mike g. posted:Thanks again Bob!
I know this is Premature, but I am out of road bed, need switches and more O54 track and well more money! So I thought why not put some power to what I have. Here is a little video of the first engine on the new track! Please don't laugh! LOL
Looking REAL GOOD! 
Maybe Santa will leave ya more track for Christmas. 
Chief Bob (Retired) 
I recently added lights to the Ensor house. You can't tell from this angle that there's no interior for the most part, but I will be adding a living room interior eventually.
Haven't done much since we got the puppy in October as we have to keep a constant eye on her for now...
mike g. posted:Here is a little video of the first engine on the new track! Please don't laugh! LOL
Why would ANYONE even think of laughing? I'm so very happy for you, and I'm sure most others seeing this are, too!
mike g. posted:Thanks again Bob!
I know this is Premature, but I am out of road bed, need switches and more O54 track and well more money! So I thought why not put some power to what I have. Here is a little video of the first engine on the new track! Please don't laugh! LOL
congrats Mike !!
Way To Go MIKE G.!!! First revenue move!
Rusty
mike g. posted:Thanks again Bob!
I know this is Premature, but I am out of road bed, need switches and more O54 track and well more money! So I thought why not put some power to what I have. Here is a little video of the first engine on the new track! Please don't laugh! LOL
First test run! Not premature. Just checking that track and wiring! Nice job picking the Pennsylvanian fit the first run!!!!
Had a little more free time today so worked on some scenery. As they say, slow progress is steady progress. A few more PIC's for your viewing pleasure. 
Chief Bob (Retired)
Looks Great Lee!
Chief Bob, the lsndscap is looking wonderful!
Thanks everyone for the positive support !
Chief Bob, the scenery is coming along nicely
mike g. posted:Hey Bob, I glad you warned me about overhang on the portholes! I pushed my well car threw and it was fine, so I decided to break out the 20" Auto Carrier and low and behold it hit! I will have to make it a little wider in that area!
Here’s what I use for clearance. I need 3-1/4” from center rail to run big boy. I use MTH double portals and cut a little out of the center to keep it looking decent. I use this truck mounted piece of wood to help with installation.
Thanks Rod, just wondering the length of the piece of wood? I would like to make one.
It looks great, Thaddeus!!
mike g. posted:Thanks again Bob!
I know this is Premature, but I am out of road bed, need switches and more O54 track and well more money! So I thought why not put some power to what I have. Here is a little video of the first engine on the new track! Please don't laugh! LOL
Champagne & strawberries! Time to celebrate. Also, Glad to hear of your good health report. You’re in my prayers.
Mike, there is no such word when working on building a layout. No matter how short the run was it is still a win, win situation. Always run your biggest car or engine through track work to check on clearances. Liked the video. You are going to have a very nice layoput when your done.
Chief Bob, scenery is coming together.
THADDEUS, that is a great track plan for under the tree.........................Paul
Paul is so right, Mike! That was THE first run, and it was most successful! I’m really looking forward to seeing your layout progress!!
Finished servicing my B6 and gave it a nice long test run. Very nice loco- I think I pinched a wire putting the shell back on and now the smoke unit isn't working 
. I'll have to take it apart again to investigate. First train with rail-sounds, pretty cool.
Bob
It runs nice, Bob!!
Thaddeus, wonderful Christmas layout! I bet everyone is just going to love it!
Bob, nice work on the B6 Mark is right it runs nice and smooth! I hope your right and its just a pinched wire!
Thanks everyone for the words of inspiration! Mean a lot coming form all you guys!
romiller49 posted:mike g. posted:Hey Bob, I glad you warned me about overhang on the portholes! I pushed my well car threw and it was fine, so I decided to break out the 20" Auto Carrier and low and behold it hit! I will have to make it a little wider in that area!
Here’s what I use for clearance. I need 3-1/4” from center rail to run big boy. I use MTH double portals and cut a little out of the center to keep it looking decent. I use this truck mounted piece of wood to help with installation.
Hi Rod, I got it figured out! Last night when I asked about it I was already in bed half asleep! But I got it, sometimes I am a little slow! LOL
Thaddeus posted:
Been working on the track for under the tree. Ditched the Fastrack and went with some Atlas. Still a work in progress, but more to be done next year.
Hi Thaddeus! I totally like your design, but I'm also curious why you ditched the Fastrack? I have Fastrack and would like to know if there are design issues for that layout using standard O36 track?
George
great weekend, was really nice out...
girlfriend and I took IZZY to the park... 
ran some trains & watched some football...
GO BROWNS !!!
went shopping and found this lighted train...
IZZY saw Santa and went shopping for Christmas treats...
we watched some trains on the way home...
ran some more trains and had some ice cream... GREAT weekend !!!
putting up more Christmas lights tonight...
Sounds like a perfect day, Brian!!
p51 posted:mike g. posted:Here is a little video of the first engine on the new track! Please don't laugh! LOL
Why would ANYONE even think of laughing? I'm so very happy for you, and I'm sure most others seeing this are, too!
Amen, brother!
WOW Brian, Makes me want to come to your house! Does sound like a great weekend!
