As promised in another thread. I am hoping this will give me and other's idea's.
(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l499/jeborne/DSCN0193.jpg)
(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l499/jeborne/DSCN0195.jpg)
(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l499/jeborne/DSCN0196.jpg)
New yard and roundhouse addition.
(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l499/jeborne/DSCN0194.jpg)
Long way to go and a lifetime to get there.
Thanks for looking and please comment.
Jerry
I don't have room for a big layout at this time so everything is modules or circles, I give them away to family or friends when I am board with them then start another. one thing with super small layout is you can get carried away with Scenery detail to the point where I am using tweezers to place sticks and stones one by one.
(http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy202/NarrowmindedRR/minilayoutbridge001.jpg)
(http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy202/NarrowmindedRR/DisneyLOL001.jpg)(http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy202/NarrowmindedRR/DisneyLOL029.jpg)
(http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy202/NarrowmindedRR/DisneyLOL019.jpg)
(http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy202/NarrowmindedRR/AlysonSpring22012.jpg) This last Photo is outside with a Bachmann 0-4-2 with all weather cab a freelanced Bogie and a bashed thomas HO goods wagon into a ore car.
NM-Jeff
jerry.
i notice you have a coal mine. did you know that with mines the tracks extended beyond the tipple building? empties would be pushed to the end of the tracks, then pulled through the tipple for loading.
overall, you are doing well. i love the mountain.
Jerry and Narrowminded have shown us some of their great talent!
Lord knows I have posted enough pics of my layout in the past, but here are a couple of shots I like:
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN0123.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2575.jpg)
Let's see some more, friends.
Regards,
Jonathan
jward
You must have some good eye's if you can see there are no tracks yet. I do have the tracks coming out the side building,
The mine is not permanently fixed yet. I did not even cut into the mountain yet. That's the old #316? coal mine by Model Power. It is a real nice mine I picked up cheap. I can not decide whether to make it a working mine ( are they still in operation or has modern stuff taken over?) or an abandoned mine.
jonathan
You my friend have a very impressive layout. I have looked thru your photobucket pics over and over. One day hopefully I will have mine looking like that.
Whenever I have a new idea I click on your pics to get ideas for surrounding scenery.
NM
Big or small does not matter to me nor should it to anyone else. The end result that you are happy with is all that matter's, and yours are very nicely detailed.
I like the idea of giving it to family member's but I would have a hard time parting with them.
Jerry
Jonathan,
I wish I had the room to do some Work like yours and Jerry's I love the Night scene
NM-JEff
I have tried every thing I can think of to upload photos, but nothing works.
Tried from photobucket, my computer, and using the tags above. And the options below. Of course there is no way to load any of the attachments that the browse button loads.
Nothing works.
I have also tried to find any on site help, but no luck. What am I not doing.
I am sure it will be a simple solution.
When there is no easy to find help for a simple solution I begin to wonder if I am going :o ::)
ken you have to take the image URL, not code and put it between [ img][ /img]
so it would be like [ img] website . com/ photo.jpg [ /img] without spaces
Ken
Open your photo bucket account and scroll over the pic. 4 boxes will show, click on the bottom one img code and it will say copied. come back to the post and paste.
(http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/kengprice/DSCN2083.jpg)
Look familiar
Jerry
Cool thread! OK.. you asked for it.. ;D
Actually, I don't have all that much to show off, but I will show off some progress pictures of where my layout concept came from, it's progress, and current pictures today. The main thing is that this layout is still in the early stages.
BACKSTORY: I'm 40, with a 5yr old son. When I decided to build the layout I have in progress he was just turning 4 and I decided to buy him his first electric HO set - a Bachmann Thomas/Annie/Clarabel set. Then I saw the "exhibition" 4x8 Sodor Island layout that Bachmann built and it was on from there... and so it began.
This first image is a picture of the Bachmann Sodor Island, in case some may not have seen it. A three level, DC operated 5 independent track operated layout. It was my inspiration:
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-m9obzRvvztM/TE3KR9cktkI/AAAAAAAADWo/15FQfas3Kvo/s800/Sodor%2520Sample%25204.jpg)
..and this is where it began:
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Q_7OCYPnE3k/TCuTCRoEDPI/AAAAAAAADSw/0dbf5g0TrjA/s800/IMG_0340.jpg)
...that's a little better
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9w8AFo460P8/TDXb6o581bI/AAAAAAAADTg/glSnhmjLldY/s800/IMG_0359.JPG)
...much progress.. I decided to only go 2 levels and not 3.. also decided NOT to go with a harbor at the business end to help cut back on expenses:
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-w0w5KzdW-_A/TP1Fmr1WAlI/AAAAAAAADgY/Y7BYWJ1Bpsk/s800/IMG_0550.JPG)
..fast forward to many months later and a move to Florida. Some progress on the layout, but something is bugging me. There is a LOT of unused space in the middle of the lower level. I thought long and hard about what I could do. After some fiddling around.. it converted NICELY into a tunnel, which I will actually use as a "shop" area once all is said and done.. complete with sound FX and welding lighting FX.. ONE DAY:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T6PU1EdSKcg/TeK4hWRDxZI/AAAAAAAADk0/sSD1h7BFmqM/s800/IMG_1209.JPG)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dzGp51CxR4g/TeK4jJgeJqI/AAAAAAAADk8/qX84mKyjkwM/s800/IMG_1211.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q8HBV3KDiII/TeK4jjJKEMI/AAAAAAAADlE/8epS8eCM2h4/s800/IMG_1212.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wWw6Qnkm_d8/T5Gds3Xlk4I/AAAAAAAADtw/3C4mTt1iJkQ/s800/DSC01609.JPG)
..and finally just a few from how it sits now. Obviously there is a lot more on the layout than just "Thomas" stuff.. but I don't care, and neither does my son. We love trains and running them. The Berkshire in the first picture here is sound equipped with a Tsunami TSU-1000 and the outter circle of track on the lower level is now DCC equipped. The full lower level will be once I get more DCC locomotives. I also now have a Bachmann 2-8-0 Connie(DCC) - AND - I put a DCC decoder in my Spencer engine. ;D
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xlr6JknDfrc/T5GfB4l8zZI/AAAAAAAADvY/Fz_c_9vTKA4/s800/DSC01776.JPG)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-q5Fm5pDmUpo/T5GfI7bsVxI/AAAAAAAADvo/icNl3ba-na8/s800/DSC01818.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hLEFRXL9QME/T5GfMK51hSI/AAAAAAAADv4/OvulKKBfXL8/s800/DSC01821.JPG)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NcTNw3C3UWk/T5GfOkF8P_I/AAAAAAAADwA/Da9OiUDTYq4/s800/DSC01822.JPG)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SzUVelDbyFk/T5GfzcPS__I/AAAAAAAADwg/OkxjsCmLAZA/s800/DSC01849.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ldZiKMYmc1U/TjGEcM59A2I/AAAAAAAADsM/4JL6UQYBsb0/s800/DSC01389.JPG)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-65JXbjVUELM/T5GeI_-L4NI/AAAAAAAADuQ/ijDyaxIdQGI/s800/DSC01643.JPG)
SORRY - got carried away.. don't really ever get anyone to show the layout to.. and the wife isn't overly impressed! :P
napa
This is why I started this thread. It help's with new idea's and we can show off what we have accomplished so far.
I for one have borrowed a few idea's looking over other layout's.
The first Sodor Island looked great and I bet your son has a blast with it.
Jerry
Quote from: ryeguyisme on April 24, 2012, 10:11:04 PM
ken you have to take the image URL, not code and put it between [ img][ /img]
so it would be like [ img] website . com/ photo.jpg [ /img] without spaces
The pull down menus on my Photobucket pictures seem to have vanished.
There is now only the pictures.
Also the box on the right side of the page that shows my other albums has migrated to the left and covers some of the pictures.
The last time I used Photobucket I had no problems. I just noticed these yesterday when trying to post pictures here.
Jerry, I am gathering that when you used the link in my signature you got the options to show as you did get one of my pictures to load.
OK, Guys, any ideas or options to try and fix this? Know of any thing on Photobucket that I may have inadvertently did that caused this? ???
Ken
I just peeked into your photo's and they all look the same as my account and other's I have viewed. Click on jonathan's and check his. Other than that just hover your mouse over the pic and click the img code and it will say copied, unless you have something rearranged on your computer, everything looks fine on our end.
Jerry
sorry about hijacking your pic but I like that one.
Jerry, that is what the pictures are for.
The image code is what has vanished so there is now way to copy.
I'll figure it out. I always seem to.
If you can't get photobucket menu box to show up here is another way.
1.Open the picture you want at photobucket.
2.Right click on it, in the menu that pops up left click on properties at the bottom.
3.Highlite the URL adress, and copy the entire adress
4.come here and paste the adress in your post.
5.Highlight the adress here, then click on this icon above(http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/Themes/bachmann/images/bbc/img.gif) you will see the codes appear in front and back of the adress you just posted
save your post as usual.
NM-Jeff
Thank's jward
I just finished rearranging the tracks around the coal mine. Looking a lot better.
Will post some more pics later as I don't want to post all about me. Looking for other's to join in.
For those of you not knowing how to post picture's....
Open up a photo bucket account
http://photobucket.com/
upload some pics to your account
point to the pic you wish to post, at the bottom of the pic you will notice 4 boxes.
click on the one that say's IMG code and it will say that it is copied.
next go back to the thread and right click and paste.
DONE.
Jerry
since i've been working 70-80 hours a week for the past 6 months, work on my layout has come to a virtual standstill. so i don't have any new photos to post.
instead, here are a few of my dad's layout. i have more somewhere but i have to wade through literally thousands of photos to find them. here's what i have found so far.
(http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab296/emdloco/West%20Virginia%20Central%20%20Pittsburgh/IMG_0607.jpg)
(http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab296/emdloco/West%20Virginia%20Central%20%20Pittsburgh/IMG_0598.jpg)
(http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab296/emdloco/West%20Virginia%20Central%20%20Pittsburgh/IMG_0599.jpg)
(http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab296/emdloco/West%20Virginia%20Central%20%20Pittsburgh/IMG_0600.jpg)
(http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab296/emdloco/West%20Virginia%20Central%20%20Pittsburgh/IMG_0601.jpg)
(http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab296/emdloco/West%20Virginia%20Central%20%20Pittsburgh/IMG_0602.jpg)
jeff-
How come highway traffic is on the left when the trains appear to be North American prototypes?
-- D
Quote from: Doneldon on April 29, 2012, 03:04:05 PM
jeff-
How come highway traffic is on the left when the trains appear to be North American prototypes?
-- D
Maybe to see if any would notice. ???
Heck, I missed it :o
Well, I figured out the problem with posting photos. Thanks for the input.
Since I have never had any problems before posting it turns out not to be any of the things that were suggested.
Though those things may have been some help to those who have never done it before.
Like all on us at one time. :D
Any way here is some of my other layout photos other then the one Jerry posted. Jerry, thank you.
This one I like because it shows one of the propane tanks I have made.
(http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/kengprice/SuperiorOilDealer.jpg)
This one is a over view of the South Valley yard looking southeast.
