What did you do on your layout today?

Fendermain posted:

Arnold if you are handy with soldering, you might consider it and eliminate the lockons at the track when you do your rewire.  I think it provides better conductivity.   Fendermain

I actually found a wire glowing cherry red under the tenuous grip of an aging Fahnestock lockon clip - and this was on a carpet layout! That was the last time I used a lockon for power - I now solder every connection to the bottom of the track when using my 027 track.

For Fastrack, I use feeders to the factory clips, and the other end of the feeders are all screwed down on a bus bar type connection. I haven't had any issues as of yet. But then I always make certain the connectors are a very snug fit

Mixed a batch of Scalecoat I silver paint and shot the formerly "shiny Oxide Red" Lionel bridge gifted to me by a fellow forum member.  I'd previously shot it with SC I dull coat to render it no longer "shiny."  But the dull Oxide Red clashed with the shiny red LIONEL elevated trestles--silver should look much better, especially for a Christmas display.  Was hoping to shoot the companion Plastruct truss bridge that will sit on bridge piers gifted to me by this same forumite as the final stage in its repair, but ran out of time today.

Having secured a circle of new, Gargraves Phantom 032 track in a wonderful purchase from Mario's Trains today, I'm doing a second Christmas display; the track plan will be a simple oval roughly 34" x 72".  To connect the feeders, I stripped 2" or so of insulation, soldered the stranded wire, and stuffed the soldered, stranded wire into the opening of the GG flex track below where the track pins go.

With this second Christmas display, I'm going to use the PW LIONEL street lamps (5 green and 5 silver) which I tested today.  All work, bulbs are good, but I need to attach ground wires on two bases and for that I will need forum help since the pot metal used on these doesn't accept solder--at least not my solder.

Photos of the two, newly painted bridges resting on their piers will be posted soon.

Apples55 posted:

 

Wow Mitch - they look very nice...

Thankee!  

and not a pantograph insight!!!

Oh, well.  Since you insist: 

Now we're all set for the Bay area commuter rush!   

P.S. your switches need a really good dusting 

The whole layout could probably use a good dusting.   However,  since it's basically a test track with delusions of grandeur,  other things take priority.  ;-) 

P.P.S. and a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and the menagerie too.

And to you!  Many thanks once again for a marvelous gift!  My plan is for the Razorback Daylight (sans pantograph) to debut at the JRM Museum after the holidays...   

Mitch 

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who follows this thread it’s best thread on the forum. And I want to say “Thanks” for welcoming me in the forum and all the support, comments and likes. Lee D.

Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow, and lady O Gaugers!

Enjoy family, food, and of course Trains!

Bob

Mitch the Razorback Daylight cars look great!  IT all makes a nice train!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  I am thankful for everyone here!!

John, Phantom Canyon is looking great!  The Warbonnets tested the structural integrity.  Happy Thanksgiving!!

Brian, Nice pictures.  Happy Thanksgiving!!

I started, a couple days ago, on another Carolina Craftsman Kit, of a country store (like grain elevators and country gas stations, l don't need any more of these) but l did. And while back in home farm country for the holiday, l drove past the old country store, now long closed, where l used to fill up my '34 Chevy coupe.  It would make a great model, so l need to go back and photo it all-around.  I should have looked at it closer in the past.  It is in the small town that my mother used to ride Jim Crow cars on an L&N branch to visit her aunt.  It would be an effort to bash the CCK kit into that, although there are similarities, so won't.

First off, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

John, the bridge looks wonderful, I also have to say I find those Santa Fa war bonnets inspiring ! I know some day I will all so have some of that wonderful Silver and Red! Then will go great with my Black and Orange BNSF!

Brian, Wonderful pictures! I know you put those BNSF up there just for me! LOL You rock!

I hope everyone has a great day and a nice weekend!

Since we only have a 15 lbs. turkey, I was workin' on the railroad at 6 AM for 2 hours before my wife woke up. 

