What did you do on your layout today?

Well here's what has been going on here as far trains/train layout. The garage is fully closed in and the door to the house is waiting to be done. It will be one of those barn type that slide from one end to the other, instead of opening in to you. The layout is built as far as framework and the plywood top. ( 3/4" ) I put carpet down on top but have not yet gotten to fastening it down. ( plan to use carpet tape. ) I have 4' metal shelves under it and have built some wooden ones also. And I'm still running out of room where to put everything. I plan on adding another 12' x 10' onto the 16' x 12' I already have. the 12 side will meet up to the 16' side of already built. Leaving me about 4' x 10' for small 4' x 4' platform where the door is and then 2 or 3 steps down or maybe a ramp to help wife to get up and down, if there is enough room between the platform and the door to the outside from that room. trying to decide if I want to do away with that door or not as it will not really be needed. 

As for design I have not yet figured that one out. I presently have a 24" turntable and a transfer table with one extension. I'm using O gauge track and have O31 up to O96 in curves. I have 24 30" pieces and about 300 10" pieces of straights. I also have about 24 O22 switches, five 90 crossovers and three 45 ( I think they are called) At present I'm thinking of putting both transfer and turntable on the 10' x 12' extension I plan adding somehow. There should be plenty of room to do so.  Right now the largest turn radius I need I believe is O54 and that's for my Atlas 33,000 GL tank cars. 

My main objective at present is getting all the trains under the train table or on shelves. Then the door to the main house ( the garage was a add on some time before I got here and they never put a door between the house and the garage. I'm tired of going out the back door to get to the garage/train room. 

I do plan at the far back corner putting another 4' x 8' sheet of plywood and put my Lima 2 rail O scale train set on that. I will fill in from the board ends to the walls so it looks like a big area. I will put my model power buildings up there seeing there so much smaller than the Menards buildings I have, to give it the far away look. I hope to build between the two levels which looks like either mountain sides or hill sides anyway. 

I replaced the UP shell of this brand new MTH SD45 with my own Conrail SD45 shell.  I provided the shell, cab figures and my own LED lighting. I used factory style connectors on all the wiring so it is 100% plug compatible with the factory setup.  All functions work as they should: headlight, taillight, ditch lights and smoke. This particular model does not have marker/class lights.  The Conrail SD45 body shell is from an old MTH Premier loco that was conventional.  The new SD45 I started with was deeply discounted so for the price of a PS3 upgrade I got an all new PS3 loco.

RSJB18 posted:

Hi Guys and Gals

Been lurking around lately when time permits. Been crazy busy at work getting a temporary dining structure completed so our students have some place more permanent to eat while we renovate the building where our main Dining Hall is. We were a month behind schedule so its been a round the clock push to get done. Finished up all of the inspections this week and we got a TCO from the Town yesterday! We open Monday. Here's a photo of the structure going up in late July.

 

 

Wow Bob - you had me going for a moment there... since this is the “What did you do on your layout today” thread, when I saw that first pic, I thought you were putting up a new out building for a new, greatly expanded layout  

As they said on Game of Thrones... “Winter is Coming” - I’m sure you’ll have more train time in the not too distant future (in addition to the football free time).

Mark Boyce posted:

Bob, The knee is hanging in there.  I have 7 weeks from yesterday before total knee replacement surgery.  As if we didn't have enough going on, my 93-year old aunt was moved permanently to nursing care at the same large facility she has lived at since 2001.  My sister and I went down yesterday afternoon to see what she wanted moved from her apartment to her new room.  We took over some clothes, books, and a few other items.  We will have to clean out the apartment soon as she is now paying double, or I should say I pay with her money.

 

Mark;

Best of luck with the knee replacement surgery... I had my second knee done back in April, the day after my 64th birthday. Recently, I’ve gotten quite a bit of work done on my layout since, for the first time in years, I was able to stand on my two feet for more than five minutes without being in absolute agony. And remember... after surgery, you go up stairs good leg first, you come down stairs repaired leg first!!!

