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@Junior posted:

@Wood...

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.

Your size puts you into a medium sized layout.

You would be surprised about the 54 curves. They will accommodate 90% of all engines.

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.

No laugh here. If it works it's good.

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.

Good move. ERR is good I flipped two MTH engines to EER.

If I could suggest using the "What have you done today" thread.  You might get some good advice on any problems and if nothing else you'll get lots of pats on your back.

I'm going to follow you so when you post I'll be notified. Good luck and I'm really interested in your progress.

Last edited by Wood
@Wood posted:

@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

Good videos, Wood. To me, your layout is massive compared to my 10-year-old 88 sq. ft. layout and I’m limited to 036 curves. So I have to use short locomotives (GPs and Fs) and 15” passenger cars. But for as much time as I spend with the trains, which really isn’t much, I’m OK with that.

Your UP GP7s are awesome. 😉

Good videos, Wood. To me, your layout is massive compared to my 10-year-old 88 sq. ft. layout and I’m limited to 036 curves. So I have to use short locomotives (GPs and Fs) and 15” passenger cars. But for as much time as I spend with the trains, which really isn’t much, I’m OK with that.

Your UP GP7s are awesome. 😉

Thanks Vern.  I always appreciate your comments. I have seen multiple pics of your layout and you have created genuinely nice scenes.  Most of my passenger trains are 15".  The Canadian Pacific, Amtrak transit, and the Super Chiefs.  The only units that are 18" are the Superliners in NYC and Amtrak livery. Nobody knows the difference.

The EMC GP7's were one of Lionel's first releases of Legacy.  I purchased them new in 2008.  They have many hours of runtime on my layout and still run flawlessly.

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Here's a 1960s era Union Pacific freight train I ran today. It's pulled by a Lionel early Legacy GP7, which still runs like a charm and hopefully, for a little while longer. 😉

@Yellowstone Special

That is a great engine Vern. I have the UP 105, 106 (nonpowered) and another 106 I relettered as 107. They came out in 2007, Early Legacy and keep running flawlessly. If you look on page 33 you will see a video with the 3 units in a lash up with 107 as a helper in the middle.

Last edited by Wood

@PH1975, thank you for reminding me to answer your question, no, I did not hire a professional group or company to build my layout. I have been blessed with many friends in the hobby and together, we put together “Leapin Larry’s Looney Lines Railroad, The Quad L System. A friend and I built the table work, A grid system, and this made it easy for trains to go up and over more realistically. Then we added plywood and topped it with homasote, and cork roadbed under Atlas O, Gargraves, Ross Custom trackage. The layout is 17 by 36, with two helixes (072) hidden in the mountains on each end of the layout. There are 5 levels on this layout, and trains can actually run on their own level. All the tracks are connected together and a train can go from the bottom level, then the next level, all the way to the top, then, there’s a “Y” at the top so trains can go back down to the bottom level. It takes a few minutes to accomplish this. (We are setting up routes at this time to make it easier). So, that’s the table, the track system, now for the Control system. We went TMCC/Legacy and used MTH’s idea of Star wiring, although we only utilize Lionel’s systems.
So, the tracks laid, wired, and blocked, and trains run good for the most part. I have friends that know wiring, (Rich Hane, Madisonville, Ky.) how to hook up turnouts, how to hook up accessories, and so forth, Now, it’s Scenery time…. I was at a loss on this element of the hobby, making realistic scenes wasn’t my thing. A friend recommended a man and woman that worked on the Clarksville Museum layout, Customs House Museum, Clarksville, Tennessee, Ray and Louise Ward, (You’ve heard of Thelma and Louise, the movie, well, Ray and Louise were a Hoot to work with. I called them up, told them what I was doing, they came to see my track, grid system, and said, they could hide my mistakes, a we became good friends. The reason my friend recommended these folks is there personalities clashed with the folks at the museum, (there ideas were fixed and this clashed with other workers at the museum), but for some reason we did just fine. Ray and Louise are Christian folks, we go to the same church, it’s an amazing friendship. As you can see from pictures I post, it’s not professional, but it’s passable… They made a comment at the beginning, scenery will cost almost as much as the trains, and scenery materials is very expensive. We bought from Scenic Express, now Scenery Express out in Colorado. We began our adventure at the end of 1999, and we are still working on the layout, TMCC is outdated, and we are very happy with Lionel’s Legacy system.  (Louise passed away earlier this year, she did All the painting on my layout, a retired school teacher, Ray, a retired Lt.Colonel from the army, did the scenery, 95CD0BBA-FAE9-498F-AD06-2AF4849B9EB82F237BA4-B6BF-4D0B-ACD0-FDC1A7B28B5C86B17AEE-0964-4330-886C-7F264E51EBDE88ED97E2-1956-4AFC-A84B-707C7A9A06E8BFA2E83F-A937-4F4C-8C43-10CC4C48D41F39EEC837-3855-4F58-9470-212D86126043Ray is 86 years young)
Therefore, 23 years of model train fun, and if your ever near Clarksville Tennessee, come see me. We will have a train day. Thanks for asking the Question. Now, Happy Railroading Everyone

