Im good for at least one everytime I run the layout
Let the cats climb up there. MTH PCC car found on the floor yesterday, none of the three felines are claiming responsibility. No damage seen on the shell although the car now does not sit on the track without a distinct lean. Something is amiss internally for sure. Fortunately it powers up and sequences properly so this will hopefully be an easy fix. No catnip treats for a few days.
Wow, where do I begin? 
Do I have to limit the answer to 1 thing? 
These were all on PRR Panhandle 1.0.
- Put a hidden passing siding behind a backdrop.
- Install backdrops after building benchwork and laying track. (closely related to 1 above)
- Using plywood for sub-roadbed that was too thin. 11/32" is not adequate.
The above is a partial list.
These mistakes will not be repeated on PRR Panhandle 2.0. (No, I plan to make all new ones. 
)
George
Basil posted:Built it before I really knew what I was doing.
Me, too.
I thought that jamming the most track and switches into my space was the key to having fun with trains.
This was about 30 years ago. I was soldering wires to the track with an open grid benchwork. Instead of using the soldering iron stand, I just hung the iron of a cross member by the cord. I raised my arm up and put a deep burn on my wrist. I now use the iron stand always.
Mentioned before, but....
I designed my layout to run on two levels. I figured the separation should be sufficient to handle the tallest piece of motive power or rolling stock. I thought I had that all diagnosed.
Wrong.
I had accumulated a rather decent size collection of the MTH RailKing double deck auto carriers....the ones with the really neat die cast autos. Yeah, you guessed it. I had ignored their height only to find out that they towered over anything else I had considered. Of course, the Lionel Lift and Bascule Bridges in no way would accommodate their height to begin with. But every other place where the upper and lower tracks crossed....and all the tunnel portals, custom bridges, etc.....were stoppers for those cars.
Those auto carriers were purchased for running. Poopie! Sold 'em all. 
If only that were the end of it. But that's enough. I'm tired of repeating self-flagellation for my own stupidity.
It's called the 'School of Hard Knocks', I believe.
KD
EBT Jim posted:Basil posted:Built it before I really knew what I was doing.
Me, too.
I thought that jamming the most track and switches into my space was the key to having fun with trains.
yea- did that too. Looks good in SCARM though.
Oh Yea- and all of the above too. Still have the soldering iron scars too (Mark).
Bob
I took it down, and now I am building it back.
Got back into the hobby a few years ago with a Lion Chief set and basic dc transformer for the g-kids. Expanded and upgraded a couple of months later and picked up a CW-80. Figured two transformers were better than one and hooked them both up to the track with no electrical separation. Needless to say, my layout became "electrically challenged" !!
EBT Jim posted:I thought that jamming the most track and switches into my space was the key to having fun with trains.
Man, how many people in the hobby have that theory, huh?
The one thing people tell me online when they see my track plan is to point out that I could have put aLOT more track into the room!
Scrapiron Scher posted:I took it down, and now I am building it back.
Frankly, I am stunned and intrigued to hear that from you. I had always wondered why you took that beautiful layout away, though I had assumed it was due to an unquenchable thirst for creative adventure. Do tell us more, please, sir.
FrankM
dkdkrd posted:
It's called the 'School of Hard Knocks', I believe.
KD
One of the best schools I have ever attended. In fact, I am still taking classes part time!
##GEORGE said: "These mistakes will not be repeated on PRR Panhandle 2.0. (No, I plan to make all new ones.)"
I luv the attitude. <Salute> You put it well... I will help you row that boat, making new mistakes... running trains... having fun... making mistakes.. running trains.... new mistakes,, run trains... sipping adult single malt... making mistakes, running trains... having fun finding new mistakes
EBT Jim - Isn't it funny how 2D track plans fail to translate effectively into 3D model railroads? As they say in the military, when the map and the terrain differ, believe the terrain. I am trying to put a lot more "green space" between vignettes and areas of activity in the next layout. Less track with more scenery is the goal.
Miggy - I have a whole list of things to avoid, I usually learn from my mistakes, and I plan to do a lot better. In the past, a forum member (I can't recall his handle or name) had a layout which he called his "practice" layout. That was a total understatement as it was drop-dead gorgeous. I aspire to building something worth seeing.
KD - I too have decided the self flagellation is a waste of time. Onward and upward!
Best,
George
This AM, with 6 loops running, decided to "put up some tools”. While doing so, the RPO car disconnected from the VL Hudson tender causing a rear end collision to the Scenic passenger car, the derailment caused the Scenic car to crash into a passing military car traveling in the opposite direction, hauled by a VL Bigboy, the military car(s) fell to the lower level and derailed a few cars being hauled by the "Big Emma".
All in all a good morning and after a few select words all is well .
Brent
What I did was dumb, but more than that, really embarrassing when I explain it. I had decided on the size of an elevated platform that would be one end of a trolley run to the other side of my layout. The main outer loop is O72. I read an article in OGR by Jim Barrett in which he used a piece of stock on a truck that hung out as far as the overhang on a BigBoy, which I have. I dutifully followed his example and used to place the support poles. I was proud of myself. I ran my Acela and no problem...then, the Big Boy...clunk! So, I called my Albanian engineering friends and they solved the problem....I guess it adds character. Bet you can't find the fix....