Ran the morning commuter run stopping at Elizabeth City station.....

Happy Saturday All!

Not done too much on the layout for the last several months but starting to get back at it, putting in some landscaping.

J

Apples55 posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Hi Guys and Gals

Been lurking around lately when time permits. Been crazy busy at work getting a temporary dining structure completed so our students have some place more permanent to eat while we renovate the building where our main Dining Hall is. We were a month behind schedule so its been a round the clock push to get done. Finished up all of the inspections this week and we got a TCO from the Town yesterday! We open Monday. Here's a photo of the structure going up in late July.

 

 

Wow Bob - you had me going for a moment there... since this is the “What did you do on your layout today” thread, when I saw that first pic, I thought you were putting up a new out building for a new, greatly expanded layout  

As they said on Game of Thrones... “Winter is Coming” - I’m sure you’ll have more train time in the not too distant future (in addition to the football free time).

Yea this would make a nice train building. Don't think our President would let me take it over though.  

Finally adding drift timbers to my trestle. After that I need to add a nbw casting from Grandt Line on each tie wcich comes out to about 2,200. 

Very nice, Trestleman1!

Trestleman1,

What beautiful work.  Thank you for sharing, Please post more photos when finished.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Trestleman1 posted:

Finally adding drift timbers to my trestle. After that I need to add a nbw casting from Grandt Line on each tie wcich comes out to about 2,200. 

Trestleman1,

Wowee Wow Wow!

And to think that I was whining about a little unexpected work resulting from moving a couple accessories around on my traditional postwar type layout.

You, Sir, are the trestle and scenery King. Admit it, though, somewhere in there there's gotta be some Lionel trestle set "A" sections! (LOL)

Is that your home layout or a club layout? I'm still staring at your pics in amazement.

John, It's in my basement. No Lionel trestles anywhere, but I had some as a kid.

RSJB18 posted:

Apples55 posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Hi Guys and Gals

Been lurking around lately when time permits. Been crazy busy at work getting a temporary dining structure completed so our students have some place more permanent to eat while we renovate the building where our main Dining Hall is. We were a month behind schedule so its been a round the clock push to get done. Finished up all of the inspections this week and we got a TCO from the Town yesterday! We open Monday. Here's a photo of the structure going up in late July.

 

 

Wow Bob - you had me going for a moment there... since this is the “What did you do on your layout today” thread, when I saw that first pic, I thought you were putting up a new out building for a new, greatly expanded layout  

As they said on Game of Thrones... “Winter is Coming” - I’m sure you’ll have more train time in the not too distant future (in addition to the football free time).

Yea this would make a nice train building. Don't think our President would let me take it over though.  

I think what use to be the kitchen would make a even better place for a train layout. Look at all the room and the size you could make it.

Trestleman1 posted:

John, It's in my basement. No Lionel trestles anywhere, but I had some as a kid.

That is a work of art!! Top notch Craftsmanship 

Apples55 posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

Bob, The knee is hanging in there.  I have 7 weeks from yesterday before total knee replacement surgery.  As if we didn't have enough going on, my 93-year old aunt was moved permanently to nursing care at the same large facility she has lived at since 2001.  My sister and I went down yesterday afternoon to see what she wanted moved from her apartment to her new room.  We took over some clothes, books, and a few other items.  We will have to clean out the apartment soon as she is now paying double, or I should say I pay with her money.

 

Mark;

Best of luck with the knee replacement surgery... I had my second knee done back in April, the day after my 64th birthday. Recently, I’ve gotten quite a bit of work done on my layout since, for the first time in years, I was able to stand on my two feet for more than five minutes without being in absolute agony. And remember... after surgery, you go up stairs good leg first, you come down stairs repaired leg first!!!