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@RSJB18, Bob, thank you for the compliment, and truth be known, it’s the Friends in the hobby that make it so much fun, and your layout is equally fun to watch, your projects are so interesting, and @trumpettrainn, Patrick always has a great story with his feature presentations, always fun to read. This OGR Forum is one of the best parts of this hobby, so many great folks, great personalities, a truly fun place to relax and watch how others enjoy their trains. During the TCA, LCCA National Conventions in Nashville this year, I met so many fine model railroaders, (5 bus loads to my home here in Clarksville, Tennessee, 45 to 50 folks on each bus, one being a daily contributor, @Don McErlean, my Texas snd Tybee Island friend. He also joined me in visiting Dr. Jack Fishers home in Nashville,Tennessee. It’s the people that make this a fun hobby. Again, thank you for the compliments. Happy Railroading Everyone  0AD7589A-E8FC-4DD0-9056-253291D9D76D

Another interesting feature of this Forum is meeting folks in other states, like my trip to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, meeting Mark Boyce, a very fun day and he is a kind hearted gentleman. He gave me a personal tour of two great hobby shops, and they were well stocked stores. So, I see why folks from other parts of the country ask about hobby shops in cities they plan to visit, it’s always fun. Have a great weekend. Thank you OGR for creating this wonderful way to communicate.

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@leapinlarry - Thank you for your very thorough description regarding the evolution of your layout.  However, I strongly disagree with your comment “It’s passable - not professional”, because regardless of who built it - IMO it’s FANTASTIC!

I also appreciate your kind offer to ‘come and see you’ if I’m ever near Clarksville Tennessee, and although I’d love to meet you and see your layout in person, I live quite far away in Canada and the odds are slim that I’ll get down your way anytime soon.  Nonetheless, maybe some day.

Many thanks again and take care!

@leapinlarry posted:

