What did you do on your layout today?

Added this to the layout this morning a few little things to add and I’m calling it done 

There will be more to come later on.

Nothing this weekend. Cannot get to the train room, as I have to work. Maybe next weekend. 

Last night I organized boxes stored under the layout ... making for better space utilization.  Today I plan to go back underneath the layout and vacuum the area. I also purchased, off the bay, some new to me K line switches to replace some existing ones now on the layout.    Of course I did run trains last night too ... and had BIG FUN!!

lee drennen posted:

Added this to the layout this morning a few little things to add and I’m calling it done 

Lee -fabulous looking tractor!!  You did a great job with it!!  As a matter - of - fact the entire scene looks great as well!!  Love the lowboy and dozer too!!  BRAVO!!!

Mark Boyce posted:

gandydancer1950 posted:

John Rowlen posted:

Next year OGR should put together a conversation area with tables for the Cleveland members and others to gather and talk.  I was at the show with my mother who walked more today than in the past year.  She was a real trooper. She could have used a place to sit and talk. 

It was nice to see Bryan, and I probably walk past some of you, I'm sure.  The mid-morning rain freshened the fair grounds, and it became a beautiful sunny day.  I did notice a good number of walkers and canes.  I will fit in nicely next year.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

John, I was at the show today also. Picked up a few nice pieces but boy was it humid!

Hoping to not get too off the subject, but seeing this comment about OGR guys get together at Berea abd I saw yesterday in the A trip to Mercer and Corner Field topic that Thom , Andy, and Dave of the Pittsburgh Independent HiRailers went to see Tom Sr & Tom Jr Elesh's CornerField layout and store.  It made me think that it would be cool if the OGR Cleveland area folks made a group trip there.  I went with the Ohio TCA chapter and even though I only knew a couple guys before, it was a great time.  I defiantly want to go back!  In fact, I would be up for joining with you folks since it's only 2 hours from Butler, Penna.

Mark

What a great idea. I think I'd be up for that. Certainly worth the trip got me as well. It's practically in OGRs backyard and definitely close to Cleveland. Places like that need to be promoted. The young kids will love it!  

Here's some of the photos from today.

Lou, That’s a lot of work in one day but well worth it on your yard.

Lee, I really like that truck!!

Football Sunday, in The Train Room

My grandchildren are over and we are running trains and watching NFL Football.  Grandpa is for the Detroit Lions and my two grandchildren are wearing their team on their T-shirts.

Gary

Wow!  What a day at TrainRoom Gary's!!

Got a bit done today. Most of the wire is in except for sidings to the Saurkraut factory. They need power and ground. The scrap iron yard needs a  couple of grounds as does the grain elevator.But I was able to run an engine to the elevator and the scrap yard. Maybe later tonight I can finish off the wiring in those areas. Pics............Paul

Good work with the wiring, Paul!  I especially like the Heinz pickle cars!!

trumptrain posted:

lee drennen posted:

Added this to the layout this morning a few little things to add and I’m calling it done 

Lee -fabulous looking tractor!!  You did a great job with it!!  As a matter - of - fact the entire scene looks great as well!!  Love the lowboy and dozer too!!  BRAVO!!!

Thank you Patrick. That means a lot 

Mark Boyce posted:

Lou, That’s a lot of work in one day but well worth it on your yard.

Lee, I really like that truck!!

Thank you mark 

Lee,  thanks for sharing the photos, the tractor, low boy trailer looks great, and as some other pointed out the whole scene is wonderful .

Had a pretty productive day here,  got all the joists drilled for wire runs, got the first 8 foot section of plywood roadbed up on the joists and started laying out switches and track.  It's gotten busier here than I originally intended as I have added an "interchange" and a siding to "transfer cars" at this interchange.   Also I am laying out 4 really long stub sidings that will store passenger trains.  If things work out as planned I have 3 MTH bank buildings that I may kitbash into a large station above the passenger car tracks.   Not totally enamored with the close track centers on the platform tracks but I want to use the #6 switches that I purchased to back passenger trains into.  The cars are 18 and 21 inch cars, and I plan to run about a 2% grade down hill to make it easy to back them in and control them coming to a stop. 

