What did you do on your layout today?

Lionelski posted:

tcochran posted:

Over the past couple of days I have completely torn down my table for my Train Layout. Since our basement is being waterproofed so that will be good in the long term. It is essentially phase one of basement work. I am going to look at getting more modular bench work this time around, that way when I am able to finally finish my basement it will be a heck of a lot easier to break it down and and store it. That way I don't need to spend a long time completely breaking everything down to have any work done.

Good idea Tcochran

Tcochran, in your situation I'd be tempted to build the new layout 100% modular. No need to follow rigid modular standards but rather your own mate-up standard so you can [relatively] quickly disassemble the Pike into it's component pieces and later re-assemble it. Build pieces of deck/framing in manageable sizes, bolt together, lay track, cut track at every deck-joint and you have it. Maybe even attach ready-made folding steel leg-sets to each section of decking. Wiring would need to be separable with strategically placed Molex plugs (or similar).

Deck-sections could be sized/shaped to fit strategic scenery modules which would then be undisturbed during a disassembly.

It would take planning and knowing beforehand exactly what you want the Pike to look like and be but the rewards could be delightful if/when the need arose.

My Father and I enjoyed our train day.  Both automatic milk cars worked well.  All cans landed on the platform.  Most, right side up.  He ran five engines, each with a different consist.  He enjoyed using a 1950 model #736 Berkshire to pull a tender, Baby Ruth boxcars, and caboose from 1938.  The only derailment was when the Berkshire was pulling out of the yards.  It did a slow roll over at switch #7 like it needed a belly rub.  He was able to run trains for 2 1/2 hours this time.  I am grateful we can get together for fun.  I noted the operating problems and added them to my to-do list. 

Wishing you all were here,

Bill

All great projects everyone!  
Bill, That is great things worked well and you and your dad had a good time!  

Odenville Bill posted:

My Father and I enjoyed our train day.  Both automatic milk cars worked well.  All cans landed on the platform.  Most, right side up.  He ran five engines, each with a different consist.  He enjoyed using a 1950 model #736 Berkshire to pull a tender, Baby Ruth boxcars, and caboose from 1938.  The only derailment was when the Berkshire was pulling out of the yards.  It did a slow roll over at switch #7 like it needed a belly rub.  He was able to run trains for 2 1/2 hours this time.  I am grateful we can get together for fun.  I noted the operating problems and added them to my to-do list. 

Wishing you all were here,

Bill

Bill, please cherish it, your times together.

I miss them all.

The Lionel Union Pacific "Challenger" 21" Dome Lounge #7014 from the 1927060 second Add-on 2-pack is finally finished. Two and a half days later, the car now has Preiser 65602 Seated People that I painted glued in their seats.

Here are some pictures of the car.  The last pictures is a little blurry, like my vision late at night.

The next car will be the Union Pacific "Challenger" Coach from the 2-pack.

Have a good evening.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

My very small task today was to fix the trucks on my new Menard’s tank car, which I did successfully with the help of the Forum. 

To celebrate, I hooked up my Postwar 2355 to a mixed freight string made up of mostly modern and MPC rollers.

Enjoy the video and see if you can spot the Menard’s car!

John, Another superbly populated car!

Kevin, I'm glad you got the tank car fixed.  It looks great!

Very nice 2355's and mixed freight; nice to see the Menard's tank car rolling along.

Ok guys, first off there is a lot of work being done here! I guess I should check in more then everyother day!

Lew, Thank you, that is my plan for the cranes and my scrap yard. Did you get my message about the #182 crane? I like how you hid the winch, but was thinking you could always install an outhouse over the winch for the carne operator to have a place to go! The new sewing string sure looks great!

Paul, thank you, You sure know how to find more room for buildings and switching operations! Looking good!

Dave, wow you really went to town! I cant wait to fallow your new build!

Mark, thank you sir!

Bill, sure sounds like all the hard work paid off! Take the time and take in all the time you get to spend with your Dad! You will want the memories later in life!

John, Your attention to detail is just amazing! When your done you will have a one of a kind of train! Nice work!

Brian, you have more engines then anyone I know! Looks great!

CGEFOREVER, What about mounting the base inside the cab with just the strobe sticking out? Just seen your install, looks great!

LIRR Steamer, looks like you have a great start on your scenery! You sure are right about the white foam and the mess it makes! LOL

Lou1985, Nice job on the wall and the retaining wall! 

TCOCHRAN, Sounds like you have a good plan. We finished our basement in our old house the first summer we bought it and come winter we had 2" of water on the floor. Had to replace all the hardwood floor and 2' of sheetrock up from the floor! Got expensive !

Kevin, glad you got your tank car fixed and thank you for the nice little video!

Well I haven't done anything the last couple of days, but did get up this morning and ordered BNSF color paint so I can finish my fixed pilot project. Then I can try out my new airbrush system I got from my mom!

