Morning Folks, I got a little done the last couple days. But still have a ways to go! But I thought this morning I would play with building placement with the stuff I got from Menards! Here you go have a look and I am open to ideas and comments!
I hope you are all staying safe and having a good week! Remember to try and have fun with your layout and trains!
@Apples55 posted:I believe that is the definition of the slippery slope
Perhaps more accurately, it is the definition of having begun the slide down the slippery slope. 😜
It's not what I've doe o the layout, but what I did removing some rolling stock from the shelf layout. I had some hoppers, ore cars and a caboose on the tracks from my last run, sometime during the summer. I finally decided to take them down, and a line PARR caboose slipped out of my hand and onto the stone patio. Ouch! Some substantial damage was caused, including the roof overhang, the ladder and some other broken parts. Looks like I have a winter repair project. this was the second caboose to fall; the other one was an MTH Santa Fe.
@rail posted:It's not what I've doe o the layout, but what I did removing some rolling stock from the shelf layout. I had some hoppers, ore cars and a caboose on the tracks from my last run, sometime during the summer. I finally decided to take them down, and a line PARR caboose slipped out of my hand and onto the stone patio. Ouch! Some substantial damage was caused, including the roof overhang, the ladder and some other broken parts. Looks like I have a winter repair project. this was the second caboose to fall; the other one was an MTH Santa Fe.
Sounds like you need some Peanut Butter for the hands.
Took down Lionel twin motor GG1 dusted it and ran it for a good while as i read the forums.
Today on my layout ....
I ran four steam engines with cabooses. It didn't take long to fill a 7'3"x7'3" room full of smoke.
That is what I did on my layout today.
Bill
I pulled up some track and installed a switch that will lead to my layout expansion. It will feature an interchange track and a small yard that will be home to my DB Interchange RR. The photo of the wall indicates where this branch line will go. The wall will be removed.
Continuing to prepare for an operating session. I made up a 4 car passenger train headed up by PRR E6 #460 pulling a GGD BM70, and K-line coach, dinner and parlor from a used K-line 6 car PRR Broadway Limited set I bought years ago. I removed the rollers (I don't use lights) and wanted reduce drag and track noise. The remaining 3 cars will be boxed up make room on the passenger team tracks for the mail train. I am also boxing up 3 MTH premiere passenger cars I no longer want, to sell at the local train show when it eventually opens.
Nice scenes Mike, Dennis and P51.
Pennsynut, drop me a line about your 3 cars your getting rid of. My email is in my profile.
Today my beer reefers from the NJHR's came. Yesterday I finished adding the last of the shrubs and grass tuffs to the machine shop. Now I can start to finish the building inside and out.............Pics...........Paul 2
Paul, Nice cars and the machine shop looks great! Is the floor printed or actual wood? It looks great!
Finally, I started the revision to the "Valley of Bridges" layout. I need to create an access point on the far side of the layout along the wall. I climbed up on the layout and started unscrewing the track that is in the new quarry area.
The Lionel Rotary Hoppers started to arrive this week. I continue to box engines parked on the opposite side of the layout. Getting ready for upper level construction. Hard Hats, Hard Heads, working to remedy Hard-to-Reach areas of my layout.
I will take pictures soon. Have a good week.
Sincerely, John Rowlen
Thanks Mark. The floor was printed by my buddy Bryan for me.....Paul 2
Paul, looks outstanding! But that sure is one fancy floor for a machine shop! I sure hope you have a good cleaning crew! Also can you find out from Bryan what he used for it? Nice beer reefers. Never heard of them, but then again I have never been to New York! LOL
John R. Be careful up there on the layout, things can get dangerous. Take my word on that! LOL
Well guys I didn't do to much today. I worked on the lights in my tow truck on the new road going up the hill, just not satisfied with how it looks with dim head lights.
I then turned my attention to the pedestrian bridge that will go from town to the location where the CEO wants the park to be. I had to relocate one of the set of stairs as they were running right down to the end of track in my yard~! Here are a couple photos. Enjoy and I know its a shame to wreck such a nice bridge but then again its my layout and i Paid good money for it! LOL
Everyone have a great night and I will be b ack after dinner to check in!
Mike, That isn't a wreck, that is a precision modification!! 
@paul 2 posted:Thanks Mark. The floor was printed by my buddy Bryan for me.....Paul 2
Looks familiar Paul 😉😉
The shop looks great.
Bob
After tearing down my old layout in 2017, I finally have a couple of loops to run trains. Just a temp setup but at least a place to run some trains. I have so many projects started. I am hoping to have some pics after Thanksgiving.
Bob
Been planning my first layout build, I do have layouts, but all have either been purchased at auction, or, as with the o gauge layout that I need to restore at some point, have been donated to us, layouts being 2 N, a Z, a HO, a S in need of restoration, a O needing restoration, and one of those All Aboard American Flyers. Anyways, planning the yards right now. My plan is to have all operating postwar engines, not counting duplicates (over 60 postwars currently on roster) on the layout, some will be at the engine terminal, some will be at terminal stations (planning on having a loop behind terminals for freights,) or on the mainline with trains. I've also done feasibility studies for our engines, deciding what duties they will be on, 1615 will be a yard goat, 230 and 225 put together on freights etc.
Lots of great updates on here!
Finally got to start work on my layout with a help of a great friend. You can follow the table progress here:
https://midnightwoodworking.co...-train-table-part-1/
https://midnightwoodworking.co...-train-table-part-2/
https://midnightwoodworking.co...-train-table-part-3/
Really excited to get it all together and will post photos here once it is complete. Love this hobby and looking forward to getting the trains moving on the layout!
Chris
@Chris1985 posted:Lots of great updates on here!