(http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/kengprice/Overpass3.jpg)
Quote from: Doneldon on April 29, 2012, 03:04:05 PM
jeff-
How come highway traffic is on the left when the trains appear to be North American prototypes?
-- D
my son and i rearranged the vehicles to see how long it would take dad to notice.
Looks great!
This is from my account at photobucket.com
Reading diesels and passenger cars.
kookooclock027 on photobucket.com
Lee F.(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb140/kookooclock027/Trains2.jpg)
(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb140/kookooclock027/Trains13.jpg)
Ogre station.
I have a two level O gauge layout.
(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb140/kookooclock027/Trains3.jpg)
Reading station with Plasticville structures. A Williams Reading GP-9 pulling the Reading King Coal (Crown Edition)set of passenger cars by Williams. A Septa trolley, and a set of Reading RDC(rail diesel cars) passenger cars.
(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb140/kookooclock027/Trains8.jpg)
A Williams SD-45, and some Plasticville buildings in the background, apartment with add a floor(sorry but wrong color on the third floor), and a couple of two story houses.
Nice pics every one. ;D
Philly; Fuzzy, but really nice.
Is there a theme to the layout or just a mash of whatever looked good on it?
40' cross bucks with lights in the last picture. Cool. :o
Quote from: phillyreading on May 08, 2012, 10:20:37 AM
(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb140/kookooclock027/Trains13.jpg)
Ogre station.
I have a two level O gauge layout.
I love this! Does Donkey have to pay extra fare? ;D
K. G. Price,
I used Lionel's crossing gate for Ogauge trains, a little large for scale O.
Also this was the first or second attempt at posting photos on line, sorry for any blurriness.
J. B. Jeff,
Donkey got a discounted frequent traveler's rate.
The house is a Plasticville ranch house, and the fiquires were bought at a dollar store in Lantana FL.
Thanks for the comments! I mainly do stuff I like, try to copy some track plans but put my take on them. Most track plans are for one or two trains, not four or more trains.
Lee F.
Lee
Very nice. You brought up an old memory for me. When I saw the Coca-Cola Bears I remembered I have one like that I used to run around the x-mas tree. I had to go and find it as it has not been used in years. It is now found and ready to carry on the old tradition.
jward
Your dads layout was awesome. Is it still operating? I wish my dad would have done things like this when I was younger, he was a sportsman into hunting and fishing. I did both but prefer trains over gun's and poles.
Jerry
Quote from: phillyreading on May 09, 2012, 06:16:40 PM
J. B. Jeff,
Donkey got a discounted frequent traveler's rate.
;D
QuoteThe house is a Plasticville ranch house, and the fiquires were bought at a dollar store in Lantana FL.
I recognized the station building from having an HO version of the structure. My HO ranch house has been in the family about as long as I have. :D
showin' some more of my layout. Just completed more rock work and installing some signals (B&O CPLs of course). Nothing like taking a few pics to help you find your mistakes. :)
The signals are NJ International. They came silver, but I painted them grimy black. Just looks better to me.
On the rocks, I ran out of hydrocal halfway through, so I substituted with some sort of gypsum based stuff I got at the hardware store. It mixed-up, and looked, like joint compound. It was 2.97 a half gallon container. So significantly cheaper than the hydrocal. Worked just fine for my meager skills.
Regards,
Jonathan
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/DSCN0275.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/DSCN0273.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/DSCN0276.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/DSCN0277.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/DSCN0279.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/DSCN0280.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/DSCN0281.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/DSCN0282.jpg)
Thanks for posting pictures!!!!!!!!
There is a lot of talented folks out there.
Also I appreciate you all showing the "work in progress" photos as I can
get an idea of what to do.
i'm glad somebody has finally come out with accurate models of the b&o signals.
they were one of the things that told you that you were on the b&o and not some other railroad. unique railroads had unique physical plant.
will you be modelling one of the b&o towers with the yellow and red train order boards?
Jonathan, I finely took the time to look at all of your layout pictures.
The city looks really good. The night scenes are awesome.
Since my layout gets so much dust on it I'm glade I picked a dry landscape area to model.
The only thing I have to ask, (with tongue in cheek) :P is why so many photos of an out of focus yellow caboose on the turn table? ;D
Jward,
Yes. Eventually I will get around to a tower and other B&O type structures. So many projects, so little time.
Ken,
I know what you mean. Dust is my nemesis, having a garage layout. There lots of bad photos in my album, like the yellow caboose group. I should just delete them. I was experimenting with the camera. Sometimes things don't go as planned. :)
Regards,
Jonathan
Fred,
This is why I started this thread. Is it not great to see what other's have done.
jonathan,
Many thanks to you for posting such great photo's and updates.
One question I have is how many tree's are in this photo?
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN0768.jpg) ??? ;D
Jerry
:) I have made 400 trees for my layout--from those WS armatures and clump foliage. Most of them are in that photo. That was too much work. Next time I'm doing the rolled up polyfiber trees; like the area above the new rocks. ;D
Thanks for looking.
Regards,
Jonathan
wow, got some very talented people here in the forum. I can't wait to start on mine on Christmas day!
Balrog, As you state, there are many talented people as well as very helpful if an other member has a problem.
Now, since you brought this post back to life, lets see if we can get some more layout photos.
I will start with these from my layout.
South Valley yard with a Bachmann depressed flatcar in the foreground.
(http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/kengprice/DSCN1710.jpg)
Some more Bachmann flats with 20' containers. I bought 3 of these. Wished I had bought a few more. :(
(http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/kengprice/dscn1784.jpg)
A scratch built warehouse with one of four trailers I decaled and added the refrigeration unit to.
(http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/kengprice/Warehouse7.jpg)
Any one else got some pictures that they have not shown here before?
Awesome, Ken!
Here's a recently installed bridge:
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN1109.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN1108.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN1106.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN1105.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN1103.jpg)
Regards,
Jonathan
nice one, Jonathan, what kit is that? would it fit the Bachmann EZtrack? I really do like that one alot..looks alot like one very close to me!
Thanks.
That is a very old Atlas kit I've had for a while. Finally found a spot for it. It was designed with code 100 track in mind. I used EZ track up to the bridge, but switched to code 100 flex track across the span. Half of the mainline, on this loop, is EZ track. The other half includes various pieces of flex track and sectional snap track.
Regards,
Jonathan
Jonathan, Nice bridge. I like the lights.I have never thought of lights on a bridge. So the question is, are there such a thing in real life?
Quote from: Ken G Price on December 19, 2012, 04:05:52 PM
Jonathan, Nice bridge. I like the lights.I have never thought of lights on a bridge. So the question is, are there such a thing in real life?
Ken-
In a word: Yes.
-- D
Some nice modelling shown so far, well done people. :-)
Unfortunately, the new version of my Great Eastern is still under construction and no scenery has yet been started but here are three overviews of the as yet unnamed yard under construction. Next job is to paint the track to get rid of that awful plastic flex track look and then start ballasting and getting the roundhouse trackage finished. Then there's the rest of the model railroad to construct.
First a view looking timetable east: -
Tracks are, left to right. CNR 'Interchange 2', 'Interchange 1', Main Track, A&D Track and then Yard 1, 2, 3 and 4. Cabooses and locomotives are on what will become the roundhouse lead and caboose track. The two disconnected tracks in the foreground are not as yet part of the working trackage.
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l99/rogertra/The%20new%20Great%20Eastern%20Railway/AFCAB563-8AD7-4F86-9FC2-25E9688128A4-4227-000003449143FCAD.jpg)
And a view looking timetable west: -
Tracks are, right to left, Main Track, Yard Lead and the engine is standing on the Runaround.
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l99/rogertra/The%20new%20Great%20Eastern%20Railway/5740AB6E-7579-4CBB-837C-B0F494151152-4227-000003448F0388DE.jpg)
And a view of the industrial area: -
All buildings shown were salvaged from the old Great Eastern and for the moment are either place holders or will be reused or modified to suit their new locations or replaced.
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l99/rogertra/The%20new%20Great%20Eastern%20Railway/25F457C2-4609-4B62-9F97-8DE9F61E1147-4227-0000034483C303ED.jpg)
If you are interested, there are construction and other views available at: -
http://s94.beta.photobucket.com/user/rogertra/library/The%20new%20Great%20Eastern%20Railway
roger
Thanks for the updated photo's. You gave new hope for a stretch I have been wondering about. It is the section in the background.The front section is the yard area which has changed a little in the past couple of days.
(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l499/jeborne/DSCN0200.jpg)
jonathan
I believe I added the same Atlas 18'' bridge. I love the idea of the lights but first I have to finish the supports.
(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l499/jeborne/DSCN0198.jpg)
I have updated a lot since the beginning of this thread. Here's another shot of my mountain which grew over the time span.
(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l499/jeborne/DSCN0201.jpg)
Jerry
Roger,
Great progress. Wish I had put as much thought into my yard areas. Yours will be truly operational. Looking forward to future posts/pix.
Jerry,
Great layout as well. How do you access your mountain, you know, for track cleaning and other unforeseen track issues?
Regards,
Jonathan
jonathan
Thanks for the compliment as it is nowhere as great as your's. Hopefully someday it will. I have a lot of patience.
As far as the mountain there is a hole underneath that I am capable of reaching all my rails.
I wish you would have done a step by step on your bridge lights as I am thinking of doing the same. Looks pretty easy.
Jerry
Jerry, what years are the time frame for you layout.
Ken
I wish there were no such thing as a time frame. I love anything that involves railroads. I am more of a diesel type but who can resist the boldness of the steamers.
I am leaning more to freelancing my own era and my own line that way I can do it all.
You are probably asking because of the old coal mine I'm building up but the one thing that I am having problems with is I would like to make it an abandoned mine but my heart would like to see it operational.
I will probably be painting and designing my own line. I am open to suggestions since the pics are out there maybe someone will see something I don't.
I have never worked for a railroad but have had small O layouts all my life and one S layout which I still have the set in a display case for sentimental reasons.
Jerry
My stock answer to the 'time frame' or era question is: Some time before today!
In actual fact, I do run trains that could have been, rather than modern large motive power pulling 1890s coaches. But then again, strange things happen . . .
And, It is my RR!!
Happy (Historically Questionable) RRing,
Jerry
Decided to have a go at painting the track today, given that I don't like the awful plastic colour.
Did it turn out OK? I'm not sure, I'll have to see how it looks when it's ballasted. Hopefully, the main track is identifiable.
Before: -
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l99/rogertra/The%20new%20Great%20Eastern%20Railway/IMG_00821_zpsdf2bded5.jpg)
After: -
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l99/rogertra/The%20new%20Great%20Eastern%20Railway/IMG_00841_zps006805ff.jpg)
And from the other end, Before: -
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l99/rogertra/The%20new%20Great%20Eastern%20Railway/IMG_00811_zpsaacb4a18.jpg)
And after: -
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l99/rogertra/The%20new%20Great%20Eastern%20Railway/IMG_00831_zps989ee929.jpg)
The larger gaps in tie spacing will eventually be filled in but I am aiming for a neat and tidy main track but less tidy secondary tracks, just like the prototype. Let me know what you think, be honest. :)
I went with my Lionel this year for Christmas.