The project: getting the signal bridge on the outer loop (on the right side when watching the video below) to work:

The problem was that the red light (higher light) worked when the train arrived, but the green light (lower light) was not working before the train approached. 

I think the cause was some dirt or debris prevented the triggering device from making good electrical contact keeping the green light from coming on. I tried to clean it using brushes and electrical contact cleaner leaving the triggering device in place under the track. That did not work. What worked was taking the trigger device out from under the track with the wires still connected, and then applying a little WD40 in the nooks and crannies of the triggering device using a tooth brush and paint brush. 

The expression "it don't come easy" almost always applies whatever I do with the trains.

LOL, Arnold

colorado hirailer posted:

It is in the small town that my mother used to ride Jim Crow cars on an L&N branch to visit her aunt. 

I'm minded of a Philadelphia streetcar story...

Back in 1975, the Woodland carbarn burned,  destroying about half of Philadelphia's streetcar fleet.  As a stopgap measure,  SEPTA purchased some used PCC cars from Toronto.  The 2200 series cars were ex-Kansas City cars, basically the same as ones PTC had bought from KCPS in the 1950s.   The 2300 series cars were ex-Birmingham cars built by Pullman.   These cars had holes in the backs of the seats,  which, as a lad,  I didn't understand.   It was only later that I was informed that these had been used in Birmingham for movable "Jim Crow"  signs... 

The part that still blows my mind:  The cars served in Toronto for decades, but nobody thought to fill in the Jim Crow holes... 

Mitch 

https://ogrforum.com/...press-1225-berkshire

Last year,  I got the broken-off bolt out of the replacement axle. 

After three years,  I finally got around to swapping the worn geared axle out.   A repacked grease holder, and the 1225 scoots around the layout like it was new! 

Mitch 

These are the bridges mentioned yesterday.  The first is a LIONEL bridge that was originally a shiny Oxide Red that was gifted to me by a forum member.  It came in shiny Oxide Red which I knocked down with Scalecoat I Dull Glaze.  But, that clashed with the Christmas red trestles.

Out came a very old bottle of Scalecoat I silver and the formerly Oxide Red bridge is now silver.

The second bridge is a Plastruct component truss bridge built from HO plans that I had enlarged years ago,  It was seriously damaged in a fall quite a while ago, and I made repairs earlier this week and painted this a.m.  It sits on shortened piers gifted by the same forum member who supplied the now-silver bridge.

Well I went back to work on this Piggyback flat car this evening almost done with it.

I wired all the buildings for lights and fired up the Polar Express.  I still have to hang the wires from the underside of the upper level.  As you can see in the lower left they are crossing the tracks.  Then add people and trees.  Here it is so far.

I enjoyed running my trains with my friend Sam Adams.  Nothing better than a brewer, a patriot and a train.

     what do you think Mark,  adding some lights on bridge supports,

              and maybe some icicles hanging down from the upper level....?

What a wonderful thread this is!! Since 2013. I have been re-reading all 623 pages over the course of this long weekend. 

I have been absent from the forums for a long time. Teaching at The University of Wyoming has been totally consuming. 

But! I have managed to get into the train room and do a series of updates which are summarized in this video: 

Dr Joe's Layout Mid-November 2018 Update

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Dr. Joe

LaramieJoe posted:

What a wonderful thread this is!! Since 2013. I have been re-reading all 623 pages over the course of this long weekend. 

I have been absent from the forums for a long time. Teaching at The University of Wyoming has been totally consuming. 

But! I have managed to get into the train room and do a series of updates which are summarized in this video: 

Dr Joe's Layout Mid-November 2018 Update

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Dr. Joe

Great video Dr. Joe.  Thanks for sharing your layout and train room.

Cheers, Dave

Dr. Joe, thanks for the nice little update! Nice layout and train room! Thanks again!

mike g. posted:

Dr. Joe, thanks for the nice little update! Nice layout and train room! Thanks again!