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Bet you can't find the fix.
Could it be the notched column? I have the same fix on my BB loop.
Brent
Nothing. I'm German. It's perfect.
not had room or money to build one yet a permanent one anyway and when ever i built my temparary floor set ups at mom's house they would be in the way
i miss those days
BReece posted:Bet you can't find the fix.
Could it be the notched column? I have the same fix on my BB loop.
Brent
Sharp eye! You used the same design/build firm I did...and the same fixers. You're cool!
Joe Hohmann posted:Nothing. I'm German. It's perfect.
Vielen Dank!
My God, I can remember doing everyone of these things over the years. 
I guess that makes me mega- dumb.
Dumb is ok as long as you are having fun!
If I'm not having fun in this hobby, it will be my own d**n fault!
The first time we make a mistake we call it "Experience". Dumb is when we make the same mistake twice.
Tom
Placed a bid on a house and it was accepted. Then scrambled to take my layout down so we could sell our house. Next thing you know the deal falls apart!
CBS072 posted:Installed a MTH Railking tunnel portal using the tallest car that I had it the time. My double stack MTH cars are too high with double stacked containers.
That's one of the all time classics. I did the same thing using my Lionel Superliners and well cars. Next thing you know I buy a lot of MTH stack cars and they are just a little bit taller. Next thing you know I'm ripping out tunnel portals!!!
I've made them all, but the biggest mistake was not planning. I had a vision of how the layout should look, but it was wrong in so many ways. One example: The Lionel's new Big Boy bumps into a tunnel portal on an 0-84 curve. Jezzz! Can't you hear that head slap!
bigtruckpete posted:CBS072 posted:Installed a MTH Railking tunnel portal using the tallest car that I had it the time. My double stack MTH cars are too high with double stacked containers.
That's one of the all time classics. I did the same thing using my Lionel Superliners and well cars. Next thing you know I buy a lot of MTH stack cars and they are just a little bit taller. Next thing you know I'm ripping out tunnel portals!!!
I remember when Ed Rendell was mayor of Philadelphia he had to scramble to get money to raise the height of the Flat Rock Tunnel going west out of Phila. The new containers coming into the port could not be accommodated by the old structure.
I guess art really dose mimic life.
bigtruckpete posted:Placed a bid on a house and it was accepted. Then scrambled to take my layout down so we could sell our house. Next thing you know the deal falls apart!
Our agent wanted my layout down so she could show the house. I broke it all down and stuffed it in storage. The basement did look good with all that new space. The real bummer was that my little one was about 1 1/2 at the time. So between showing the old house, waiting for the new house to be built, then finishing the basement in the new house, I went at least two years without a basement layout. He missed what should have been the best two years for playing with trains. He never really took to them the way his brother did. Always felt bad about that.
Wired all my switches up on my new layout before asking advice on ogauger. After GREAT feedback, I rearranged 90% of the switchs.
#JMartin... "i am about to wire up 022 switches, please pass along advice"
(6, only 6)
#Hey Dennis, I moved this out of the GI-rage to create a foldup layout. I sold a 69 "vette to marry my sweetheart. 911 carrera t, would find a spot in the living room. :-) Run a train, share a smile, let a grankid learn on something he can drop and put back on the rails..... oh, and keep a car now and then.. my car show buddy is all grown up now, car is still primer grey, and next month.... my car show buddy is going to visit to run some trains and, AND drive the 69 Chevelle SS 396 to the burger joint. Yes. Best of Dayz, (Salute to all my OGR friends)
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#Hey Dennis, I moved this out of the GI-rage to create a foldup layout. I sold a 69 "vette to marry my sweetheart. 911 carrera t, would find a spot in the living room. :-) Run a train, share a smile, let a grankid learn on something he can drop and put back on the rails..... oh, and keep a car now and then.. my car show buddy is all grown up now, car is still primer grey, and next month.... my car show buddy is going to visit to run some trains and, AND drive the 69 Chevelle SS 396 to the burger joint. Yes. Best of Dayz, (Salute to all my OGR friends)
Tom Densel posted:The first time we make a mistake we call it "Experience". Dumb is when we make the same mistake twice.
Tom
I have a similar saying because I typically don't like the words "dumb" and 'stupid'... Blame it on the 'old college instructor' in me.. My take: Ignorance is when you don't know something (anything) and you can learn from the experience.. Stupid is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.. That being said, I find out quite often how ignorant I am about many train related subjects when I read many of the OGR Forum posts.. Some things I chose to learn and some things I leave to others and rely on their vast knowledge and experience... (For which I'm very thankful for BTW.) I think we all do stupid things at times, but that doesn't make us stupid... I know I certainly have done some stupid things, in life and with model trains......
When I had a standard gauge floor layout I was fixing a derailment and I forgot to kill track power. I had a metal twist-o-flex band on my watch. OMG so that is what flesh burning smells like.willygee posted:Watch on my wrist across live tracks(18vac)....yep..electrons win
Not adding Hidden Staging into my plan.
