Good Luck Mike, that's alot of snow, WOW, be careful on that roof !!
a couple projects for you with all that snow... 
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geysergazer posted:I changed out the Realtrax return loop for Fastrack. Too much wheel slip when the single-motor NW2 is pulling a 9 car (+crummy) train and Magnatraction works with Fastrack so the gandy dancers went to work.
Out with the old.
In with the new.
The return loop is also my fiddle yard where train consists are changed. The paint brush indicates the next consist to be cycled in. This area represents an interchange yard with the outside world. Trains enter the layout through a wall cutout to the immediate right.
Geyser, of all the things you didn't expect someone to say:
You've got some sharp-looking tank cars in that photo. Especially the Santa Fe and Gulf.
mike g. posted:Hi Guys, I don't have a lot of time, I have to get back out and finish clearing the drive way! But I thought I would share a few pictures so you guys know what I am dealing with!
I hope everyone has a great day and be safe out there or in the train room Elliot! LOL
Mike, you almost make me feel guilty about retiring to Mexico.
Vincent Massi posted:geysergazer posted:I changed out the Realtrax return loop for Fastrack. Too much wheel slip when the single-motor NW2 is pulling a 9 car (+crummy) train and Magnatraction works with Fastrack so the gandy dancers went to work.
Out with the old.
In with the new.
The return loop is also my fiddle yard where train consists are changed. The paint brush indicates the next consist to be cycled in. This area represents an interchange yard with the outside world. Trains enter the layout through a wall cutout to the immediate right.
Geyser, of all the things you didn't expect someone to say:
You've got some sharp-looking tank cars in that photo. Especially the Santa Fe and Gulf.
I really like the MTH Gulf tank cars. Of course, there was no prototype for that paint scheme but I don't care :~) I am reminded of the Gulf Building in Pittsburgh. When I was a kid the top of the building changed colors with the weather forecast: pink for fair and blue for rain IIRC.
Miggy posted:oh and I bought another boxcar that I had to have.... does it match anything I got going?? (Does it HAVE to?) oh um, it’s for the grandson..... Mitch..... a G-Raff!!
Huzzah! 
briansilvermustang posted:
a homemade brownie, Oreo, chocolate chip surprise...
Oh, me aching pancreas! INSULIN! STAT!
Mitch
mike g. posted:Hi Guys, I don't have a lot of time, I have to get back out and finish clearing the drive way! But I thought I would share a few pictures so you guys know what I am dealing with!
WOW they said feet and they meant feet!!! Amazing the mail even ran!! I aint seen snow like that is 30 years!!! Be careful Mike!
Geyser do you use the paint brush as a duster?? I do!
Jim
Absolutely! I use the old 0-5-0 when switching the fiddle yard and can't stand dusty fingerprints on the cars so the paintbrush is multi-purpose.
geysergazer posted:Vincent Massi posted:geysergazer posted:I changed out the Realtrax return loop for Fastrack. Too much wheel slip when the single-motor NW2 is pulling a 9 car (+crummy) train and Magnatraction works with Fastrack so the gandy dancers went to work.
.....
The return loop is also my fiddle yard where train consists are changed. The paint brush indicates the next consist to be cycled in. This area represents an interchange yard with the outside world. Trains enter the layout through a wall cutout to the immediate right.
Geyser, of all the things you didn't expect someone to say:
You've got some sharp-looking tank cars in that photo. Especially the Santa Fe and Gulf.
I really like the MTH Gulf tank cars. Of course, there was no prototype for that paint scheme but I don't care :~) I am reminded of the Gulf Building in Pittsburgh. When I was a kid the top of the building changed colors with the weather forecast: pink for fair and blue for rain IIRC.
There are 4 of the MTH Gulf modern tank cars on the Plywood Empire Route.
Here the switcher is pulling loads from the refinery spur. Next the Gulf tank cars (empties) will be spotted for the refinery. The Santa Fe tank and the RBox have already been pulled from the paint factory (out of sight to the right) and a boxcar of pigments has been spotted.
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Never know where this hobby will lead you.....looking for interior for logging cookhouse, found there is O scale (1/4") doll furniture, so ordered in an old time kitchen. But have finished a stove, icebox, and some shelves, with more to go and then the dining tables....
@MikeG way to much snow ! Lucky here we been missing snow here. I couldn’t have text in my post for some reason. There’s a clip from the other night. Last night set up some trains for more videos on Friday.
mike g. posted:Hi Guys, I don't have a lot of time, I have to get back out and finish clearing the drive way! But I thought I would share a few pictures so you guys know what I am dealing with!
