What did you do on your layout today?

This forum topic sounds like a bunch of old women talking at a card party.

@decoynh posted:

Mitch - Your posts make me smile.  Keep rescuing those old trains.  I hope you still enjoy running the pre-war light green passenger cars that once lived in New Hampshire.

Absolutely!  And thanks again for that! 

I actually had more fun yesterday.  One of our forum members who lives locally was having issues with a 90s era Hudson and ZW controller; had a quick shufti at both during our weekly Lunch Bunch meeting, parts were ordered and both will be repaired sometime in the near future. 

In the meantime, his Christmas tree was down one loco and one transformer,  which would, of course, not do.  In the course of lunch conversation,  it evolved that Ken (a fellow Philly expat) was planning to acquire a tuscan red GG1 in future.  On the spot, I planned a funny surprise... 

Anyhow, back at Chez Marmel, I showed Ken my workshop area and popped the top off of one of my postwar ZWs to show him what a REAL transformer looked like.  He also met Norma Bates Kitteh in person, who enjoyed snuggling into his arms. 

So, I loaned Ken an RW transformer (I have several cluttering up the residence) and you should have seen his eyes light up when I pulled an RMT GG1 in tuscan off the shelf as his loaner! 

Got these happy snaps this AM: 

And THIS, my friends, is why I'm in this hobby. 

Mitch

RSJB18, Bob, Wow, now that’s good news and just for the record, I highly recommend the Cab 1L, no antenna to worry about, although it looks cool, but you can lay the Cab 1L on the track near where you are working with no worry of sparking from the antenna touching the track. Also, it runs Legacy equipped engines, TMCC equipped engines, and gives you much better control of conventional engines. You will be a happy camper. Cab 2 is great, but, I have a CAb 1L Remote and I actually like it as well. Good luck, and thanks for the great pictures of your model railroad. Happy Railroading Everyone

Mitch, well done sir, well done..... Love the smoke (never had one as a child) and the GG1 (that is my first HEAVY weight.... green, and smooooooth)

Thanks for the VIdeo

MIglet

Gentlemen,

   With the advent of my open heart surgery and my train room having to have major construction work done on it for water damage, I have been neglecting both the train room and this fantastic BB.  I am now on the mend and the construction work including the sump pump and drainage system installed, I will be trying to get things cleaned up and back on line.  

Merry Christmas everybody,

PCRR/Dave

@Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Gentlemen,

   With the advent of my open heart surgery and my train room having to have major construction work done on it for water damage, I have been neglecting both the train room and this fantastic BB.  I am now on the mend and the construction work including the sump pump and drainage system installed, I will be trying to get things cleaned up and back on line.  

Merry Christmas everybody,

PCRR/Dave

Welcome back Dave.  I was wondering where you went.  Glad the ticker is repaired and sorry to hear about the basement. 

Good to see you back!

Praise the Lord that your operation went well and you are on the mend.  Welcome back.

Don

Gentlemen,

   Thanks much for the kind words, will try to participate as time allows!

PCRR/Dave

@Pine Creek Railroad Dave- good to hear from you and glad you are on the mend. rest up- the trains aint goin' anywhere.

Bob

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Absolutely!  And thanks again for that! 

I actually had more fun yesterday.  One of our forum members who lives locally was having issues with a 90s era Hudson and ZW controller; had a quick shufti at both during our weekly Lunch Bunch meeting, parts were ordered and both will be repaired sometime in the near future.

In the meantime, his Christmas tree was down one loco and one transformer,  which would, of course, not do.  In the course of lunch conversation,  it evolved that Ken (a fellow Philly expat) was planning to acquire a tuscan red GG1 in future.  On the spot, I planned a funny surprise... 

Anyhow, back at Chez Marmel, I showed Ken my workshop area and popped the top off of one of my postwar ZWs to show him what a REAL transformer looked like.  He also met Norma Bates Kitteh in person, who enjoyed snuggling into his arms. 

So, I loaned Ken an RW transformer (I have several cluttering up the residence) and you should have seen his eyes light up when I pulled an RMT GG1 in tuscan off the shelf as his loaner! 