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/399347_10151394692925522_356015255_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/150666_10151394691365522_1023376531_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/546745_10151394694585522_1442702059_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/262783_10151394695090522_1080744439_n.jpg)
@Ken G the favorite spot has those cars pretty cheap still!
Looking good Roger.As what was stated before you have surly put a lot of thought into this.
Roger. to me it looks like it should be just right after the ballasting.
Balrog21, thanks for the tip. I will have to check it out.
Jerry, I asked about the era after looking at the box cars in the pictures. "but who can resist the boldness of the steamers" Well actually I can resist. For what ever reason steam just does very little for me :-\
Anyway it looks like a good start to a mini rail world. :)
Ken
The fifty footers were bought at a steal. I just could not resist. Now that I have them I am not to happy with them. I tried swapping them out for some smaller one's with a friend but his layout has maximum 18 radius and turnouts. I recently replaced 90% of my 18's with 22's.
I prefer diesel but love those Big Boy's and EM1's. They are a pleasure to watch on videos as I have never seen one down in the south as far as I can remember. But I bet if I would have it would have been diesel what?
Jerry
Well, the Christmas layout we started back in September is now about one day from being complete. I need to finish off the outside perimeter and skirt yet. All the track and trains are working great, and my wife did all the scenery. (I'm the Engineer and she is the Artist). The layout is located in our living room in front of our fireplace, and is 48" deep and 13 feet long.
The layout consists of a 3 rail scene with a second village scene on the fireplace mantle above the layout. The inner most rail is a pair of excursion cars and a small steam engine. The center track is a 10 car Christmas freight train with two Alaska diesels. I need to reverse the second engine yet and make a consist. The outer rail is my Bachmann EM-1 steam locomotive and the Alaska "McKinley Explorer" train.
Scenery starts on the right in Winter and migrates to the left in the Fall. Right section combines a mountain scene and moves into a winter village. Left portion is a lake with a pavilion and a car show sporting 1920-present luxury cars, muscle cars and hot rods, plus the Batmobile! She put a lot of work into the little details. It is designed to be dissassembled and put away each year and re-assembled the next Christmas season. Trackwork and landscaping is pretty much permanently attached to the platform, but everything else can be removed for storage.
Hope you enjoy our first attempt at model railroading.
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/17-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zps37714b38.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/36-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zps783ee5e6.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/40-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zps07c25bc0.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/01-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zps33e0328f.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/19-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zps1a7a7a38.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/18-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zpsb7282068.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/38-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zps14a31f2a.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/04-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zps92b04544.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/20-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zpsaad40036.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/12-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zpsd3abdc84.jpg)
Winter into Fall.
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/10-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zps6e4884b4.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/06-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zpsb37c3319.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/05-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zps42094f44.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/32-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zpse7a664ae.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/28-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zps86d9ab73.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/24-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zps38d29c80.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/27-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zpsea56a089.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/23-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zpsd9c8dcc6.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/26-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zpsafc00057.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/34-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zps11404b39.jpg)
Here is the village on the fireplace mantle above the layout. No operational trains, only displays.
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/13-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zps886bf0f3.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/14-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zpseda0cde9.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/15-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zpsdd8c66cb.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/Christmas%20Layout/16-ChristmasLayout-640x480_zpsa113059d.jpg)
Hope you enjoy.
Hey rbcye1
Thanks for sharing your layout it's very thoughtfully done. Having built model airplanes
I like how you incorporated the a/c into the layout. I plan to hang a bunch of my model
aircraft above the layout and was planning to have a small airplane mu seam on the layout.
I noticed you use those 2x4 horses for the legs on the layout. That's what I plan to use.
How do you prevent them from creeping closed??
Thanks for sharing your ideas!!!!!!!!
One thing is for sure This hobby has a lot of creative genius.
Thanks for the ideas!!!!!!!1
WOW rb
Your wife really does some great scenery work. If this was your first attempt let me say you have done a great job!
If I am correct you were building another layout as well. Please post pics as well.
Jerry
Quote from: M1FredQ on December 23, 2012, 12:03:21 PM
Hey rbryce1
Thanks for sharing your layout it's very thoughtfully done. Having built model airplanes
I like how you incorporated the a/c into the layout. I plan to hang a bunch of my model
aircraft above the layout and was planning to have a small airplane mu seam on the layout.
I noticed you use those 2x4 horses for the legs on the layout. That's what I plan to use.
How do you prevent them from creeping closed??
Thanks for sharing your ideas!!!!!!!!
Thanks to everyone. Yes, we will be starting a double layer layout after the Holidays, which will be a permanent layout. I've been working on the track plans now for some time and have revised it many times.
As for the saw horses, they do not move because the bracket holding the legs and connecting to the top board are all screwed together. I will need to remove these screws to close the legs later.
RB, wow amazing winter, Christmas layout.
Jerry's HO, to bad that I do N-scale as I have many 40' cars that would be what you need that I would trade you.
Oh, well, to bad you do the, Horribly Over Sized Scale. ;D
Thanks rbryce for the advice:
I told my son the temporary layout stays up till after Christmas then next day we will get started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where did the light house come from!!!!!!!!
I also meant to write every layout I have seen is remarkable. People are really
talented out there and very imaginative. It's one of the reasons I encourage my son
in this "Greatest hobby"!!
Quote from: M1FredQ on December 23, 2012, 12:03:21 PM
I noticed you use those 2x4 horses for the legs on the layout. That's what I plan to use.
How do you prevent them from creeping closed??
Fred-
If you plan to use sawhorses long term, just screw a piece
of wood or metal between the legs to fix their distance apart.
I intend the two legs on the same end, not the two legs on
the same side.
-- D
Benchwork done! Table measures 5'x16' Now all I have to do is wait for Christmas to roll around now! More pics to come!
Everyone have a wonderful and Merry Christmas!
Best,
Bal
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/tt2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/tt1.jpg)
Thanks for the advice on the sawhorses.
Balrog I hope you keep posting as you go along
Thank you everyone Have a very Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!
Thanks M1, I plan to! Just wait till you see the Christmas load I got. =) hehe...ebay has been berry berry good to me! =) And just won an awesome NIB special edition set of Athearn IC's pwr and dummy loco's....man, can't wait to get them in and get them running! pic of them below! =) And found a great guy to convert them over to DCC with sound for just cost of parts! WOOT WOOT!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/ICSD40.jpg)
Hope this works....the train set from Santa Claus was a HUGE hit, it's not the official layout but pretty close. All line working and operational! More pics and a explanatory vid to come! Hope everyone had a GREAT Christmas!
Best,
Bal
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151364234590731&set=vb.616120730&type=2&theater#!/photo.php?v=10151364234590731&set=vb.616120730&type=2&theater (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151364234590731&set=vb.616120730&type=2&theater#!/photo.php?v=10151364234590731&set=vb.616120730&type=2&theater)
Here is a inexperienced try at a video of our layout operating. Still decosating with small details and we have not installed the skirts, but that was done the next day. I was really surprised at how much the EM1 bogged down on the 2% slope, but as I found and posted in one of my earlier threads, it is pulling 5 large cars up a 2% curved slope. All three factors, the cars, the slope and the curve combined really puts a load on the locomotive, but we are content that it cannot travel any faster or someone may try it and I would really hate to see it leave the tracks on a curve! The small 0-6-0 tanker is not the Bachmann I was having trouble with, but is an 0-6-0 Manta with sound that pulls like crazy. Plan on getting 2-3 more of the open seat excursion cars for that train soon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7f7VUhL7Gs&feature=youtu.be (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7f7VUhL7Gs&feature=youtu.be)
rb and bal
Very nice video's.
Bal go back and read jwards advice on s-curves it will come in handy in the future when you start making your layout permanent. Looks like dad was having more fun than junior although Soundtraxx should record his whistle. ;D
rb what radius is your outside run. You probably answered this in one of your other threads but I feel lazy today. :P
Jerry
Quote from: Jerrys HO on December 26, 2012, 09:58:32 AM
rb and bal
Very nice video's.
rb what radius is your outside run. You probably answered this in one of your other threads but I feel lazy today. :P
Jerry
Jerry,
Outside radius is 22", center is 18" and inside is 15".
yeah, there will be a straight included in there....would have been nice to know the measurements of the crossovers since I need a few 3' pieces now, and the back loop right now is only 20" it will be 22" once i order some more tracks, and I need a electric bachman switch as well. Yeah, dad is having a ton of fun as well! A more complete vid will be done very soon.
B
This is my floor layout that i can take apart abount a year ago i dont use this part of my home so set it up there one promblem i had a dcc short why i was filming but got it going quickly so just hang in there
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=350056908367280&set=vb.100000889206449&type=3&theater.
my john deere 4-8-8-4 going over the pass my only sound unit at the time and my other one is riding on the rails i have three videos the last 2 are the ones to watch
rbryce
What a very nice Christmas layout!!!!!!!!!!!
My kids loved the Santa in his sleigh on the flat car.
This year while Christmas shopping at Menard's I discovered the
"Enchanted Forest" series.
I highly recommend them for a layout. I picked up some of them and when
I came back a week after the Thanksgiving weekend almost all of them were sold out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!!
utdave
Just saw your video with the kids a lot of "Wow's" and ""Really Cool".
My wife came in and watched for a bit and said,"really nice". Everyone loved the
"on board the train" view through the layout, every kids fantasy(as well as we adults) on being aboard one of our model trains!!!!!!!!!
Great job nice layout!!!!
Some very cool permanent and temporary Christmas layouts in this thread. Great inspiration for those of us at the "novice" level. ;)
Maybe I'll post some pictures of my 4x8 "layout in progress" I am working on for my son and I. It started out as a Thomas and Friends "Sodor Island" layout and has evolved into a layout that in no way resembles anything related to Thomas and Friends. maybe because every time we go to the hobby shop and I would try to get him to buy something related to the Thomas and Friends Bachmann HO trains he already had, he would instead choose to buy the Army Missle flatcar, or Army flatcar with the Army Tank on it. ;D That's my boy!
Speaking of... I started my son's interest in electric trains with his first basic started set, the Bachmann Thomas, Annie and Clarabel train set several years ago when he turned 4 years old. Maybe still a little too young for that size... but I didn't care. The point was to get his interest peaked. So off it went from there.
I make that point because I kept that entire set and gave it to our neighbor a few houses down for Christmas to give to her little boy who is now 4 for Christmas (cough Santa cough). He loves Thomas trains as well, the wooden and battery powered kind, and LOVES coming over to our house and running the trains on our layout. So, what better way to pass on the joy of the hobby that to get that young man started proper.
And, we are awaiting a present of our own to arrive in the mail for our layout. A "slightly old" (1988ish) AHM/Rivarossi HO Southern #1401 jewel that I know has been well kept and is in great shape. I can't wait to get her in our hands, give her a good once over with the lube and grease, and get her on the rails pulling our Southern coaches. Time to get some of that old Southern Excursion glory going again. ;D
-Chuck
utdave
nice layout. I love your floor plan. ;D
napa15
looking forward to some pics.
