WHAT TRAINS DID YOU RUN TODAY?

Very nice Bob. Were you satisfied with the result of cleanliness?

Today I decided to pull my coal cars with some older engines.  I'll be changing out the gondola loads soon for Christmas loads.  I made my own coal loads and had so much fun doing it I got carried away filling all my cars.

Thanks for watching.

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

Very nice Bob. Were you satisfied with the result of cleanliness?

Yes- the car works very well.

Thanks

An MTH PS3 NY Central diesel hauls freight on the outer loop, and a Lionel Legacy NY Central 10 Wheeler hauls passengers on the inner loop, under my recently repaired Lionel Postwar #450 signal bridge.  Arnold

Ran a double stack train a few nights ago. Product was getting backed up so I had to get them rolling. Lol

Still trying to get the house ready for Christmas and company, but on a trip down to,the basement, had to take a couple of minutes to run my Christmas train. As always, sorry for the quality of the video

LC+ New Haven FAs hauling box cars through My Little Town, which is not so little anymore thanks to my recent layout expansion:

Everyone, beautiful trains, oldies and newbies and fun to review. Thanks for posting, Melgar, this is a great thread, page 31, Wow. Today, you’ll see things on the top… Happy Railroading Everyone

A little different train. This one is working my underground mine.

@farmerjohn....that's one of the most creative scenes I've seen in quite a while. Your landscaping borders on artistry.

Arnold

Ran some Geep units tonight out on the main line. Enjoy!

Tonight I ran two B6s switchers to spot cars at industries on two different sidings, and a Consolidation pulling nine oil tank cars.

Here's a train I've been running for several weeks.  I ran it this morning too.  4 locomotives pulling 22 freight cars.  Unfortunately only the first few cars made it onto the video.

This past weekend I ran a Weaver NYC Dreyfus, a Weaver Leigh Valley John Wilkes and a Lionel Illinois Central F3.

The Dreyfus was converted to PS3 by @GGG, the John Wilkes was converted to PS3 by @gunrunnerjohn and the IC F3 was converted to TMCC by Me after the Pulmor motors were replaced with DC can motors by @ftimko.

They all run smooth as silk!

I ran my older Lionel Legacy Mohawk #2791 with the correct marker lights. I need more smoke fluid. The New Lionel 6-car Pacemaker set follows the NYC Milk Cars, a Lionel Sound Box car and an Atlas O Pacemaker box car.

Had fun.  Sincerely, John Rowlen

Ran my Lionel Legacy Alaska GP35 #2501 and #2502 with Burlington Northern SD40-2 #8002 that was damaged and returned to me. I fixed the Kinematic coupler porch that was bent downward. Running my three 5-car Double Stack to sort and thin out my Atlas O 40' and 45' Containers to sell on Ebay. I bought way too many extra Containers.

Having fun as I select which trains to keep and which to sell on Ebay. Have a good night. Sincerely, John Rowlen

Ran my Lionel Alaska 21" eight-car passenger set with Vista Vision Dome. The Preiser 65602 Seated People inside were painted by me. They are a few of the 5,000 I have painted over the years. They were white blanks before I painted them. The car seats, tables and other features were painted to give visual depth to the inside of the cars. The interior was all beige plastic before I started detailing.

See some of my detailing work in OGR Thread "NEW Lionel Penn Central 21 inch Passenger Cars".  This thread shows some of the detailing of the seven Penn Central 21" passenger cars I did.  Have a good day.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

I ran my 3rd Rail PRR B1s

I ran all of my passenger trains! Well, it may have taken 2 and half days and made a huge mess but here they are.

Now to finally sleep...

I shoulda been working on the block wiring but, y’know, trains ….    

I ran two tonight. It was awesome.  

@John Rowlen posted:

Ran my Lionel Alaska 21" eight-car passenger set with Vista Vision Dome. The Preiser 65602 Seated People inside were painted by me. They are a few of the 5,000 I have painted over the years. They were white blanks before I painted them. The car seats, tables and other features were painted to give visual depth to the inside of the cars. The interior was all beige plastic before I started detailing.