I hope you all have a great day and find time for your trains and layouts!

Lots of great projects everyone!

Brian, Nice looking Milwaukee Road!!

TCochran, Finishing the layout space is of great importance to building a nice layout.  I recall the 4x8 layout I built in my parents' basement in the 1888 house.  Hard concrete floor, dusty!!!!  I had to get a big sheet of plastic to put over the layout after every use.

I spent time yesterday preparing a room in a different way.  I got through all the mementos I brought back from the 1888 house we sold right before Christmas.  I have like items in several cardboard boxes and separated some to give to my brother and sister.  I can see the floor again!!    I also cleared off some bench space and put a few items I won't use for a while in the garage where they belong! 

COASTSIDEKEVIN: Wow it's nice to know that the 2355 can pull that number of freight cars...of course on my layout if I tried to run a train that long the lead engine would end up just behind the caboose !  I like Menards cars, especially the tanks.  I have one of their AF tanks ( I am an AF retiree) that I run with my "AF train" pulled by an AF decorated BEEP!

Don

mike g. posted:

Ok guys, first off there is a lot of work being done here! I guess I should check in more then everyother day!

Lew, Thank you, that is my plan for the cranes and my scrap yard. Did you get my message about the #182 crane? I like how you hid the winch, but was thinking you could always install an outhouse over the winch for the carne operator to have a place to go! The new sewing string sure looks great!

 

 

Mike, I just PM-ed you. From your pics it look to me as if one motor field coil wires is missing. Also looks like the wire to ground one motor brush is dis-attached. I wonder if anyone here has experience with the 182? Maybe take some more pics and start a thread to see if someone responds?

Don McErlean posted:

COASTSIDEKEVIN: Wow it's nice to know that the 2355 can pull that number of freight cars...of course on my layout if I tried to run a train that long the lead engine would end up just behind the caboose !  I like Menards cars, especially the tanks.  I have one of their AF tanks ( I am an AF retiree) that I run with my "AF train" pulled by an AF decorated BEEP!

Don

Don - 30 cars is about the limit on the flat, but it wouldn't be able to muscle that load up the 4% grades of my outer loop. The modern gear is really superior in that regard. My little LionChief+ GP38 can get 40+ cars up that hill without breaking a sweat - remarkable. 

Kevin

decoynh posted:

Lou1985 posted:

I built a hill over the last few days out of pink foam to separate the mains from the yard. Also added a retaining wall made with some scrap wood.

I like the way you placed your turntable & engine house.  Good way to use available real estate. 

Thanks. I made both the turntable and engine house from scratch. It was cheaper and I could make them fit in the space provided that way. 

geysergazer posted:

Tcochran, in your situation I'd be tempted to build the new layout 100% modular. No need to follow rigid modular standards but rather your own mate-up standard so you can [relatively] quickly disassemble the Pike into it's component pieces and later re-assemble it. Build pieces of deck/framing in manageable sizes, bolt together, lay track, cut track at every deck-joint and you have it. Maybe even attach ready-made folding steel leg-sets to each section of decking. Wiring would need to be separable with strategically placed Molex plugs (or similar).

Deck-sections could be sized/shaped to fit strategic scenery modules which would then be undisturbed during a disassembly.

It would take planning and knowing beforehand exactly what you want the Pike to look like and be but the rewards could be delightful if/when the need arose.

That is the plan to do a Modular type layout. That way in a few years when I am actually able to finish my basement I can have that done easily.

Since my hotel construction is moving along I need to get going on the elevated track in front of it.

I think I have finalized the design as shown here to be 3D printed

Guys 

sorry been MIA maybe I can get some work done on the layout soon took these pics of my farm Tractors I’ve had for many years the other day I need to get to work on my grain elevator and get a farm scene going 

Lee, very nice tractors.  They will look good on the farm scene.  

Ray, the elevated track should look great!

Thanks Mark I got to get a game plan ready 

Unboxed an untested MTH Galloping Goose, put in a BCR, and tried 'er out - ran like a charm, with truck horn & all!

David98

We had a train day Tuesday and went to Kentucky to see Farmerjohn. While there, I picked up the new Lionel catalog and my StationSounds full length brown and orange  VistaDome  21 inch passenger car. We had a fun time, these are pictures of Farmerjohns beautiful layout, 50 by 70.... Happy Railroading 

Took the day to do household maintenance projects and after dinner I started painting the interior of the "Challenger" 2nd Add-on 2-pack Coach.  In the quiet of the evening my painting picks up pace, and time passes quickly.  I am listening to the soft rhythm of the dishwasher cleaning dinner dishes.  Life is good.

UPDATE: It is later tonight and half of the car interior has received four coats of paint and a 5th touch-up if necessary.  The painted seats add to the depth-of-view and contrast in the interior to set the stage for the actors: the Preiser 65602 Seated People I previously painted.  This car will take three days to finish.