Jerry
Soon im going to do steam engines with sound . trying to sync the trains to come in view why i film is hard. when i do steam i can run up to 8 trains at the same time. but i wanted to try to cut up a broken steam so that you looked like you your in a steam loco. my layout is has changed some i have a sodor station that i will do a pick-up of passangers. floor sets have advantage and disavantage in what i did. im working on my barn to put the set through out my loft and the cleanning is a promblem from dust and heat in winter. i live on a small farm. i used a cheaper cam corder that was narrower and i still had issues of hitting things . i want to do one with my tyco/bachmann remodified F series locos also and my new revell dale earnheart display train that i made into a HO scale train .
thanks for watching and i loved everones layouts also . bryce you need a plymouth Duster (poor mans hotrod) in your car show LOL and a john deere model b tractor so i can be on your layout. i drive my john deere to the local car shows not many old tractors here in utah
Here is a very short video I shot on my iPhone a few months back when my son and his friend were out playing with the layout. I didn't get but a little bit of it. The trees are all just plopped on there because my boy said he wanted them there, though they are are just temporary. You can see that there has been some scenery added to the lower level, but the upper level needs much work. I have since done some additional work on the upper section.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m37WtQsYoSU&list=UUCCFdpXt-D-yp4c5rEJeDlA&index=1
Here's a video from a little over a year ago of my layout. It's kind of fun to watch because my kids give a guided tour, as they play with it. ;D Not much to look at as far as scenery, as it's early in construction.. but you get a better idea of the layout than in the video above. It's only a 4x8... but it's better than no layout at all!! ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxi5OvxFh60&list=UUCCFdpXt-D-yp4c5rEJeDlA
Enjoy.
nice layout Napa...i think everyone should start on a 4x8 to see what you can come up with! Love the tiered lines! Now, how about a more recent vid?
Thanks for the comments. The top link, which is the shorter video is the most recent video and pretty much the most current version of the layout. The only difference really at this point is that I have added some cardboard ribbing to the upper level edges where the pink foam is so that I can add the plaster cloth to make the rocks. And on top at the far end I have also added some cardboard ribbing to some other foam board I had stacked up there where I am going to make a small mountain there. I honestly haven't even decided what I am going to with the top level yet as far as scenery. It's such a small area. When it was originally going to be the Sodor Island layout I knew, but now that it's not going to be... I'm undecided. ???
But, I've got some buildings and such laying around and I see all these other great layouts for inspiration.. so I'm sure something will come to me.
Hey Napa
How many kids you have??
Looks like they were having a great time!!!!
I took time off to be with the kids and in between me trying to get caught up with
paperwork we have been "working on the Rail Road" and having a lot of fun.
My son made a really nice "LEGO" coal tower and put it on the layout.
Happy New Year everyone
I have 3... ranging from 6 to 18! :o
The two in the 2nd video I linked to are mine. I'm hoping to get out and work on ours soon. It just too cold here right now, and ours is in an un-powered shed in our back yard. Burrr. I have a feeling we'll be out there next week though doing some test runs on our new addition when it comes in the mail.
Napa I like the upper level concept I think we are going to do it too on our layout.
If you need heat in that room get one of those Lifesmart Infrared Heaters.
Menards has them pretty cheap and they really work well and hardly use much
electricity.
No fumes and perfectly safe
here is a more indepth view of the beginning of the layout before serious work starts on it.
Best,
Bal
http://youtu.be/QqOf1Tk058U (http://youtu.be/QqOf1Tk058U)
Balrog21
Nice video of the layout.
Also appreciated the commentary of your plans while the trains are running.
The kids look happy and it's the perfect age to get them "On Board" in the
"The Greatest Hobby In The World""
Happy New Year
balrog
elimnate those s curves. you are running old truck mounted cars on the inner loop. once you convert them to body mounts you will have problems.
other than that, looks like fun.
yeah, jw, they will be elminated once we get more track in. thanks for the comment!
thanks M1, we are both looking forward to the new year and workingn on the layout!
Here are some of my Bachmann N-scale cars and engines.
Right Click on mouse, View Image to enlarge.
(http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/kengprice/DSCN0002.jpg)
Quote from: Ken G Price on December 30, 2012, 09:56:05 PM
Here are some of my Bachmann N-scale cars and engines.
Right Click on mouse, View Image to enlarge.
(http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/kengprice/DSCN0002.jpg)
Excellent work Ken.
Nice job, Ken!
Here also is a little treat for those of you who watched the video of mine, where I talked about the ICG car and locomotive repair yard in my home town in McComb, MS..here is 'part' of the blueprint for the yard..its got even more stuff but my camera wouldn't get it all! Hope you like it!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/McCombtrainyard.jpg)
Quote from: Balrog21 on December 31, 2012, 10:40:20 AM
Nice job, Ken!
Here also is a little treat for those of you who watched the video of mine, where I talked about the ICG car and locomotive repair yard in my home town in McComb, MS..here is 'part' of the blueprint for the yard..its got even more stuff but my camera wouldn't get it all! Hope you like it!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/McCombtrainyard.jpg)
I have though of doing with a map of an area.
here a local guys layout & thats my MTH 757 B4 i moved to fla,man i miss basements :'(
(http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w283/thomas81z/757mikes.jpg)
(http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w283/thomas81z/myzatcamarodayjune22007012.jpg) that my cheyenne yard in the house i had in new hampshire
then my son took it over in 2007 so it got made into guilford/ pan am railway
(http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w283/thomas81z/disneyvacation162.jpg) no steam in sight :'(
(http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w283/thomas81z/disneyvacation161-1.jpg)
(http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w283/thomas81z/DSCN0447.jpg)
a little mishap :o
another of the yard
(http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w283/thomas81z/myzatcamarodayjune22007014.jpg)
thomas81z, Not only do you tease with one picture, you then add a bunch more nice ones. :o
What are your future plans for a layout? ???
THANKS KEN ;D but i sold the house & tore down the layout :'( & moved to florida & there are no basements so i have all this articulated steam & they al sit in my apt closet :'(
that's sad to hear, Thomas... :-\
Quote from: thomas81z on January 03, 2013, 08:40:01 PM
THANKS KEN ;D but i sold the house & tore down the layout :'( & moved to florida & there are no basements so i have all this articulated steam & they al sit in my apt closet :'(
Yes, that is sad :( (Since I have never lived in Florida or had a basement. My large shed works better then nothing.)
Seems you need to find a round robin group or a module group. But I'm sure you have thought of all they ways by now. :-\
I'm curious. Thomas--have you considered a skinny shelf layout? In HO you could go to as little as 6 inches in depth, in some cases even less. I was contemplating something like that in my old apartment, even though I never got around to it. I would have been using a 4-4-0, a 4-6-0, and one or two 2-8-0s, set on the Chesapeake & Ohio of course--but representing a branch from around 1918 or so, with wooden freight and passenger cars, the latter painted orange and maroon! Would have been a change of pace from modeling the same road in the 1940s, with the huge steam power it had then!
Crossing doors and the like can be a challenge, but it has been done. You may not be able to have an engine terminal with a roundhouse and turntable, but you can have some respectable main line scenes, even a shallow town with switching activity.
Those who work in N scale may find this is even better for that size.
Alternately, I am doodling some ideas for a "high line" for my living room, one that runs above windows and doors. This would be themed after my wife's favorite road, the Pennsylvania (the C&O being planned for the basement). . .and yes, I have a Bachmann K4s for the passenger service. . .now, let's hope your landlord won't complain too much about the holes for the shelf brackets or whatever you might use to hold up the railroad. . .
Ideas:
http://smallmodelrailroads.wordpress.com/2012/09/15/peshekee-river-railroad-ho-shelf-layout-design/
http://smallmodelrailroads.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/layout_small1.jpg
http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa332/mcfujiwara/Portland%20and%20Pacific%20RailRoad/PPRR-1x16shelf-straightwithcurvedfront-altyard1-4ii11.jpg
Of course, I couldn't mention working in limited areas without recalling the late Carl Arendt, whose website devoted to small railroads is thankfully still being maintained by others.
http://www.carendt.com/
Have fun.
well in ft myers they have www.scalerails.org & its a double deck layout with a helix & they model the joint line on the lower & santa fe on the upper , i have been thinking of joining them :-\ but time will tell
Thanks for the link and web address to carendt
I signed up
Happy New Year
Progress on the Great Eastern over the past few days.
I've begun the careful ballasting of the yard tracks, starting at the east end yard ladder as that is the least complicated trackage. Once the glue and ballast are completely dry, then comes the fun job of tidying up the ballast by removing the "cinders" from the top of the ties and the web of the rail :-
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l99/rogertra/The%20new%20Great%20Eastern%20Railway/IMG_01301_zps832fbfe9.jpg)
And from the other direction.
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l99/rogertra/The%20new%20Great%20Eastern%20Railway/IMG_01311_zpsa8098936.jpg)
roger
Looking good keep them coming and don't forget to connect the track running next to your turntable ;D ;D
Jerry
Quote from: Jerrys HO on January 08, 2013, 06:01:29 PM
roger
Looking good keep them coming and don't forget to connect the track running next to your turntable ;D ;D
Jerry
Hi Jerry.
I'll keep 'em coming. You'll notice there's no turntable in the pit?
Power supply gave up the ghost and it's a proprietary Walthers chip that's fried so I'm waiting for their permission to send it back for repair.
Another update! Inclines are in!
http://youtu.be/dwe-EDBHlec (http://youtu.be/dwe-EDBHlec)
Bal
Your making good progress. It looks great.
One suggestion if you have not already thought of it is to have an opening on the back side of your tunnel since it does not appear to have enough room to come from underneath for track cleaning and those dreadful derails.
Also you may want to consider installing a security fence around your layout. I just had a piece of rolling stocks trip pin catch the track and threw my F7 to the ground. Thank goodness for all the scrap foam I have laying in that section as it saved me from major damage. Came out with a busted wheel set and I had an extra laying around.
Jerry
Sweet!
thanks, guys, yeah, there will be a retaining wall on the outer edges for just that reason. More vids to come!
Balrog-
Looking good!
-- D
Quote from: Balrog21 on January 12, 2013, 10:27:52 AM
Another update! Inclines are in!
http://youtu.be/dwe-EDBHlec (http://youtu.be/dwe-EDBHlec)
Looking good, keep us updated, well done. :-)
Rather than post a ton of pictures that may be slow loading for some folks who may still be on dial-up, just click the Alabama Central Railway in my signature. It will take you to my Railroad's Website.
There's no scenery yet, as the construction of the tracks isn't finished. Except for what is hidden track, like the staging yards and the hidden track up the nolix, the vast majority is handlaid.
Whoa!!
wow...very nice!
AC-
I'm impressed, but where do you find the time?
-- D
Regression on the Great Eastern, not progression.
