WHAT TRAINS DID YOU RUN TODAY?

@Apples55 posted:

Thanks Bob, they are a pair of GGD cars. And I believe I recently saw you have a new set of spiffy NYC cars as well... No sharks in the lead, but spiffy none the less

A very astute observation my friend .....now that the building is off my work bench I have room to unpack and service

them.

Bob

Lee- very nice collection of cars.

Bob

Late last night ( actually very early this morning ) before going to bed I ran these trains for about 10 minutes .... and enjoyed every moment too!   A nice way to wind down from a super busy day

Mark. Thanks for the complement they was fun to build

Bob. Thanks for the complement your are impressive as well

Patrick. Nothing like a Midnight run on the layout very nice

@trumpettrain posted:

Late last night (actually very early this morning ) before going to bed I ran these trains for about 10 minutes .... and enjoyed every moment too!   A nice way to wind down from a super busy day

Patrick;

The D&H is beautiful, anytime of day or night

@trumpettrain posted:

Late last night ( actually very early this morning ) before going to bed I ran these trains for about 10 minutes .... and enjoyed every moment too!   A nice way to wind down from a super busy day

Wow, they look great....

Patrick - What brand are those D&H Bluebonnets?  They look spectacular.  I passed on an MTH Railking version, but if they made it in Premier, I'll hunt for one.

@Jeff_the_Coaster_Guy posted:

@N5CJonny: did you refinish the exterior of those with new decals? They look like they're in excellent shape on the outside, but from your description I guess they were a "basket case" on the inside.

I, too, recently purchased the same item from the auction site, and although they were pretty rough looking outside, they were in really good shape internally. Although I had to source a new whistle since the other user for whatever reason removed it but left the solenoid!

It's a great PW piece. And I run it a lot! Just wish it looked as nice as yours in the outside.

I like Erie RR a great  RR!

Thanks everyone for the likes of my D&H post!  I appreciate you comments!  

Lehigh 74 - the PA 2 are Williams by Bachman.  I bought a new ABA set on the Bay a couple years ago, after searching for over a year for the right price.   Both A units are powered which makes for a great deal!  I paid $220 for the set.    I love the D&H livery on these diesels ... which IMHO is one of the most attractive RR liveries.

Today the National Guard was called into battle using train cars.  They fought to free the Springville Flats switch tower from the Cicada's.  The tower may not be standing when this is over.

Bill

Bill, I'm glad to see the National Guard came out in force!  If they were using armor piercing ammunition, then all should be swell!!!!   

Even though Norfolk Southern doesn't regularly serve Orlando, the Mouse contacted them for an emergency delivery of supplies plus one more very special item:

@trumpettrain posted:

Lehigh 74 - the PA 2 are Williams by Bachman.  I bought a new ABA set on the Bay a couple years ago, after searching for over a year for the right price.   Both A units are powered which makes for a great deal!  I paid $220 for the set.    I love the D&H livery on these diesels ... which IMHO is one of the most attractive RR liveries.

Thanks Patrick.  After your reply, I went looking on the big auction site for a Williams D&H Alco.  And I found what I wanted right away…An MTH Premier D&H PA Bluebonnet NOS from 2006.  The MTH site came back up and it’s a PS2 3V.  I paid more than you did.  It’s supposed to be here in about a week.  The seller has a 100% rating so I’m optimistic that it is what he says it is (new).

So, another rainy day here on LI which gave me the opportunity to move trains fron the shelves for exercise and give others on the WVRR a well deserved rest.

I put up my PostWar #44 US Army switcher with space cars next to my PostWar #45 US Marines switcher with military cars. Both now service Cape Warrenaveral.

On the inner loop I put up my PostWar #622 bell ringer SanteFe switcher with various short O27 cars.

On the mainline I put up my PostWar #2338 GP7 with various freight cars in tow. The last pic below includes 3 custom cars I made - Can anyone pick them out?

A little D&RG Vulcan switcher hauling a few autos on the S&Y RR.

@Lionelski posted:

So, another rainy day here on LI which gave me the opportunity to move trains fron the shelves for exercise and give others on the WVRR a well deserved rest.

I put up my PostWar #44 US Army switcher with space cars next to my PostWar #45 US Marines switcher with military cars. Both now service Cape Warrenaveral.

