What did you do on your layout today?

Matt, Great little videos! Thanks for sharing your layout with us!

Hey Mike,

This is for you but of course everyone else is more than welcome to look, lol. Just a quick run by over the window bridges.

Dave

Mark B -  I think you have some competition on the bridge views. Dave thanks for sharing - nice combination of bridge styles. 

Thanks ScoutingDad!

Dave

Well this is more on what am I going to do on my layout - TrainWorld is shipping my second MTH Illinois Central Gulf engine so I can duplicate the prototype photo I tool years (decades) ago.  The Orange and White paint scheme engine is due in a few days. I have had the ICG Blue and Orange for several months now.

Too bad its now Canadian National - not that it is a bad organization - just too much consolidation in the RR industry IMHO - fallen flags. My industry went from 11 competitors to 4 due to Ivan Boesky starting the M&A craze during my career. I was bought 2 twice and survived both - many people did not. Good - Bad - I don't know - but a lot of good people lost their jobs so VPs and shareholders made a lot of money on the mergers. Well the Fed approved it so it most have been in the best interests of the country and its citizens.

The image was shot (by me)  in Pesotum Illinois just south of Champaign. Notice the incredibly flat land - you can see the horizon in all directions from there if something is not in the way.  South bound freight.

ScoutingDad,

Is that a low hood GP7 at the point?

Dave

I looked up ICG 8004 - the web data shows it is a GP10 built in 1968.  I think I took the photo in late 1990. Apparently ICG rebuilt GP7 GP9 and others and ended up with a different number (GP10) than the original EMD engine. I do not know enough about the engines to tell the difference.

I had a fraternity  brother who worked for EMD in McCook Illinois, who told me about the basic difference between the GE and EMD diesels - one was built from a casting the other was a weldment. Both had advantages and disadvantages.

@luvindemtrains posted:

Hey Mike,

This is for you but of course everyone else is more than welcome to look, lol. Just a quick run by over the window bridges.

Dave

Yes I appreciate your time to video the trestle and sharing with us.  I’ve enjoyed the YouTube video as well.

Dave, the trains running on the bridges looks great.  Jeff, I finally got power to the upper bridge today.  I still have to do the lower one.

Jeff, congratulations on the Illinois Central engine.  I know how you feel.  CN now owns our local Bessemer and Lake Erie.  I have seen CN engines here in Butler and also ones lettered Illinois Terminal .

Thanks Seth and Mark,

Dave

IC Paducah rebuilds .. GP7's became GP8's, 7000 number series. GP9's became GP10's, 8000 number series. I grew up watching these units on a daily basis. Many of these units are still working away on short lines and plant switching operations, and still carry their IC-ICG numbers.

Rusty

Mark, you must have seen the NS 1072, the Illinois Terminal heritage unit. The IT was liquidated by the NW in 1982.

Rusty

Loving the forced spectrum in the background. Perfect!

@luvindemtrains posted:

Hey Mike,

This is for you but of course everyone else is more than welcome to look, lol. Just a quick run by over the window bridges.

Dave

Dave, that is so cool! Thank you for posting it. You have done some amazing work there! I Just love that scene!

Matt,

I saw a piece of atlas track on your layout in one of the videos and I wondering, what is it for?

@mike g. posted:

Thanks Chris for making it so easy to understand! It can be a real pain in the rear for some of us that are slow when it comes to electrical! LOL

Wow! I agree Mike g. As a carpet layout and now a 4x8-er, I am amazed at the larger layouts that the "Big Boys" build and model. Also, there is something quite daunting when the gathering of 3, expensive, ZW controllers set in the forefront. And apparently, just the amount of wiring is expensive. And, with the technology that is out there, what with remote control systems and Rail Sound Consists, the appeal will reach out to the younger generations, for sure!

I started using Bluetooth sound speakers with a Sound-of-trains app three years ago. I found small rechargeable speakers that look like a Crate-of-Freight on flatcars. That solved the lack of horns issue I have with several engines we run. Also, It keeps one engineer busy with the laptop selecting sounds, while the other makes the trains move. Technology! The kids soak it up.

That being said, a line of ZW transformers at the forefront shows how expensive it can get. And I again thank the leaders of this hobby, sharing selflessly, how to manage intricate issues we all encounter.

Great Video and thanks again!

Hi Ben - the piece of Atlas track is only used for photos of equipment that I’m looking to sell. A friend gave it to me when I was considering switching to Atlas. It is nice in so far as it can be adjusted to almost any radius. When I weighed the cost of conversion, I stayed with tubular.

@mike g. posted:

Dave, that is so cool! Thank you for posting it. You have done some amazing work there! I Just love that scene!

-You're welcome Mike and thanks!

-Ron I appreciate the compliment.

Dave

@Diverging Clear posted:

Mark, you must have seen the NS 1072, the Illinois Terminal heritage unit. The IT was liquidated by the NW in 1982.

Rusty

Rusty, It is very odd.  I have seen this engine twice now.  It is not the heritage unit.  It is a smaller diesel, but I am not up on diesels after first generation.  It certainly wasn't green.  It was solid black with Illinois Terminal in white block letters on the side.  I have not found a photograph anywhere online, and wasn't able to get the phone out quickly to take a photograph.  It was moving and I was driving.  I am suspicious but don't know if it was something the CN or AK Steel bought or leased and wasn't repainted.  It also could have been something the Buffalo and Pittsburgh had because they interchange with the B&LE (CN) in Butler.  The B&P also have lots of diesels at their Butler Shop of various paint schemes.  Maybe I was delirious when I saw it. 