WOW! That has to be a record snow fall for where you live. That's even a big snow for Minnesota. Cheers, Dave
Hey Mike g, wow, you have a lot of snow, more than we have had where I live in Tennessee in 12 years.....Good luck, and hope your feeling better. It’s always fun to see everyone’s layouts, and there personal achievements.
Kon, your videos are great as is your layout....Keep em coming...
Chris a, your progress is amazing, your weathering technics and track planning are fun to watch.
paul 2, wow, your doing a super job, keep up the great work...
Mark Boyce, I love your comments, hopefully your feeling better. Have you investigated Stem Cell technology. I went to a Stem Cell presentation last evening and found it to be quite impressive.
Briansilvermustang, now that’s a Locomotive...
Its really fun seeing the Creativity shown on this long running thread.....Happy Railroading 
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Kon112H posted:
Mike, you seem to be a man who appreciates fine boxcars. Incidentally, I do not remember ever seeing a red Burlington boxcar before.
Nice train, as well as a nice set-up.
leapinlarry posted:Hey Mike g, wow, you have a lot of snow, more than we have had where I live in Tennessee in 12 years.....Good luck, and hope your feeling better. It’s always fun to see everyone’s layouts, and there personal achievements.
Kon, your videos are great as is your layout....Keep em coming...
Chris a, your progress is amazing, your weathering technics and track planning are fun to watch.
paul 2, wow, your doing a super job, keep up the great work...
Mark Boyce, I love your comments, hopefully your feeling better. Have you investigated Stem Cell technology. I went to a Stem Cell presentation last evening and found it to be quite impressive.
Briansilvermustang, now that’s a Locomotive...
Its really fun seeing the Creativity shown on this long running thread.....Happy Railroading
WOW what a set up!! Must have VIDEO!!! 3 loops? 4 loops? Holy smokes!!!
Jim
Mike g, you have your work cut out for you with that snow. Is that a big snowfall for your area. When I lived in western New York ( Niagara Falls Buffalo area we called that a dusting. I remember one storm I started at the garage up there and by the time I got to the road I turned around and it did not look like I had done the driveway at all. But anyways just paced yourself and take some good breaks, Don't need to run yourself down and get sick again.
I did not do much today because it was Valentine's day. I did manage to do a couple of smalls things but no pics. Tomorrow I got the whole day to work on the gorge.........Paul
briansilvermustang posted:
Brian, not only your 3 rail collection, but your poto file is truly amazing! Cheers, Dave
mike g. posted:Hi Guys, I don't have a lot of time, I have to get back out and finish clearing the drive way! But I thought I would share a few pictures so you guys know what I am dealing with!
Wow, Mike... I'll never complain about Summer heat in South Carolina again... It was a balmy 66 degrees here today...............
mike g. posted:Hi Guys, ITs me Mike G. Sorry I have been gone for awhile. Things have been hectic here, I am still fighting the flu, the store got 26" snow, and the house got 32" of snow. I have been trying to keep things clean here at the store. Then I am informed that I need to shovel the snow off our roof at home because of the snow load. I couldn't even get into the driveway. So I had to go back today and use the tractor to move enough snow to get into the garage. I am so done with SNOW!
There has been no train work, no buying, selling, trading. Just this dam store and my Flu and Sonw!
I would like to say after reading 6 back pages there has been some wonderful work and special days! Jim, happy belated Birthday! Elliot, congrats on the new Breaker! Paul the gorge is looking wonderful! Chris A. you building is growing everytime I see it! Looks Great! Bob, that sure is a sweet little layout thanks for sharing, Everyone else I promis to make it up down the road, but I am whooped and feel like Sh**! I will try to keep in touch more often.
Jim, I haven't had time to even check the mail! I will let you know!
Mike, I'm glad you are at least back reporting in. Yes, there were 2 pages just since you wrote 22 hours ago.
I know what you mean about the roof. We had 40" once and even though I moved a lot of snow off, we had some roof damage. Fortunately our insurance paid for the repair. I sure hope you get over the flu soon. You have really been beat.
Write when you can!
paul 2 posted:Mike g, you have your work cut out for you with that snow. Is that a big snowfall for your area. When I lived in western New York ( Niagara Falls Buffalo area we called that a dusting. I remember one storm I started at the garage up there and by the time I got to the road I turned around and it did not look like I had done the driveway at all. But anyways just paced yourself and take some good breaks, Don't need to run yourself down and get sick again.
I did not do much today because it was Valentine's day. I did manage to do a couple of smalls things but no pics. Tomorrow I got the whole day to work on the gorge.........Paul
Paul, I'm right between Buffalo and Niagara Falls on the Niagara River. I'd say Mike G's snow is just another day around here.
briansilvermustang posted:
lee drennen posted:
Took a few pics of my B-75 Mack on the layout
very NICE Lee !!!
