What did you do on your layout today?

I've had 2 level around-the-room Mianne benchwork in my trainroom for a couple of years.  But, things in life have just come up to keep me from getting an operating layout up and running.

Last week I decided to take things one step at a time.  So, my goal now is to get a single loop of track wired so I can run a train. 

The layout runs around the perimeter of a room that is about 27' x 28'.  So a single loop of track will be about 100'.  For the past week I have been clearing all the junk that had built up on the benchwork.  Being a retired IT guy, I have run poly rope around the back of both levels of the layout to use as a dragline to pull wire where I need it. 

I haven't had a layout since we moved from PA to NC in 2007.  Today I upgraded my 2 DCS remotes and TIU's from 3.1 to 4.3.  I also upgraded my Legacy system from 1.3 to 1.52.

For my longer power runs I am using 12 gauge wire.  Last night I realized my terminal blocks can only handle 14 gauge.  So, today I placed an order with Mouser for some terminal blocks that can handle up to 10 gauge wire.

I also got my 2 TIU's, TVS-4's and fuse blocks mounted on a sheet of plywood today.  Tomorrow I'll get them wired together.

My goal is to be able to run a train 4 days from now.

Great cliffs Brian!!   What are they made of?

Gave up dealing with an Atlas O O72 wye. called Steve at Ross on Tuesday. My new Ross O72 wye was here on Thursday!

I painted the RossBed this AM.

Peter

Making progress on my parking garage but am running out of glue and foam board.  After a trip to get both, I will try to post a few pictures of the status.  So far so good.

Art

still working on my tunnel. and while out at a clients I saw 2 railroad bridges I thought were cool .

Started the ravine floor including the cutout for the lake.

Finally, I had a great day for going into the garage man hole, and as I was gazing around, I decided to count my tin plate locomotives thinking it would be easy. Boy, I found more important things that I had to do to get my layout running. My layout is named the Neverdun R.R, for good reason.  Any way when I and my wife, Rose (and she is, she has been my care taker for the last six months) returned from our dinner, I went back to the hole, and found more things that went high on the do list.  Just maybe I may get a screw or two installed some where by the end of the week.  That is my story and I will stick with it.

Al

Check out the water, then. I need to change the ropes with chains, didn't like how that part turned out...

here's what I did today. worked on the tunnel again, added a red light to the top of a water tower. built a NS warehouse front still need to do the rest of the building. here's todays photo's. also cleaned up the layout room.

Norfolk Southern warehouse slowly coming together.

Ran a long coal train led by a Y6 on the Mountain Division of my Free State Junction Railway.  Here are some short vids.  I hope you like them.

Pat:

Great scenery and videos! Keep them coming.

Got my full DCS system temporarily hooked up for a test track, that was fun!

Last day of March I got the second section of pink board glued in place. Now I am going to put the plaster wrap on this section.............Paul

Shot the stripped down shell of a Marx 999 with primer. Nice to be out in 70 degree weather for a change!!

With all the work I have been doing on the outside of the house I have had little time for trains lately.  Tore out 11 over grown bushes yesterday, and have 3 more to go in our back yard tomorrow.  This morning I took the day off of the house work to run trains with my almost 4 year old son.  He woke up this morning asking if he could put on his engineering overalls and run daddies trains.  

He looks so happy Jim, thanks for sharing.  Hope he had fun!

That sounds like a good day. You have your priorities in order. Never miss spending time with your son.

We had tons of fun running trains!

I also got my Cab2 and Legacy Base back from Lionel back today.  Hooked it up and remembered how much better the legacy trains run compared to using the Cab1 / TMCC Base.

bought my first MTH starter set Prr Passenger train. bought an End of train device for my grain hopper train and also bought a err AC commander for my Santa Fe Alco.

setup dcs on a loop of fastrack on my layout and ran the Mth train Smoked my room out is all I can say it smoke a lot sounds good and runs good. took apart a hopper and added the end of train device. it works good kinda neat to see. then figured I would start the ERR upgrade thinking it wouldn't get finished tonight well its done and tested works good. ran for the first time 2 trains on the same loop. note to self never have the slower train in front and eng ID set to the following train trying to speed up the front train it causes a nice little mess LOL I shoud have paid better attention to the signals being red LOL

I moved enough detritus out of the way so as to be able to run a couple trains and relax.