This : -
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l99/rogertra/The%20new%20Great%20Eastern%20Railway/IMG_01321_zps7ffe8f99.jpg)
Was this: -
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l99/rogertra/The%20new%20Great%20Eastern%20Railway/72D6878B-4FC8-4679-91FE-EAFB7B72C031-4227-0000034472CE5B48.jpg)
Unfortunately, due to an error when measuring, I didn't leave enough room for the coaling tower and ash pit on the turntable leads. I therefore need to move the turntable and roundhouse back. As the power supply to my Walthers 90 foot "Built-ups" 'table has died (proprietary chip has fried) and I'm waiting for Wathers to approve sending it back, it is easier to scrap the original TT and roundhouse module and build another. Hopefully, I'll hear from Walthers soon as I emailed them last Wednesday.
Quote from: CJCrescent on January 12, 2013, 06:28:13 PM
Rather than post a ton of pictures that may be slow loading for some folks who may still be on dial-up, just click the Alabama Central Railway in my signature. It will take you to my Railroad's Website.
Very impressive. You have to keep us updated.
Roger
Sorry to here about your regression but it looks as if you have it under control.
I like the idea of that whole drop in set up. I did my turntable that way but never thought of doing a whole scene drop in.
Hope you hear something on your tt soon while it's apart.
Jerry
Carey,
I'm in Birmingham (technically, Hueytown) and am well aware of The Wrecking Crew and the work the club does. My family and I come out to see the exhibits at The McWayne Center every Christmas. You guys are truly gifted. Didn't you guys used to put on a train show over at the Bessemer Civic Center once or twice a year also, quite a few years ago? I know I remember going out there to some, but can't remember who put it on. I'm not a member of a club. I've considered it.
balrog,
looking good. i noticed you used the 18r switches extensively. i also notice you took pains to eliminate the s curves in your yard and industrial areas. how are the 18r switches performing when you back trains through them?
yeppers! I took your advice and they are doing great! NO hang up so far, but...I recently sold some, well ok alot of old other hobby stuff and thinking about expanding the layout..i figure now is the time before I get in too deep and then it will be a real mess to add on or rebuild....
think of having the U shape with the 5x8's on the outsides and another 5x8 on the bottom on the baseline.....hmmmm more ideas....more track..more scenery to do! Thinking hard about it...any suggestions please shoot them my way!
Thanks for watching the vids! Much appreciated!
here is a very rought layout plan that I was talking about. =)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/NewLayout.jpg)
So the back total width from end to end will be 18' with the left and rights that make up the U's being 8' and the with of the back horizontal being 5' deep. Didn't know if the pic showed the measurements or not.
I also want to keep the double track throughout with a possible third separate line if possible and it makes sense.
B
sounds like a plan. if you do go for the double main throughout, youi may want to have a set of crossobers for the yard, city & industrial areas. not only will these allow access from either main to these areas, it will also allow you some flexibility in running your trains. hope the m,ountain area will still be a part of the layout.
hehe, yep a major plan! yeah, I thought of that I already have two crossovers, so you think i will need 4 more? Also, for the yard I will be getting these to add in.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/Tfrtable.gif)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/Engineshop.gif)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/moreshops.jpg)
yeppers the mountain and tunnel will stay. =)
Bal
Are you talking about dismantling everything are just adding on to what you have?
From what it looks like it would be fairly easy to add the two sides to what you have put all that time into.
I am going to have to go with Jeff's hint(in case you did not catch it) because he gave me the same advise a couple of years ago. Some rolling stock like those big tankers you are talking about may have trouble on those 18r turnout's. I pretty much changed all my standard turnout's into numbered turnout's per his advice and do not regret the decision. My main line uses #6's to cross over to inner loop and I have #6's entering my yard with #5's leading to my tt. #4's make up my yard as they line up perfectly for a yard.
I don't see a need for more crossover's as long as you place the two you have in the right places. If you want more it should not be hard to add in.
I will try to reply to your PM later tonight.
Jerry
yeah take it apart..the good thing is that nothing is tacked down yet so it won't be that hard to take down. I haven't had any problems with the turnouts yet, I'm figuring though I will have to go to some snap track in the transition or flex as well. Looking forward to the PM..we need more pics of your layout...and lol, I've changed the industry area again on my existing layout due to forseeing future potential snags and eliminating them before they even begin to get started.
balrog,
yes i am suggesting that only 2 crossovers are not enough. you can't let a fast train pass a slower one with only the two you have. having more than just the two allows you to perform some tricky big time traqin dispatching moves.
my grandfather's layout was similar in square footage to what you have planned. he had 4 sets of crossovers on a railroad with a 2 or 3 track main, and we were able to have up to 12 trains at a time out on the line at a time, and still be able to run trains. note that this was before dcc, and we were doing it with 3 throttles and block control (18 blocks total)....
My son and I had fun on his layout over Christmas. Check out this video of his long freight with mid train helpers comming downgrade in full dynamic brakes on his layout in Denver!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXkz9PRJ7Q0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Bill
That was awesome!!! I actually felt like I was waiting on a real train then realized I was sitting at my computer.
Thanks for sharing that with us.
Jerry
Quote from: Loco Bill Canelos on January 21, 2013, 01:26:40 PM
My son and I had fun on his layout over Christmas. Check out this video of his long freight with mid train helpers comming downgrade in full dynamic brakes on his layout in Denver!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXkz9PRJ7Q0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Excellent job.
One question. Do trains this length usually run on this layout or was this train specially arranged for the video?
WE usually run 20 to 25 cars, and this train would normally be two trains with the second half having a few more cars. The lengths are limited by the smallest of his four passing tracks. He also has the complete 13 car California Zephyr.
This is his coal unit train;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfSTkjQZmD8
You can see some his other vids of plowing real snow and the Zephyr from the dome car.
Simply pure joy to watch, Loco Bill.
Thanks for sharing that impressive train.
This is what I hoped would be the case for this forum: a chance for modelers to share their projects and learn from each other. This thread is fun to follow.
Let's keep sharing. Great stuff!
Regards,
Jonathan
Quote from: Loco Bill Canelos on January 22, 2013, 04:15:23 AM
WE usually run 20 to 25 cars, and this train would normally be two trains with the second half having a few more cars. The lengths are limited by the smallest of his four passing tracks. He also has the complete 13 car California Zephyr.
This is his coal unit train;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfSTkjQZmD8
You can see some his other vids of plowing real snow and the Zephyr from the dome car.
Very impressive. :-)
OK, here's some video of my layout.... :)
http://youtu.be/dscAE-32Kuc (http://youtu.be/dscAE-32Kuc)
Initially, this was shot as "practice footage" for getting used to my new "broadcast-grade" 8) camcorder I bought last spring (somehow I never got around to editing Part 2, though). ::)
:D Tom
Tom Lookin good!! Some lumber company is going to be real happy with their log haulin dozer!! Great trains and great load. The shot of the lantern in the long caboose was a nice touch!!
Bill
Tom.
Looks good but I would have like to have seen some more wide or establishing shots. To get the big picture and show the rolling stock in context?
Perhaps next time, pretty please as I'd like to see more?
Very impressive indeed every one. :)
Quote from: rogertra on January 13, 2013, 08:40:07 PM
Regression on the Great Eastern, not progression.
This : -
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l99/rogertra/The%20new%20Great%20Eastern%20Railway/IMG_01321_zps7ffe8f99.jpg)
Was this: -
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l99/rogertra/The%20new%20Great%20Eastern%20Railway/72D6878B-4FC8-4679-91FE-EAFB7B72C031-4227-0000034472CE5B48.jpg)
Unfortunately, due to an error when measuring, I didn't leave enough room for the coaling tower and ash pit on the turntable leads. I therefore need to move the turntable and roundhouse back. As the power supply to my Walthers 90 foot "Built-Ups" 'table has died (proprietary chip has fried) and I'm waiting for Wathers to approve sending it back, it is easier to scrap the original TT and roundhouse module and build another. Hopefully, I'll hear from Walthers soon as I emailed them last Wednesday.
I've finally got most of the revised roundhouse and lead in place. Track not laid into roundhouse or field tracks as the turntable will have to be removed as soon as a replacement arrives. Sadly, my excellent Walthers 90 foot Build-Ups turntable has died. The power supply has fried itself and I've had to order the DCC ready new version as the older model was discontinued 3 years ago and my one is way out of warranty. So, here's were we are at right now: -
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l99/rogertra/The%20new%20Great%20Eastern%20Railway/Roundhouserevised1.jpg)
And another view: -
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l99/rogertra/The%20new%20Great%20Eastern%20Railway/Roundhouserevised-3.jpg)
Quote from: napa15 on January 14, 2013, 03:42:16 PM
Carey,
I'm in Birmingham (technically, Hueytown) and am well aware of The Wrecking Crew and the work the club does. My family and I come out to see the exhibits at The McWayne Center every Christmas. You guys are truly gifted. Didn't you guys used to put on a train show over at the Bessemer Civic Center once or twice a year also, quite a few years ago? I know I remember going out there to some, but can't remember who put it on. I'm not a member of a club. I've considered it.
Yes we, along with the Steel City Division of the NMRA put those on. Been hoping that we'll be putting on more.
What part of Hueytown do you live in? I'm in Hoover. I have a friend who lives there, and he's N-scale. We're building his layout now, from a design of mine.
Edit; Napa, I have sent you a PM.
Quote from: Doneldon on January 12, 2013, 11:03:50 PM
AC-
I'm impressed, but where do you find the time?
-- D
I'm retired. I can work on it when I feel the need.
I became so enamoured by my recent addition of an arch bridge that I installed another for twice the fun:
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN1480_zps55dc729b.jpg)
The passenger cars are Bachmann Heavyweights--out of production.
Regards,
Jonathan
Ooh, ooh, passenger power, from the number a P-5 (USRA light 4-6-2, B&O had 30 or so, I think). Where'd you find that, Jonathan?
Good catch, J3a. One of the few steamers I own that's not a Bachmann. It was a USRA Pacific. I have been tweaking it... Needs a few more changes.
Regards,
Jonathan
very nice vids all, and nice steamer, Jonathan!
Well, I've been a little busy, but a good busy...layout is expanding and here is the history I worked up for it and some other stuff to go along with it. Yeppers, all turnouts are 4, 5, and 6's!
Shaleford Rail – Line Terminal and Yard - A Brief History
William 'Hank' Stark, a self-made millionaire in the oil, land, and stock market saw another opportunity to enhance his wealth in 1998. A lover of mountains, Hank got a board of investors together and ventured into the railroad industry in one of the most unlikely of places. Seeing a need for the lower area of Colorado, Hank aggressively sought the best deals and bartered to keep the long history of the American railroads alive. He bought the town of Shaleford, Colorado and then began work on laying the rails that would serve his new railroad and repair facilities. During this time Hank also met with several of the CEO's and Presidents of the long time rail industries and made some truly amazing deals; one in particular was with the Illinois Central line before the eventual buyout from Canadian National. During Hank's early years his favorite place to spend the summer was in the Deep South in Mississippi with his Uncle, Mark Stillwater, a life-long railroad worker. Many days, both mornings and evenings Hank spent down at the Illinois Central Gulf repair yards in McComb, MS. This time spent love never died, and even after Hank's uncle has passed his love for trains never stopped. Hanks's big negotiating factor enabled the Shaleford line to offer a very unique twist. This twist won the hearts of many CEO's and Presidents of old rail lines. His bargaining chip allowed those engines, and rolling stock bought to keep the original company and small road names on both its rolling stock and engines and to be brought back up to full operating capacity along with a fully restored paint job on everything that Shaleford Rail purchased.