Paul,  Ha ha, my first knee will be 5 days after my 63rd birthday!  My wife just got her second done in July, but she is only 59.  With her being a registered nurse and two time total knee replacement recipient, no one needs to worry about me putting the wrong foot forward!  Ha!!  Thank you very much for the encouragement and advice!

Lee, thank you. It was definitely a lot of work.

I asked my wife to pick up some Keen Strip in the spray can today I Sprayed it on and about 10-15min it started to work so I sprayed some more on it and let it sit for 15min more and it worked great. I’ll Keep you posted on this build 

Trestleman1 posted:

Lee, thank you. It was definitely a lot of work.

You are so welcome your work paid off 

Trestleman1:  That is unbelievable,  as other's noted above, just exceptional workmanship.  Did you build that from scratch,  what type of wood did you use ?

I'd love to see a few more photos of your layout if you have any handy...   Thanks for sharing that is inspirational.   Chris a 

I agree, the trestle is superb!

Chris, on or about February 1st 2018 I posted some pic's of the trestle with information on how I built it. If you search under Trestleman1 - Look at this trestle!! you'll find them. I started the thread in the MTH DCS PS2/PS3 but management moved it to Scenery and Structures. They're the one's that labeled it "look at this trestle!!". I don't toot my own horn like that. I cut all the wood out of 2 pieces of basswood approx. 3" x 14" x 6/7' using a table saw. Here are some pic's of the rest of the layout.

Bob, I hope you guys are going to rebuild the kitchen! It will be nice when your done then you can get back to enjoying life and even some trains!

Mark, Glad your knee is holding up. If it was me I wouldnt go down the hill either, thats what the building inspector is getting paid to do! I am glad your Neurologist gave you a clean bill of health! I have a Neurologist appt. on monday and I am hoping for the same thing. I cant think what it would be like without a drivers licence. I am sorry to hear about your Aunt. I hope things get squared away in a short amount of time.

Chris A. Work, work, work, thats what you have b een doing on your layout! The size of your curve and then the extention into a 10' X 10' space. You must live in a castle! LOL

Bill, That sure sounds like a huge undertaking!Good luck and please keep us posted!

Ralph, Nice work, but I sure do hate to see the UP go away!

Trestleman1, WOW not that is a wonderful piece of art! Just amazing. The rest of your layout looks just as good! You sir are one talented man!

Lee D,Looks like you have a good start on the box car rebuild! Good luck and I hope things turn out well!

Well I didn't do anything in the train room, I worked on the deck some more took some pictures for you guys, but my computer wont connect to my phone to up load the pictures! I am going to work on that when I get done here and if I figure it out I will share them with you all!

I hope you all had a great Saturday and an even better Sunday!

Go Hawks!

Sorry to say I have not been following this link for a week now and there are several post but I can not go back and look at currently. I will try in a couple weeks to come back and post. I was in a bad accident while directing traffic with my local fire dept. It was unnecessary and could have easily been avoided. Please respect you fire and police. We are trying to help and protect you.

Curtis, sorry to hear about the accident. Be well and don't let it get to you. By definition accidents are stupid because preventable and there are a lot of people who obviously drive on Autopilot. They get along only as long as nothing at all unusual happens. My friend the multiple-million-mile driver says that on reflection none of his close calls would have happened if he had been driving slower. My Mom always said that we humans have Model T brains (capable of handing nothing faster than a Ford Model T).

TRESTLEMAN1:   Thanks very much for the photos, great looking layout.   Nice inter-modal yard scene.  This is the 2nd time this week I have seen photos of the "Walton & Sons Lumber Co." on someone's layout....   Motivation to get my kit out, weather it, assemble it and cut up a bunch of scale lumber...   I will find the thread on the trestle.   

CURTISH:   Very sorry to hear about the bad accident while directing traffic.   Hope you fully recover.   Yes I am shocked at some of the things I see when I am out driving, particularly the "distracted drivers".... and tail-gating speeders who must have failed, or not attended, physics class !!