On the inner loop I put up my PostWar #622 bell ringer SanteFe switcher with various short O27 cars.

On the mainline I put up my PostWar #2338 GP7 with various freight cars in tow. The last pic below includes 3 custom cars I made - Can anyone pick them out?

"The last pic includes 3 custom cars I made - Can anyone pick them out?"

Nobody wants to guess on this?

Inspired by trumptrain (Patrick’s) beautiful D&H Alcos posted a few weeks ago, I went looking for some.  I found this 2006 vintage MTH A-B-A right away.  They were advertised as new and they in fact do have only about a mile on the ODO and an hour on the Chono.  After about 200 feet, half of the traction tires came off so I took the others off.  Runs fine without them, but I will most likely put new ones on when I replace the battery.

Now I need to find some MTH 18" streamlined passenger cars.  Might be harder than finding the engine.  They were only made two times (2001 and 2006).

@Lionelski posted:

"The last pic includes 3 custom cars I made - Can anyone pick them out?"

Nobody wants to guess on this?

Wow love it, thanks for posting..

@Lehigh74 posted:

Inspired by trumptrain (Patrick’s) beautiful D&H Alcos posted a few weeks ago, I went looking for some.  I found this 2006 vintage MTH A-B-A right away.  They were advertised as new and they in fact do have only about a mile on the ODO and an hour on the Chono.  After about 200 feet, half of the traction tires came off so I took the others off.  Runs fine without them, but I will most likely put new ones on when I replace the battery.

Now I need to find some MTH 18" streamlined passenger cars.  Might be harder than finding the engine.  They were only made two times (2001 and 2006).

Beautiful set, Bob. I love the D&H blue/gray/yellow paint scheme (I have a 3rd Rail A and a Lionel A-A). Like you I was looking for a set of passenger cars to go with the engines. Twice I missed out on a set from Grzyboski’s, but finally lucked out and got a supposedly used set from them, but you couldn’t tell from inspecting the cars. Here is a short video of the cars behind my 3rd Rail engine.

Did someone say D&H ?

@RSJB18 posted:

Did someone say D&H ?

I don’t think so, Bob... you must be hallucinating.

P.S. Nice D&H consist, albeit rather short. I think you need some more D&H rolling stock

I ran my Denver Riogrande passenger train as well Santa fe.

Still running my Williams D&H PA1 AB set pulling 3 silver passenger cars ( not shown ).  Also my Patapsco and Back Rivers Baldwin VO 1000 by MTH.  

@Apples55 posted:

I don’t think so, Bob... you must be hallucinating.

P.S. Nice D&H consist, albeit rather short. I think you need some more D&H rolling stock

How's this Paul? (There's a blue box car hiding in front of the yellow one too).

@WM fan posted:

Wow love it, thanks for posting..

Thanks WM fan. This layout, evolving since 1983, always brings me back to what I dreamed about in the late 50's and early 60's.

Were you able to pick out the 3 cars shown in the last pic that I customized?

Woke up needing a train "fix", so fired up the ZW and ran my 2343's on a long freight and my Prewar OO NYC scale Hudson with its short freight set.   Have a great weekend everybody!!   AD

Just bought this Williams NW2 in Western Pacific paint.

I had the Williams N5C caboose

Ran it around for a couple laps.

The diesel sounds are a little mundane but the horn and bell are nice.

@RSJB18 posted:

How's this Paul? (There's a blue box car hiding in front of the yellow one too).

Definitely an improvement, Bob... might be improved by having those mythical Sharks in the lead

And, hey... isn’t that a COMMAND CONTROL engine up front lumbering under lowly conventional control???

(yes, I am evil)

These are the first scale-wheeled MTH diesels I purchased (way back in 2009) -- #6606 and 6608. Liked them so much I hunted for two years trying to find the third road number (still looking for it). Ended up getting another 6608 and changing it to 6609. Hadn't run them in a while so I took them out to stretch their legs. With a couple of exceptions, I haven't bought hi-rail versions since because I can run them on the club layout (added benefit is they identify sketchy spots in our track work).

@Apples55 posted:

Definitely an improvement, Bob... might be improved by having those mythical Sharks in the lead

And, hey... isn’t that a COMMAND CONTROL engine up front lumbering under lowly conventional control???

(yes, I am evil)

Ughhhh.......🤪

Ralph, Those are nice trains!

