Ran trains!

I was never completely happy with this section of my layout, since I finished it 8 years ago. The road ended up wavy after gluing it down, the road markings didn't look right to me after I finished them, and the road didn't blend into the surrounding scenery. So over the past week I redid the area. I think it looks better. First picture is how the area was and the second picture is how it looks now.

mike g. posted:

Thanks Mark, No live wires right now, or the beer wouldn't be sitting there!

BEARDOG, what do you mean heat? Do you think I am going to that much heat running 2 loops and a small yard?

Mike has it under control!!

Today I Published a YouTube Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqkkqdIHqpY

All about Z-Stuff for Trains • Signal Lights • Part One

LINKS TO CHECK OUT: Z-Stuff for Trains • http://www.z-stuff.net/ • Dennis: Owner Ross Custom Switches • http://rossswitches.com/ • Sells Z-Stuff for Trains • Steve: Owner

Both of these owners took my phone call and answered all my questions.

Gary: from Michigan

LOU1985, very nice redo.  Mike, control panel is looking better. Gary, well done video. Today with great anticipation I hope to get back to working on the layout. I had a project in the yard that has taken me three days to to do. Paul

Powered up the layout and moved some trains around for today's SWSat post. If you haven't checked it out yet you can find it here . This week I finally got to work on a MPC era D&H UC36 set that I received from forum member @Apples55 a while back. It's a powered unit with a dummy. The engine has been sitting in a box for many years so the motor is not running well but I will keep calm and carry on. Now that I have the GP-9 I can't wait to get them both running together.

Mike- the power station looks great. I think a beer holder should definitely be added though. Gary- great video, thanks for sharing. Those are both very nice signals. Paul- I hate when life gets in the way of train time. Lou- the new roads look great. Patrick- always a great time watching your layout in action.

Bob

Patrick, wonderful video! You have such a nice layout to watch!

LOU1985, Nice work on the roads! Big improvement!

Gary, thanks for the video! I sure like how you go about explaining how the products work and how to install them! Thanks again!

Paul, Thank for you complements ! I was thinking you might want to get a riding mower if it takes you 3 days to mow the lawn! Or maybe you could get Bryan to come on over ! LOL

Bob Thanks, I will work on that beer holder, and keep you up dated on it! LOL

Nice Amtrak pictures Brian! I did know they had auto trains!

   " Thanks, I will work on that beer holder, and keep you up dated on it! LOL"

                             Mike, here's a beer holder idea for you !! 

mike g. posted:

Nice Amtrack pictures Brian! I did know they had auto trains!

 

  Mike, check this one out...   https://ogrforum.com/topic/auto-train-1

                      the reason I needed one of your auto ramps...       

mike g. posted:

Patrick, wonderful video! You have such a nice layout to watch!

LOU1985, Nice work on the roads! Big improvement!

Gary, thanks for the video! I sure like how you go about explaining how the products work and how to install them! Thanks again!

Paul, Thank for you complements ! I was thinking you might want to get a riding mower if it takes you 3 days to mow the lawn! Or maybe you could get Bryan to come on over ! LOL

Bob Thanks, I will work on that beer holder, and keep you up dated on it! LOL

Thanks so very much Mike G.!!  I'm happy you liked the video and am grateful for your feedback!

briansilvermustang posted:

   " Thanks, I will work on that beer holder, and keep you up dated on it! LOL"

                             Mike, here's a beer holder idea for you !! 

LOL!!  Way cool Brian!!

Mike- one of Amtraks unique offerings. The Auto-train runs from Lorton Va, to Sanford Fl, several times a week. We've ridden it many times over the years traveling from NY to Orlando/ Disney/ Universal.

Nice way to see the south- much better than driving the whole way IMHO.

Nice guys! 

So Bob, let me get this right, you ride the train down south and they also haul your car down there for you? If that's the case what a great deal!

Mark Boyce posted:

mike g. posted:

Thanks Mark, No live wires right now, or the beer wouldn't be sitting there!

BEARDOG, what do you mean heat? Do you think I am going to that much heat running 2 loops and a small yard?

Mike has it under control!!

