@mike g. posted:Hi guys, I didnt do much. just added 6 power polls and some wire. I know its hard to see, but the CEO likes it so its good enough for me! Man what a PIA! LOL
A couple of photos for you all! You know Lew says no photos it didnt happen! LOL
Mike the power poles and transmission lines looks great. Did the line crew properly rotate the phases to help reduce any line losses? 😖
Thanks Rich, the crews must of done things right. I'm still here! LOL
Put LED lighting in six C&O passenger cars with GRJ’s lighting boards. Work great. Huge improvement.
Mike: Nice job on the power lines... Your layout is looking great. Amazing how much you've gotten done since I "disappeared" last Spring !! Thanks for the tip on gutting old printers, that's a really great source of parts/drives for an animation project.
I took apart one of my brass heavyweight cars that someone had converted to LED lighting, but didn't use a buck converter so I added one so I could adjust the lighting level, added some additional passengers while I was in there.
@Don Winslow posted:I just replaced the pickup rollers on my #2355 Western Pacific F3's. I had noticed that not only were the old ones deeply grooved, but they had become fused and did not roll at all.
Like most Lionel post war models, my old F3 responded well to a "little love" and now runs great!
Hi Don. Happy New year. Wondering about your roller replacement project. Did you replace the whole roller assembly?
HAPPY NEW YEAR:
@chris a posted:Seth, Thanks for the positive feedback. The walls between the lower and upper track level were cast out of plaster. The walls below the MTH weathered brick station were purchased in the "Flexible Foam" material which is similar to but not exactly like the rigid foam wall sections. The middle section of the lower walls in front of the station is actually the face of a "Pullout Drawer" that has a control panel on it with the switch controls for that section of the layout upper and lower....
I made my own Latex mold of one if the flexible sections as I knew I would end making around 8 to 10 of the cast ones out of Hydrocal... Couldn't .........
Well Chris.... Fantastic work.... and everyone who posts and shares here knows that it takes effort to SHARE!! Someday when i grow up I hope to be creating better walls just like You! As a n00b, I am stuck in not being satisfied with my skillz and my little creations never quite come close to what I THINK it will look like.. Soooo, having failed alot in my journey to success, we can all appreciate the "Superpowers" you have....
I Appreciate your share.... Thanks
"Ya know, in this era of Bluetooth remotes, digital controls and all the alphabet gobbledygook, sometimes it's nice to just get back to basics, run a simple train around a simple oval and bask in the smell of ozone and 3-in-1 oil..."
https://ogrforum.com/...5#152899749105498045
Happy New Year, all!
Mitch
Odenville Bill Alco project tinkering rehab is a success! Like them, cool running. But I really like the multilevel layout you have put together! Send follow ups!
happy new year Bill
@Leroof posted:Odenville Bill Alco project tinkering rehab is a success! Like them, cool running. But I really like the multilevel layout you have put together! Send follow ups!
happy new year Bill
Bill, I totally agree with Leroof about your multilevel layout. I missed out on seeing some of that construction and was very pleasantly surprised. PS: You had great success with the Alcos!
What great work being done today! I Figure everyone would be taking the day off to enjoy the holiday, man was I wrong! LOL
Well today I got out there early and painted a couple tubes for silos for the Morton Salt building. Then the CEO stated that she thought it would be nice if there was another park on the layout so I put one right across the entry way to the train room. I think I am going to have to build a walkway from one to the other! LOL
I also worked on the back corner where the track will one day go out side. Here are a couple photos for you all to enjoy, I will hit it again tomorrow.
On a side note, just wondering if anyone knows how to wire up these signals from MTH and where one might put them on a layout?
Everyone have a great weekend! Remember try and find time to have fun with your layout and trains!
Mike what better way to enjoy the holiday than to work on the layout?? 
The silos and park look nice.
I finished wiring in all my TVS's at each track feed and installed some more cable clamps. Sorry Lew. No photographs. Think what you will! 