@Mark Boyce posted:

Ralph, Those are nice trains!

Agreed.  What are the dimensions of your payout if you don't mind my asking?

@mike.caruso posted:

Agreed.  What are the dimensions of your payout if you don't mind my asking?

26x10

@Ralph M posted:

Wow, nice trains, great layout, thanks for sharing.

Some New York Central

Today, Hubby Tom cut the needed length of two of the straight track pieces for the Standard Gauge loop on the Halloween Layout. Then he did some judicious track screwing down into the plywood, only where minimally needed. Wired up the track and MTH Z1000.  

Then I test ran my Halloween Std. Consist- which for 2020 includes the black Ives 1134 loco and its matching tender, my 1930s Lionel 35 Pullman purple repaint, an orange & blue Lionel 309 Pullman, and the green Stephen Girard Observation. All reproductions.  I love all of these colors together for Halloween!!  

@Carey TeaRose posted:

Today, Hubby Tom cut the needed length of two of the straight track pieces for the Standard Gauge loop on the Halloween Layout. Then he did some judicious track screwing down into the plywood, only where minimally needed. Wired up the track and MTH Z1000.  

Then I test ran my Halloween Std. Consist- which for 2020 includes the black Ives 1134 loco and its matching tender, my 1930s Lionel 35 Pullman purple repaint, an orange & blue Lionel 309 Pullman, and the green Stephen Girard Observation. All reproductions.  I love all of these colors together for Halloween!!  

Very cool train, love the colors..

I’ve been running this train for twenty years and set it up every so often. It is an MTH Premier New Haven Railroad EP-5 electric motor #371 with PS1, a BCR and MTH passenger cars. The New Haven purchased ten of these motors in 1955. They ran 72 miles in the electrified zone between Grand Central Terminal in New York City and New Haven. My PS1 engines have given outstanding service. This engine doesn’t have speed control but runs at steadier speed than my latest brand-new acquisition from another manufacturer. Considering the years of use, this engine and cars have been an excellent value. The video shows the train at 35 miles-per-hour on my 12’-by-8’ layout.

MELGAR

Ran my new 6B6, very nice little switcher

Ran the Lionel Santa Fe 3757 that I just got some scale hopper cars for as well as a caboose. I also ran the Lionel PA1 Santa Fe set up with the new passenger set I just got. Well it is new to me anyway.

Ran some of my new acquisitions and some other cars I had sitting on the layout...

N&W Y6b on Mountain Division, B&O Dockside on the El., and Aerotrain on the outer mainline, B&O GP9 ( not shown ) on the inner mainline.  

Postwar 773 (1964 model) puffing away like a chain smoker:

Arnold

ran standard gauge and o gauge and automotionfx cars

Ran my rescue / rebuilt custom painted PW 1666 a bit today!

11/3 Tuesday am: got both of the engines running and smoking really great at the same time! My Petite Std. Gauge & O Gauge Halloween Layout. Set up in our Foyer. Will be keeping this layout up until at least mid November.

@Carey TeaRose posted:

11/3 Tuesday am: got both of the engines running and smoking really great at the same time! My Petite Std. Gauge & O Gauge Halloween Layout. Set up in our Foyer. Will be keeping this layout up until at least mid November.

Wow, super fun, looks great, love it, thanks for sharing..

This is bravery:

Running my best, Lionel 773, on outer loop, around 031 curves and through 022 switches, along the edge of the table, even hanging over the edge:

No problem!

As big as it is, I believe it was made to glide smoothly through sharp 031 curves.

I wouldn't have try this with 027 curves, which is what I had for the 1st 40 years.

Arnold

PS: As I took these pictures with one hand, the other was ready to make "The Catch," just in case. LOL.

Here's a video of the dare devil run this morning. Arnold

Very cool Arnold. The great thing about tube track is less derailments. The flanges hug the rails much better than short flat rails.

These shots are actually from yesterday, but both engines have been out and rolling this morning...

Arnold, thanks for the 773 /031 adventure! Outstanding!

I would place safety nets around my 031 curves but no time soon will 773 be on my pike. All my best. Safe Thanksgiving to you and family.

Arnold,

Why don't you glue a piece of plywood (say 24-inches by 4-inches) to the edge of the table, add a stiffening piece beneath the joint, and apply some ground cover to make it blend with the layout? That would protect from a calamity! You really need to restrain yourself and keep the speed within reason.