The 1 st switch bottom left, is an 096 that I am going to cut so that the turnout diverges the absolute minimum (around 12 to 14 degrees)... into the interchange siding for car storage.   

In preparation for hosting our group on Tuesday night got the layout all cleaned up and organized.  Put some trains on the layout and test ran them for over an hour just to make sure no gremlins on Tuesday night.  Double checked all the electronics to areas that I have finished.  Finally locked and loaded all the guns in the house so if Paul was thinking about taking anything from here that night security is well armed.  The layout is not even close to being finished but here are 4 overview corner shots as the layout stands currently. 

Man you guys are killing me, I am gone for a day and so much has been done!

Chris, Thanks for the information. I plan on using the solid phone line I have to power the building off a power block. Not that I that I mad it to the end I see you have done even more, You are just moving right along at a blazing pace! What great work you do! Thanks for posting!

Mark, I am sorry for your arthritis pain! But remember there will be other shows and other days to play!

Gary, what a great day with the grandkids! The work on the Railking is looking wonderful! Nice work!

Lou, that sure is a lot of work for a 12 hour shift! I think you forgot to take your union breaks, and for that I would ask for over time! LOL

JOESF, Looks good from where I am sitting! Probably is what I will do down the road!

Lee, the Lowboy tractor trailer looks great! Very sharp with the tracked loader on it! Nice Work!

Paul, Sure looks nice! When your done how about a small video tour? I am sure Bryan would be more then willing to help you as soon as he unloads all his guns after Tuesday meet! LOL

Bryan, WOW I could never thing my layout would ever look that great! But in the sport of things I will keep working at it!

As for me I have been at the daughters house over the weekend for my Grandaughter's one year birthday party! Takes over anything else!~

Saturday took my grandson Alex to Teays Valley, WV to meet up with his Dad.  We had him during the Fall Break from school.  There at Teays Valley I browsed the isles at WV Hobbies and the Model Shop for a couple of hours.  Purchased LED lights, a Lionel row house.  Several HO sized cars for my grandson's HO layout.  He loves surprises and these will really tickle him this coming weekend.

In the wood shop I glued two boards together to use on the mountain top area of my O gauge layout upstairs.  The board will serve as the second half of the mountain top and the roof for the tunnel with the main line and a second track running through the whole mountain.

Guys thank you for all the “likes” and kind words today it was very up lifting been working on that truck for about 3 years off and on. Never thought I would finally see it on the layout and I owe it to you guys on this forum for the inspiration to get this layout done. 

Bryan, I m glad you are all prepped for the Tuesday night group!!  So you are ready for the SWAT team!  I didn’t realize until now the prison and ball park are on raised platforms and that you have so many levels.  Quite a fascinating layout you are building!

Mike, thank you for the well wishes.  Greenberg will be in Monroeville, Pennsylvania in a month!  I always like that show and it is about half the distance as Berea Ohio.  I always see some OGR friends there!  I’m glad you had a great time at your grandson’s birthday!!

John, I’m glad you had your grandson and went to the shop at Teays Valley!  I didn’t know there was a shop there.  I’ll have to get down that way sometime!

Though my time is limited lately, I did get a bit more work on my layout today. I am redoing our 5' x 12' winter city scene. I already have taken up the track. Today I began removing the streets section-by-section in preparation to put down a new snow blanket. The process is slow, but, i hope to have the layout running again by Christmas after a  year hiatus.

mike g. posted:

Lou, that sure is a lot of work for a 12 hour shift! I think you forgot to take your union breaks, and for that I would ask for over time! LOL

Well I am in a union so after 7.5 hours I took a half hour break and had dinner. Then wrapped everything up over the last 4 hours. Although after 8 hours I didn't get time and a half for some reason 😄.