Thanks, Mike! 

I just sent you an email. I figure you will have the answers I need to a vexing wiring problem. Hope I wasn't out of line emailing you!

Dr. Joe 

Cleaned the track-really needed it, switched some engines around and ran them. Been awhile.

LaramieJoe posted:

mike g. posted:

Dr. Joe, thanks for the nice little update! Nice layout and train room! Thanks again!

Thanks, Mike! 

I just sent you an email. I figure you will have the answers I need to a vexing wiring problem. Hope I wasn't out of line emailing you!

Dr. Joe 

Hi Joe, I don't have a problem you emailing me! I hope anyone here feels free to email me anytime they would like! Its nice hearing from others into railroading!

Today l went back and took multiple photos of that country store.  And drove by another that is not as photogenic as l thought.  I need to cruise some more of the back road small towns, for others . I remember one abandoned store l drove by years ago that was then covered in those tin signs. Gone now.  But l need to find some more sheets of signs for model country stores?  Who got?

LaramieJoe posted:

What a wonderful thread this is!! Since 2013. I have been re-reading all 623 pages over the course of this long weekend. 

I have been absent from the forums for a long time. Teaching at The University of Wyoming has been totally consuming. 

But! I have managed to get into the train room and do a series of updates which are summarized in this video: 

Dr Joe's Layout Mid-November 2018 Update

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Dr. Joe

Magnificent layout, Dr. Joe!  Thanks for sharing with us!

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Since we only have a 15 lbs. turkey, I was workin' on the railroad at 6 AM for 2 hours before my wife woke up. 

The project: getting the signal bridge on the outer loop (on the right side when watching the video below) to work:

 

The problem was that the red light (higher light) worked when the train arrived, but the green light (lower light) was not working before the train approached. 

I think the cause was some dirt or debris prevented the triggering device from making good electrical contact keeping the green light from coming on. I tried to clean it using brushes and electrical contact cleaner leaving the triggering device in place under the track. That did not work. What worked was taking the trigger device out from under the track with the wires still connected, and then applying a little WD40 in the nooks and crannies of the triggering device using a tooth brush and paint brush. 

The expression "it don't come easy" almost always applies whatever I do with the trains.

LOL, Arnold

Good job, Arnold! I save all my old tooth brushes now. Some are used to shine shoes with different color shoe polish. Others are used to clean scrub externals of rail cars with vinegar and baking soda. Still others are used to attack surface rust and to abraid grime and debris. Oh yeah...and sometimes I brush my teeth.

Dr Joe, Thank you for the video of your layout!  You have made some very nice additions.  The room and shelves full of cars looks great too!  

Johan, Nice scene of the coal car and area!

Colorado, You should be able to make a realistic scene from the photographs you have taken.

mike g. posted:

LaramieJoe posted:

mike g. posted:

Dr. Joe, thanks for the nice little update! Nice layout and train room! Thanks again!

Thanks, Mike! 

I just sent you an email. I figure you will have the answers I need to a vexing wiring problem. Hope I wasn't out of line emailing you!

Dr. Joe 

Hi Joe, I don't have a problem you emailing me! I hope anyone here feels free to email me anytime they would like! Its nice hearing from others into railroading!

Spoken like the wonderful Olympic Peninsula Man that you are!

I added a backdrop to the layout in the yard area.

I added some passengers to my new passenger car set I picked up earlier in the week!

I actually did somethings on my layout yesterday! Been a long time since I did more than look at it.

I while back I got the free Hummer from Menards. I only had a 5.5v wall wart which worked but was a bit too bright. I found a 4.8v from a cell phone recently and hooked it up yesterday. Much better now.

Before and after

I also added a power drop to one side of my elevated loop. Been putting it off for a while but I was inspired by Arnold's recent efforts. Had a bit of a brain fart though and forgot to run the wire to the switch for the block instead of the buss bar right off the KW. Didn't take me long to realize I'm and idiot and fix it.