In 2000 Shaleford Rail was officially born and their first freight manifest headed North to meet with the Union Pacific line in northern Colorado. News spread fast and the many of Hank's investor's owned other business's as well and seeing the potential in his new found venture many of Hank's investors expanded their operations and opened up new facilities in the tall peaks of Shaleford, Colorado to add to their profitable businesses
Within three years the line and repair facilities flourished beyond Hank's meager expectations. A new diesel repair shop was built and a transfer table was installed to cut expenses and the demand for in route diesel repairs. The car shops were Hank's big money maker but soon the word spread about the well repaired and restored diesel engines his shops produced. 2005 showed another increase in revenue and expansion. A turntable and round house was also installed along with a multi-million dollar deal with General Electric.
A plastics plant and cement factory became part of Shaleford's fold along with a refurbished shale rock supply plant. In 2014 Shaleford Rail will see its first true new engine. In partnership with General Electric, Shaleford Rail will receive a General Electric AC6000, and what makes this new engine truly unique is that it will be the only engine in its small fleet to sport its own Shaleford Rail Logo.
Nestled in the southwest corner of Colorado, Shaleford is set in an open box canyon, and boasted a mere 850 residents in 1998. With Shaleford Rail now calling Shaleford home the small town's population grew to over 2,500 by 2012, and it doesn't seem to be slowing down. Although the city is growing many people commute to Shaleford from other small towns such as Telluride and Mist Valley.
2010 also saw the introduction of Shaleford's own train museum with a 2-8-4 Berkshire Steam locomotive and caboose on static display. Another great hot spot in Shaleford is the Shaleford Rail Diner. This multi-purpose diner sits on the northwest end of the town and incorporates an old style passenger car and a modern Amtrack passenger car as its main eating facilities. The diner is open 24 hours a day with the Amtrak car remaining open and the old passenger car closing at 9PM. Blending the old style railroad with the new this diner is loved by all who work, live, and visit the now bustling town of Shaleford, Colorado.
Shaleford Rail, the vision of William Stark has met with great success. The Shaleford Rail line merges the West's Union Pacific line and Southwest Sante Fe lines, thus cutting costs in shipping and delivery time of much of western part of the countries needs. It's roster of engines is constantly growing along with its rolling stock. Many of the town's residents wait anxiously and wonder what has Hank's got up his sleeve next for the town.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/ShalefordLOGOFINAL.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/LongYardPlanFINAL.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/ShalefordGEAC4000logo.jpg)
Anywho, I'm having fun, and designing the Shaleford logo was a bit of extra fun as well!
The curves are 26" and 22", tables are 5'x8' with a total of 4. Layout done with Anyrail.
Bal
Bal-
It looks good to me. You can come over any time now and build my next pike!
-- D
A temporary living room layout till I can reach my shelf layout again.(torn diaphragm + elbows up=pain)(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/100livingroom3800x661_zps7b85fce2.gif)
Diagram made with Anyrail free,MS photo, paint, & sniptool.
Just a simple around the walls 2 track mainline 24&22 radius
(http://bandb3536.com/rcplayout.jpg)
sorry for your injury GG hope it mends quickly! Nice layout. I LOVE anyrail.
Uncbob, if you didnt tweak that photograph you have a very nice layout with some AWESOME looking greens! LOVE it!
Quote from: Balrog21 on February 08, 2013, 04:46:15 AM
sorry for your injury GG hope it mends quickly! Nice layout. I LOVE anyrail.
Uncbob, if you didnt tweak that photograph you have a very nice layout with some AWESOME looking greens! LOVE it!
Thanks
Not tweaked
Click on my Signature and then click LAYOUT and you can see the evolution
Quote from: Loco Bill Canelos on January 22, 2013, 04:15:23 AM
WE usually run 20 to 25 cars, and this train would normally be two trains with the second half having a few more cars. The lengths are limited by the smallest of his four passing tracks. He also has the complete 13 car California Zephyr.
This is his coal unit train;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfSTkjQZmD8
You can see some his other vids of plowing real snow and the Zephyr from the dome car.
Very nice and great videos
Excellent Weathering
Quote from: Balrog21 on January 31, 2013, 04:31:31 PM
Anywho, I'm having fun, and designing the Shaleford logo was a bit of extra fun as well!
The curves are 26" and 22", tables are 5'x8' with a total of 4. Layout done with Anyrail.
Bal
Looks like a great uncomplicated design with a running loop so you can watch them go round and round when you don't want operations
Quote from: Balrog21 on February 08, 2013, 04:46:15 AM
sorry for your injury GG hope it mends quickly! Nice layout. I LOVE anyrail.
Balrog, funny, after seeing YOUR "The Mist" poster above the layout in this thread, I borrowed & watched it(cool), Turned off the t.v., Turned on the computer and YOU left me a comment. Almost as creepy as the flick!
Made Temp. layout up by eye, as I went, no plans, got lucky. I was done before I found Anyrail free. But just using to make the diagram makes me say the newest full version is in my future.
Some nice layouts.
uncbob, I really like yours.
Quote from: napa15 on April 25, 2012, 02:59:58 PM
Cool thread! OK.. you asked for it.. ;D
Actually, I don't have all that much to show off, but I will show off some progress pictures of where my layout concept came from, it's progress, and current pictures today. The main thing is that this layout is still in the early stages.
BACKSTORY: I'm 40, with a 5yr old son. When I decided to build the layout I have in progress he was just turning 4 and I decided to buy him his first electric HO set - a Bachmann Thomas/Annie/Clarabel set. Then I saw the "exhibition" 4x8 Sodor Island layout that Bachmann built and it was on from there... and so it began.
This first image is a picture of the Bachmann Sodor Island, in case some may not have seen it. A three level, DC operated 5 independent track operated layout. It was my inspiration:
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-m9obzRvvztM/TE3KR9cktkI/AAAAAAAADWo/15FQfas3Kvo/s800/Sodor%2520Sample%25204.jpg)
..and this is where it began:
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Q_7OCYPnE3k/TCuTCRoEDPI/AAAAAAAADSw/0dbf5g0TrjA/s800/IMG_0340.jpg)
...that's a little better
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9w8AFo460P8/TDXb6o581bI/AAAAAAAADTg/glSnhmjLldY/s800/IMG_0359.JPG)
...much progress.. I decided to only go 2 levels and not 3.. also decided NOT to go with a harbor at the business end to help cut back on expenses:
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-w0w5KzdW-_A/TP1Fmr1WAlI/AAAAAAAADgY/Y7BYWJ1Bpsk/s800/IMG_0550.JPG)
..fast forward to many months later and a move to Florida. Some progress on the layout, but something is bugging me. There is a LOT of unused space in the middle of the lower level. I thought long and hard about what I could do. After some fiddling around.. it converted NICELY into a tunnel, which I will actually use as a "shop" area once all is said and done.. complete with sound FX and welding lighting FX.. ONE DAY:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T6PU1EdSKcg/TeK4hWRDxZI/AAAAAAAADk0/sSD1h7BFmqM/s800/IMG_1209.JPG)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dzGp51CxR4g/TeK4jJgeJqI/AAAAAAAADk8/qX84mKyjkwM/s800/IMG_1211.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q8HBV3KDiII/TeK4jjJKEMI/AAAAAAAADlE/8epS8eCM2h4/s800/IMG_1212.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wWw6Qnkm_d8/T5Gds3Xlk4I/AAAAAAAADtw/3C4mTt1iJkQ/s800/DSC01609.JPG)
..and finally just a few from how it sits now. Obviously there is a lot more on the layout than just "Thomas" stuff.. but I don't care, and neither does my son. We love trains and running them. The Berkshire in the first picture here is sound equipped with a Tsunami TSU-1000 and the outter circle of track on the lower level is now DCC equipped. The full lower level will be once I get more DCC locomotives. I also now have a Bachmann 2-8-0 Connie(DCC) - AND - I put a DCC decoder in my Spencer engine. ;D
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xlr6JknDfrc/T5GfB4l8zZI/AAAAAAAADvY/Fz_c_9vTKA4/s800/DSC01776.JPG)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-q5Fm5pDmUpo/T5GfI7bsVxI/AAAAAAAADvo/icNl3ba-na8/s800/DSC01818.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hLEFRXL9QME/T5GfMK51hSI/AAAAAAAADv4/OvulKKBfXL8/s800/DSC01821.JPG)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NcTNw3C3UWk/T5GfOkF8P_I/AAAAAAAADwA/Da9OiUDTYq4/s800/DSC01822.JPG)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SzUVelDbyFk/T5GfzcPS__I/AAAAAAAADwg/OkxjsCmLAZA/s800/DSC01849.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ldZiKMYmc1U/TjGEcM59A2I/AAAAAAAADsM/4JL6UQYBsb0/s800/DSC01389.JPG)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-65JXbjVUELM/T5GeI_-L4NI/AAAAAAAADuQ/ijDyaxIdQGI/s800/DSC01643.JPG)
SORRY - got carried away.. don't really ever get anyone to show the layout to.. and the wife isn't overly impressed! :P
Seeing your son smiling at the camera in the second photo with his layout put a smile on my face !!! Nothing like seeing little boys enjoying their trains =) I remember when i was his age ( im 29 now and single , still living at home ) i used to have a Union Pacific GP38 layout .. In fact , still own it to this day . But as old as that engine and stuff is and as long as it has been in the attic . I just decided to buy me a NEW Bachmann Norfolk Southern Thoroughbred set ! It only has 2 cars and a caboose with the engine ... But that'll do " for now " haha !!!! But he looks really excited and happy to be able to have his layout , and you know what ? Thats the BEST part about it ! I want you to enjoy your valuable time with your son and his layout =)
thanks for the comment, yeah, I figured I have enough industry and lay lines to keep me busy if I want to let the trains just run and run and run...my son loves to watch them go round and round. Also what you can't see in the top view is the over under I'm going to attempt in the top left hand corner. If I can pull it off I think it will look pretty neat. There is also going to be a train museum added to the layout along with the diner that will be two amtrak passenger cars set up one up the hill from the other. Hopefully I can light these and it will look pretty neat as well.
just getting started on my On30 logging layout, built on a 24" deep shelf that is "L" shaped, 8' long on one side and 4' long on the other. Layout will be a double switch back using Peco On30 track, Bachmann Climax and a Shay, both with added 3trd trucks from Backwoods Miniatures. Just built the Climax truck tonight. Mike
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/cadetpwr/TClogging003_zps283478fc.jpg)
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/cadetpwr/TClogging004_zps1a38b574.jpg)
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/cadetpwr/TClogging001_zpsb401c404.jpg)
@trainmannick83
Thanks for the comments. Man, I hadn't looked at this particular thread in several weeks and peeked at it and was scrolling down and saw my old pics and it was a bit of a blast from the past. :) Weird.
