@WesternPacific2217 posted:Southern Pacific Commute train led by FM TrainMaster heading out of San Jose towards San Francisco. Western Pacific GP35 pulling a small freight into the San Jose Yard. This train meet could have happened back in the 70's. Now it's Caltrain and Union Pacific. WP F7's waiting on a siding for track orders, unfortunately blocking the road out of town!
Wonderful scene Scott. It's a shame that some of the better looking trains have gone.
The Lionel 249 came down off the shelf for some run-time:
One minor repair to the running gear, than off she went with a short drag of 2600-series freights.
PD
Guest operator Forum member Chris Vigs visited my layout yesterday (Sunday 2-2) with some of his Blue Nami converted locomotives. I was thoroughly impressed with how well these engines ran with this control in them. The multiple unit train had a Weaver U-25B lashed up with an Atlas Alco C-425 and a sister dummy unit. This was actually the first multi unit train on my layout. Chris will be posting some videos he took and I hope he explains a little about how the control system syncs the units. The DL109 was also a converted unit.
I'll gladly post some videos of Bill's layout!
The U25B is the same one I documented detailing in this thread, since upgraded with a Blunami 4408 board:
Detailing a Weaver U25B | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum
The C-425s are Atlas models, stock details and with Blunami installed in one (the other is a dummy). Blunami has a built in speed matching function, and I got these two disparate engines matched to within 1% of each other (3" difference in spacing over 480" of run).
The DL-109 uses dual speakers, the stock MTH one in the fuel tank and a second under the rear radiator, to try an emulate the sounds of the dual prime movers the real DL-109s had.
~Chris
Your sound system is one of the VERY few that doesn't sound tinny
Here's are some trains I've run lately. Passenger express, way freight, and trolley.
Here’s a train that we ran today, had a few friends over for train fun therapy… Happy Railroading Everyone 
Not today, but last week I ran my JLC Challenger at the club.
Rhey talk about the big boy, but I'll take the Challenger anytime. Thank youGreat look
My beautiful restored 226e
Today I ran my VisionLine Niagara and my new New York Central and Hudson River ten wheeler.
Modern MTH F3 and post war consist
Not run today but a few weeks ago.
@cngw posted:Modern MTH F3 and post war consist
It seems, if you use a computer as old as I have, with browsers as old as I have.....this will not show!
Sorry, Greg
For the first time in about 15 years I'm running my Postwar Milwaukee Road A-B F3's.
On the upper loop, and with its dual motors and Magnetraction, it easily pulls 17 liquor reefers and a Milwaukee Road caboose I custom painted.
Good evening folks!
I decided to pull out my Santa Fe warhorse Hudson tonight and give it a midnight reefer train to pull.
@Trainmaster04 posted:Good evening folks!
I decided to pull out my Santa Fe warhorse Hudson tonight and give it a midnight reefer train to pull.
Man, that looks to be 19 PW cars, nice. I just tried running a string of them, 19 came to about 18' long. Anyone who runs them knows how sloppy the wheel sets are with hole and axle wear, and just not fitted well to begin with. I don't know about you, but I found I could run 4 or 5 loops around my 8'x18' oval and all went well. Then, some curse would hit, and on a switch, or a curve, one derailed. No apparent reason.
Or, all going well, and on the 8th loop, I look and a lazy coupler hit a car, and the engine is getting ready to hit the string left on the back, after I did not notice the break in the consist. I also found out that the PW engines could not pull as many as the MTH PS 1 and 2 I run, and that the PS2 under DCS, is MUCH better at keeping the PW cars going, because of the slow, controlled take off. The PS1 engines were more like the conventional, needed a lot of voltage to get moving, and jerked the cars.....often causing a derail on the curve.
It was a good learning experience for me. Did you have any of these kind of problems? Your consist looked great, and your cars looked newer that PW cars, I could not be sure.