Got these happy snaps this AM:

And THIS, my friends, is why I'm in this hobby. 

Mitch

Excellent!  That GG-1 really hauls.  Keep paying it forward.

God bless & an early Merry Christmas.

Happy to hear from you Dave.

@Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Gentlemen,

   Thanks much for the kind words, will try to participate as time allows!

PCRR/Dave

Nice to see you back Dave!

Well, I wasn't involved in the work but some new cars out on the layout yesterday. My dad sent me this video last night of some piggybacks entering service.

Finished enclosing the tunnel tonight.

I had Previously painted the inside boards black and last Last night i did trimming in black where it was needed...

Tonight during the rain outside I added hinges to the end boards and secured everything with screws to the tunnel.

Now will work on trimming off the height of the Sections of Pennsy Rock Walls. Then will add weathering to the walls and install walls I outside of tunnel.

Seth, is the tunnel behind the hinged board?

Yes Mark

The tunnel is found behind the hinged boards. Two tracks, one main line, one return loop...

thanks Mark for helping me make things clear...

You are most welcome, Seth!  That is a very attractive and well thought out job!!

Things are slow with the posts coming in Tonight

so I will report that this afternoon I received my order from Scenic Express.  I inventoried the 20 selections I purchased on sale.  
My selections included boxwood hedges, lichen for the Rock walls, meadow grass, autumn foliage, tufts, low yellow bushes, static grass,  an several more bushes,.  
I will be selective with what I use and will order more later to complete the 12x24 ft in grasses, greenery. I’m impressed with the Silflor flyer enclosed with the Scenic Express box... All of the New  grass textures and new horsetail foliage and Leaf foliage... check it out!

I also received this week the structures ordered before Thanksgiving from a nice fellow Forum member, Greg Noel, in FL.  The six great MTH structures from his collection were at good prices... so I’m slowly filling up my planned Street scenes with industry, businesses, and homes for the Kentucky community in which I grew up 67 years ago.

I’m so very pleased with my old home place, the Big House, which Alan Graziano constructed. The House will have a very prominent location on the layout  near the freight depot on Railroad Street just as it did 120 years ago.

Then I finished enclosing the tunnel ...

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

So, I loaned Ken an RW transformer (I have several cluttering up the residence) and you should have seen his eyes light up when I pulled an RMT GG1 in tuscan off the shelf as his loaner! 

And THIS, my friends, is why I'm in this hobby. 

Mitch

Mitch;

In the words of an old teacher an friend, are a gentleman and a scholar

P.S. I didn’t think you owned an unadulterated GG1

@RSJB18 posted:

Figured you would chime in at some point

Thanks to all for the encouragement......not that I need much.

Now where did I put my credit card.

No one wants to slip slide away alone... not even a loan wolf like me

@Apples55 posted:

In the words of an old teacher an friend, you are a gentleman and a scholar

Aw, shucks. 

P.S. I didn’t think you owned an unadulterated GG1

What WAS I thinking? 

Mitch

Haven't posted for a bit so here's an update on progress. I've been working on another background building kit and almost have it completed. Some trim work and details and it can go on the layout.

I've completed and powered up the lights for my Atlas ice house and platform. Need to ballast the track behind it and then get more track down in front.

I also got my Ft. McHenry background photo mounted yesterday and today I can attach it to the back of the layout.

Lots of good work going on, looking forward to seeing more updates.

Stay safe,

Scott

You all have been quite busy!

Glad to see you back Dave!

Small update for me: Been revising my track plan some and decided to lay cork roadbed so all my current track is coming back up anyways. Now the tricky question is debating if to switch to Atlas. Been wanting to do this and putting a lot of thought into it. I have a friend who just moved to a new place and now has room for a layout so I could help re home some of my Gargraves but still not sold on Atlas yet.

