Too many other things going on but I'm slowly putting my building back together. Got all of the lighting installed, wired, and tested. Had to glue some window film back in. Next step is to put the floor back in and FINALLY PUT IT BACK ON THE LAYOUT! 
Bob
The constant battle--every horizontal surface IS NOT storage space. Oh, and where did I put the repair parts I bought for the transformer? Gee, I sure should have labeled all these boxes on the outside when I stacked them on these shelves!
I hate it when I am my own worst enemy. And yet I make many mistakes over and again. Yeesh...
Don Merz
What a great opportunity for you both!
Don
@Don Merz 070317 posted:The constant battle--every horizontal surface IS NOT storage space. Oh, and where did I put the repair parts I bought for the transformer? Gee, I sure should have labeled all these boxes on the outside when I stacked them on these shelves!
I hate it when I am my own worst enemy. And yet I make many mistakes over and again. Yeesh...
Don Merz
Don- I bought a 4 pack of pencil lighters and I like to have one on the bench for heating shrink wrap. Now if i could just find the @#$%@!! thing I'd be in business.
Bob
Got to run some trains and finished this video:
Trainmaster04: Engines and rolling stock are excellent. The UP reefers are quite a treat to see with the mix of other cars. Thanks for the video.
Here is a segment of my operating session no.3, as PRR B6s no. 5244 backs a string of freights to switch at town industries. PRR B6s no. 505 is poised to pull 3 two bay coal hoppers from Thornton Coal and spot in the engine facility later.
@ToledoEd posted:Earlier in this string I showed the automation of my Command Gantry Crane. https://ogrforum.com/...7#146142158431808647
Well, I finished it. I replaced the 1ft. spindle with a 2ft spindle giving the crane plenty of room to roam. I also decided to scratch build a platform for the scene and to cover the above layout spindle. Gave me an opportunity to give it some more interest. I also extended the road to provide a transfer point for trucks to also supply the crane with another loading/unloading opportunity. It worked. This weekend my 8 yr. old Grandson fired up the layout and moved the crane into position and started transferring cargo. Now, that's what I'm talking about.
Here are a few pics and short video. Notice the fearless Superintendent on the Crane.
For those that may be interested, I posted a video on YouTube showing how I motorized the Gantry Crane. https://youtu.be/o3CajyV26IM
Wow, Ed, that crane id really moving at top speed, and nice and smooth.. Nice job, and good looking photographs'.... Now we need a video of the grand son loading and unloading......😁🤴🏻
@Quarter Gauger 48 posted:
Thanks Ted. I hope they visit this weekend in which case, "Crane Operator, Zack" will be given his operating assignment!
@Trainmaster04 posted:Got to run some trains and finished this video:
Love this running session. I would love to see some more.
@Wasatch Railroader posted:Love this running session. I would love to see some more.
Glad you enjoyed it! Currently I am working on a product review on the EM-1 but I plan on doing the Blue Goose next and, hopefully, one on the Frisco Meteor since it is different from the Blue Goose. Again, glad you enjoyed it and happy railroading!
S.B.R. ALCO FA1 #400 with a steam generator & vista dome "Dianne". Now i only need more some passenger cars.
@ScoutingDad posted:Been busy doing detail work and then redoing the detail work. Decided to take a break and run my new MTH Imperial Big Boy with a 20 box car consist. This is about its limit going up a 2.8% grade. The wheels start to slip at the max incline point. The whole train wraps around about 75% of my layout. Most of the cars are Atlas Steam Era Classics with a few MTH Railking and Premier box cars thrown in. Yes, the cab clips the inside of the tunnel as it exits. I'll have to adjust the portal a bit.
I decided to name my layout the Twin Pines Rail Road. Many of you seem to have a name for your layout, I decided to pick one for mine. The name comes from a resort my dad used to co-own in the Spooner Wisconsin area in the 50s and 60s. Now all I have to do is model the big red pine the resort was named after. The tree was two trees that had grown together to the point they looked like one tree until about 3 feet up the trunk.
I am going to try another camera. This looks a bit grainy and jumpy to me. What do you guy think?
It all sounds good. I got an error message from Google when I tried to open your link. It wants me to request access. I can, but my Google email address is different from the one I have on my OGR Forum profile.