Thank you Brian and thanks for posting that beautiful B 61 Mack RC. I watch that video you sent me my email doesn’t work very good thanks for it did you get the pic of my antique truck my dad and I restored if not here it is
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leapinlarry posted:Hey Mike g, wow, you have a lot of snow, more than we have had where I live in Tennessee in 12 years.....Good luck, and hope your feeling better. It’s always fun to see everyone’s layouts, and there personal achievements.
Kon, your videos are great as is your layout....Keep em coming...
Chris a, your progress is amazing, your weathering technics and track planning are fun to watch.
paul 2, wow, your doing a super job, keep up the great work...
Mark Boyce, I love your comments, hopefully your feeling better. Have you investigated Stem Cell technology. I went to a Stem Cell presentation last evening and found it to be quite impressive.
Briansilvermustang, now that’s a Locomotive...
Its really fun seeing the Creativity shown on this long running thread.....Happy Railroading
Larry, Always nice photographs on your layout!!!
Thank you very much!!! I had my last physical therapy appointment today. The pain is virtually gone. It was brutal 2 1/2 months ago. The only time pain appears is if I try to lift more than 20 pounds (that's a guess) or do something like run the sweeper. The snow blower didn't bother me. I do still get tingling in my foot when I get up from sitting any length of time, or sit in an odd position. The main concerns are my weak droopy toe, although it is making progress. The other is that I am susceptible of the disc bulging again if I lift poorly.
I have never heard of stem cells for any back problems. I will try to do some reading on it.
mike g. posted:Hi Guys, I don't have a lot of time, I have to get back out and finish clearing the drive way! But I thought I would share a few pictures so you guys know what I am dealing with!
I hope everyone has a great day and be safe out there or in the train room Elliot! LOL
Wow, Mike... luckily, haven’t had that much in the Poconos since last year - fortunately, my roof is steep enough that I never have to clear it!!!
And please accept my apology for this other PA resident!!!
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Apples55 posted:mike g. posted:Hi Guys, I don't have a lot of time, I have to get back out and finish clearing the drive way! But I thought I would share a few pictures so you guys know what I am dealing with!
Wow, Mike... luckily, haven’t had that much in the Poconos since last year - fortunately, my roof is steep enough that I never have to clear it!!!
And please accept my apology for this other PA resident!!!
We have a friend who has gone to Punxutawney every February 2nd for the last 20 years. It's only a little over an hour from Butler. He always sends us a post card with a special postmark the Punxy post office has for Ground Hog Day. One thing about Phil; he likes to lie every once in a while just to get our goat!
lee drennen posted:lee drennen posted:
very NICE Lee !!!
Thank you Brian and thanks for posting that beautiful B 61 Mack RC. I watch that video you sent me my email doesn’t work very good thanks for it did you get the pic of my antique truck my dad and I restored if not here it is
Lee, fantastic job on the truck. Home run!
Lee, great photos thanks for sharing the back story and photo on the restoration.
Larry, thanks for your kind words, always great to see photos of your beautiful layout.
Mike G: I feel for you. We had the winter from hell a couple of years ago with multiple 2 to 3 foot storms. Do they sell "roof rakes" out there ? I had one when I lived in Maine, and finally got rid of it.... Of course the next winter we had a record breaking 110 inches of snowfall LOL
Mark - Glad to hear the back is healing and you're starting serious construction on the new layout.
After taking 2 days off to do "life stuff" I am back working on my kitbash.... Doesn't look like much progress, but at least all 4 floors are glued together now, everything is square and plum... the 1/4 inch MDF base plate is cut and notched, and the interior Framework is about 1/2 way done. It's all quarter-sawed oak 1/4 x 1/4 inch beams and the joists are leftover mahogany scraps, from window restorations....
Found a really cool HO scale set of mixing tanks that I bought at the Big E show for $2.00... Had to do some repairs to it as it was poorly assembled, but it looks good on top of the 2nd story roof...
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The dentist finished my root canal today, and raided my wallet to the tune of a couple Legacy Bluetooth diesels. The impending crown will be another two. Oh well, it doesn't hurt anymore (til I get my credit card bill).
Mrs Big Boy and I then got haircuts and had a romantic McDonalds lunch at home. After that we did a little railroad paperwork at the kitchen table. She wrote out the engine cards for the newest additions to the fleet, and did the initial folds on the last 200 car cards. I took over from there, and used my burnishing tool to flatten the fold on each one.