That is a cool pic of my boy, and his enjoyment of his new train.. and our new venture. Well, I suppose I could give a little update on the layout. Actually, the layout hasn't progressed too much farther today than from what it looked like 9th picture. We had moved to FL from AL and my job there took up a LOT of my time, so not much time to work on it there. And then we moved back to AL, and I haven't had much time to work on it since we've moved back here... until the last few weeks. I have actually been going gangbusters on it that last few weeks and am trying to get it as done as I can as quickly as I can. We have a Cub Scout Railroad Safety event coming up in March and since the 4x8 table is on casters, I want to be able to take it to our event and put it on display for the boys.
Also, another "change" to the layout since i posted those pictures is that the layout "design/purpose" has shifted from a Thomas and Friends "Sodor Island layout to a realistic train layout, but not with any specific era or anything. It just won't have the European look and feel that it would have with the Thomas stuff. It was interesting to watch my son change his tastes as we would go to the hobby stores to buy train stuff. i would ask him if he wanted to buy another Thomas train car (Bachmann HO) or something, and he would chose an Army HO flat car with a Tank on it, or a passenger car.. stuf like that.
So, all the Bachmann HO Thomas engines and cars are now boxed up and not getting used much now. Will probably break them out for the Cyb Scout meeting though. I even put a DCC decoder in Spencer. ;)
I've seen a lot of cool layouts here! I'll try building my own as soon as house renovation's done!
Great pictures guys. Keep them coming.
I have recently updated my layout thread, and I invite you to have a further look here........
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,8740.0.html (http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,8740.0.html)
Keep your kit together!
Sid
Had a visit from napa15 on Wednesday. Just hope he didn't get scared away by the mess!
He brought over a Southern 4-6-2, and I showed him what he could do to improve the appearance of it.
@GG! haha, yeah The Mist is pretty intense and about as close as you can get to the novella in King's short story book. Glad you enjoyed it! I'm a writer as well. =) The Mist is probably my favorite novella of all time. Frank Darabonte did an awesome job with it, and most people don't know but it was filmed in Shreveport, Louisiana Jerry! ;D
I will have a few pics to add soon, nothing on the layout but the progress of getting the said needed parts for expansion and whatnots.
...I knew that-the scene at the lake in the beginning, with the bridge in the background-LA.
Quote from: CJCrescent on February 24, 2013, 12:41:27 AM
Had a visit from napa15 on Wednesday. Just hope he didn't get scared away by the mess!
He brought over a Southern 4-6-2, and I showed him what he could do to improve the appearance of it.
I enjoyed the visit CJ. I didn't see a mess.. I saw a work in progress. ;) It was interesting to see a layout of your magnitude, and in it's status up close and personal. I look forward to all there is to learn about it, from the basics of how you've assembled it to train operations. I also appreciate your time and patience in answering my questions and specifically helping me out with my 4-6-2. You're definitely helping me out with more than improving the appearance, considering we'll be re-motoring and re-gearing mainly.
Been working feverishly on my meager 4x8 layout the last several weeks trying to get it much farther along than it has been for the last few years. I'm very close to finally being able to add scenery to it. Just finishing up with the foam (rock) carving this week.
Jerry's HO,
Great looking layout! I'm looking for ideas for an O gauge layout. Love the track plan!
Thanks stationmaster, it has been added on twice since then. Once I get a little more scenery going I will post more pics.
I had an O scale layout before this one in HO. I used practically the same design as the one you see in the first pic. There would have been no room for add on's in the O but I seemed to have found a lot more space in my garage since I started with HO. ::) ::) ;D
Looking forward to seeing some of your pics once you get started.
Jerry
I've had a few people ask me about the anyrail program I've responed to each. I'm going to put up some screen shots for you to see some things anyrail will do and will most likely this weekend do a VERY basic tutorial video showing how to use Anyrail for the first time beginner.
the pics didnt' turn out so well but it's just screen captures but I will tell you what's going on the pics...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/anyrailex1_zps1e4270d1.jpg)
ok, in the first pic show the whole bachmann eztrack list, and when you move the mouse over a piece of the list it tells you what it is, also at the very top is a list of all the track from all the manufacturers Anyrail has for you to choose from.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/anyrailex2_zpsb48cdb2a.jpg)
this pic shows a selcted piece of track at the bottom it tell you the product number and size, length of the track selected. The neat thing about this is that you can tell the program to autojoin the pieces and just pull the desired piece to an existing piece and it automatically joins the track together.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/anyrailex4_zpsc4effe82.jpg)
the last pic shows a piece of 100 code flex track selected, at the bottom it tells me the exact lenght it is as well along with its product number and what type of track is used. So, yes, you can combine different companies tracks to make your plan.
Hope this helps! Anymore questions just ask away!
I'm posting just the link it seems if I do this the pics are a little bigger and a little easier to read and ACTUALLY SEE the screen a bit better!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/anyrailex1_zps1e4270d1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/anyrailex2_zpsb48cdb2a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/anyrailex4_zpsc4effe82.jpg
Balrog21, Thanks for the info on Anyrail.
anytime! it's too bad the pics aren't that big, but with the tutorial I'm going to do it should make things a whole lot clearer and more understandable in the pics...
Love the pictures and videos! I wish I would have come across this before I started mine. I like the multi level tracks. I dont have a lot done but here is mine if your interested.
http://youtu.be/VuXigR_QGVk
Just spent the last three months building my first wood structure. Will probably be my last. That was too hard. Anyway this is a signal tower for my layout. I haven't found the perfect spot to plant it, yet. I will post the pics once it's in place. For now, here are the photos of the tower itself. This is RO Tower, Wellsboro, Indiana, 1902-1957. While is exterior follows the prototype, the interior was pure imagination. For instance, the real tower had 28 levers, compared to my 16. Enjoy:
Regards,
Jonathan
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN1680_zps7e82231a.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN1686_zps9b42f3aa.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN1683_zpsaa806dd6.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN1676_zps9b73780f.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN1694_zpsf207d918.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN1693_zpscc902b36.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN1690_zps10f7bfe8.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN1669_zpsf49fa74c.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN1668_zpsb5fbf89e.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN1667_zpsb05646b2.jpg)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN1663_zps1b298ef5.jpg)
Yes, I know my windows need sills and frames on the inside. Working on it... ;D
Jonathan-
Wow! Your work is so consistently excellent that I can't stand it. It would be a real shame if you don't build any more wood structures;
you are clearly very good at it. One way to speed up the process is to make buildings less detailed, especially on the inside. Your
interior is great, don't get me wrong, but the majority of structures don't need such a high level of detail because their interiors just
aren't visible.
-- D
I am not sure how b&o did things in 1957, but in the 1970s, they had a board which was either hung outside the tower under the eaves, or in the side window, which was painted either red or yellow to denote the type of traqin order to be picked up by the next train. these boards also had the appropriate colour lantern hung off them for use at night. this was a distinctively b&o feature, and used pretty consistently on the b&o towers i was fotunate enough to have visited. this would be a nice detail, and easy to add.
one small note, and i am not trying to nitpick here. on the towers i've been in, the operators desk was usually centered along the front wall where the op could easily see approaching trains. your location for this desk reflects that. but the interlocking machine was located directly behind the desk, so that the operator could easily access the levers. there was a model board directly above the machine, suspended from the ceilong, which contained a diagram of the trackage the tower controlled along with panel lights indicating the position and status of all switches, derails and signals in the controlled area. this seemed consistent among the towers i visited on the former b&o and pennsy lines. sometimes, especially on the pennsy, the flor mounted levers were replaced by a series of electrical switcheson a panel under the model board.
towers were a fascinating place to hang out with a friendly operator, and your model brings back fond memories.
Well, after re-designing over 20 times, here is where I am at. I have attached 2 JPEG files of the upper level, one with hidden rails shown and the other with hidden rails concealed and 1 file of the lower level. The layout was designed with Anyrail software. It may not be prototypical in the true sense, but it is more like a little piece of many prototypes. It not only incorporates many of my ideas and desires, but a LOT of the things I have learned from other members of this forum, for which I thank everyone.
It is HO scale, and consists of 2 levels, totally independent of each other. No room for an elevated ramp or a helix. Tried this on versions 1-10 and scrapped both of these ideas due to the huge waste of real estate. If you want a train on the lower level to run on the upper level, it will have to be moved physically, but I don't plan on doing that. First, it is not a walkaround, but there is access to the center via a pass through. The upper center access is high, about 4'-6" above the floor and only has a 29" deep "duck-under", while the lower level pass thru is about 30" above the floor and has a completely open access. The shape of the layout is totally dictated by the room size and obstacles.
I will be operating it with an NCE DCC control system with a 5 amp booster and both corded and wireless throttles.
The upper level will consist of a base layer of 3/8" plywood over a 2X3 frame, covered with 3" of foam. The foam will be contoured as rolling hills and scenery, with earth cuts and retaining walls as necessary, just as real people would have to build.
The lower level will be 3/4" plywood with 3/4" foam as a base, as it will be fairly flat, but will have some elevated contours.
In both cases, higher hills and such will be made with more foam in specific locations, and the Upper level will have two major mountains with access from beneath. A large 18-24" long, 12" high trestle bridge will span the two mountain ranges for the mountain rail (maroon) and a shorter span bridge for the mountain passenger rail (green) at a lower elevation.
The two lowland freight lines, coal (dark blue) and freight (light blue-grey), will pass over the stream with short bridges and the spurs will use culverts.
The Upper level has 4 railroads, none of which have cross-over turnouts, therefore I can control all 4 trains running in different directions and at different speeds by myself without collisions. The mountain rails are all elevated higher than the low land rails. There is track access beneath the tunnels where hidden track is shown. The top left, center and right corners will try to replicate the Alaska mountains. The Mountain freight rail train is pulled the the Bachmann EM1 2-8-8-0 steam locomotive, while the Mountain Passenger train consists of 4 Alaska Diesels pulling 7 of the new Bachmann McKinley Explorer passenger cars, the same train that provides tours between Anchorage, the Denali National Park and Fairbanks, Alaska. Each of the McKinley Explorer passenger cars are named after a different Alaska river, both on the model RR and in Alaska.
The monorail is elevated and passes over all other tracks and roads. The Mountain Passenger rail (green) will go through the mountain areas via grades and tunnels, but pass over the town using a 4" high continuous trestle system, passing over the coal mine rail (dark blue) and the freight rail (light blue-grey).
The red rails are single Monorail tracks, while the orange rails are double monorail tracks, all elevated about 6" above the base level and the elevation varies in the mountain areas.
The black trail is where I would really like to incorporate the Magnorail bicycle trail. It passes under the Monorails and under the Mountain Passenger Rail, and doesn't cross any tracks.
There will be a coal mine, with coal conveyors coming out of the mountain side to the hopper fill structure. The lower center is a town. The light green areas are foothills, while the dark green areas are mountain areas. Yes, I'm big into creating scenery that breaks up the visual flow of the railroads, so it doesn't look like a round-e-round, but can run as one.