I fooled around with momentum settings, using a Sunset Alco-GE PA1.
GeoPeg posted:Thaddeus posted:Been working on the track for under the tree. Ditched the Fastrack and went with some Atlas. Still a work in progress, but more to be done next year.
Hi Thaddeus! I totally like your design, but I'm also curious why you ditched the Fastrack? I have Fastrack and would like to know if there are design issues for that layout using standard O36 track?
George
Really didn't like how noisy it was and I couldn't fit the track plan into the same area. The O45 curves worked so much better and gave me more flexibility in how to do it. Over the years I figured that the Atlas would be best for wear and tear or if it gets stepped on.
PUFFRBELLY posted:Had a little more free time today so worked on some scenery. As they say, slow progress is steady progress. A few more PIC's for your viewing pleasure.
Chief Bob (Retired)
Bob;
That’s a great looking hill. I have two questions... what is the white material you covered the foam with and what do you use to keep the “grass” on the hill???
Thanks.
RSJB18 posted:Finished servicing my B6 and gave it a nice long test run. Very nice loco- I think I pinched a wire putting the shell back on and now the smoke unit isn't working
Bob
That's why I always test stuff before I take it apart. That way I know if it's broken before I tried to "fix" it 😁.
More than likely a wire came off instead of the smoke unit shorting out. So should be an easy fix.
I decided to tear up a few atlas switches that were giving my SD70Mac and 70ACes a few problems. I do not like the atlas switches very much due to their problems with throwbars breaking or snapping. 5th atlas switches that have either bent or broke due to heavy use. 2 were because my J1 hit them wrong. Atlas #4s tend to break even with my GP38 or an SD40. Hope to replace them with either Shinohara or Peco switches. I think I might soon start converting the 4 switches on my mains too. Also cleaned up the layout and started getting ready for Christmas. I hope to have all of the problems fixed by then. Also have a bent section of track in the yard that is causing problems with my intermodals. I also have been deciding where to put my big 1x4 lit Norfolk Southern sign I have. Probably going to go above the layout on the wall.
Happy Holidays to you all!
-NS6770Fan
NS6770Fan, I hope you get everything put back together before Christmas!
I just spent the afternoon cleaning the train room, I just hate to have a mess! LOL
After a bit of run in time I returned to adding improvements to the Faulhaber recipient. With the all ERR components in the spacious tender there's little to deal with inside the boiler shell. At some future point the puffer will get replaced with a fan driven unit. Three LED's were added up front to illuminate the headlight and number boards.
In review, here's the coupling adapter made to mate motor with driveshaft. One machine screw ( seen just below the wire tie at right ) fastens the motor to the chassis, leaving the motor to basically hang in place.
The pony truck was modified to accept new wheels and axles. I recently sourced a beautiful match to the dark blue used to accent stripe and letter the loco. I had been dying to add the color sweep around the headlight ever since buying this loco.
Back on the rails, she gets more exercise now than ever. I suppose the original drive might have smoothed out over time but its jerky operation was like driving a 4 banger car with one dead cylinder. I just couldn't wait. Next upgrade will be new ERR sound, that is if Canada Post ever pulls their thumb out and gets me my package.
Bruce
Upgraded my Legacy base and controller, that was an odyssey. After that ran some trains, u sing both MTH and Lionel WiFi.
Happiness.
John
Bruce, that's a nice piece of work! It's funny for me anytime I open an engine I get scared! I guess I will have to learn to get over it if I want to save money down the road!
John, any time you can run trains its a good thing, I just came in from the train room running my train back and forth on the 25' of track I have down LOL! But was still enjoyment!
Spoke encouraging words to my trains as my son & I loaded them into the Uhaul for the move to "their" new home with a 22' x 24' basement.
Apples55 posted:PUFFRBELLY posted:Had a little more free time today so worked on some scenery. As they say, slow progress is steady progress. A few more PIC's for your viewing pleasure.
Chief Bob (Retired)
Bob;
That’s a great looking hill. I have two questions... what is the white material you covered the foam with and what do you use to keep the “grass” on the hill???
Thanks.
Hey Paul,
The white material is Low Loft Batting. It is used for making quilts and can purchased at any craft store or on line. It is bonded to the insulation foam using Matt Medium but Elmer's glue will probably work as well. Generously coat the foam with either the Matt medium or Elmer's glue and gently press the batting down with your fingers (I suggest using some type of latex gloves). Once the glue is dried (usually over night) you coat the batting with any cheap latex paint preferably in medium to dark brown. While the paint is still wet, sprinkle on your favorite flavor of fine ground foam on and let it dry. Here's a link to guy that I got the information from. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C6aHEoUWYg&t=21s Very easy to work with. Hope this helps.
Merry Christmas,
Chief Bob (Retired)
Sent the new 0-4-0 out to take consist & caboose down the mainline, late into the night...
At 20 sec to do a 10" radius loop, it seems to be well under 20 scale mph. Kinda low speed, given that it's not a switcher. But I've always loved low-speed operation. Can't get the old Pullmor's to run that slow for beans.
Bob DavisNPF, I like slow speed too! Looks great!
Great Christmas scene, Brian!
thanks Mark !
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