@PH1975, thank you for reminding me to answer your question, no, I did not hire a professional group or company to build my layout. I have been blessed with many friends in the hobby and together, we put together “Leapin Larry’s Looney Lines Railroad, The Quad L System. A friend and I built the table work, A grid system, and this made it easy for trains to go up and over more realistically. Then we added plywood and topped it with homasote, and cork roadbed under Atlas O, Gargraves, Ross Custom trackage. The layout is 17 by 36, with two helixes (072) hidden in the mountains on each end of the layout. There are 5 levels on this layout, and trains can actually run on their own level. All the tracks are connected together and a train can go from the bottom level, then the next level, all the way to the top, then, there’s a “Y” at the top so trains can go back down to the bottom level. It takes a few minutes to accomplish this. (We are setting up routes at this time to make it easier). So, that’s the table, the track system, now for the Control system. We went TMCC/Legacy and used MTH’s idea of Star wiring, although we only utilize Lionel’s systems.
So, the tracks laid, wired, and blocked, and trains run good for the most part. I have friends that know wiring, (Rich Hane, Madisonville, Ky.) how to hook up turnouts, how to hook up accessories, and so forth, Now, it’s Scenery time…. I was at a loss on this element of the hobby, making realistic scenes wasn’t my thing. A friend recommended a man and woman that worked on the Clarksville Museum layout, Customs House Museum, Clarksville, Tennessee, Ray and Louise Ward, (You’ve heard of Thelma and Louise, the movie, well, Ray and Louise were a Hoot to work with. I called them up, told them what I was doing, they came to see my track, grid system, and said, they could hide my mistakes, a we became good friends. The reason my friend recommended these folks is there personalities clashed with the folks at the museum, (there ideas were fixed and this clashed with other workers at the museum), but for some reason we did just fine. Ray and Louise are Christian folks, we go to the same church, it’s an amazing friendship. As you can see from pictures I post, it’s not professional, but it’s passable… They made a comment at the beginning, scenery will cost almost as much as the trains, and scenery materials is very expensive. We bought from Scenic Express, now Scenery Express out in Colorado. We began our adventure at the end of 1999, and we are still working on the layout, TMCC is outdated, and we are very happy with Lionel’s Legacy system.  (Louise passed away earlier this year, she did All the painting on my layout, a retired school teacher, Ray, a retired Lt.Colonel from the army, did the scenery, 95CD0BBA-FAE9-498F-AD06-2AF4849B9EB82F237BA4-B6BF-4D0B-ACD0-FDC1A7B28B5C86B17AEE-0964-4330-886C-7F264E51EBDE88ED97E2-1956-4AFC-A84B-707C7A9A06E8BFA2E83F-A937-4F4C-8C43-10CC4C48D41F39EEC837-3855-4F58-9470-212D86126043Ray is 86 years young)
Therefore, 23 years of model train fun, and if your ever near Clarksville Tennessee, come see me. We will have a train day. Thanks for asking the Question. Now, Happy Railroading Everyone

Looks like a masterpiece of a layout to me. What's most impressive is the helixes and the trains being able to run on all 5 levels, going from one level to the others.

@Arnold D. Cribari, thank you for the compliment, and your layout is equally a masterpiece, with an American dream, a baseball park, apple pie, and Coca Cola, We all have different focal points on our layouts, yours is really cool. I do think we can thank our parents for giving us a toy train for Christmas, many years ago. @MELGAR started a very interesting thread, many of us OGR Forum members see some amazing trains. Happy Railroading Everyone F5E84CA3-41FB-409E-8EF7-8EF0A433E34D356D1459-9EB8-439B-A579-8792F77303F47F427234-52C1-40A5-833B-75B6A74FDAE8

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@leapinlarry posted:

@PH1975, thank you for reminding me to answer your question, no, I did not hire a professional group or company to build my layout. I have been blessed with many friends in the hobby and together, we put together “Leapin Larry’s Looney Lines Railroad, The Quad L System. A friend and I built the table work, A grid system, and this made it easy for trains to go up and over more realistically. Then we added plywood and topped it with homasote, and cork roadbed under Atlas O, Gargraves, Ross Custom trackage. The layout is 17 by 36, with two helixes (072) hidden in the mountains on each end of the layout. There are 5 levels on this layout, and trains can actually run on their own level. All the tracks are connected together and a train can go from the bottom level, then the next level, all the way to the top, then, there’s a “Y” at the top so trains can go back down to the bottom level. It takes a few minutes to accomplish this. (We are setting up routes at this time to make it easier). So, that’s the table, the track system, now for the Control system. We went TMCC/Legacy and used MTH’s idea of Star wiring, although we only utilize Lionel’s systems.
So, the tracks laid, wired, and blocked, and trains run good for the most part. I have friends that know wiring, (Rich Hane, Madisonville, Ky.) how to hook up turnouts, how to hook up accessories, and so forth, Now, it’s Scenery time…. I was at a loss on this element of the hobby, making realistic scenes wasn’t my thing. A friend recommended a man and woman that worked on the Clarksville Museum layout, Customs House Museum, Clarksville, Tennessee, Ray and Louise Ward, (You’ve heard of Thelma and Louise, the movie, well, Ray and Louise were a Hoot to work with. I called them up, told them what I was doing, they came to see my track, grid system, and said, they could hide my mistakes, a we became good friends. The reason my friend recommended these folks is there personalities clashed with the folks at the museum, (there ideas were fixed and this clashed with other workers at the museum), but for some reason we did just fine. Ray and Louise are Christian folks, we go to the same church, it’s an amazing friendship. As you can see from pictures I post, it’s not professional, but it’s passable… They made a comment at the beginning, scenery will cost almost as much as the trains, and scenery materials is very expensive. We bought from Scenic Express, now Scenery Express out in Colorado. We began our adventure at the end of 1999, and we are still working on the layout, TMCC is outdated, and we are very happy with Lionel’s Legacy system.  (Louise passed away earlier this year, she did All the painting on my layout, a retired school teacher, Ray, a retired Lt.Colonel from the army, did the scenery, 95CD0BBA-FAE9-498F-AD06-2AF4849B9EB82F237BA4-B6BF-4D0B-ACD0-FDC1A7B28B5C86B17AEE-0964-4330-886C-7F264E51EBDE88ED97E2-1956-4AFC-A84B-707C7A9A06E8BFA2E83F-A937-4F4C-8C43-10CC4C48D41F39EEC837-3855-4F58-9470-212D86126043Ray is 86 years young)
Therefore, 23 years of model train fun, and if your ever near Clarksville Tennessee, come see me. We will have a train day. Thanks for asking the Question. Now, Happy Railroading Everyone