Lou1985 posted:

mike g. posted:

Lou, that sure is a lot of work for a 12 hour shift! I think you forgot to take your union breaks, and for that I would ask for over time! LOL

Well I am in a union so after 7.5 hours I took a half hour break and had dinner. Then wrapped everything up over the last 4 hours. Although after 8 hours I didn't get time and a half for some reason 😄.

And you forgot your 2 15 minute breaks! LOL!

I'm afraid Fortescue was something of a naughty gi-raffe last weekend...

https://ogrforum.com/...-blues-and-gi-raffes

Mitch 

Bryan, gremlins have  funny way of showing up when you least expect them. Tuesday night I m sure I will find something that is not battened down that will fit in my shopping bag......LOL Looks like you have the layout ready for Tuesday night......Should be a good night...............Paul

Got to grocery shop this morning before working on the layout. I just got an email from a girl who is painting passenger cars for me. Short story. Wife was looking at a Williams catalog and she like the L & N freight paint scheme. She called it her Boston creme pie so I ordered it for her. She asked if there were passenger cars for it. I said no but I found a Williams 6 car set for a very good price. Had them for a couple of years. I was going to try to paint them myself but found a girl through Vistadome Scott who does good work. I just got an update from her and thought I would post what the cars look like so far. The red striping and lettering still have to go on them. Pic.............Paul

Paul those are really looking good.  

Mark:  The way I'm building this layout is to do areas of scenery and then afterwards I am going to go back and build the topography around that area.  For example the baseball field area will have some small hills built up and around the field.  The prison scene will have some rock formations placed around it and slowly raised up to the tracks that run beside the prison and police station.  

Paul, that sure is going to be one sharp looking train! Your wife has good taste!

Those cars look sharp Paul. Can't wait to see them finished.

Looks like everyone except me has been busy. My train time has been limited but it hasn't slowed down my credit card. Bought another Plymouth last night. Can't resist these little buggers. I was watching a really nice WbB Lehigh Valley NW-2 but the price got to high for my liking. Guess the other guy really wanted it.

Bob

Brian, great pictures! You have them all!

Bob, don't worry, there will be more! God knows you need about 20 more! LOL

briansilvermustang posted:

 

 

 

 

Any other year I would have to laugh, but they are doing better then my Hawks!

Randy,  Sounds like a good plan.  I have been thinking of how to change my Christmas layout around this year.

Paul, The cars look real nice so far!

Bryan, that sounds like a good plan!  I'm sure the Tuesday night crew will have a great time with you!!

Well after much thought, analysis and Procrastination, I decided I really needed to go back into the finished Diamond crossover,  and remove a switch which was already ballasted !!!    I am glad I did.   With alot of careful cutting I got the RH  Ross Regular (#5) switch out and replaced it with a Left Hand #6.    The new LH switch changed the angle of approach, moved everything toward the aisle,  lengthened the "interchange siding to 6 cars" and now there is room for the interchange switching lead to pass under the future passenger station parallel to the 4 stub end platform tracks.   Also picked up a bunch of space to add some buildings along the interchange which is a huge benefit.   

Finished doing "dremel surgery", on the 096 switch.....   I am much happier with the result.      Now it's off to the garage to weather the switches, and start laying down center lines for the track work so I can lay the cork road bed.   First Photo is where I left off last night...  remainder is the new plan... 

That alignment just looks better, Chris; much less leaving room for buildings or whatever.  It just shows how things can change for the better once you are actually laying track.

Looks much better Chris. A little short term pain for long term gain.

Yes,  I definitely learned some time back, that as good as the CAD track planning software is, (and I have spent hours modifying track plans)     there is no substitute for laying out some real track, take some photos, sleep on it, then when you come back the next day, some improvements become obvious.   Heck while doing a "mock up", I realized I didn't really need all the pieces to connect perfectly, nor did I want to start cutting off the switch machine mounting ties till I was sure I had the plan nailed down, no pun intended.  

Chris, your work is as always outstanding! I hope it comes that easy to me when I start laying track!

I have track 1 inside loop pre wired to the TIU and on the way back out to finish Track 2 outside loop!