 Likely he does, but a nod to saftey never hurts. 😇

  A power supply can build heat without good ventilation. Those old ho packs are no exception and if it runs warm as is, that space could allow a thermal build up that could snowball into blisters or worse🥓🍳 🍟🤔💣😵The thermal breaker likely won't stop a old heat prone voltage disapation ciruit from continued working...hard to say without touching it, though I get it's only 2.5 amp in a big case. (that isn't 7.5a, is it?)

  I always feel out the heat on any new power supply set up...no exceptions. Even scary spots got an infrared temp check.

Likely it is under control, but I bet it at least trips the thermal breaker a tad faster  😜 

   And if you think thats ocd...Without thought..despite the pacs postion needed FOR the cover's photo, my initial reaction TO the cover's photo was that I wanted to seal the cover's holes.... simply because of the can was above it in the other shot😁

  But now I know now they are there for some added ventilation  🤡

Decided to change the face on the clock of my Grand Central Terminal from plain white to look like the prototype clock face.

N5CJonny, The weathering you have accomplished also helps make the entire edifice look like real stone. The whole effect is very handsome and realistic. Bravo!

FrankM

Thank you Frank. The only weathering I did was to the base with the lights. I made the base, put in the fence and lights, then weathered the base and fence to try to match that to Lionel's weathering job.

On Lionel's large Grand Central Terminal, the clock looks like the prototype, but not on the smaller version of the same terminal, which only has a white face on the clock. 

briansilvermustang posted:

mike g. posted:

Nice Amtrack pictures Brian! I did know they had auto trains!

 

 

  Mike, check this one out...   https://ogrforum.com/topic/auto-train-

                      the reason I needed one of your auto ramps... 

Brian, you sure have a good looking auto ramp there!

             "Brian, you sure have a good looking auto ramp there!"
 

            thanks Mike,  I know this really great guy,

                                              that built this for me !!  really like it

Ran the dust of my 202

Just ran some trains 

colorado hirailer posted:

Today, did some prototype research.  Had been months, at least, since l had visited the Black Mill and its covered bridge outside Lancaster, Ohio.  Luckily, l got there years ago, before the bridge was bypassed, but had always seen the mill as an abandoned dark hulk overhanging it's picturesque gorge.  No more!  Completely restored, with new wheel, flume, interior and operating machinery and grinding grain.  Too bad the train shop owner in Lancaster who offered the bridge kit is retired and won't offer a mill kit.  And down in that area l had once found an old coal town that had an old station and a caboose and tiny rail museum.  I thought it was New Straitsville, the once moonshine capital of Ohio, that has an annual moonshine festival. No! Drove all over town and found no evidence of it.  Some coal town between Lancaster and Athens did, off of US 33.  From that area and have a clue?

 

 

Around these parts the original grist mills that remain are all converted to trendy shops.  The only  exception I know of is the operating mill in our Pioneer Village Museum.  It was reassembled and restored on the sight so it loses a little bit on the originality.  The important purpose of its resurrection is to do what it was intended to do and hopefully teach a few folks how flour used to be made.  The gals in the village make bread and other baked goods with the milled results.  Get there early in the morning and you might just be able to purchase a loaf or two.  Stone oven baked bread!  Mmmmm!

Bruce

I didn't get a chance to do any layout work today but today I got my order from the BAY. I was wondering how I was going to wire up my lift out section. I came across these plugs which have 6 colored wires which will work nicely for me. With fingers crossed I hope to get some time in tomorrow. Pic ......Paul

Just catching up on the weeks postings tonight.  Loads of progress being made an some very inspiring videos of late.  Well done all!

over these past few days I dug deep to uncover all my K-line, MTH and Lionel Heavyweights.  One particular set of early MTH's received new paint work with the intention of becoming the layouts home brand railroad varnish....er...colors.  Flashy coats of camo green and flat black really speak loudly of a not so prosperous branch line.  Name of this road has yet to be decided but the cars will be recognized as the brass series......brass ring, brass rail and such.  The observation car is nearest completion and will post pics when done.

Spent the day cleaning up our tiny basement......one of those fulfillments promised long ago when real estate negotiations with SWMBO were hammered out.

Bruce

Hi Everyone, I worked on the lift bridge for the layout. Everything comes off the bridge so I wanted to get it right, took me a while and I had to put legs to the floor for support!

Mike, the bridge area is coming along real nice. But I have to ask.....where did the beer can go LOL....Paul

briansilvermustang posted:

 

 

 

                     a boy named SOO...