To form the pocket for the waybill, the sides have to be taped. Almost made it, but ran out of tape, and was too lazy to go downstairs to get more for those last few on the table.
This batch will will keep me out of trouble for a little while, but I own way more than 200 cars that aren't yet on the layout, and more are coming. Next time Micro Mark has a sale, I'll have to order a few hundred more.
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Chris, Thank you!
The building looks great! The HO tanks work out well.
I showed everyone here the lumber carrier build I did. A modeler I know from Japan sent me photos of some bike chain he used on his Fordson tractor drive made in Japan. He sent me a link to where he purchased it on Amazon. Anyway, currency conversion would have been less than $20 USD for the kit. When I looked the part up on Amazon on the US side of things they wanted $89 + $10shipping for the same part. I decided to try and make my own. So, I downloaded a CAD file of bike chain and printed it in a flexible resin.
First print, 9 minutes later I got out the 4 pieces I printed on the build plate seen in the photo.
The resin is clear, but they make pigments to color it. I added black tint but it still looks pretty clear. The size I estimated scale on and it came out too small.
I resized it and ran a second batch (14 minutes) .
The resin is very flexible, almost like a rubber band. I might mix some flex with some standard black resin so it isn't so floppy to handle.
Here is a photo of the 2nd batch draped on the lumber carrier for size comparison.
Here is the chain with the black regular resin added to the flex. It's perfect. Flexible enough to position without breaking but stiff enough to not be a limp noodle. 
You can see in these next two photos the individual links
Here is the last one showing in by the lumber carrier
Matt, Thanks! I knew Mark would keep this going! LOL
CSX AL, Thzt sure is some great work you have going on there!
Bob, Thanks, been raining today but more snow is forcasted for next week! Tomorrow the wife, Tank and I get to go home after a week here at the store!
Paul things are looking wonderful at your place! Here you are bringing things to life again!!
Brian, Nice caboose picture show! Thanks for your concern about the roof, but I am glad to say I am done with the roof!
Dave, thanks the plexi glass is for if I don't get the hole perfect, I still have a little wiggle room!
Vincent, don't feel guilty! I would move there also, but the wife hates the heat! LOL But right now she isn't liking the snow either!
Jim, yep we got snow in multi feet! Way to much for me! LOL
Andy, very nice video! Just wondering how wide is your bench work?
Larry, thanks! I really enjoy seeing your layout! Its just wonderful!
Paul, its a lot lately, last year we only got 6"
Woodson, I never complain about the heat! I hate the wet and cold! LOL
Mark, thank you sir! All that is left of the flu is the cough, but it still sucks! But the darn snow is still here with more next week! Mark, I am glad that your starting to feel better, but don't over do it!
APPLES55 (PAUL) That's down right funny! Thanks for the laugh, I really needed one!
Chris, Thanks, They do sell roof rakes here, we just don't have one! Your kit bash is looking great, and coming right along! Thanks for sharing with us! I love to fallow your post as there is so much to learn!
Elliot, I am glad you got your tooth fixed, but sorry it put you back a couple engines! Sounds like a great day with the wife What a great hubby! Nice job on the cards! I don't know if I will ever get to that point!
chris a posted:
Chris, awesome work!
Elliot, I’m sorry the dentist hurt your wallet so. Your valentine meal sounds like ours at KFC, but our older daughter came along because her husband works evening shift. That’s a lot of cards! Your wife is great for doing all that work!
Al, the chains are great!! I’m glad they turned out so well!
Mike, my wife has been coughing since mid December. She had been checked and no lingering bronchitis. Just a cough. Hers gets worse as evening comes. Yes it is tough trying to not overdo it. Also trying to not twist or over reach is something I need to always think about. I really don’t know how I hurt it in the first place, but it just kept getting worse.
Thanks Mike and Mark.
Mark, we did KFC last week. Mickey D's wasn't our first choice today. We have a Mongolian BBQ place we like, but when we got there at normal lunchtime, they were serving dinner all day for Valentines Day. We never do dinner there, because she's allergic to shellfish, and they have shrimp in the buffet line where there can be cross contamination. We'll go next week for a normal lunch. We were both disappointed, because it's been a while since we've been there. It's tougher to go, since I started dialysis, because I lose three lunches a week. We have name for when you get psyched for something and then it gets scratched, by choice or outside force. We call it "being Lucyed", as in Charlie Brown and the football, when she yanks it away.
Making the cards is just time consuming. The hard part is still coming.
- Unpack the cars
- Enter them into the database on the computer
- Put them on the layout
- Print the list of new cars for my wife
- Get her to sit down and write out the cards (this takes a bit of work)
- Repeat until done
She's gotten good at drawing the Bluetooth logo, which she put on all the new engine cards.