Greg
I totally agree with you, Greg, that speed control locomotives like MTH PS2 & 3 running on DCS are much better than Postwar and MTH PS1 locos for pulling PW cars. That’s because the speed control locos run much smoother, slower and more evenly than the others. Arnold
My Pulmor-equipped Trainmasters produce nice smooth starts …when coupled to some diecast cars …, & then there’s that 4% grade…
Rich
@cngw posted:Man, that looks to be 19 PW cars, nice. I just tried running a string of them, 19 came to about 18' long. Anyone who runs them knows how sloppy the wheel sets are with hole and axle wear, and just not fitted well to begin with. I don't know about you, but I found I could run 4 or 5 loops around my 8'x18' oval and all went well. Then, some curse would hit, and on a switch, or a curve, one derailed. No apparent reason.
Or, all going well, and on the 8th loop, I look and a lazy coupler hit a car, and the engine is getting ready to hit the string left on the back, after I did not notice the break in the consist. I also found out that the PW engines could not pull as many as the MTH PS 1 and 2 I run, and that the PS2 under DCS, is MUCH better at keeping the PW cars going, because of the slow, controlled take off. The PS1 engines were more like the conventional, needed a lot of voltage to get moving, and jerked the cars.....often causing a derail on the curve.
It was a good learning experience for me. Did you have any of these kind of problems? Your consist looked great, and your cars looked newer that PW cars, I could not be sure.
Greg
I am glad you enjoyed my little video! No, the cars being pulled are modern scale reefers I have weathered or are in need of weathering. I can typically pull about 20+ cars with this engine but its speed is heavily reduced since it is powered by a pullmore motor. I have been tempted lately to have it upgraded by @harmonyards with a can motor but maybe in the future after more important projects.
I have had many problems with lazy couplers with these modern cars. During my club's summer show a coupler let loose and I was too slow to stop my weathered GS2 from crashing into the back of its own train sending cars to the concrete floor. That was not a fun day.
@Trainmaster04 posted:Good evening folks!
I decided to pull out my Santa Fe warhorse Hudson tonight and give it a midnight reefer train to pull.
Great shot, but I'm glad I don't exist in that farm house
Lionel 783 Hudson with reproduction scale tender pulling a scale freight. Operating Amtrak Solari Board and rotating rotary beacon in the scene.
The tender was in the "such a deal" class. I bought it for $ 20.00 at Chicagoland Hobby. Added a Sound of Steam board and speaker.
Here are trains I've been running during the last two days. A B&O mail train with F units at the point , a Reading freight train headed by a Train Master , and a B&O Docksider running lite with bobber caboose. The F Units and Train Master are Williams products. Docksider is by MTH.
I’ve become interested in the Green Bay & Western, so I bought a Lionel Legacy GBW RS-27, and a caboose. The caboose is not offered anywhere, so I bought the closest one possible, and I’m repainting it.
Today, I attended a large train show in Phoenix. I found a still-new-in-the-box Railking 30-1139-1, a Union Pacific Forty-Niner Steam Engine. I got it for a great price, and brought it home and attached three MTH UP passenger cars from the 20-6001 5-car set. She just looks SOOO fine, I wanted to share it. I have two photos and a short video. Please enjoy.
Tom
@Just Havin' Fun posted:Today, I attended a large train show in Phoenix. I found a still-new-in-the-box Railking 30-1139-1, a Union Pacific Forty-Niner Steam Engine. I got it for a great price, and brought it home and attached three MTH UP passenger cars from the 20-6001 5-car set. She just looks SOOO fine, I wanted to share it. I have two photos and a short video. Please enjoy.
Tom
Great find
@Just Havin' Fun posted:Today, I attended a large train show in Phoenix.
It was an excellent show, with surprisingly good turnout, sponsored by the Grand Canyon Model Railroaders (GCMR). Lots of good buys to be had. There were well over 1,000 cars in the parking lot. (It took me 10 minutes just to find a parking space.) Of course, most people from those cars were going to the nearby Farmers Market. Amidst all the Market foot traffic, a sign pointed a few curious shoppers to the Train Hall. It was good to see all the interest in the model train hobby.
Looks like it runs great on your track plan!
Here's a tip Tom, when taking videos turn your phone 90 degrees. This will get you great wide angle shots of that very nice layout!
A New York Ontario and Western F-3 set pulls out of Scranton Pa headed for points east on the NYO&W portion of my layout. The F-3"s are custom run MTH by JR Junction Hobby Shop in Syracuse. The NYO&W Mountaineer coaches are also MTH.