Day 2:  I finished the "Challenger" "Pacific Harbor" Coach interior painting around 1:00 P.M.  I will let it stand for an hour before I begin placing people in the car.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Larry, the photographs of John's layout look great!

Morning guys, you all sure have been busy lately! Makes me feel like a bum, but the house comes first when the CEO is around LOL!

Mark, sounds like you have been busy getting the new train room ready for the next step. I am glad your getting around a little more. But remember as Lew states, no pictures it didn't really happen! LOL 

Lew, Thank you for helping me out! I think I might do as you suggest and start a new thread.

Ray, WOW I cant wait to see it all together! Its going to look wonderful!

Lee D, Great looking tractors, but they are a little to clean for farm work! LOL

David98, Nice looking Galloping Goose! I also enjoy your fair scene!

Larry ,FarmerJohn sure has a  wonderful looking layout, but in my eyes I still think your is number 1 to me! I am glad you had a good time, as that's what its all about!

John, wow here I am thinking your almost done and out comes another car! You must love the torture of painting small things! LOL

Well I don't think I will get any train stuff done today, but you never know, I might get 10 minutes here and there to sneak out! LOL

I hope everyone has a great Friday and a wonderful weekend! Also have a good time on your layouts with your trains!

Mike, here is the proof of the pudding 

Thanks Mike I just can’t  bring myself to weather them yet 

Mark, looks a lot better!

Lee, I know what you mean! Its not everyday you get a new tractor or truck and want to keep them clean and looking new!

Finished first prototypes of elevated system parts

mike g. posted:

Mark, looks a lot better!

Lee, I know what you mean! Its not everyday you get a new tractor or truck and want to keep them clean and looking new!

Mike it’s just these are hard to find without cashing in your child’s college savings 

My son Chris and I measured, cut and laid the track coming out of our long tunnel as well as the track for our 2 track industrial siding. Finally, progress has been made on our layout!!! No pictures today. But, as things develop, photos will follow.

lee drennen posted:

mike g. posted:

Mark, looks a lot better!

Lee, I know what you mean! Its not everyday you get a new tractor or truck and want to keep them clean and looking new!

Mike it’s joust these are hard to find without cashing in your child’s college savings 

That is why I just can't bring myself to weather any of my engines or rolling stock.  They just look too good and don't come cheaply.

Ray, the prototypes look superb!

Mike, thank you for the word of confidence on the cleanup!!  I still have to figure out where to put the lumber pile.   Actually the stuff on the floor can stay.  It's the sheet of plywood, Homasote, and Masonite that needs to move.  I'll have to wait on that a while as I wouldn't even try in the condition I am in now. 

sidehack posted:

Finished first prototypes of elevated system parts

Looks great Ray. Are the girders going to be flexible for curves?

leapinlarry posted:

We had a train day Tuesday and went to Kentucky to see Farmerjohn. While there, I picked up the new Lionel catalog and my StationSounds full length brown and orange  VistaDome  21 inch passenger car. We had a fun time, these are pictures of Farmerjohns beautiful layout, 50 by 70.... Happy Railroading 

Thanks for sharing these pics Larry.

FarmerJohn is a lucky man to have such a layout to enjoy. I hope that he can post periodic update pics

One picture more. BAR X1230. 

Work continued on the north end of the layout today. I raised up the rest of the grade and leveled it out. Ran power to both sidings and added toggle switches to my control panel. Added a lit bumper to the upper siding. I retrofit the original incandescent bulb with an LED. Once the track work was done I did some ballasting and added ground cover. I also swapped out the snow covered trees for a couple deciduous one's instead. Can't have two trees with snow on them and the rest without. 

I ordered the Ameri-towne Acme Machine Shop from the OGR store. Shipped today so I should have it early next week. Once the building is together I can figure out the rest of the scenery around it.

Bob

I broke a wire to the signal so I had to fix that too.

I'm considering doing full pavement over the rest of this siding so I only ballasted the first section of track.

That is a very productive day Bob.

Today I worked on:

LC+  4501 Mikado.  New spring on front truck.

Texas Special 1055 (#3) got a new bulb.  See my post this morning in "WHAT TRAINS DID YOU RUN TODAY?"

Docksider #194.  Unknown missing part.

And custom caboose X14 is now getting a resister, capacitor, full wave rectifier, one LED located over the conductor's desk and two red LED's on the rear.

Using salvaged spare ham radio parts.  Yes it is overkill.

Bill

Been fashioning landscape foundation out of stucco metal lath like I saw on another layout.  Bloody but nice.

Tom Tee posted:

Been fashioning landscape foundation out of stucco metal lath like I saw on another layout.  Bloody but nice.

That's pretty stern stuff!