I'm also swapping out rolling stock and locos for the Holidays. Been running the same stuff for so long that it's been getting boring. I'm really trying not to overload my small layout with trains so I can do some switching. I think I'm going with a PRR theme for now, we'll see. Put out my Yuengling cars for the first time. Thought they would be a good match for my new PRR ALCO's.

Now a bit of catching up

Mark- the Christmas layout is looking good

Dr. Joe- welcome back. The train room looks great.

Johan- another beautiful scene.

Mike- great to see some track work related progress in the train room.

Lee- another nice car project

Brian- If I was a west coast guy those BNSF locos would be on my layout for sure.

John- nice work on the bridges and gorge.

Arnold- glad you got the signals fixed. One of my winter projects is to start adding some signals to my layout.

Enjoy- Bob

Looks better Bob! Things just keep moving here, fine for a day and I have over 100 emails from here!

          great looking train Bob      nice shot !!

Thanks Guys!

jgtrh62 posted:

Great pictures as usual guys, Bob the layout looks great!

Thank you sir!

I'm going to do some work on my trains today - specifically updating my Legacy command items.  I posted this on the Legacy page but since this gets the most hits thought to post here as well:

I have a bunch of questions and I am hoping to get some help or some links to where these topics have been covered.  I appreciate all the help in advance.

I don't think I have upgraded / updated my Legacy system for a while (understatement) and much of that is likely due to the fact that I have really enjoyed the MTH Wi-Fi app and how easy it is to use (and update).  

Some background - I am currently running version 1.52 on the remote and the base.  I have the Legacy WiFi LCS "box" and the LCS SER 2 "box".  These are already hooked up (done previously).  I have the LionChief app (downloaded but not used) and Lionel iCab app.  Both of the apps are up to date per the app store.  I have no Lion Chief engines.  I have several Legacy engines.

Here are my questions:

1. In order to update to the current version of Legacy from 1.52 do I need to create a black chip, if so how is that done?  I know I have both black and orange chips.
2. Is there a list of enhancements from Legacy 1.52 to current?
3. After creating a black chip what are the steps to upgrade to the current version.  I have a Microsoft based laptop and an Apple, laptop.  I last used the Microsoft based on when I did my last upgrade.  
4. Is there an "easy way" to down load the Legacy update using one of the Lionel apps?
5. I know when I am searching for a Wi-Fi network I see there is a MTH Wi-Fi address as well as the "Lionel LCS-1047" address.  Is the LCS-1047 for both Lionel apps?  If the LCS 1047 is only for the Lionel iCab, what does LionChief use?
6. Since I previously purchased the Lionel iCab app is there a reason I would want to use Lion Chief app as well?  I do not have any of the LCS bluetooth track installed on my layout.  I may or may not have some bluetooth engines, not 100% sure.
7. Any experience, positive or negative using the MTH Wi-Fi and either the iCab or LionChief app?  I know I will need 2 separate devices since they are on two wireless networks.  (I use the proprietary MTH Wi-Fi network for running my MTH trains)

The Hummer and train look great, Bob!

I finished the Christmas layout today.  I think.  

I bunched up the lighting cords and taped them to the back side of one of the upper level supports with clear packaging tape which worked out pretty nicely, I think.  As nicely as a temporary layout is going to get.    I then put out trees, people, horse drawn sleighs.  No motor vehicles on this year's Dickenville theme layout.  I ran the Polar Express on the top level and still have the Hogwarts Express on the bottom.  

I made two mistakes that I am going to live with, since this is a temporary layout.  I forgot to leave any space for the scenic backdrop to attach, so we will just have the white curtains for a backdrop.  Also, I forgot to leave headroom for the hobo on the top level.  He needs about 5 1/2 inches, and I made it 5 inches.  I'm not going to raise it, so no hobo while the PE is running on the top.  We have 6 inches on the bottom, so there is plenty of clearance for him there.