@Bill Park posted:A New York Ontario and Western F-3 set pulls out of Scranton Pa headed for points east on the NYO&W portion of my layout. The F-3"s are custom run MTH by JR Junction Hobby Shop in Syracuse. The NYO&W Mountaineer coaches are also MTH.
That's a great shot with the train coming through the yard!
Bob
Most recent video is of a set of RF&P GP40 pulling some fruit boxcars. I like the combo since they show three subtle differences in logos and paint schemes they had.
Hate to be a pain, but they are almost a pretty as the original Athearn SD45 demonstrators in HO scale so many decades ago
All trains are halted in the Farmingdale district after a massive and powerful wind storm moved across NJ last night. Track inspectors and track gangs are out in force.
I took this hot air balloon video when working on my layout today. My layout is framed within the transition era ... so no drones
I'm making progress on layout renovations, however, nowhere near being completed ... Well, the layout will continue to change even after this project is completed. I believe a layout should constantly evolve. This philosophy helps me to keep creatively engaged. 
@trumpettrain posted:I took this hot air balloon video when working on my layout today. My layout is framed within the transition era ... so no drones
Patrick, that is a cool way to view your artistry. I've tried overhead pictures and couldn't even master that LOL.
Very cool Patrick! Love the idea of a balloon 🎈 ride 😀
@trumpettrain posted:I took this hot air balloon video when working on my layout today. My layout is framed within the transition era ... so no drones
Now, that's a different perspective Patrick,
I love it - thanks for sharing
@trumpettrain posted:I took this hot air balloon video when working on my layout today. My layout is framed within the transition era ... so no drones
Great imagination Patrick; and great video. You are moving in the realm of Ward Kimble!
@trumpettrain posted:I took this hot air balloon video when working on my layout today. My layout is framed within the transition era ... so no drones
Patrick, outstanding video! You’re fortunate, you have a natural talent in creativity.
Gene
Milwaukee Road F7 A-B-A. These are custom painted Lionel F3 shells with F7 grilles, making a stand in for an F7. Same paint scheme as the 2351 Milwaukee Road EP-5.
@mike g. posted:Very cool Patrick! Love the idea of a balloon 🎈 ride 😀
Thanks Mike!
@pennsyfan posted:Great imagination Patrick; and great video. You are moving in the realm of Ward Kimble!
@pennsyfan posted:Great imagination Patrick; and great video. You are moving in the realm of Ward Kimble!
Bob - Wow ... Ward Kimble!! Tha'st quite a tall compliment! Thanks so much!
@Genemed posted:Patrick, outstanding video! You’re fortunate, you have a natural talent in creativity.
Gene
Thanks for you very kind words Gene.
Got the J3A 5oth anniversary edition Hudson from 2002 out of the box. Previous owner had minimal run time. No signs of oiling. Added a BRLT, oil and grease. The original traction tires were rotting and replaced.
And I learned how to embed a vidieo linked to my site.
Patrick,
Over the years, I've looked at quite a few photos and videos of your Free State Junction Railway and Patsburg but never had a good understanding of the entire layout. This video really helps and also answers my questions. Try to work some other sections of the railroad into your weekly postings.
MELGAR
DM&IR #86 was on maintenance duty today assigned to a work train hauling replacement ties, rail segments, fresh ballast and a water car to keep the workers hydrated. In addition #78 of the Duluth Street RR did some bump-n-go runs over the trolley line. Still enjoying running trains with the new MTH WTIU system.
Cheers to all,
Dave
Nice Layout, and as you guys already know I can't help but to admire your automobile also
Patrick, that is a cool way to view your artistry. I've tried overhead pictures and couldn't even master that LOL.
Dave Rippinger
Now, that's a different perspective Patrick,
I love it - thanks for sharing
John
Dave and John - thank you both so much for your kind words. I'm happy you liked the video!!
Here's trains I recently ran.
@trumpettrain posted:Here's trains I recently ran.
Wonderful video Patrick! It nice seeing a view of your layout in action.you have so much to try and see that one has to watch itba couple of time. It never gets old!
Thanks for posting another wonderful video.
Here's a video where I run my new-to-me Williams (pre-WBB) Union Pacific #99620. It's got a cab number of 620, and is a replica of an EMD SD45. It runs superbly, and pulls all seven of my MTH UP cars with ease. They're the 20-6001 5-car set, and the 20-6119 2-car add-on set. Layout size is 4 x 8.