See some of my detailing work in OGR Thread "NEW Lionel Penn Central 21 inch Passenger Cars".  This thread shows some of the detailing of the seven Penn Central 21" passenger cars I did.  Have a good day.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Your Alaska Rail looks amazing.  We had an Alaska F7A with various passenger cars parked in the center of town for years.  Good job on all the detail work!

This thread inspired me to run a train.  I went with gondolas and hoppers. (My best YouTube of all time with over 1,500 views in the first 24 hours... Thank You!!).

I ran the 736 Berkshire with a string of freight cars - in the dark! That's the first time running trains in the dark since I was a kid. It's nice to see the locomotive headlight, caboose light, and all the signal and semaphore lights in the darkness. I have dimmer control on the overhead lights so in the future I can try a "sunset" run. It's all good when nothing derails as well.

Two trains today, MRL 4404 with a string of K line railmates (alongside custom Transformers and Norfolk and Western roadrailers) and the Big Boy with an excursion train that's very nearly ouroborosing itself on my small layout. This one definitely works better on the club setup I suppose.

I call this one my Super Greenball Express:

My 1954 Christmas gift at the age of 3 was the original Greenball Express freight set, consisting of the Lionel 2065 Hudson and short tender, operating milk car and platform, operating green log dump car and bin, yellow stock car, red gondola and illuminated caboose. Also included in that set was a small transformer, and some 027 track including a remote control track for unloading and uncoupling.

I have all of the original trains in that set in good operating order.

It is a gross understatement to say that this Greenball Express set has great sentimental value for me that invokes nostalgic feelings to the maximum extent for me.

This weekend I was thrilled to learn that I have a digitized home movie showing my original Greenball express running around an oval of track with 3 year old me sitting in middle of that oval with my father looking on.

Notice that the train in the above video substitutes a 773 Hudson (1964 version) and NY Central tender for the 2065 and tender, and adds an operating coal/ore dump car, and Sunoco oil tanker car. Hence, it's my Super Greenball Express, and it runs beautifully on my O gauge layout through my 031 curves and 022 switches.

Arnold

I’ll post a video soon but just want to say, this thread is really fun to watch as more modelers and train guys post small videos of their fun to run railroads. Technology is really a vibrant part of our hobby now and running trains in a form of command mode has really enhanced our love of building our layouts. Having seen Farmerjohns layout in person, I can say that over the past 10 years, it’s really a true Buffett of passenger trains, freight trains running for hours appearing and disappearing more than one can imagine. The high line is high, over 6 feet from the floor, and it extends into different areas of the layout that it’s Impossible to figure out the route, Wow, all of his lines of track take different paths and it’s simply amazing to watch the beautiful trains pass each other, up and over each other, Awesome. Here’s a few still pictures of Farmerjohns vivid imagination. Happy Railroading Everyone

Ran a few trains the other night.

Wow, Rsjb18 Bob, really cool videos of beautiful trains, the Menards F7 is gorgeous, the Long Island switcher makes great moves, cool dual level layout, really looks like a fun to run model railroad, Happy Railroading Everyone

@leapinlarry posted:

Wow, Rsjb18 Bob, really cool videos of beautiful trains, the Menards F7 is gorgeous, the Long Island switcher makes great moves, cool dual level layout, really looks like a fun to run model railroad, Happy Railroading Everyone

Thanks Larry.

Nice selection of videos. I didn't know that the 4141 played Hail to the Chief. The box car and tool car sounds are neat too.

Bob

You know Bob given your vast skill levels, and multitude of talents, you need a larger layout.

Lionel Visionline Niagara

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

You know Bob given your vast skill levels, and multitude of talents, you need a larger layout.

Allow me to introduce you to my wife......😂😂😂😂😂

Lionel VL 3001.

I think I'm beginning to suffer from layout envy! 🤣 😂

Bob, If you have the materials on standby, and you send your wife on vacation for two weeks , upon her return she’ll be pleasantly surprised. You could always say, “It followed me home so I have to keep it”.

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

Bob, If you have the materials on standby, and you send your wife on vacation for two weeks , upon her return she’ll be pleasantly surprised. You could always say, “It followed me home so I have to keep it”.

And I'll be sleeping under it from that point on too........