Hi guys, Its been a while, but I have been working on the layout. I think last time I was here I told you all about switching out my street lights to LED's. Well I have been doing more of that with all the other stuff I have so I can try and run everything from a 12v power supply threw a DC to Dc buck converter. Well to date I have8 Menards Buildings, fuel station that I switched to LED, a set of yard lights, and 3 Menards lighted vehicles powered up with no problems. Here are couple Photos of that.
Then I told Mark that I would let him know what I had from Menards, so here is a list for you Mark!
15 Buildings, 5 lighted cars and trucks, 2 race cars, a dump truck, ready cement truck, 3 ambulances, 1 fire truck, 1 electrical boom truck, 9 tank cars, 5 box cars, and 12 Military flat cars with loads! I hope that give you an idea! LOL
Oh wait, these came today!
That brings it to 17 Buildings! LOL
I hope your all safe and doing well! I also hope you all are able to fine time for your layout and trains~! But most of all I hope you all are having fun!
That is quite a list, Mike! Dad must be proud!! These two buildings came in today??!! What will be left for your trip to Dakota?? 
I think you need some of those covered hoppers for that salt plant. 
@Mark Boyce posted:That is quite a list, Mike! Dad must be proud!!
Hi Mark, I still have to get a church and something for a kids playground the CEO wants on the layout. Plus maybe some more lighted cars. I was just looking at my list and I missed something. so if you need one let me know.
17 Box trucks! LOL
@mike g. posted:Hi Mark, I still have to get a church and something for a kids playground the CEO wants on the layout. Plus maybe some more lighted cars. I was just looking at my list and I missed something. so if you need one let me know.
17 Box trucks! LOL
17 box trucks!!!!! Thank you, but no I don’t need any. I have more vehicles than I will be able to fit on the layout already! 😄 Yes, your CEO is right! You need a church and playground so the kids don’t play on the tracks 👍🏻
Working on the mountain test running trains
Today was all about installing two red LEDs to light up the backside of the red lenses Lionel originally provided on the rear of my 2441 observation car.
I installed two red LEDs that came from a string of Christmas lights that contained fifty very small LEDS powered by three AA batteries. I added a $0.99 regulator, diode, cap and current limiting resistor and tried various settings on the regulator.
I ended up with the perfect brightness (to my taste) at 2.1ma of current, that the regulator kept under perfect control from 6v to around 18-19v (min to max throttle on my ZW.) Couldn't have imagined this stuff when I was a young'n and was thrilled by a giant red glass lens in front of a hot incandescent bulb!
George
I've been working on another background building. This ones a Korber apartment building. Tried something different on this one since I had trouble with the paint and wipe technique I normally do for mortar lines. After the acrylic dried I tried steel wool as a first step and emory boards to clean it up. Works well, and the emory boards are easily trimmed with scissors to keep a fresh surface to work with.
Stay safe,
Scott
Evening guys, I hope you all had a great week and all stayed safe.
Kwiser, your mountain train test run looks great!
Scott, outstanding job on the wall! Thanks for the how to!
Well as for me I took a little change in direction from my LED's and buildings. They for cast rain for the next couple days and around here that normally means time next summer. LOL So I dug up some nice Washington dirt and started sifting. I need the dirt for my dirt roads and playfield the CEO wants on the layout! It's not very fun, but I think about Elliott that did several buckets to get the real ballast for his layout. Well any way here is a photo of before and after. The bucket on the right is the starting bucket, center sifted, and left is left overs! Enjoy! LOL
I hope everyone has a wonderful Friday and an even better weekend!
Got my lower level track laid down. Tomorrow will be hooking the feeder wires to the bus line! Should have more trains going tomorrow!
Started cleaning off all the "stuff" that has collected on it as we start to head into colder weather and I mess with the outdoor G scale line much less. Got lots to do on the indoor layout, maybe even a total rebuild of the benchwork from the ground up. Just have to see what I decide to do this winter. Especially if most all the local shows are canceled again. AD
Added some more freight cars to the layout this week. Our final beer reefers for the Tuesday night crew came in from MTH. Some more Lionscale cars plus some Lionel bulkhead flat cars came yesterday. Pics............Paul 2
Well, finally a rainy day here in Tennessee and time to see what’s going on here on the forum. Mike g., that’s a cool Menards Billboard sign, looks so good, also, your layout is really coming together and when you get the accessories placed and wired in, Wow.... Good to see your pictures of progress. Paul 2, beautiful rolling stock, really cool. My wife and I have been busy with house and yard work, but today it’s Raining... My friend Will and I ran trains yesterday at my house. Stay safe, stay healthy, Pray Continually... Happy Railroading Everyone
Larry, I know I am not the only one glad to see you having a good time running trains! I bet you had a blast with your wonderful layout and vast collections of trains!