I hope this video is a lot better than my first attempt a few days ago where I held my phone vertically. Live and learn, right? Enjoy.
Tom
MPC PRR S2 turbine pulling Lionel and Williams Madison cars. The first three cars are early Williams cars with custom lettering.
Milwaukee Road "F7" A-B-A (F3 with F7 grilles) in action. Audio bombed by a Lionel turbine.
Never heard a diesel with a chuff before ... bad oil? Thats a paint scheme i have not seen on MR before.
Heavy traffic at Crystal Creek beachfront.
Super Chief headed by Alco PA's
Reefer Block (27 cars) and A-B-A F7's on point
Stack train with twin War Bonnets
Mixed freight with SD45-2's
Vision Line Centipede
@SantaFeJim posted:Heavy traffic at Crystal Creek beachfront.
Super Chief headed by Alco PA's
Reefer Block (27 cars) and A-B-A F7's on point
Stack train with twin War Bonnets
Mixed freight with SD45-2's
Nice chorography
Williams versions of the Lionel scale cars from 1940. With a retrucked Lionel 2954 boxcar. These are all brass. Got them for a good price - less than individual cars are going for on Ebay.
Today I ran this Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train with two scale GG1s heading up a passenger train with several head end cars. As a kid I loved to watch the Pennsy trains that ran through Arbutus, Maryland ... a town which borders Baltimore City. This line is part of the NE corridor ( used by AMTRAK today ) and back in early 1960's there was a lot of Pennsy action. I've always remembered that the passenger trains had several head end cars and were almost always pulled by GG1's and when not a GG1 usually E8s were doing the honors. Today I tried re-creating one of those Pennsy passenger trains I saw all those years ago. Of course back then the Pennsy used only one GG1 to pull a passengerconsist.
Lionel 5344 scale Hudson with Scullin disc drivers which originally hauled a Vanderbilt tender now sports a mammoth New York Central PT tender while taking track orders on the Shenandoah Short Line.
A few moments later it chuffs its way on a straightaway pulling a consist of Lionel scale die cast freight cars. The engine and its consist hails from the early 1990s.
A Marx 666 2-4-2 in action. This engine was modified with a reverse unit lock out switch and an LED headlight bulb. The tender has a Lionel coupler. A Lionel 480 baseplate and coupler will fit on a Marx truck.
These are the trains I've been running the past few days.
Finally ! The inaugural run of the Valley Falls Junction RR ! A Lionel 18309 & a Williams caboose do the honors. It’s humbling to follow your own work , 1st I had a direct short on track segment #2, just a track drop with crossed wires. My used Gargraves had red & black leads nicely soldered on already, so of course I mixed them up under the table. Secondly I had a dead new Ross 072 curve. Undaunted I ran a power feed to it, engine still goes dead-stop there. Oh wait, I didn’t clean the paint off the rail tops completely, problem solved ! 😀 Now on to switch wiring, etc. Then install some signals, scenery, etc.
Very nice looking layout. I think it would be so much fun to get it landscaped. Bill
@trestleking posted:Finally ! The inaugural run of the Valley Falls Junction RR ! A Lionel 18309 & a Williams caboose do the honors. It’s humbling to follow your own work , 1st I had a direct short on track segment #2, just a track drop with crossed wires. My used Gargraves had red & black leads nicely soldered on already, so of course I mixed them up under the table. Secondly I had a dead new Ross 072 curve. Undaunted I ran a power feed to it, engine still goes dead-stop there. Oh wait, I didn’t clean the paint off the rail tops completely, problem solved ! 😀 Now on to switch wiring, etc. Then install some signals, scenery, etc.
Nice video and I agree with Bill, nice layout! I bet you have been waiting for this for awhile.
@trestleking posted:Finally ! The inaugural run of the Valley Falls Junction RR ! A Lionel 18309 & a Williams caboose do the honors. It’s humbling to follow your own work , 1st I had a direct short on track segment #2, just a track drop with crossed wires. My used Gargraves had red & black leads nicely soldered on already, so of course I mixed them up under the table. Secondly I had a dead new Ross 072 curve. Undaunted I ran a power feed to it, engine still goes dead-stop there. Oh wait, I didn’t clean the paint off the rail tops completely, problem solved ! 😀 Now on to switch wiring, etc. Then install some signals, scenery, etc.