MELGAR

Arnold, what a treat!  Yikes!! That was a close call with the caboose at the 022!!

Leroof,  773/031 adventure indeed!

Don Winslow,  beautiful F3s

Fendermain

Been running my K line Pennsy MU cars both day and night.  I love the horn!

@MELGAR posted:

Arnold,

Why don't you glue a piece of plywood (say 24-inches by 4-inches) to the edge of the table, add a stiffening piece beneath the joint, and apply some ground cover to make it blend with the layout? That would protect from a calamity! You really need to restrain yourself and keep the speed within reason.

MELGAR

Great idea, Melgar, except for one problem. That train table is right next to the washing machine, and my wife does all the laundry in our household. I am very fortunate that she has accommodated my basement railroad expansion into the laundry/furnace room thus far, and don't dare expand that portion of the pile even by a fraction of an inch. LOL, Arnold

PS: I like living a little dangerously with the trains, but will always run the 773 there with extra care, and ready to make "the catch." Now, if only I could play center field like Willie Mays!

@Leroof posted:

Arnold, thanks for the 773 /031 adventure! Outstanding!

I would place safety nets around my 031 curves but no time soon will 773 be on my pike. All my best. Safe Thanksgiving to you and family.

Safety nets might work, Leroof. Thanks for the idea. Just have to make sure my wife does not fall into the netting when doing laundry.

Hope your heroic work is going well. Think of you often. Arnold

@trumpettrain posted:

Been running my K line Pennsy MU cars both day and night.  I love the horn!

Gorgeous trains, scenes, and autumn colors, as usual, Pat.

@Don Winslow posted:

These shots are actually from yesterday, but both engines have been out and rolling this morning...

Very beautiful, Don, in a neat, clean way.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Gorgeous trains, scenes, and autumn colors, as usual, Pat.

Thank you so very much Arnold!!

Great looking trains on this thread! I posted this video in the Layout Thread as well but wanted to share here since this is all about running the trains! Just wrapped my layout benchwork and track and this video is from my first test session.

You have some very nice shots there of your cars Pat'.. They are unique looking units'.. I like that RDC electric version'...😉👍

I moved a couple of cars with the 5 finger switcher.

Does that count ????

@Arnold D. Cribari That was bold with the 773! What a great engine.

@RSJB18 I hear you on that! I move cars that way all the time.

@RSJB18 posted:

I moved a couple of cars with the 5 finger switcher.

Does that count ????

I call that the "Jolly Green Giant" movement. I like your moniker too!

Chris 1985,

I like the simplicity and the flow of your layout.  I sure would like to see a diagram of it. In the video it looks like two main circuits with  two trains running on each. You seem to have good long runs and many other features that make this look huge. What are the overall dimensions?   Earl     

RSJB18,

We call that the 0-5-0 !

Earl

@Conductor Earl posted:

RSJB18,

We call that the 0-5-0 !

Earl

Yes - it goes by many names.

@Conductor Earl posted:

RSJB18,

We call that the 0-5-0 !

Earl

This might be the beginning of a new thread. "What is your name for illogical car movements". I like your name as well!

Hi @Conductor Earl, the layout is roughly 26'x12'. Still cleaning up the diagram as I added some sidings and an upper track. There are two loops on the main level. Each loop is powered by a 180 watt Lionel brick. The main yard and engine sidings are on a separate block and powered by a 135 watt Lionel brick. The upper track is run using a Post War ZW transformer as I mainly run conventional engines there. My friend helped me with the benchwork. The table construction is highlighted on his Blog which will give you a better image of the size and such.

https://midnightwoodworking.co...-train-table-part-1/

https://midnightwoodworking.co...-train-table-part-2/

https://midnightwoodworking.co...-train-table-part-3/

https://midnightwoodworking.co...-train-table-part-4/

Nothing since July 2019 after loosing my workshop, and I miss running them everyday, hopefully that'll soon change

Hauled out UP #844 and some old 15” pax cars.  They all run great.

Wow, i love the night time run, great..

I ran this train on Sunday at the TMB club;

Salute to the MENTORS that make this site helpful..

Ya'll are FUN!........ trying my hand at 022 switches. Thanks to ELI at Flint Rock and all the comments helping carpet layouts like me.