Going to a small local train show at 10 this morning, it's multi-scale but I usually find something.  Have decided with the dwindling # of local shows, I had better get myself there and participate, or they'll all disappear permanently....

Bob :   Wanted to say thanks for the note yesterday about electrical panel clearance. requirements....  After taking some measurements and analyzing the situation, I have decided to move the curve in at least 12 inches to provide easier access to the front of the panel....  I am really not giving up anything significant but probably would have proceeded down the path without your note.  

CurtisH posted:

t. I was in a bad accident while directing traffic with my local fire dept. 

Thank you for your service, Curtis. I hope that you recover soon.

CURTISH. Sorry to hear about your accident hope you get better take your time getting better 

I'm spending the next day or two moving or replacing dwarf signals around the yard... I dont know what i was thinking when I started it, other than possibly "hey that's gonna be right on the edge of the layout, so let's move the signal to the other side of the track.".  My comment to myself now on that is "dumba##, way to go confusing yourself when you attempt to run a consist thru the yard, playing the game of 'wait-wait.. is that signal for this track or that track?'".  Luckily i only got about 50% of the yard signals done, so it's not a complete re-do. 

Well I done done painting before I went to bed last night. This morning I started putting this back together here’s some update pics. This one is not the best built one I’ve messed with I think the previous owner was in a hurry on this one and didn’t get the Jig right but remember these were Craftman Kits they sometimes never fit right 

Mike- unfortunately the building is spoken for already too.

Chris- Happy to help. Glad you could make it work. I think you and Paul2 keep excavating and extending your basements. You both keep expanding with no end in sight.

Lee- Nice work on that car. When does the layout expansion begin?

Curtish- thanks for your service to your community. I'm constantly amazed at how clueless drivers are when encountering emergency personnel on the road.

Trestleman- WOW . Spectacular work . Very nice layout.

Haven't seen any posts from Elliot lately. He didn't post an end of August update. Hope he's OK. Anybody know?

Bob

Thanks Bob

Just as soon as the weather cools down then the bench work starts. I have the lumber ready to be cut.

Hey Bob,  that wall (with the electrical panel) is the end, it's 40 feet from the other end, and I am kind of relieved that it can't go any further !!.    Need to get this RR actually running trains, and I have a ton of signal work, scenery and detail work to do most everywhere...

While it's taken a really long time, the good news is if I were to have to move again, or I perish, sooner than planned....  this entire layout is built in modules.   They could be "sold off,"  (bummer)...  or put back up in another location.   I am glad I did this, as I have torn down 3 layouts this century that weren't made to be moved, and I am definitely getting a little old to be starting a new one from scratch.   Just took a lot of time to engineer the modules and break up and label the wiring, but who knows maybe it will out survive me !! 

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

 Ed, you have performed an 'OUTSTANDING 'job'... on the President project.  Perhaps, if you trimmed the ankles a bit, then re-attache the feet the sentry will fit better in the coach'.. seeing the bayonet would be a nice added feature.. Again, greta job on the plane'...

Thanks. Mr. Muffin advised my 4141 is on its way and should arrive Tuesday.  Can't wait.  I hope to snag a few UP passenger cars at York next month and have a reasonable consist. 

I have so many "to do's" on the layout list, but I so enjoyed assembling the Avenger, I've decided to add a B-17 and a P-38 so I can suspend them over the layout... (My brother flew a P-38 reconnaissance version over Italy and a B-24 as well as a B-26. I may build them all, suspend them, but I'll need 'Air traffic control!')  Then I'm planning to expand a WWII area on the layout so there's more than just a consist.  Stay tuned...Fall and Winter are on the way so more time indoors!   I've been looking for O scale soldiers...MTH makes a few sets but I need more position choices...I have a Tamiya set of soldiers to assemble, but I'm not crazy about that either.  Hunting for what you want is another fun aspect of this hobby.  Take care.

