit that was close to the base of the cattails. When drilling I made sure I did not go through the plywood because when I pour the water I do not want it draining out. Half the cattails are in. The single ones I can go back and bend them after the glue dries. Later this afternoon I hope to get the rest in. But I have to run my truck into the dealer because there was something wrong this morning in the steering and I don't want to take any chances. But here is a pic so far I still have more to put in...................Paul

Looks like you have a good start Paul. It looks nice, hope they can fix your truck!

Paul- don't you hate when life gets in the way of working on the layout. 

The cattails and grass look good so far.

Bob

Great job, Paul!  I am really enjoying your progress.  Looks great.

Art

Moonson posted:

Hi Mark, I too appreciate your posting about the unfinished bridge in Pittsburgh, and Thanks especially for the picture of it.

Back in the mid-60's, on a visit home from college, in Ohio, I deliberately ventured out onto that unfinished span riding my little Honda50 "motorcycle", knowing the bridge was unfinished and would end in midair, not reaching the other side. I eased past the barriers and went, cautiously, right up to the edge, and looked down into the very dark, very deep waters. It was nightfall. Then, I zipped theheck out of there. But I can still see that bridge edge and the dark waters below. It was a remarkable feeling, never repeated again. But at least I got to see it close-up.

FrankM (from Duquesne)

The things we do when young, Frank!  LOL  I wonder how many folks did like you.  Thank you for sharing your experience!!