The reality Jay, like so many of us, is waiting until the kids (24, 17) are out so I can reclaim the space next to the layout where my son has his X-Box gaming lair. The corner of the basement is about 12x8 that I could do a decent around the wall pike with a lift bridge. Some claims of eminent domain further into the basement will be negotiated on a as-need basis.

Bob

I understand completely Bob. But, at least you’re formulating plans.

I ran my Amtrak Acela sets on the South Fork Railroad.

Been running two pair of 2 trains on 1 track for a total of 5 trains.  Relays are back up and working well but not needed in video as the the speeds were matched well.

Charlie

Funny thing, it makes me anxious to run more than 1 train at a time on my layout even though I have 2 independently powered interconnected main loops so 2 trains running simultaneously should not collide unless I do something very stupid, which occasionally happens. LOL.

To see as many as 5 trains running on someone else's layout also makes me anxious even though I have no skin in the game because none of the trains are mine. Maybe subconsciously they looks like snakes in a snake pit to me? LOL.

Here a video showing the 2 trains on 1 track running much slower and showing the relays in action.  Slow running is now possible with the NO Ox on the rails and wheels.

Charlie

Hey @Choo Choo Charlie.....

The perspective of your video is very interesting! Where you on a ladder; videoing your layout in action? It's pretty cool.

Junior

Yes I was about 4 ft up, standing on a 6 ft ladder.  I was used to seeing and photo'ing  my layout on the floor for over thirty years.  I now found it is easier to just stand on my recliner seat that is just a fewer feet back for videos now.  Maybe I will record one from my eye level standing at the control panels.

Charlie

Had a problem with the valve gear of a 2-6-2 older Lionel 2025 hitting the lift along the rail to trip the giraffe cars arm that triggers the giraffe to duck.  I had to move the lift away from the rail and then the arms on the giraffe cars would not stick out far enough to work.  I then pried the metal sleeve to stick out more and this fixed the problem.  Funny the other 2025 and other 2035 never had this problem.

Charlie

• @Choo Choo Charlie.....

Lionel's Giraffe cars are one of the most animated freight cars they've ever developed....I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM! Especially when a whole string of them are run together....the action they provide are just too much for me to handle! I immediately smile every time I see a whole line of them with their heads bobbing.

I was hoping you posted a video....and you did. Made MY day!

Today I ran predominantly postwar steamers; a 682, 2046, 1656, and a 623 - listed from the outer to inner track. This temporary layout is in an apartment, for now, but I am thankful for some space to let these locomotives stretch their wheels a bit.

@W&W posted:

I ran my Amtrak Acela sets on the South Fork Railroad.

I had hoped someone would eventually give us a comparison shot! Thanks.

Reminds me of this shot of lucky 2023.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/54690684@N07/6346546807

I ran four locomotives this evening.

First, I tested Central Railroad of New Jersey USRA 0-6-0 steam switcher #107 – model by Atlas O. The sound and tether have been somewhat problematic recently but are normal on the O-72 outer loop of my 12’-by-8’ layout going straight through the Atlas O-72 switches.

Second, I ran New York Central GP-9 #6001 – model by MTH. That engine, like all my PS3s runs smoothly and without any problems.

Next, I ran Long Island Rail Road G5s 4-6-0 #21 – with Dashing Dan Cannonball passenger cars and Boston & Maine ALCO S-2 #1274 pulling freight – both models by MTH. I especially like the steam sounds of #21 when running fast, and that’s how I usually run it. See video.

MELGAR

Mel, I had similar problems with the tether on my Atlas NH 0-6-0 on my O-42 curves.  I ended up damaging the tether while trying to unplug it, so I had the engine converted to PS3.

The tether plugs on my MTH steamers equipped with the “wireless” tether also became loose after a period of operation.  Like the Atlas, the loss of sound indicated the plug was loose, even though they continued to run.

On the advice of my good friend, Ed, I tied the tether plug to the tender drawbar with a black twist tie to hold the plug in place.  This solved the problem with my MTH engines; I suggest you see if you can secure the tether on your Atlas in a similar way.  Let me know if you have any luck!

John

This is what I'm currently running.