New "Under The Hood" series begins today! 

https://ogrforum.com/...-in-its-present-form

Mitch

I Love the Atlas track I have but hate the availability problems!

fantastic JOB 

Started noodling around with the next scenery project. The back corner is 4' away (yea, I know....so don't remind me), so I've been procrastinating. I'm going to build a roadway tunnel and retaining wall to fill the corner. The tunnel will be made from more paper prints and I'm probably going to set them on blue foam for the terrain. My hope is to build it as a diorama and just drop it in place since I can't easily reach the back corner. I'm also considering setting the track on foam and putting the tunnel in front, haven't decided for sure yet but it's a thought. I first have to build a platform to lay on the layout so that I can get over the top and reach. Here's a test with a couple of the prints.

Of course I had to move some trains in order to get back there so some fun was had as the electrons flowed.

Bob

Not having a whole lot of luck with locomotives this season.  Still perplexed with my lionchief battery conversion.  Still perplexed with my AC commander installation although that for some reason is fixing itself (I hate when things start to work or not for no apparent reason and without intervention).  Decided to work on my 2 rail layout and my only 2 rail locomotive and wouldn't you know it, it just stopped.  At least that I was able to address that issue successfully.   It has sat for so long it needed some light cleaning and lube.  Ever since visiting Ed Rappe's layout my 2 rail bug has been itching.  I will never build something like his layout but my tiny 2 rail layout will now be receiving some attention.

USPS package will arrive later than expected, but is still on its way. It is currently in transit to the next facility.

That is the message I am getting on three new purchases from November 28 and 29, 2020. Both were originally scheduled for Monday, December 7, 2020 delivery. These went through the Atlanta Peachtree Hub.  On Wednesday the 9th, they have not reached the downtown Cleveland sorting Hub or my 44130 post office.

A new CSX Veterans ES44AC was to be delivered Sunday, then Monday, and now it too is "will arrive later than expected". It went through Philadelphia Network Hub on December 3rd, 2020.  Today is December 8, 2020.

Does anyone know what happened to the post office that is causing long delays on Priority 2-Day Mail?  Is it 2-day,  3-day,  4-day,  5-day,  6-day,  7-day,  some-day mail?

I am mailing my Christmas cards today so they arrive by New Year's Day.  If you don't get my Christmas card, you will know what happened to it.

UPDATE:  According to my 44130 post office, my two packages that were at Atlanta Peachtree Hub on December 2, 2020 are still sitting there on December 8 at Noon.  My CSX Veterans ES44AC that was at Philadelphia Hub on December 3, 2020 is still there on December 8, 2020 at Noon.

UPDATE  #2  December 9, 2020:  All three packages are still either in the Atlanta Peachtree GA Hub or Philadelphia, PA Hub.  Nothing has moved toward me since December 2 or 3, 2020.

"I'll be home for Christmas, ... but will my packages?"

Sincerely, John Rowlen

John Rowlen, our USPS System needs our prayers, I understand your frustration. At least we can communicate our thoughts here on the forum for some Friendly relief. I had a friend over sunday afternoon and we ran his legacy Chessie T1 Steamer, a beautiful locomotive. We had a fun afternoon. RSJB18 Bob, when your done with this corner it’s going to look great, keep the pictures coming, you have a really nice pike.  B&O Fan, Wow, your structures are very nice, I love the ice station and you have a really neat layout. Happy Railroading Everyone...

@John Rowlen posted:

USPS packages will arrive later than expected, but is still on its way. It is currently in transit to the next facility.

That is the message I am getting on three new purchases from November 28 and 29, 2020. Both were originally scheduled for Monday, December 7, 2020 delivery. These went through the Atlanta Peachtree Hub.  On Tuesday the 8th, they have not reached the downtown Cleveland sorting Hub or my 44130 post office.

A new CSX Veterans ES44AC was to be delivered Sunday, then Monday, and now it too is "will arrive later than expected". It went through Philadelphia Network Hub on December 3rd, 2020.  Today is December 8, 2020.

Does anyone know what happened to the post office that is causing long delays on Priority 2-Day Mail?  Is it 2-day,  3-day,  4-day,  5-day,  6-day,  7-day,  some-day mail?

I am mailing my Christmas cards today so they arrive by New Year's Day.  If you don't get my Christmas card, you will know what happened to it.