That absolutely counts, Frank!!  

D&RGW for the Troops

@Miggy posted:

@RSJB18 posted:

""I moved a couple of cars with the 5 finger switcher.

Does that count ???? ""

Salute to the MENTORS that make this site helpful..

Ya'll are FUN!........ trying my hand at 022 switches. Thanks to ELI at Flint Rock and all the comments helping carpet layouts like me.

It's all about having fun Frank. 😁

Includes the new Muffins special run UP E9 pulling k line

@WinstonB posted:

D&RGW for the Troops

You have some beautiful buildings on your layout.  Is that train she’d custom?  I really like that as well the scalloping on your station.

Been breaking this new to me RS-11 in lately.

Bob,   Nice to have appropriate rolling stock with those handsome engines.

John

Time to bust out some war bonnet.   John

Kwisor, tell us about those dual-direction roads full of moving automobiles on your layout!  What are they and how do they work?

David

Conrail pups had a good workout today.......

One more....

Hi guys - haven’t posted in awhile but wanted to report that the Attic Layout continues to evolve. Here are three videos I took this week. Enjoy the trains!

Nice pics and videos everyone!  Winston B, my Grandpa used to tell me stories about riding the troop trains on the D&RGW..

Good morning Forum friends,

Take a close look at these Chessie System cop and hobo cars:

See anything unusual about them?

Will let you know later.

Here they are in action, being hauled by a very smooth running K line Chessie System diesel with other box cars at the break of dawn:

Arnold

Answer: both the cop and hobo have a broken leg (glued back together). LOL, Arnold

Coastside Kevin - Very nice layout but as I was watching I was thinking 'access' to your layout might be difficult at times, particularly where the roof joists are quite low.  Not to take away from your layout though, it's great and keep up the good work!  I was just thinking it wouldn't work for an old dinosaur like me. (lol)

Arnold, So you have added orthopedic surgeon to your list of talents. 

I ran the LC Polar Express with snow on the roof last night on the newly set up Christmas layout, reduced version for this year.  I bought it two years ago, and didn't get to run it much.  Last year, I didn't use it as I was recovering from a knee replacement.   After lubing the moving parts, it was a little stiff running, so I was doing a break in run.  I'll get photographs later this month and post here and on christmas layout topics on the Forum.

@PH1975 posted:

Coastside Kevin - Very nice layout but as I was watching I was thinking 'access' to your layout might be difficult at times, particularly where the roof joists are quite low.  Not to take away from your layout though, it's great and keep up the good work!  I was just thinking it wouldn't work for an old dinosaur like me. (lol)

Thanks! Yes, access is always a challenge in the attic, but the benefits of having a big empty space were too good to pass up. I turned 50 this year so definitely feel it in my knees but hope to be able to manage awhile longer. Lately I have noticed it is getting more difficult to reach certain areas, and I attribute that to adding more stuff to the layout. I think it’s maxed out now.

Kevin, I too admire your attic layout!  I was still able to get around well on my knees when I was 50.  Now that I am 64--no way!  Of course a knee that was replaced a year ago doesn't help.  My attic is for storage, and I am having trouble moving around to get things.  I am thinking of getting a creeper to sit on and roll around instead of killing my other knee or gathering splinters in the keister!! 

Attic crawling = knee pads. That or I send my 16 YO son in 😁.

That is a neat layout Kevin.

@RSJB18 posted:

Attic crawling = knee pads. That or I send my 16 YO son in 😁.

That is a neat layout Kevin.

When my wife's grandmother lived in this house, she would send our younger daughter, Holly, to the attic for things.  Holly only lives a mile away, and I have told her some day I will have to be calling her to come over to go into the attic again!!

Now it is knee pad-singular, since I can't put pressure on the fake knee.  I pointed out to my wife Kim, that the right knee pad is much dustier after getting Christmas decorations out, compared to the left knee pad that sits on the shelf. 

A Milwaukee road Bi-polar is on the point of a train consisting of some beautiful Phoenix eighteen inch streamlined passenger cars, complete with beaver tail observation.

Next step is to dig out the MTH repop of the 1937 Hiawatha 4-4-2 loco to power the train.

Finally tracked down a schnabel car and had to run it behind the 611 briefly. Thing is almost as long as the 611 lol.