Gary: First time I’ve watched one of your videos and it was great! What you had done to that MTH L4 Mohawk is awesome. What a nice looking and sounding locomotive. Well done. 👍

Here is what I ran:

A petite powerhouse:

That's an MTH Railking Proto 3 Philadelphia Bethlehem and New England SW 1 diesel switcher. Arnold

Listen for the whistle and see the train in the distance across the river:

That's an MTH Proto 3 Long Island steam switcher hauling oil tankers. Arnold

Here's a Union Pacific 4-6-2 Pacific pulling a 1950s freight train.

@Yellowstone Special posted:

Here's a Union Pacific 4-6-2 Pacific pulling a 1950s freight train.

Very nice, Vern, beautiful trains and winter-theme layout. Arnold

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Very nice, Vern, beautiful trains and winter-theme layout. Arnold

Thank you, Arnold. It started out as a Polar Express Christmas layout. Then the wife and I expanded it and it’s been up and running for over 10 years now. 😳  I like your layout, too. 👍

It’s Daylight on the track with my favorite SP engines.

Wow, what beautiful passenger and freight  trains are on this fun to review forum, thanks for posting some of your favorite trains. As a little boy in Flora Illinois, everyday at noon the B&O passenger train would pass through and head towards Vincennes Indiana. I rode my bike to the station at noon almost everyday, it was such a beautiful train to me. @@Yellowstone, wow, nice freight train and beautiful layout, @WinstonB that’s a beautiful Southern Pacific passenger train video, a Wow. Happy Railroading Everyone

My latest acquisition that I bought from a local train buddy:

That's an MTH Proto 2 B&O Hudson with 2 K-Line 15 inch passenger cars. They run well on my 031 curves and 022 switches. Arnold

My newly acquired PRR Q2.

.                                          MTH Premier ps3 vo 1000. Run strong & steady !

Thanks to all who recently posted really great videos. Watching them continue to inspire me to keep moving forward on my layout!

@gunrunnerjohn....your Q2 is absolutely gorgeous! Is it all original or did you "perform your magic" and add some upgrades to it?

UP Heritage SD70ACe s' lashed up pulling a new load of Norscott 1:48 Scale equipment from the CAT Factory,

I captured this video and also used it on the Friday Front End Friday thread.

@Junior posted:

@gunrunnerjohn....your Q2 is absolutely gorgeous! Is it all original or did you "perform your magic" and add some upgrades to it?

It's currently "original", actually slightly less than original.  The 5V PS/2 board had croaked when I got it, which is why I got a good price.  However, the original board is a "special" board with FLASH for extra code to support the articulated chuff, and I didn't have one of those.  That being the case, I just stuck a regular 5V board into it to give it a run after cleaning it up, putting traction tires on it, and a little cleaning and lube.  I'm going to pull that board out and use a 3V board that does support the articulated chuff.  I have the 3V board on the bench all loaded up with the Q2 sound file, and I just changed out the 3V connectors for the 5V connectors to allow me to install it.  Since the board is in the locomotive, it's a bit trickier than some installs.

While it's open, I'll also add a pickup roller to the tender.  Even though it's a large locomotive, it has two fairly closely spaced rollers, so a reliability improvement will be an additional roller on the tender.  I think I'll also give it an amber LED headlight as well, they look much better and brighter than the 6V incandescent bulbs.

You never cease to amaze @gunrunnerjohn !

@Wood posted:

UP Heritage SD70ACe s' lashed up pulling a new load of Norscott 1:48 Scale equipment from the CAT Factory,

I captured this video and also used it on the Friday Front End Friday thread.

Hey @Wood...

When I read "Cat" I immediately thought kitty cat 😁!

I love the flat car loads...looks the rail cars might be at their load limit!

And it appears you're a tubular track guy. I am as well. I've made a huge investment in tubular track that it pains me to even think about going to fast track or any other track system. Although all my turnouts are Lionel 072 with a smidgen of 031 used only on sidings.

Thanks for the great video!

@Junior posted:

Hey @Wood...

When I read "Cat" I immediately thought kitty cat 😁!

I love the flat car loads...looks the rail cars might be at their load limit!