Finally got to start work on my layout with a help of a great friend. You can follow the table progress here:
https://midnightwoodworking.co...-train-table-part-1/
https://midnightwoodworking.co...-train-table-part-2/
https://midnightwoodworking.co...-train-table-part-3/
Really excited to get it all together and will post photos here once it is complete. Love this hobby and looking forward to getting the trains moving on the layout!
Chris
WOW Chris, I just read your update part 1-3 and your work is just amazing! I know alot of people take pride in there layouts and tables. Yours looks like your building a high end piece of furniture! If I had read your post before I did my table I might have done something different. but I am happy.
One thing I did not see were holes for wire runs. I sure hope your going to drill them before you set them in place.
Thanks Mike! Wire routing is happening today before the tables are set. Definitely agree that we need to drill those before it’s all assembled. I will do a few final track placement adjustments on the table top and drill those as well for the track power feeder wires. Thank you for the kind words. I learned a lot about woodworking during this process for sure!
I’m in the middle of clearing out the basement in our new house. So part of that is use what’s in my junk boxes or get them out of the basement.
So for today that meant cutting up sound proofing material and putting it in box cars. Not sure it was all that worth it. 😂😄😂
Forgot to post yesterday that I ran the local passenger train and at the end of the line, turned the train around and staged it for the return trip. Removed some K-line Passenger cars to storage and will remove 3 MTH passengers next week. Over the past 3 months, I purchased 5 cars, 2 GGD RPOs, a GGD baggage and 2 weaver B60s. Too many unused cars to juggle during operating sessions. Now it's better.
I put together an oil well for the Plywood Empire Route. The PER is loosely themed on the Oil Creek and Titusvile Railroad and Titusville is in the heart of the original oil boom country so it fits.
I cranked up my imagineering and combined a Lionel [working] pump-jack, part of an MTH modern tank car and catwalks with lights from a Lionel oil storage tank. Plus some cardboard, glue and a bit of felt. Also covered a tunnel into the sewing room with a photo of one of the Royal Gorge Domes.
I have to laugh at my luck at purchasing Lionel. I just received a hard-to-find 6-82674 Union Pacific Rotary Gondola 2-pack and found that on the double end Rotary, some of the screen printing was not completed properly.
I am checking all the new Rotary Gondolas that just arrived again. I found one CSX 2-pack with an operating coupler that had NO SPRING to pop the coupler open. Inspect everything, and then look again.
Sincerely, John Rowlen
Mike G. Thanks for the advice. I am not so worried about crawling on top of the layout as much as worrying about what is crawling under it when I do the wiring. The bugs find me very tasty.
Sincerely, John Rowlen
Nick, looks like you have a great start! I hope you keep posting!
John, sorry to see things are not right when you pay good money for something! As for crawling on top the other day I missed the step stool and landed on my rear! Hence my warning! LOL
Well today I went and looked at a HO layout of a guy that lives in the area. He has done an outstanding job with it and gave me some ideas. One was I needed to carry the mountain up on the wall above the section that sticks out from the wall. So I took a try at painting more on the wall and am some what happy with the out come. The CEO suggested I paint the Sun in the corner, so I went back out and put the first coat for the sun up. I am not to sure about it, I might have to veto her idea. I am posting photos to get your thoughts! Please let me know what you all think!
I hope you all have a great weekend planned and that it includes your layout and trains!
I would forget about the sun Mike. But then again, you don't have to live with me so.....😂😂😂😂😂
Bob
This week I have received the Pennsy stone wall sections ordered from Scenic Express. And received the order for my two extended width double portals, also Pennsy.
Placed the portals into position on the track and tested several engines operations for clearances. I learned how important this step is earlier... Two portals are in curves.
Spray painted some of the stone walls the stone gray to test the look with watered down India black ink.
measured and placed in boards as a dry run to enclose a tunnel. I wish to add a piano hinge so to have ready access to my tunnel.
I was so very happy to receive the Pennsy extended double portals in such a timely basis.
This will be a productive weekend hopefully.
John, I'm truly sorry you have such wonderful luck ordering new Lionel cars and engines. This situation makes me think twice before ordering any new Engines although I have one picked out and waiting for the second stimulus (I hope) mailing. No guarantees.
And Mike G your layout, Sun (from the East I hope), and your early morning progress has been fun to watch.
A great weekend to everyone...
Mike, I wouldn't paint in a sun either! The mountain and initial painted snow on the wall look great! What are you using for depicting snow on the three dimensional mountain? I am still tossing the snow idea around for my upper level which the prototype is on the mountaintop.
@t8afao posted:Little more work done on the station. The roof access is scratch built for our old station, will incorporate some of the parts for this one.
Really like the look of this station, when I build my layout, I'm defiantly going to build a station somewhat based off of Deerwalk VFD here in WV, as it's the station my Grandfather help start back in the 70's. He's still with it, semi retired after being assistant chief and chief, and is now the treasurer. The original station was built on his property, but they now have a really nice station down the road. I'm also going to build a pipeline office based off the office of the company my other grandfather worked for, Mountaineer State Energy, formerly Carl E. Smith
I’m on the side of “no” sun 🌞. We don’t live with you so our votes don’t count. However, you work out there all hours of the day & night, it might get confusing for you. LOL 😝
Thanks everyone for there input on the sun, I am headed out to make the mountain peak a little taller to cover the sun! LOL
Mark as for the snow, its the plastic chunks that come in a bag, it almost looks like ripped up old plastic grocery bags but clear.
I hope everyone has a great Saturday and I have to clean a little up for SWSAT
Mike, I have seen something in the stores that I think is what you used! It looks great in your photographs. Thank you.
Mike have you considered applying some of the mountain material to the wall mountain? May be a nice effect to carry the look up to the summit peaks.
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