That is an excellent layout. It's good to have friends to help with things!

@RSJB18 posted:

Got a new to me Lionel Sperry Rail Service Speeder with TMCC. Fun little critter to run. Speeder is the correct term for sure.

Bob

Bob, the peppiness of your Speeder reminds me of the Lionel Postwar gang car. Very cute.

I once videotaped the gang car running with the music of the Flight of the Bumble Bee in the background. That music would also work with your Speeder. Arnold

This thread gets many pictures of highly interesting layouts, but few are intricately designed as @idea-thinker, and pictured earlier is his unique video. I was wrong when I said the long bridge was 14 feet long, I exaggerated a foot or so, 12 foot 6 inches. Being there on Monday, our train day this week, I took a few pictures of this really cool layout. Enjoy. Happy Railroading Everyone 5EEB80E8-093F-423A-B48A-FC5DA852F35B50389FBC-3028-4645-9C1B-8D7A13D4731AC8C2B81D-E0E6-40B0-9FE0-7C26299FEDB36034E745-9547-410D-9828-EF8DA2FEBFCAB0D53D9E-6CB4-4D5A-834E-E80018FF20E669A7DD9A-E4F4-4E54-B7CA-F8C920F920B55C4345CF-CFE6-462C-B510-CA457F6FB2A238B8E55F-1442-47CC-8B1D-8D7433D72BB45CEAA7B7-B736-4D74-BB9F-6B7DCBAD0EF38440BE94-4B5C-449D-A8FD-9CCF20EACD6D

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@leapinlarry posted:

This thread gets many pictures of highly interesting layouts, but few are intricately designed as @idea-thinker, and pictured earlier is his unique video. I was wrong when I said the long bridge was 14 feet long, I exaggerated a foot or so, 12 foot 6 inches. Being there on Monday, our train day this week, I took a few pictures of this really cool layout. Enjoy. Happy Railroading Everyone

So Larry is this your layout pictured? I have no words ... stunning and complex.  How do you access the lower rails for maintenance?

Good morning @ScoutingDad, No sir, the comments and pictures I posted above, on this really interesting thread, is the layout we visited Monday, at the home of @idea-thinker, whom is a great friend of ours. My mind is not capable of this magnitude of extreme precision of track laying, even Embedded in the actual floor. So, we are pleased to have a friend with unbelievable Ideas, @idea-thinker. (I do not have the picture of the track in the floor, next time I’ll get that picture) Happy Railroading Everyone 13783A86-AE95-4F52-8F2F-7E5927A8E315D14C31F7-CB67-41DC-8CA9-88C2DA2E3EB4EBCE4A30-6301-4D1E-A241-CC35F7D8AAF687D22706-A7D8-4BF9-B162-C1FF79AF944BE806AFFF-413C-4114-BCDB-87D0FBA73E4C9651DA75-9066-4F5C-BA62-ABDDB6BE8DD0DA27C06E-5858-4C52-93B7-E932904566E9

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I ran (basically test run) some new to me 2343 A-B-A SF units that I found in a container that I didn't even know I had.  The powered A unit ran a little rough at first but seemed to smooth out after a couple of laps, then I pulled it off so I could try and figure out how to get into it to lube it up for future.  Sorry no video.