And it appears you're a tubular track guy. I am as well. I've made a huge investment in tubular track that it pains me to even think about going to fast track or any other track system. Although all my turnouts are Lionel 072 with a smidgen of 031 used only on sidings.

Thanks for the great video!

@Junior

Yes we have kitty cats. They jump on the table.  Haha.

The value to Norscott products is they are true 1:48. I hate all of the tractors by MTH and Lionel. They're pint size.

Tubular tract. Yup, same story, I had a lot of O27 profile track with O42 curves. My layout is medium sized 17' by 20' and I'm a track junkie. Every siding and mainline connects to the whole layout.

I like the O27 profile because it is low in height, not like Lionel O gauge. I weathered by painting the track.  Added ties and think it looks good. Used Gargraves O42 switches. Tubular has the best conductivity. No dead spots.

We all make choices based on inventory, replacement cost and reliability. I'm ok with my choice the trains run flawlessly.

Thanks for your kind words.

"I like the O27 profile because it is low in height, not like Lionel O gauge. I weathered by painting the track.  Added ties and think it looks good. Used Gargraves O42 switches. Tubular has the best conductivity. No dead spots.

We all make choices based on inventory, replacement cost and reliability. I'm ok with my choice the trains run flawlessly."

I agree Wood.

Check out:  About | WarrenVille RailRoad ,if you have not already, all O27 height track

Ran a coal train with my weathered H10.

How about putting a dinosaur costume on a cat, then you can have a living, breathing O Scale Godzilla on the layout.

MTH PS3 NY Central F3 A & B units hauling a beautiful set (IMO) of Williams NY Central passenger cars I bought from a LHS yesterday:

Arnold

Finished a lengthy project, CLC CFA and CFB units. Out for the inaugural run.

https://youtu.be/ay_lrW3XGbQ

Nice job Daniel.  I assume from your conversation you have been working on this for a while.  I'm interested in rebuilds and restorations. I'll search for your previous posts and try to see what you have done.

@midnightwrecking posted:

Finished a lengthy project, CLC CFA and CFB units. Out for the inaugural run.

https://youtu.be/ay_lrW3XGbQ

What a gorgeous locomotive, similar coloring to the Maine Central.

My first MTH PS2 locomotive: a Railking Pennsy Bantam Turbine hauling MTH Railking Pennsy aluminum looking passenger cars:

Not sure if it's a 5 volt or 3 volt PS2. I know the 5 volt can be problematic.

I'm almost sure I replaced the battery with a BCR, so I thinks it's in good shape.

It has performed perfectly since I bought it many years ago. It's one of my favorite engines. Arnold

@midnightwrecking - I’ll be interested in comparing Lionel’s Canadian National C-liner version (which I pre-ordered) to yours 😉, as it’s scheduled to arrive in the not-too-distant future.

@Wood posted:

Nice job Daniel.  I assume from your conversation you have been working on this for a while.  I'm interested in rebuilds and restorations. I'll search for your previous posts and try to see what you have done.

Hi, for most info probably Canadian Toy Train Association group page on Facebook. I don't think that I have posted much on forums.

@PH1975 posted:

@midnightwrecking - I’ll be interested in comparing Lionel’s Canadian National C-liner version (which I pre-ordered) to yours 😉, as it’s scheduled to arrive in the not-too-distant future.

If it is like the ones pictured on their site, there will be a ton of differences. The ones I found were CPAs. I like the paint work, I went with stripes on my CPA.

@midnightwrecking posted:

Hi, for most info probably Canadian Toy Train Association group page on Facebook. I don't think that I have posted much on forums.

Thank you, Daniel. I'll check it out.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

My first MTH PS2 locomotive: a Railking Pennsy Bantam Turbine hauling MTH Railking Pennsy aluminum looking passenger cars:

Not sure if it's a 5 volt or 3 volt PS2. I know the 5 volt can be problematic.

I'm almost sure I replaced the battery with a BCR, so I thinks it's in good shape.

It has performed perfectly since I bought it many years ago. It's one of my favorite engines. Arnold

Arnold- from a recent conversation I had with Gunrunner John.

An easy way to tell is look for the charging port, the round one with a single pin is the 5V board and the rectangular one with two pins is the 3V board.

