What did you do on your layout today?

Mike- that's great news for a great guy 

Now go get some trains running and celebrate!

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Behold the Eeep!  

Handmade handrails.  Considering I was eyeballing the dimensions and soldering together 1/16" brass rod,  it came out OK! 

Not pleased with the roof,  but it's a perfectly acceptable ten-foot model... 

Footage of the inaugural run,  with dubious assistance from Chief Brakekitty Norma Bates Kitteh...

Once again,  thanks to @GTW Ralph for the project!

Mitch

the Eeep looks great Mitch!

Had to laugh at "ten-foot model" . My father used to say we had a 30 mph lawn. Looks great driving by at 30 mph

mike g. posted:

Hi Everyone, I would like to start of by saying what great work that is being done by you all! I know I normally write something on each work you post, but today I haven't been in the mood for that the last couple of days. But great work!

So my wife has been spilling this all over FB, So I thought I would share this with my train friends! I hope you don't mind that I call you friends! Yesterday I had to go in for a C.T. Scan to check for Cancer, A lot of you know I have had it in the past and beat it. Well today we got an early Christmas Gift that I am still Kicking Cancers BUTT! 

Not bad for going from Stage 4 Head and Neck Cancer to cancer free for 2 years in a row now! I want you all to know that I think a lot of it has to do with all the positive stuff shared here and how it makes me feel happy!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year to you all and God Bless everyone here!

God bless. 

First off I want to thank you all for the kind words and sharing this special time with my family and I!

Mitch The EEEP looks wonderful, I didn't know they could go that fast! Must be running from something, maybe miss Kitteha? I bet Fortesue is in there somewhere driving!

Butch, the ORE cares are looking great and way to make a load out of Janga!

As for me I am happy and motivated so I am heading out to the train room to get something done today. Not sure what but I hope to have a report later today!

Everyone have a great weekend!

           hello Mike,  GREAT NEWS   and yes, I consider you a good friend !

                        hopefully we will get to meet in person some day!!

                                   have a really good train day today !!!

Mike g, that’s great news and I agree, our friends on the forum and in our love of trains is a very healthy part of our lives. Sharing our life’s ups and downs with each other is also a way of getting our feelings out in the open and finding answers we need for life’s journey. May the Lord keep blessing you and your family. 

Now, I am so happy to see the great progress you’ve made on your layout. Wow, it’s looking fantastic. From building the She shed, to planning your layout, to actually executing your thoughts into Action....Wow....It’s exciting. Keep us posted and the pictures coming....

Its Wonderful to see so many Forum friends chime in....Happy Railroading, and Merry Christmas to you and your family...

Mike that is AWESOME!  So happy for you!     BIG NEWS FOR SURE!    

Jim

Mark I was watching some youtube videos last night of the Artic Line O gauge layout.    Guys says "Mark Boyce sold me these empire builder cars"!   Aluminium passenger cars ... 

Jim

That is nice he mentioned me, and nice you brought it to my attention.  Was that the Glacier Line, not Arctic Line?  

I bought that set used to go with an MTH GN F3 set.  As time passed two things happened., I decided to put my emphasis back on the Western Maryland and some B&O like I had in my HO and N days.  Second, I decided to not try to put 072 and larger curves in my new layout space.  Therefore the 21” cars were just too long.

As always, if I have something that I’m not using, and someone else can make use of it, I would rather sell than leave it on a shelf or buried in a box.

Mike, that's fantastic news! Makes for a great Holliday. Have a very merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year for you and your family. 

Congrats Mike, keep on fighting. Jesus is with you and all of us here are praying for you. 

Merry Christmas and a happy healthy new year.

Dave

This morning I got out the wood chip hopper I got from the Bay and started putting it together. Waiting for all the glue to dry so I can put the frame on and mount the trucks. Add a wood chip load and it will be set to join the rest of the wod=od chip hopper consist. Pics.............Paul

That wood chip hopper is looking great, Paul!  I remember building so many car kits in HO, but I haven't done any in O gauge.

Mark Boyce posted:

That is nice he mentioned me, and nice you brought it to my attention.  Was that the Glacier Line, not Arctic Line?  

I bought that set used to go with an MTH GN F3 set.  As time passed two things happened., I decided to put my emphasis back on the Western Maryland and some B&O like I had in my HO and N days.  Second, I decided to not try to put 072 and larger curves in my new layout space.  Therefore the 21” cars were just too long.

As always, if I have something that I’m not using, and someone else can make use of it, I would rather sell than leave it on a shelf or buried in a box.

Yep it was Glacier!   Sorry!    Doug on that Facebook page told me to look at his switching videos.  