@Wood posted:

For the last couple of days, it has been the K-Line Santa Fe Midnight Chief.  Cataloged in 2005 with early TMCC. Beautiful consist.

@Wood:

“Beautiful consist?” Well yeah, if you like everything in black. 🤔 Seriously, you do have a nice layout. Was just wondering why the B unit isn’t running between the two As. 🤷‍♂️

@Wood:

“Beautiful consist?” Well yeah, if you like everything in black. 🤔 Seriously, you do have a nice layout. Was just wondering why the B unit isn’t running between the two As. 🤷‍♂️

Thanks Vern, Appreciate the kind comments.

The K-Line engines have a cable connecting the TMCC.  The B unit has a short in the cable, so I do not plug it in and let her run behind the AAs.

MTH PS2 Railking Rugged Rails royal blue Baltimore & Ohio Torpedo steamer, running on DCS, hauling B&O and other boxcars:

At the end of the above video, the train comes to an abrupt halt because the engine threw both traction tires.

Love the sound of the horn/whistle and the abundant smoke generated from JT Mega Stean Coal Fired smoke Fluid. Arnold

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Last edited by Arnold D. Cribari
@Bill Park posted:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/iMhd5b7pC6ug2efr8

Sante Fe Texas type hauls a load of revenue freight on the New Haven line to Scranton Pa.

Hey @Bill Park....

Some how I missed your posting! Just took a peek at it. Wow....really nice scene.....love the multiple bridges and the Santa Fe Texas making its away along the hillside.

Question....When the train was traveling along the hillside I noticed a "seam" in the back.  Is that an access hatch?

Again...your scenery appears to be really top notch!

@Junior posted:

@Dave Ripp......

Love the town scene. Lot of nice details.

Question....what are the "pipes" that I see in the bottom video? They're appear to be attached to the perimeter of the of the train table.

Thanks Junior, the table is 6 x 20 with 10 wheels to move it. The pipes are just handles to make it simple. It rolls very easily on these casters.

1011

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Hi Junior, Thanks for the compliment. The seam over the top of that area in the video where the Texas type is running is a seam for the top of the scenery. I constructed the basic vertical using 2" blue insulation board cut in strips and glued and the some basic shaping of the vertical side before covering it all with sculp -a-mold. Then painted with a cheap paint  and when that dried, a wash of watered down india ink. The track loops around and goes back in the other direction and the same was done there too. In between is a very narrow walkway which is 8' long and gives me access to that upper tracks. The seam you are referring to is the cover for the walkway. I need to address that seam one of these days toFM2FM6FM1 get that blended in. I used another piece of 2" foam board and made a hump like a mountain in it and covered it with poly trees. There are somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 trees on that one section. The whole top is light enough to lift off for servicing etc. I include a couple of pics on the construction. The top elevation of that seam is probably about 7' off the floor so there was no way I was doing it in place. I have one of the ends left to landscape correctly.  Again, thanks for the compliment.

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That's a very slick approach @Bill Park. I would think some kind of irregular line sculpted out of Sculpt-a-Mold on the base that supports that top piece would definitely work. "All you need to do is" (I hate that phrase.....'cause it never works out to be simple ) break up that horizontal straight line and you'd be good to go.

Of course this thought is coming from a model railroader who has YET to start any real scenery on his layout.....yet .

@Dave Ripp. posted:

Thanks Junior, the table is 6 x 20 with 10 wheels to move it. The pipes are just handles to make it simple. It rolls very easily on these casters.

1011

Wow @Dave Ripp.....great minds think alike! Take a peek...

20221120_131823

My layout is 12x18 feet. Table moves really well too. The creeper in the back right has saved my back and my knees countless times...best thing ever!

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