@MikeG the deck width Is 15” in some parts and few spots are 48” most areas are 36”-40”. We are over 6 ft. There’s no track in spots that are more then a 36” reach.
@leapinlarry thanks and Wow, your layout looks awesome!
I haven’t posted here in a while, so here’s my new UP E9 running through it’s trials.
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I got a layer of paint down in the lake bottom. I think I'll add a little more green and a little debris before filling.
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Big_Boy_4005 posted:Thanks Mike and Mark.
Mark, we did KFC last week. Mickey D's wasn't our first choice today. We have a Mongolian BBQ place we like, but when we got there at normal lunchtime, they were serving dinner all day for Valentines Day. We never do dinner there, because she's allergic to shellfish, and they have shrimp in the buffet line where there can be cross contamination. We'll go next week for a normal lunch. We were both disappointed, because it's been a while since we've been there. It's tougher to go, since I started dialysis, because I lose three lunches a week. We have name for when you get psyched for something and then it gets scratched, by choice or outside force. We call it "being Lucyed", as in Charlie Brown and the football, when she yanks it away.
Making the cards is just time consuming. The hard part is still coming.
- Unpack the cars
- Enter them into the database on the computer
- Put them on the layout
- Print the list of new cars for my wife
- Get her to sit down and write out the cards (this takes a bit of work)
- Repeat until done
She's gotten good at drawing the Bluetooth logo, which she put on all the new engine cards.
Elliot, Being Lucyed!! I like that! I'm going to have to tell my wife. She is also allergic to shellfish and avoids all fish. Besides that, there are lots of things she can't eat. She can eat the KFC bowl with chicken, mashed potatoes, cheese.
That is a lot of steps to making the cards, especially tedious with a large layout and large fleet. I can see it would take some practice making the Bluetooth logo carrectly.
CSX Al posted:paul 2 posted:Mike g, you have your work cut out for you with that snow. Is that a big snowfall for your area. When I lived in western New York ( Niagara Falls Buffalo area we called that a dusting. I remember one storm I started at the garage up there and by the time I got to the road I turned around and it did not look like I had done the driveway at all. But anyways just paced yourself and take some good breaks, Don't need to run yourself down and get sick again.
I did not do much today because it was Valentine's day. I did manage to do a couple of smalls things but no pics. Tomorrow I got the whole day to work on the gorge.........Paul
Paul, I'm right between Buffalo and Niagara Falls on the Niagara River. I'd say Mike G's snow is just another day around here.
Paul & Al - I live in NH now and we get our share of snow. BUT, I graduated from Language school at Syracuse U. in 1965. That year we had either snow or rain on part of every day from Thanksgiving to Easter. Incredible lake effect precipitation in the snow belt of northern NY state. When you went to the gas station to get gas, the attendant would put a red foam ball on top of your antenna so your car could be seen approaching intersections over the snowbanks. What do they do now with no external radio antennas? Amazing ability for Syracuse to dispose of the snow on Lake Onandaga with parades of dump trucks out on the ice.
Last year! 
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Big_Boy_4005 posted:Thanks Mike and Mark.
Mark, we did KFC last week. Mickey D's wasn't our first choice today. We have a Mongolian BBQ place we like, but when we got there at normal lunchtime, they were serving dinner all day for Valentines Day. We never do dinner there, because she's allergic to shellfish, and they have shrimp in the buffet line where there can be cross contamination. We'll go next week for a normal lunch. We were both disappointed, because it's been a while since we've been there. It's tougher to go, since I started dialysis, because I lose three lunches a week. We have name for when you get psyched for something and then it gets scratched, by choice or outside force. We call it "being Lucyed", as in Charlie Brown and the football, when she yanks it away.
Making the cards is just time consuming. The hard part is still coming.
- Unpack the cars
- Enter them into the database on the computer
- Put them on the layout
- Print the list of new cars for my wife
- Get her to sit down and write out the cards (this takes a bit of work)
- Repeat until done
She's gotten good at drawing the Bluetooth logo, which she put on all the new engine cards.
I can't wait to see videos of yall running operations on that big layout! Get on YouTube and look for O gauge switching operations or layouts... There are 2... And a couple talking about it. Including our own Laid off sick and The Glacier Line. One I have watched a bunch of times has this grumpy dude with a flat top haircut and this other feller running the train.. The "sky crane" gets used a few times lol
Elliot maybe you can make a video just of just a bit of switching? May go VIRAL! May not get but one hit! : )
Jim
Here on LI we've forgotten what snow looks like...Going to be near 60 this weekend.....I might even play golf