Jim

Came home today and go to the train room to find this. My Pennsy GG1 laying on the floor with hanging trucks and totaled pantographs. I started taking it apart, and found a lot more damage than I thought I would. One drive shaft snapped in 2, gearbox cover broken, motor leads pinched between gear tower and frame, totaled truck sideframe, exterior details almost nonexistent at this point. I assume this was doing of my cats in the train room, as no one else was home all day. Welp time to go start digging through the attack to find my parts GG1 to hopefully fix this one. I’ve only ever had one loco hit the floor with this layout, and it was a 2-10-4, but it landed in a box on the floor. Maybe this is a sign to install some panels to stop things from falling. 

Mike G, I'm happy to hear that you are doing well! I look forward to seeing your progress on the layout, that airport looks cool on top of that Mountain~Plateau! Have fun working on the layout today! I'm wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Rusty

NS6770Fan posted:

Came home today and go to the train room to find this. My Pennsy GG1 laying on the floor with hanging trucks and totaled pantographs. I started taking it apart, and found a lot more damage than I thought I would. One drive shaft snapped in 2, gearbox cover broken, motor leads pinched between gear tower and frame, totaled truck sideframe, exterior details almost nonexistent at this point. I assume this was doing of my cats in the train room, as no one else was home all day. Welp time to go start digging through the attack to find my parts GG1 to hopefully fix this one. I’ve only ever had one loco hit the floor with this layout, and it was a 2-10-4, but it landed in a box on the floor. Maybe this is a sign to install some panels to stop things from falling. 

This is why, when the time comes, that I wont allow cats or other animals in the train room.

Rusty

Hi Guys, thanks for the nice words! I feel a lot better as my mind is now clear and ready for more train work!

Paul, the woodchip car looks wonderful! You must have had them clear cut a large section of forest to be able to fill all those cars! LOL

NS6770FAN, I am so sorry about your GG1~! I sure hope you will b3e able to fix it!

So here is my lunch time up date! I got my first switch mounted and worked on the airfield! From a suggestion from Paul2 I hung the end of the runway over the lower tracks ! It will have to tunnels under the airfield. But I do have a question, can someone tell me the inside dimension of a single and double porthole, say MTH or Lione it doesn't really matter I don't think!

Thanks to help from my friends Sam and Lynn last weekend, we got yard ladder tracks installed and wired for the east end of my main yard.  After some preliminary electrical testing, it seemed like a good idea to populate some cars from the east side to see how they looked.

Next up, purchase more switches for the west end ladder!

I need to go back several pages to get the names so I can compliment the different folks on there contributions to this really nice thread, however, Mike G, and Anthony K, Your Layouts are looking good. I am getting ready to go to work finishing mine. You will see the bridges out....Happy Railroading 

Added this to the layout 

Anthony K, WOW that is fantastic! What wonderful work! It has to be nice close by to give you a hand! Keep up the great work!

Larry, I can only dream of having a layout half as good looking as yours! You have what some call a dream come true!

FL9TURBO, Now that is really cool! Looks spendy but really cool!

Much-needed train therapy after exams today.

Anthony K posted:

Thanks to help from my friends Sam and Lynn last weekend, we got yard ladder tracks installed and wired for the east end of my main yard.  After some preliminary electrical testing, it seemed like a good idea to populate some cars from the east side to see how they looked.

Next up, purchase more switches for the west end ladder!

Is all that for staging or for switching?  Either way it all looks great!!!   

Jim 

After installing the drill rig I thought I double head my 2 cc2s together for the first time 

Trainman, running trains is always a good relaxing time!

FL9TURBO, Great looking train! Love the NASA cars, Nice set up!

mike g. posted:

Hi Everyone, I would like to start of by saying what great work that is being done by you all! I know I normally write something on each work you post, but today I haven't been in the mood for that the last couple of days. But great work!

So my wife has been spilling this all over FB, So I thought I would share this with my train friends! I hope you don't mind that I call you friends! Yesterday I had to go in for a C.T. Scan to check for Cancer, A lot of you know I have had it in the past and beat it. Well today we got an early Christmas Gift that I am still Kicking Cancers BUTT! 

Not bad for going from Stage 4 Head and Neck Cancer to cancer free for 2 years in a row now! I want you all to know that I think a lot of it has to do with all the positive stuff shared here and how it makes me feel happy!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year to you all and God Bless everyone here!

Great news Mike!!!  Thanks for sharing.  Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year to you and your family.   Now, get back to work on the layout!  Dave

Thanks Dave! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a great new year! Maybe by the end of next year I will be planting trees and weathering cars! But I am working at it! LOL

Lots of good progress everyone!

Mike, I like Paul's idea about the railroad tunnel under the airport.  Just like Cumberland Maryland!

Anthony, that is great you got a lot done on the yard.

FL9TURBO, looks like a nice train.  Lots of power!

Larry, looking forward to more bridge work

RSJB18 posted:

the Eeep looks great Mitch!

Had to laugh at "ten-foot model" . My father used to say we had a 30 mph lawn. Looks great driving by at 30 mph

Yeah, it's based on car show jargon.   A car can be a 5 footer,  10 footer,  20 footer et cetera.  Any closer and you see the flaws.   

mike g. posted:

Mitch The EEEP looks wonderful, I didn't know they could go that fast! Must be running from something, maybe miss Kitteha? I bet Fortesue is in there somewhere driving!