Did it look like this one?  This set of rails runs east west through Champaign. This consist was making a delivery of stone and other materials to a concrete products company. I would see them about 3 times a week when I was driving to work - do not remember what that is like anymore - over a year now.  CN operates the track down here.  I thought about picking up this color scheme from MTH and decided not to buy.

Jeff, that is an excellent photograph!  That looks like what I have seen.  It looks like an SD or GP something or other.  I can't see how many wheels.  The last time was probably 6 months ago or so.  I didn't notice the yellow stripe, but it could have been blocked from view, or I was concentrating on the lettering and missed it.  That must be it!  Thank you!!

Just search " ICG 3115"  nice photo archive of the engine.  A legend says it is a Rebuilt EMD GP40R.

Jeff, Thank you!  No wonder I couldn't find anything.  I was looking under Illinois Terminal not Illinois Central Gulf.  I'm not up on Midwest railroads! 

Mark what a sheltered life you must have led to not be up on Midwest railroads ; )

I didn't even know about Illinois Terminal until I saw the road name on an engine 2 years ago and I have been all over the Midwest. Still do not know anything about them.

Trains publishes posters of historical road names in the US/Canada and by current owner showing rights of way. I have several hanging in my train room.

For some fun look up "Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad" Quite a history and still independent.

@ScoutingDad posted:

Mark what a sheltered life you must have led to not be up on Midwest railroads ; )

I didn't even know about Illinois Terminal until I saw the road name on an engine 2 years ago and I have been all over the Midwest. Still do not know anything about them.

Trains publishes posters of historical road names in the US/Canada and by current owner showing rights of way. I have several hanging in my train room.

For some fun look up "Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad" Quite a history and still independent.

SD and @Mark Boyce- Virtual Railfan has a camera at Waupaca Wisconsin at a foundry. The line is owned by CN but they run locals with IT, and GT Geeps.

@RSJB18 posted:

SD and @Mark Boyce- Virtual Railfan has a camera at Waupaca Wisconsin at a foundry. The line is owned by CN but they run locals with IT, and GT Geeps.

Thank you, Bob!  

Mike,

I really like what you have done with the tower! It really is a nice addition. Will await the addition of the flats, which I'm sure will be wonderful.

Dave

Scouting Dad, I'm pretty sure I have a few photo's of the same GP40R, IC 3115 at Decatur, IL.

Rusty

@Diverging Clear posted:

Scouting Dad, I'm pretty sure I have a few photo's of the same GP40R, IC 3115 at Decatur, IL.

Rusty

I’ll keep watching in Butler, Pennsylvania

She will be setting on the layout the next time you see her guys... I can recommend this kit from Woodlands Scenics... the Corner Emporium. Precision cut and fits together well.

Next in the agenda for the DJ&C rail yard us streets and roads...

What is your normal width of your road way for the 1:48/1:43 ratio cars and trucks?

The yellow center line stripes, I cannot paint them on the roads.
What’s recommended?  
I know recently Mike g. has cut the strips from something. But please share with me again 🙄

I appreciate your interest and information 😊

Seth Thomas...regarding yellow or white road striping, parking space marker lines, etc., I've had good luck with 1/8' auto pinstriping from the local auto parts store...not exactly in scale, but does the job for me...

@Capetrainman posted:

Seth Thomas...regarding yellow or white road striping, parking space marker lines, etc., I've had good luck with 1/8' auto pinstriping from the local auto parts store...not exactly in scale, but does the job for me...

Capetrainman I appreciate the kind reply.

Since you supplied such nice streets tonight, how did you make your side walks...? Thanks in advance. 😊

Been admiring lots of impressive modeling by you inspired modelers.

Tonight I placed the 5 panels of scenery where I recently planted the trees I made. I still have to make bushes and extend a gravel road to get it done. The no. 505 B6s is poised for switching, dropping 8 cars and picking up 11.

Nice work Seth. I have not got close to getting morter color like you have, The building looks great.

Seth,

The building turned out wonderful. I really like what you did with the brick work. Woodland Scenics also has this same model pre-built, however I like the idea of constructing it so that you can really be creative with the brick work and other parts of the building.

Dave

I finally got the contacts in to power the lift up bridges when down.  Here are two views, both about 2 1/2 minutes long.

While l was on a roll with the Nash Dealer structure, l decided to tackle this T. Yorke "Tony's Garage", as it is a dilapidated ruin and could have serviced cars in my ghost town.  With no instruction sheet, and several anonymous plaster cast walls and other parts, l conjured up a seat of pants assembly l am pleased with, a garage up on a stone walled basement where mechanic could work under cars, but gas was sold at bottom of ramp.  Building is done, but ramp and basement are under construction.

Mark, Don't cha love it when a plan comes together? Excellent accomplishment.

Steve

Great work Mark. The videos really show your layout well. Happy that it all came out just as you wanted. The change in elevations and spurs are interesting elements.

Thank you Steve and Pennsynut!!  I am glad it came out as planned.  It was a challenge for me.