Lee, I always like when you post one of your All Nation projects. This one is looking real nice.

Chris a, you're coming along good with your blayout. That is going to be one nice curve when the scenery is in place. 

Mike g, I have been bad. I have not done laundry for the better part of a week. The lift out section has been in place for that long. 

Vincent, I really like your Lego layout.

Mark, one less headache with the sewer line going in.

Nothing done on the layout since putting those cars on it. Yesterday, Saturday, I spent the better part of the day with one of my Tuesday night guys at the old B & O roundhouse in Cleveland. A few weeks back I got an email from the FIREUP 2100 group for a 99 dollar dinner. I have never done this so I decided to go. It was a great time and money well spent. The money will go to funding more work on the Reading 2100. Started out riding in the passenger car that was used in the movie the Natural. Then getting off I said to my buddy Al let's ride it again. At the same time I asked the conductor if we could ride in the engine.....he said yes and without any hesitation we climbed up into the loco. It was an old RS-3. Have to say nothing like riding in an Alco. We then had a very delicious catered dinner. After the dinner Ross Rowland gave a talk about his life and how he got into operating steam engines. He finished off by showing his concept for another Freedom Train for the 250TH anniversary of the nation. It is going to be a huge undertaking but it will travel the country for 4 years covering 48 states. The evening ended with night photo op of the 2100. That was then and now is now. I hope to get some lighting up in the basement later this afternoon...Paul 2 

Trestleman1 posted:

Chris, on or about February 1st 2018 I posted some pic's of the trestle with information on how I built it. If you search under Trestleman1 - Look at this trestle!! you'll find them. I started the thread in the MTH DCS PS2/PS3 but management moved it to Scenery and Structures. They're the one's that labeled it "look at this trestle!!". I don't toot my own horn like that. I cut all the wood out of 2 pieces of basswood approx. 3" x 14" x 6/7' using a table saw. Here are some pic's of the rest of the layout.

Hey Trestleman,

This is some inspirational work and it's a shame we don't get to see it much! This sir, is the reason we all come to this forum. Work like this should be showcased as often as possible. Not only does it validate 3 Rail O Scale as a wonderful aspect of the hobby but it gives inspiration, motivation, and personal interpretation of the many possibilities in this scale. In layman's terms it's eye candy. We all love trains so by all means continue to "toot" because that's what we do. You have worked hard and deserve it.

Thanks for your wonderful post and I hope to see more of your masterpiece.

Dave

Dave, Thank you. When I get the last little bit of the trestle done I'll get my daughter to take better pic's. I just used my cellphone for these.

luvindemtrains posted:

Hey Trestleman,

This is some inspirational work and it's a shame we don't get to see it much! This sir, is the reason we all come to this forum. Work like this should be showcased as often as possible. Not only does it validate 3 Rail O Scale as a wonderful aspect of the hobby but it gives inspiration, motivation, and personal interpretation of the many possibilities in this scale. In layman's terms it's eye candy. We all love trains so by all means continue to "toot" because that's what we do. You have worked hard and deserve it.

Thanks for your wonderful post and I hope to see more of your masterpiece.

Dave

Well said Dave.  My sentiments exactly!

Cheers, Dave

Paul. Your in luck I’ve got about 4 more of these then I think I’m going to quit and work on my Reefer Cars 

Lee, That car looks great!

Everyone, Thank you for the kind words about the knee surgery and neurologist.  I mentioned I would post photographs of the N-Scale Homestead I built 30 years ago.  I would not be able to build it in N scale today.  I can't hold small parts steady even with the proper pliers and tweezers.  Good think I am in O scale!  Here they are.

I went to check the house yesterday and saw the neighbor who must be approaching 80 by now.  He keeps his sewer line through the woods mowed, so we went for a ride on his tractor.  The first view is looking up through the woods, and the second is out in the field looking up to the house.  You can compare the last photograph to the back of my diorama.