Could very well be!   

NS6770Fan posted:

Came home today and go to the train room to find this. My Pennsy GG1 laying on the floor with hanging trucks and totaled pantographs. I started taking it apart, and found a lot more damage than I thought I would. One drive shaft snapped in 2, gearbox cover broken, motor leads pinched between gear tower and frame, totaled truck sideframe, exterior details almost nonexistent at this point.

Owie!  Hope you can get that poor G up and running!  

I assume this was doing of my cats in the train room, as no one else was home all day.

(innocent looks from Norma Bates Kitteh and Sylvia Siamese) 

Diverging Clear posted:

This is why, when the time comes, that I wont allow cats or other animals in the train room.

(hurt looks from Norma Bates Kitteh and Sylvia Siamese) 

Mitch 

For my next number:  

Ebil is afoot.    

Mitch

Worked on the Christmas tree loop and related transformer issues. Accidentally pulled a section of track apart (all the way in back of course ). So I took it all apart and re-set everything. Next year the track is going to be mounted to plywood. Fastrack works OK right on the carpet but now that I've had it for several years the plastic tabs are not holding as tight as they used too. Thought about the mini binder clips on the joints but I don't have any on hand.

I did a few tests on my CW-80. Definitely need more lithium crystals Jim. I'm givin' her all she's got! The OL breaker is tripping well below even 60 watts draw. I'll live with it for this year and take it apart after Christmas and see what's going on.

Bob

mike g. posted:

Hi Guys, thanks for the nice words! I feel a lot better as my mind is now clear and ready for more train work!

So here is my lunch time up date! I got my first switch mounted and worked on the airfield! From a suggestion from Paul2 I hung the end of the runway over the lower tracks ! It will have to tunnels under the airfield. But I do have a question, can someone tell me the inside dimension of a single and double porthole, say MTH or Lione it doesn't really matter I don't think!

Mike- gotta watch the over hang with tunnel portals on curves. Take your biggest loco or rolling stock and mark the clearance needed to travel the curve. I do it by holding a pencil at the widest point, usually a pilot step or cab hood on a steam engine, and draw a line on the board as you move the piece through the curve. Do the same in the center for the inside of the curve. Do this in both directions too. Geometry is a PITA .
Once you have the lines on the board you can determine how big the portal needs to be. Make sure to add at least a 1/2" on both sides.

Bob

carsntrains posted:

Anthony K posted:

Thanks to help from my friends Sam and Lynn last weekend, we got yard ladder tracks installed and wired for the east end of my main yard.  After some preliminary electrical testing, it seemed like a good idea to populate some cars from the east side to see how they looked.

 

Next up, purchase more switches for the west end ladder!

Is all that for staging or for switching?  Either way it all looks great!!!   

Jim 

Thanks for the comments guys.  Jim- this will be my main switching yard.  There is a hidden staging yard directly below, and it's pretty much the same layout.

Anthony K posted:

carsntrains posted:

Anthony K posted:

Thanks to help from my friends Sam and Lynn last weekend, we got yard ladder tracks installed and wired for the east end of my main yard.  After some preliminary electrical testing, it seemed like a good idea to populate some cars from the east side to see how they looked.

 

Next up, purchase more switches for the west end ladder!

Is all that for staging or for switching?  Either way it all looks great!!!   

Jim 

Thanks for the comments guys.  Jim- this will be my main switching yard.  There is a hidden staging yard directly below, and it's pretty much the same layout.

Thats what I need to figure out.   Where to stage and where to switch.   After taking the summer off of choo chooing and doing a lot of thinking, switching is moving to my top wants.  When I started I wanted every inch for mainline length! 

Jim

Mitch, that sure is going to be sharp when your done! Cant wait to see it in motion!

Bob, I hope you get the power problem figured out soon! Thanks for the Geometry Lesson, That is a great idea of drawing the over hang of the biggest car!

Mike- Happy to help- I've got the lopsided tunnel portal to prove it too

t8afao posted:

Put up some more table frames today, front section is not set yet. We are on a Rock Island budget in their last year's of operation.  The frame work is from our old layout in the old house . I am still undecided on a track plan. I have a idea on the 2 main lines. Just need to get the trains a rollin. It looks big and flat but I will cut some rivers and hills into it. The theme  will be Nebraska sandhill to the Black hills. Nick T.

Very nice bench work and I also like the shelf you keep your trains on well done 👍 

RSJB18 posted:

Mike- Happy to help- I've got the lopsided tunnel portal to prove it too

 

Bob, do you know the dimensions of regular Portholes so I have a starting point?

Mark Boyce posted:

Lots of good progress everyone!

Larry, looking forward to more bridge work

 

That's what I love about this group. When we talk about "bridge work" we ain't talking about teeth.