I flew today instead of running trains

A New Haven revenue freight leaves New Haven Cedar Hill yard

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Dfa5BiAkMHbF5T1b7

I ran a bunch:

My postwar Rock Island Alcos pulling a freight drag, my Gilbert Flyer S gauge 322 also pulling a freight drag (1), my postwar Seaboard switcher pulling a drag of mostly giraffe cars (1), my trusty 682 turbine pulling 6 Pennsylvania Madison cars and my postwar Lackawanna FM Trainmaster pulling a line of 6414 autoloaders.

(1) in "The Alcove"

A busy passenger day on the New Haven as a DL109 heads a time table scheduled passenger run.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Dfa5BiAkMHbF5T1b7

Gentlemen, The previous video was yesterdays and it was a freight run. Thank goodness I am not earning a paycheck this way, I think I have it right now with the DL109 passenger consist 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RXrVfigYgixLGPhg9

More passenger traffic on the New Haven as an I-5 leads one the other way

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FkBTiMd6FUmmf3uR7

@midnightwrecking posted:

Hi, for most info probably Canadian Toy Train Association group page on Facebook. I don't think that I have posted much on forums.

I joined the Canadian Toy Train Association on Facebook.  Interesting site with an active membership displaying a lot of trains and work.  Thank you once again.

Canadian National with a drag of refinery tanks and the Super Chief hauling passengers.

The Candian National consist was developed after watching train hauls on YouTube.  I thought it was interesting and decided to build the units.  I went to Plastruct and ordered multiple tubes and complimentary attachments.  Below is my rendition and below that is the video I got the idea from.  You will notice it is a Canadian Pacific consist but I had the appropriate Canadian National Dash9 and a GP9.

I ran my GPD TTOM Weaver collection:

Lionel F3 units with helpers pulling a consist of 10 Super Chief Passenger units and The Lionel LionMaster Santa Fe 1798 2-6-6-4 hauling 9 Santa Fe Refrigerator Division box cars.

Wow @Wood....that was really impressive. Having a large layout definitively has its advantages; running long trains et. al.

I especially liked the Whistle Steam coming from your 2-6-6-4. I have to admit.....Whistle Steam is one of the BEST enhancements Lionel ever came up with (for steam engines). Spectators eyes bulge the first time they "experience" Whistle Steam!

Thanks for sharing!

Been running my new Maine Central 2-8-0 consolidation with Rutland boxcar, string of BN ore cars and caboose for a few nights, now.

Ran a baldwin wheel 2025 with 2666W / 811/ 810/ 812 / 2817 after installing a new pellet type smoke element.

Now smoking well again happy to say.

@Junior

Thank you. I've seen much larger layouts. You do what you can and I'm happy with my space. I use O42 curves through out because I'm a track junkie. That limits the length of consits and the size of engines. If you put a helper in the center of the consist it prevents stringlining by taking pressure off the forward units.

The 2-6-6-4 is a LionMaster that was made to accommodate smaller curves. I can't run anything over 18" in length. Fortunately Lionel and MTH have made some great smaller models for us.

So glad you enjoyed the video. Soon I'll post a video of my largest boxcar consist.  Stay tuned.

Wood

@Junior

Back to our conversation yesterday regarding the length of trains you can run. There are various limits on the length.  Track elevation, curve radius, layout size and Engine performance.

Below are two videos.  The first is a GP7 freight hauler.  Three units with a mid-centered helper. 14 cars.

The next one is an SD70ACe hauling a mixed load of 10 scale cars.  Thant's about the best I can do on my layout.

@Wood...

Really nice videos......loved the helper engine.

My layout is a 12 x 18 feet. I use/used a mix of 072 and 054 curve. As a result I'm limited to engines that can negotiate a 054 curve or less.

My layout is partially pulled apart. I have several projects going on right now. I'm installing signals, finishing up adding through plate girders to the upper level and (don't laugh ), adding a conveyor I built from Legos under the coal tipple.

I think the longest train I ran was 8 freight cars. I also ran a 7 car IC passenger train pulled by Lionel AA F3's. I had the Pulmor motors replaced with DC can motors and added a ERR TMCC board and sound.

As soon as I get the layout put back together I'll post some videos.