My Grandsons love to take the snowmen off of the lighted flat cars and then put them on the tracks for the engine to knock off. Now I had a flat car with lights and no load. I decided to put Hallmark's pedal cars on the flats. Makes for a nice toy load;
Miggy, thanks for your kind words... Trust me there are no "Superpowers" here, just perseverance and a bunch of time looking & reading on this forum as well as watching a ton of YouTube videos on scenery. Can't speak for anyone else, but it took me decades of trying to create scenery with many, many disappointments & failures.
So don't get discouraged, I think the only way to get there is to continue to try new techniques, do it over and over and over again and then one day you're pleasantly surprised with the result. The other thing I have come to accept, is there aren't too many short cuts that provide really pleasing results on most projects. Now that I have accepted that it's going to be a multi-step process and it's going to take longer than I would have originally liked, it's worth the time to be patient, (very hard for me)... go through all the steps and then move on to the next project.
Here's some shots of some of the other scenery on this layout. I may have posted some of these shots before, but I tend to learn as much from looking at other member's layout photos, as reading long sets of instructions on how to do it.
Mike G - , nice job there, but I think you're eating too many chips !
Mike g., wow, the layout is alive and looking good, also you must have the patience of Job to connect the lines to the telephone poles, very neat work. To connect the MTH signals up, I suggest insulated rail or connecting to a track turnout. I feel sure someone with an owners manual will chime in. Mitch Marmel, I love your Texas Special set a few days ago, your layout ideas are novel, also, the kittens like it to, Don Winslow, the Wester Pacific AA is beautiful, that’s a great color scheme, super nice layout, and you have some neat steamers to. Chris A, it’s nice to see you back in action again and seeing that beautiful Kline hudson at work, great passenger trains,Wow. I didn’t work on the layout today but spent time rearranging the trains on the shelves. I placed all of the Century Club One Engines in their display cases in the same area. It’s hard to believe they are ancient technology. 
Time sure flies when simply moving trains from one shelf to another, the dusting, it’s fun work. Happy Railroading Everyone, this is going to be a great year,2021....
Connecting lights and testing sidewalks/ street width.
WOW, Very nice work to all. Tis great to have friends just a "Whistle Stop" away.
I appreciate ya
@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:"Ya know, in this era of Bluetooth remotes, digital controls and all the alphabet gobbledygook, sometimes it's nice to just get back to basics, run a simple train around a simple oval and bask in the smell of ozone and 3-in-1 oil..."
https://ogrforum.com/...5#152899749105498045
Happy New Year, all!
Mitch
Mitch: It seems your track inspectors agree with you fully! Happy New Year!!!!!
Chris A. Great looking buildings! As for the chips the wife picks them up for me as they are easy to eat with no teeth! LOL Plus at a $1 per tube you really cant beat them!
Larry, You have a train room that any person would love to have! You have an engine for every RR! I can see how dusting that room would be fun!
WinstonB, Outstanding work! Your streets look great with plenty of room!
Well today I went out and worked on the silos again along with the area around the Morton Salt Building. I was going to fire the painter, but he explained that the building was old and the silos are brand new! LOL I also added some trees to the CEO's park area along with a small train platform. I still need to add LED's to the platform. Here are a couple photos.
The last photo is of the transfer tube from the silos to the building. I know it should be square but I dont have anything on hand. Give me your thoughts and maybe I will just cut something out of a 2X4! LOL
I hope everyone is having a great Saturday!
Mike, The painter done good! I wouldn't worry about the transfer tube. It's a model, and most folks wouldn't know the difference; including me. 
@Mark Boyce posted:Mike, The painter done good! I wouldn't worry about the transfer tube. It's a model, and most folks wouldn't know the difference; including me.
Thanks Mark!
Winston B
What material did you use for roadway? I really like the look. The green light windows are great.
@mike g. posted:Chris A. Great looking buildings! As for the chips the wife picks them up for me as they are easy to eat with no teeth! LOL Plus at a $1 per tube you really cant beat them!
Larry, You have a train room that any person would love to have! You have an engine for every RR! I can see how dusting that room would be fun!
WinstonB, Outstanding work! Your streets look great with plenty of room!