Congratulations trestleking! That’s the reason you operate a pilot train; to find the unexpected. Each time we got a section wired, or made alterations, we ran a pilot before moving on.
Jay
@trestleking Congratulations! My inaugural run for my lower level was in January - it is so rewarding and especially fun to share with others on this forum.
More Marx 666. First photo shows the reverse unit lock out switch. One wire goes to the reverse unit coil. The other end goes to the pickup from the center rail shoe. The wire on the right is for the headlight.
Second photo is the Marx 666 at Bullwinkle (as in Moose) Tower on my layout. Tender has a Lionel coupler. The 480 coupler fits on the Marx truck.
Third photo is the 666 with a pair of rare boxcars I got for good prices. First car is a 6468x B & O tuscan automobile car. Second car is a NETCA K-Line New Haven "State of Maine" boxcar from 1990. Got this car for $ 10.00 because it had a broken truck.
@mike g. posted:Nice video and I agree with Bill, nice layout! I bet you have been waiting for this for awhile.
Mike, you have no idea !! I first "started" a layout, as a grownup. in 1989; then it was corporate moves, fix up the new house for 1-2 years, then start a layout again, another promotion, another house, etc, etc. Am really glad to be retired & staying put ! Thks, Rich
@trestleking posted:Mike, you have no idea !! I first "started" a layout, as a grownup. in 1989; then it was corporate moves, fix up the new house for 1-2 years, then start a layout again, another promotion, another house, etc, etc. Am really glad to be retired & staying put ! Thks, Rich
Ibhear you Rich! We seem to take the
Layout every 10 years right after I get it close to where I want it! 😔
@MELGAR, just wanted to say thank you for your wonderful descriptions of the history of the NH and its equipment through your layouts and trains.
@trestleking posted:Mike, you have no idea !! I first "started" a layout, as a grownup. in 1989; then it was corporate moves, fix up the new house for 1-2 years, then start a layout again, another promotion, another house, etc, etc. Am really glad to be retired & staying put ! Thks, Rich
Congratulations Rich! The layout looks great so far.
Bob
Did a Drone flyover last night....
Running two of my Flyerchief upgrades. RMT Beep on the main, and MTH NYC S2 on the upper level.
Bob
@RSJB18 posted:Did a Drone flyover last night....
Running two of my Flyerchief upgrades. RMT Beep on the main, and MTH NYC S2 on the upper level.
Bob
That’s a very cool perspective of your layout Bob. Night time operation has always been a favorite of mine. Looks great! (you just need a bigger room 😄).
Thanks Guys.
It helps that I'm 6'5" with a 8' reach. My ceiling is 7'6"......😂😂
I saw these trains in action as I was riding over Patsburg in my hot air balloon. Good times!!
A FLEEP (Flyer-BEEP) on a run-by.
Bob
@RSJB18 posted:A FLEEP (Flyer-BEEP) on a run-by.
Bob
Looking good Bob. And just in time for baseball season. “Baseball and Ballentine, what a combination; clear across the nation “.
Jay
@RSJB18 great shot Bob. The light coming out of the tunnel reminds me of watching for the subway in Manhattan.
Here's some trains I recently ran.
Today I ran the same trains as yesterday, however filmed from a different angle with different views than yesterday.
@trumpettrain posted:Today I ran the same trains as yesterday, however filmed from a different angle with different views than yesterday.
Patrick same train different angle, but just as cool! 😎
@trumpettrain posted:Today I ran the same trains as yesterday, however filmed from a different angle with different views than yesterday.
Patrick, I’m enjoying you filming from a variety of angles, nicely done.
Gene
@mike g. posted:Patrick same train different angle, but just as cool! 😎
Neat, but you really need a Chattanooga Chu Chu or an ATSF, I"d even cob up a duet, with you Alto, Tenor or Baritone.
Ran my MTH NYC J1e last several days. an awesome engine. smokes very well. Great sound and outstanding engine details. A real beauty
Does a Cab 1L interface with the ZW-L?
Here's Doodlebug and steam action.
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