Pete

worked some more on the layout. rewired my signals so I would quit tripping over the wall plug. then setup DCS on one loop. hooked up tmcc to a second loop.  then ran some trains. ran Up sd90 TMCC , Up gp20 conventional, Santa Fe F3 Upgraded yesterday to TMCC, MTH PRR DCS.

Another piece of our 9x30 puzzle is finished. Except for adding more water to the lake (waiting for spring rains), our springtime section looks presentable to us. It's fun to watch a train come barreling out of darkened tunnel! Our next layout project is to work on a small town which is located on the level above the tunnel. That's actually reserved for rainy days this spring and sweltering days in summer. Meanwhile, there's real work to be done outside in the sunshine, like planting something! Anything edible!

Hauled it to the dump.  Moving soon and getting a bigger train room!

Well you asked!!!

I've been there.  Remember, you are making progress on your layout!

Today I actually have a 100 foot loop of track with DCS and Legacy hooked up!!

After nearly 7 years, I can run DCS and TMCC/Legacy trains.  Now I can start testing all those engines I've bought over the past 7 years. Hopefully, there won't be too many problems.

All I did today was to plant a few more trees.

I ran my mth premire berk pulls real well.How ever I did see a problem thou.A Bridge I built it just bends under the berk.I going to get a another bridge made from metal.It didn,t derail thou just looked real funny.Oh well live and learn.

Well we are experimenting/playing with ground textures and rock coloring again. Oh and don't forget the hundreds of feet of track that need painting and ballasting.

Dirt, ballast, and lots more dirt!

Grass and more ballast that's still very wet.

The rock canyon has it's first color on....black. Color to follow.

We're looking for a yard building to put in this corner that will blend in with the backdrop.

This Scenic Express Silfor, Buffalo grass, and Tufts are really cool. Expensive...but cool stuff.

Patrick was over last Tuesday, and we took care of a few small sections of the raised floor that were never finished. The floor is now 100% complete.

After that it was on to a long dreaded project that has been something of a sticking point. The curved backdrop on the upper deck has sort of been holding up the show. There will still be 2 more of these to do in the future, but they shouldn't be as difficult.

All of the fitting is done for the first piece, it just needs to be secured.

The 2x4 will carry the lighting and valance.


I've quietly been chugging along on the new hidden yard.


The east ladder is laid out and will be the next project to be tackled. Once secured, the body tracks can be completed.


A couple hours a day is about all my knees can take. Unfortunately, I found my knee pads a little too late.


With Jon and Matt's help, this should be done by the end of next week.

My first attempt at water.  Bought a piece of plexiglass at Lowes (cracked in the corner so 1/2 half) Since I could see through it just put it on top of the lake cutout and traced lake.  Cut plexiglass using band saw.  Painted bottom of plexiglass using various colors dark in middle to lighter towards shore.  Sprayed dull coat on top to take away some of the shine.  Next step is to work on the shore line going in the water.

Spent a couple more hours today working on the yard. Got all the filler pieces cut for the second ladder, and more track placed. One step closer.

Shot the top coat on a couple of Marx locos I've been working on.

Come-on Elliot! Leave something for us to do!

Be careful what you wish for. Just because I cut those pieces, doesn't mean there isn't still a lot left to do.

Built a "set-up track" for the club today while one of the kids ran my train. Will make it easier to add engines to a remote without having to worry about other trains entering the staging room TIU zone. Also setting it up with an On30 track for DCC programming of On30 locomotives for the logging operation currently under construction. A simple project, but one long needed.