Well today I went out and worked on the silos again along with the area around the Morton Salt Building. I was going to fire the painter, but he explained that the building was old and the silos are brand new! LOL I also added some trees to the CEO's park area along with a small train platform. I still need to add LED's to the platform. Here are a couple photos.
The last photo is of the transfer tube from the silos to the building. I know it should be square but I dont have anything on hand. Give me your thoughts and maybe I will just cut something out of a 2X4! LOL
I hope everyone is having a great Saturday!
Looks fine to me Mike.
@Miggy posted:Pulled out the Sawmill to cut some logs with the grandson, and we tried to get the E-Unit working in the Lionel 637... no luck, so running the Prairie 9042 and making SMOKE!
Ya'll use MegaSmoke? Whats favorite smell.. ( wife does not like the "Dirty Socks" smell....) Merry Christmas
I used to be a Mega Steam dealer. Our favorite 2 on what was our demonstration layout were Christmas Pine and Hot Chocolate!!!!!
I started building the tunnel and retaining walls today. I need a few more pieces for the returns inside the tunnel so I had to glue a couple more copies onto cardboard. They are drying under so weight to keep them flat at the moment so I'm done for today.
Hope everyone has a good weekend.
Bob
@RSJB18 posted:I started building the tunnel and retaining walls today. I need a few more pieces for the returns inside the tunnel so I had to glue a couple more copies onto cardboard. They are drying under so weight to keep them flat at the moment so I'm done for today.
Hope everyone has a good weekend.
Bob
Bob, things are really looking good! Thank you for your comment on my silos! I hope your having a great weekend!
Ran a coal drag today crossing the East Branch.....
Added a 1938 La France fire engine to the layout...will need to call Arttista to come up with a fire crew to man the engine...
Nice work everyone. Gandy, nice coal train. This morning I cleaned wheels and lubed axels on 3 more steamers. 2 more to go. Hoping to receive a Lionel commuter eventually, stuck in a truck or mail room somewhere.
Did a little more on the retaining walls. I finished the basic structure and painted some balsa that I will use to detail the printed flats. Nothing photo worthy.
Gandy- nice coal drag,
JeffPo- that coal tipple looks right at home.
Paul- that truck is nice. Looks like the PD needs some help keeping their bikes upright 
Our local FD has a 30's era LaFrance that they restored and use for parades.
Bob
*edit*- AND WE HIT PAGE 975! 25 TO GO!
I finished taking the Christmas layout down and putting everything away. It takes quite a while to put all of the Dept. 56 and Lemax buildings back in the foam forms and boxes.
@Sean007 posted:I finished taking the Christmas layout down and putting everything away. It takes quite a while to put all of the Dept. 56 and Lemax buildings back in the foam forms and boxes.
I did the same.
It is a sad day when the Christmas Tree, decorations and layout are taken down. The dog, however, is happy that things are back to normal for her
So I was surfing around last night and found a video on YouTube by forum member, Santiago featuring some CB&Q Burlington steam engines. The video was so inspiring, I decided I really needed to open my Sunset/3rd Rail O5a 4-8-4 Northern #5629. His video work is outstanding ! It was like giving myself a Christmas gift... I opened this engine once about 12 years ago, when I purchased it, and then it went back in the box as I was dealing with my mom and dad's health issues, job changes, and all of life's other challenges. Boy was I thankful I found Santiago's video.. Took it out put it at the head of some Pullman Heavyweights, and decided to take some photos..... definitely made my day !!!
That's a beauty Chris. 12 years WOW 
I've had a couple of engines for over a year that I haven't opened up yet but 12 is a long time. Please share a video of it in action when you can.
Welcome back BTW!
Bob
Hi Bob, thanks, glad to be back !. I plan to grease and oil the Northern this afternoon, then turn on the video camera. I like the work you're doing on the timber tunnel entrance and retaining wall structure.
Did some improvements to my sky blue backdrop. I added some light haze of white as inspired by a video I saw somewhere & had tucked into the train portion of my brain. My wife even approved. Now to do the rest of the it !
OK shot a video of the Sunset 3rd Rail 4-8-4 Northern O5a. As it's one long main, the B&O EM-1 has to run also. The second video is just a shorter video coming out of the tunnel.
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