"I'll be home for Christmas, ... but will my packages?"

Sincerely, John Rowlen

John- I'm sure you've seen this thread by now. Seems to be a trend with USPS lately. My wife sells on ebay and some of her recent shipments have been wandering around the countryside for several days.

@leapinlarry- thanks for the kind words. Big hill to climb to catch up to your beautiful basement full of trains but hopefully one day......

Bob

Thank you Bob, I have been blessed in the build of my layout, several really good friends helped me, some great scenery folks, some great electrical folks, and my doing the carpentry, trackwork, hooking up all of the transformers, Cab 1L, Cab 1, and Legacy network. Friends in the hobby make it so much more fun, tossing around ideas, suggestions, thoughts, reading this thread in the forum, and of course the OGR Magazine. It’s all a lot of fun. Happy Railroading Everyone

Since I have the outdoor work done and my part of decorating for Christmas done, I spent some time on the layout yesterday.  I cut and placed two pieces of plywood with 1x2 braces for my TIU, terminal blocks, and anything else under the 2x2 peninsula leading to where the lift up bridges will be.  I also put in braces for a 2x4 section of plywood where I will mount some shelves for engines and cars.  The shelves are aluminum from Alan Dechants aka Mr. Trains in nearby Knox, Pennsylvania.  I think I should paint the plywood behind the plywood before mounting the shelves.  I first thought of white, then I thought I could use the light blue I painted the room walls since a wall is on the other side of a 27" aisle.  I'll post some photographs later.

Great work everyone, to be honest I have not done anything on the layout lately, I went out with the the CEO in tow so she can keep an eye on me to the train room where she was nice enough to sit with me and let me run a couple of trains for about 45 minutes. Sure is a nice way to break up the day of nothing to do! LOL

I hope your all doing well and keep up the wonderful work!

That's it, LeapinLarry!

Your layout is so detailed, realistic and beautiful that I'll never post pics of The WVRR again.

Great work

PS: Never say "never" (LOL)

Lionelski, John, Thank You for the compliment, but, you need to show pictures of your layout because, Every layout has scenes that are like no other, even the smallest of layouts. Everyone has something great to offer when showing there handywork.. Mike G., it’s good to see you posting here today, hopefully your feeling better and getting back to some sort of normal. I see you might live in Washington state, have you seen the Seattle Seahawks play? Wow. I live in Titan country. Happy Railroading Everyone

@leapinlarry posted:

Lionelski, John, Thank You for the compliment, but, you need to show pictures of your layout because, Every layout has scenes that are like no other, even the smallest of layouts. Everyone has something great to offer when showing there handywork.. Mike G., it’s good to see you posting here today, hopefully your feeling better and getting back to some sort of normal. I see you might live in Washington state, have you seen the Seattle Seahawks play? Wow. I live in Titan country. Happy Railroading Everyone

Thanks Larry. still running a little slow and soar today but I have to get on here and keep up to date. I have never seen the Seahawks in real life and I thinkI get a better view from my recliner anyways! LOL

I hope everyone is doing well and finding time for there layout!

@Lionelski posted:

The WVRR continues to evolve (as it has since (1983).

I recently started adding 2 reversing loops on the upper level. A lot of disruption in trackage, scenery, etc and will take a couple weeks to finish.

I'll post pics at that time.

Have fun

I finished the 2 reversing loops a lot quicker than I thought I would. The only thing not yet done is adding the controllers. Problem here is I have absolutely no space on my main switch control panel to put them. The sub-control panel show in the 2nd pic is for the operating accessories located in the "Absolute Yards"

I've found that, with the help of Lionel's non-derailing feature, if I initially set the switches in a certain direction, the train  will run the entire upper level in a different direction every other time - this added interest was my original goal.

BTW, the liquor train shown is over 18, 1/2 feet long.

John your new reversing loops looks great and fits in well with the existing Warrenvillerailroad. More tracks, more trains running equals lots more fun.  Enjoy the new rails.

Nothing on my layout, but I took my youngest to the choo choo barn. He was loving it and we had the whole place to ourselves.