I know all about the rain, its been raining here now for 2 days and more to come. Thank you for the nice words about my layout, its been nice to get time in the train room again. But I have learned a important lesson, make sure you get all the scenery done on the outside before moving inwards if you have a around the room layout! LOL
I hope everyone is having a great weekend! Do what you have to to find time for a little train and layout fun!
I’m happy to report that I had 5 visitors. We built two consists, and ran these trains and enjoyed our visit.
Larry, looks like a great day running trains. There has been little rain here all summer and fall. However we are predicted to get rain tomorrow from the hurricane. They bring rain, not much wind. It won’t get much past us, the mountains will stop it.
Not much rain here on Long Island this Fall either. Monday and Tuesday we will see the remnants of Delta also. Too bad I have to go to work 
.
Lot's of good stuff. Larry- great set of steamers...running a bit light though . Mike G- You are building a nice Menards collection there, keep it up. C&O Steam- Visitors? WOW! Glad to hear a good time was had by all. Paul2- more nice freight cars. You have a good eye.
I can finally report that my building is done and ready to return to it's foundation on the layout. Not sure it will happen today but I'll be happy to finally get it off my workbench. Every time I thought I was done, I'd break something and have to fix it. I had a shelf fall on the roof and knock the water tower and one of the vents off, I almost broke the loading dock off the side, and nearly broke the new light over the dock door. 
Bob
@GeoPeg posted:Today was all about installing two red LEDs to light up the backside of the red lenses Lionel originally provided on the rear of my 2441 observation car.
I installed two red LEDs that came from a string of Christmas lights that contained fifty very small LEDS powered by three AA batteries. I added a $0.99 regulator, diode, cap and current limiting resistor and tried various settings on the regulator.
I ended up with the perfect brightness (to my taste) at 2.1ma of current, that the regulator kept under perfect control from 6v to around 18-19v (min to max throttle on my ZW.) Couldn't have imagined this stuff when I was a young'n and was thrilled by a giant red glass lens in front of a hot incandescent bulb!
George
Update: here's a shot of the finished Obs car. Not anything to win an award, but it kept me well entertained 
and I kinda like it!
Next is window treatments. I may buy one of the photo-editing bits of software that would allow me to snip fam member faces out of whatever picture they're in, and then print them on clear sheets, cut to size and install them in front of some frosted windows! Kind of like the hero boy in Polar Express, only an actual pic instead of a silhouette.
Today a squad of Cicadas attacked the switch tower at Springville Flats. The workers were able to escape just in time. The National Guard is loading into gondolas at the Odenville yards to repulse the invaders. Now I need to find my '60s vintage army men.
Bill, The look like they are right out of an old science fiction movie!!! I'm glad the workers escaped with their lives!! I'm glad the National Guard is on the way. I saw one cicada a couple weeks ago. I hear them in the trees, but never see the little buggers. It's a good thing, because Mrs. B would see them too and not like it!! 
Got a little more done today
IT'S DONE!!!!!!
Not without one more fight though. I set the new pole and light in place at the end of the siding and wired it in. Worked fine for a few minutes and then it went out. After a few choice words.....I checked the splices and as I moved the wire, it lit again. Turned out to be the resistor adapter was faulty. I swapped it out with another and all is good. Glad to have this project behind me so I can get on to other things.
Ran trains for a while to celebrate too.
Bob
Tedious task, applying tiny cedar shingles to a lengthened roof on a bashed water mill kit. In a time when l should have been cowering at home getting a lot of model work done, too many distractions. Anxious to get to work on Menard's engine house, lengthing a stall and fabricating doors, but this is glacial.
Bob it looks fantastic and well worth the time, effort and a few bruises....you came out as the victor. It was fun to follow along.
What’s next????
@Rich Wiemann posted:Bob it looks fantastic and well worth the time, effort and a few bruises....you came out as the victor. It was fun to follow along.
What’s next????
Thanks Rich- next? hmmm.......
I need to pay some attention to the other side of the layout. I need to build a tunnel portal and hillside for the back left corner and also do something with two sidings in the middle. I'm leaning toward a small grain elevator that can serve several types of cars. We will see.
Bob
Congratulations on a job well done, Bob!!
Nice work Bob.
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