 

Very nice I like them!

Paul, it was on the other side of the bench work! LOL

Finished painting 45 women from two China 48-packs.  Now with 96 more people completed, I am detailing my Amtrak Observation-Lounge car.  I am moving slowly to avoid mistakes.  The Observation is my 53rd passenger car detailed since February, 2018.  It is number 133 in my collection.  I love passenger cars. 

My Valley of Bridges layout is designed with snaking O-72 curves that allow me to see both sides of the cars as they approach me at the control table.  (I post pictures to keep me motivated and to move me forward on the project.)

I will inspect the paint job in daylight and begin adding the people I painted.  I can't stay up late anymore. 

Sincerely, John Rowlen

mike g. posted:

Hi Everyone, I worked on the lift bridge for the layout. Everything comes off the bridge so I wanted to get it right, took me a while and I had to put legs to the floor for support!

No Mike, no!  Everything is supposed to STAY ON the bridge.

Don't mind me...you're coming along famously.

Bruce

The power of YouTube:

Today I had a movie star in my train room and his 7 year old son for over an hour. They took a lot of videos and photos.  I did not want to seem like a groupie, so I did not. This is the first time my wife hung out in the train room in a long time.  

We all had a great time................  If I see something on his facebook page, I will than tell you his name. (Maybe)

Gary

I started adding buildings and am working on an industrial area. Parking lot is just slate colored construction paper. Need to tape down some areas. I'm also woking on roads and crossings.

John, I could never  paint all those people! I would go stir crazy! Looking good!

Bruce, thank you sir! I hope everything stays on the bridge. I have a power cut off figured out for when the bridge is up it cuts all power to all approaching track!

STINLK1. The building and roads are really dressing things up. Looks like the parking lost is going to turn out nicely!

JGTRH62, Thank you for the kind words! Also thank you to everyone who hit the LIKE button! It really makes it easy to keep going with all the positive thoughts here!

mike g. posted:

Nice guys! 

So Bob, let me get this right, you ride the train down south and they also haul your car down there for you? If that's the case what a great deal!

It's not bad Mike. The car usually costs about $500.00 round trip and the coach fare for the 4 of us is around $1500.00. Fares vary depending on when you book. The earlier the better. Trip includes dinner and breakfast and they have a lounge/ bar car open till 11 PM on the first night.
The train departs Virginia around 4:00 PM and should arrive in Florida by 11:00 AM the next day, same on the return. The big issue for Amtrak is that they run on CSX track and sometimes get stuck behind slower freight traffic. The video I shot was from our last trip 2 years ago. The train was just arriving at 3 PM (5 hours late), due to a fatality on the tracks the previous trip south. A CSX freight hit someone and it closed the line for hours. Amtrak runs the same train back and fourth so any delays have a ripple effect for the next few trips until they catch up. There are no scheduled stops except for a crew change and fuel in Georgia around 3 AM. The seats are not the most comfortable for sleeping but we manage. They do offer sleeper berths but its not worth the extra money for us.

The car gets dropped off when you arrive at the terminal, and they load it and unload it. They use a simple numbering system with magnetic signs that they put on the cars to identify them. Totally random and they call the numbers as the cars come off the train. Kind of like hitting the lottery if your car comes off early. One trip we were one of the final 10 cars to be off loaded. The best part is we pack the car once and everything stays with the car except for a couple of overnight bags and pillows and blankets we take on the train with us.

It is supposed to be the longest regularly scheduled train running in the US, sometimes almost 3/4 mile long. Its a nice ride for a train nut such as myself, they run through some big yards on the trip and its neat to see all the equipment along the way.

Bob

PS- the bridge looks great! Did you have a ground breaking ceremony for the first track installation?

Morning Bob, sounds like a nice easy way to get to Florida. The wife and I have been throwing around the idea of taking the train from Seattle to Cali for $97 each way, we will see what happens.

Thanks on the bridge! No ground breaking ceremony just a soar mind and knees! Did take the time to have a nice cold COORS LIGHT! LOL

paul 2 posted:

Mike, the bridge area is coming along real nice. But I have to ask.....where did the beer can go LOL....Paul

                  via, "special delivery",     COORS LIGHT, of coarse... 

                             don't forget the munchies !!

Coors Light and Pringles! Great together!