The lower Level consists of a yard area, an electric power plant with a substation, my Tropicana Orange Juice plant, an orange orchard with picking and transport equipment, a farm with a corn field and silos, a lake with small lakeside cottages, a forest area and a sawmill/lumber mill (not outfitted on the plan yet) and two main rails, one for the Tropicana "Juice Train" and the other for a freight line. These have double cross-overs so they can switch tracks.
There are two yard areas, one for freight staging and the other for the Juice Train staging. I wanted an industry and I had purchased the entire Walthers Ethanol Series of structures, and after that, realized how much I hate ethanol. So , I bought lots of Tropicana decals in N scale for trucks, HO scale for buildings and O scale for silos, tanks and building roofs and I am converting the Ethanol plant into a Tropicana plant. I need to paint the structures white with green roofs to go along with the Tropicana scheme. There is a pair of sidings with ramps for loading the Juice Train cars and I have been collecting LOTS of Bachmann, Athearn, Lifelike, Con-cor and Red Caboose Tropicana refer cars. Finally, there is 1 siding with an engine maintenance building for the 2 70 ton switchers I have purchased and colored and decaled them as Tropicana diesels. Yes, Tropicana does have a pair of their own switchers! I also bought 2 AC6000 CSX diesels to pull the Juice Train.
The other yard is just a lot of staging sidings, a Bachmann DCC motorized turn table and roundhouse, and all the junk that goes with an engine yard.
I'm sure you as well as I know things will change, be added or moved, but so far, this is a workable layout, as I have already once printed this entire puppy in 1:1 scale, laid it out in sections and verified all the stuff, tracks, roads and buildings will actually fit without clearance problems. One GREAT benefit of the Anyrail software.
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/BryceOpenCenterUpper-Hiddenrailsremoved_zpsc77bda6c.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/BryceOpenCenterUpper_zps0485ca8b.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/BryceOpenCenterLower_zps78c7c0f5.jpg)
If you see any problems staring me in the face, please mention them.
Jward,
Indeed I am working on the side train order board at the moment. It's a bit tricky to build from dowels, paper, and basswood strips. This was one of those kits the old-timers joke about at the club: you get chunks of wood and card stock, and a set of instructions.
I couldn't find a floor design for the upper office, so I guessed. This signal tower sat in the middle of a doubletrack diamond where the B&O crossed another railroad east of Chicago. I imagined the operator had to keep an eye on his railroad and what the other guys were up to. Honestly, after a while, I got so worn out from the little details, like building that coat tree kit, I no longer cared how the office was arranged. All the interior parts are old white metal kits, I gathered over time, thinking I would do something with them someday.
Doneldon,
Thanks very much. I really detailed this one out, because I intend to display this model on our modular display at train shows. This is also why the lights run off of a battery instead of a bus feed, AND why the roof is not glued on. I don't normally go all out on interiors. Just felt like going a little crazy on this one. I certainly got it out of my system. :)
Regards,
Jonathan
addendum
This is the train order board under construction:
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN1696_zps1d71417e.jpg)
great stuff, guys! I'm envious! Yeah, Anyrail is the bomb! I also love how you can color things in with the grasses and such..I'm doing that with my roads at the moment with mine! GREAT stuff..I will look over this layout and try not to let my jaw drop to the floor! Nice one though!
Bal
PS Man, I wish we could all get together in a room and just shoot the breeze for a couple of days....man could you imagine the stories we could tell!
B
Due to some suggestions from another forum, I revised the lower level in several areas, mostly to provide better siding access and return. Here are the layout plans.
Upper Level Plan
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/BryceOpenCenterUpper_zps0485ca8b.jpg)
Lower Level Plan
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/rbryce1/BryceOpenCenterLower_zps35af24b0.jpg)
WOW!! Great job.
jonathan
AWESOME as usual. I would like you to show us the little people you have building this stuff. I know my fingers are not big but that must be very tedious to fool with. You my friend are my hero when it comes to modeling skills. I check your photo's on occasions just to get inspired or see any new projects you are working on.
rbryce
Great piece of work there. I know you probably said but what is the layout size. Is your grid blocks 1 sq.ft.. My layout is close to yours but with less sidings.
Jerry
Quote from: Jerrys HO on March 03, 2013, 10:22:14 AM
rbryce
Great piece of work there. I know you probably said but what is the layout size. Is your grid blocks 1 sq.ft.. My layout is close to yours but with less sidings.
Jerry
Jerry,
Thank you for the compliment.
My grid sizes are 6" dark squares and the smaller lighter ones are 2" squares. I also changed the layout again to add an oil field, a refinery, a Gas/Diesel Loading Facility for tank cars and a small spur for the facilities 70 Ton diesel (I didn't attach another photo, just updated the photo above). I tried to load the .any file for those who have the Anyrail software, but since it is over 128 Kb, this forum will not load it. Seems like a small limit, much smaller that most other forums. The actual JPEG's are 220 KB, and it won't attach them either. I guess with the number of members on this forum, it could get to be a lot of storage space. Oh well, at least it loads the file if it is on Photobucket.
I figured they were set smaller than a sq.ft.. if not that was one heck of a layout.
I questioned it because it looks like we have close to the same layout configuration and I really like how you laid things out.
Jerry
Quote from: rogertra on March 05, 2013, 02:14:02 PM
An unplanned, spur of moment panorama video of the still building GER. Sorry for the quality and the tools etc., seen in the video as I said, it was spur of the moment. :)
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/17855079/Great%20Eastern%20-%20Mar.%2004-13.MOV (https://dl.dropbox.com/u/17855079/Great%20Eastern%20-%20Mar.%2004-13.MOV)
Link does not work roger
The link works. Right click and "open in a new tab".
Great progress. Roger. Starting to look like a real place.
Regards,
Jonathan
An unplanned, spur of moment panorama video of the still building GER. Sorry for the quality and the tools and the derailed retired 2-8-0 by the enginehouse etc. seen in the video as I said, it was spur of the moment video, the first one I've ever made.
I deleted the previous post as people were having problems viewing the Dropbox site.
Here's an easier link: -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf5uj8uSiVM&feature=youtu.be (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf5uj8uSiVM&feature=youtu.be)
Quote from: jonathan on March 05, 2013, 04:39:02 PM
The link works. Right click and "open in a new tab".
Great progress. Roger. Starting to look like a real place.
Regards,
Jonathan
Thanks Jonathan.
As people were having issues with Dropbox link, I deleted that post and replaced it with a YouTube link.
Looking good, Roger!
Sid
nice one Roger! Looking great! I will be posting a vid soon, a little teaser of the Railroad Musuem here in our home town, and then some big surprises for the layout vid....or at least I'm hoping it is anyway. =)
B
news...hehe...Shaleford Rail is expendanding again! Pic coming soon! ;D
I updated some of my layout over the weekend. I added the styrofoam base, carved out a river and put in two bridges if anyone is interested in checking it out. I only have videos of my progress not pictures. the last video I posted last night shows the river and how I did.
http://www.youtube.com/user/noahsgamewalkthrus?feature=mhee
Looking good Barry. Just don't forget to seal your river bed otherwise when you add your water you may create a waterfall down under. ::)
I used both hydrocal and flex paste before. More recent was the flex paste and I prefer that over hydrocal. It's like putting a vinyl liner in your river.
Jerry
Yeah I was going to seal it with a board after I paint the bed and before I add the water, then I was going to remove it.
Two short vids of what only 3 blocks away from my house. hehe enjoy! All you steam lovers will love the second link!
Best,
Bal
http://youtu.be/QCnEGfP_slw (http://youtu.be/QCnEGfP_slw)
http://youtu.be/Sizbrm42SMs (http://youtu.be/Sizbrm42SMs)
Thanks Balrog, videos are worthy of their own thread. You should repost with new topic line for all to find.
Haven't updated on my 4x8 layout in a LONG time. Mainly because there hasn't been any progress to update. It's only been a few years. :-\
Anyway, I will post a pic or two here and a link to my Picasa photo album, which has a good many more pics. Some in progress pics, up to it's current state. Basically the layout started as the "Thomas Sodor Island" layout that Bachmann built and takes to shows. i liked it and my son was into Thomas at that time. All I had room for was 4x8 (still all I have room for). So, off I went.
The layout has went through a change from Thomas to contemporary trains in the last 2 years or so, well... almost 3. I still have a box full of Bachmann Thomas Train items, but they don't get pulled out except for special occasions. Anyway, my table is on casters so that it can be mobile. My plans long term were to be able to take it to places to display for special occasions (Christmas, etc.). The very first outing it had was this past Tuesday at our Cub Scout Pack Meeting. We had our annual Operation Life Saver meeting with a Norfolk Southern Engineer, so I brought the table in and ran some trains. ;D
(bfelix - and anyone else doing a 4x8 layout) Keep you imagination open. There is no reason a 4x8 layout can't be multi-level. ;) BTW Barry, following your progress and you've got a great start!
Chuck
Picasa Album of Layout
https://plus.google.com/photos/102700810654735985344/albums/5855671069321659233
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CPugagCSPeY/UUOGexMI74I/AAAAAAAAEGY/VFV8fPxZGYc/s1261/IMG_0902.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rzSpEz4Giu0/UUOGkFmQouI/AAAAAAAAEGg/6RaLJpgQT78/s1261/IMG_0903.JPG)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yG-0AKtaeuU/UUOKaSEWlEI/AAAAAAAAEGo/OBoXBA47zHU/s1261/IMG_0904.JPG)
Very nice napa, The cliff overhang on the outer loops like this, has done my penchant for full tunnels some irreparable damage. Looks way cooler.
Napa
Rome was not built in a day. I keep telling myself that after I look at some of the posts on this thread. I think I will try to get some new pics in this weekend.
Jerry
Yep, that is a must Jerry! New pics new pics!
Balrog21
Thanks for finding and sharing that Video
I am originally from Illinois and it was interesting to see a museam for Illinois Central down in Mississippi!!!!
Now if he can get in there and film it that would be icing on the cake.
Ironically, that train station that was restored looks like the one we have in Valparaiso that CN wants to tear down. If you know that person who did the video I would love to contact him to find out how they went about preserving and restoring the Train Station.
I have been soliciting Starbucks to help us and they have been receptive as they were involved in the restoration and preservation of a beautiful Roman brick Train Station built in Skokie, Illinois in 1901 !!!! Every few weeks when I am there I make it a point to buy coffee and some skones. Recently the owner has been putting up North Shore Line prints. He also wants to put up a permanent running train and I did suggest Bachmann has Large Scale trains
Napa
Really like the layout the kids look really happy
hehe, I did the video. =) I will get you in touch with the people who head up the musuem. =) Thanks!
Here's a short vid of some updates to the layout and additions! =)
Bal
http://youtu.be/SID0PCfecgs (http://youtu.be/SID0PCfecgs)
Quote from: Balrog21 on March 17, 2013, 01:47:26 AM
Here's a short vid of some updates to the layout and additions! =)
Bal
http://youtu.be/SID0PCfecgs (http://youtu.be/SID0PCfecgs)
Nice progress. :-)
As I have been promising here is updated pics of my slowly evolving layout. Hope you enjoy.
(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l499/jeborne/Trainlayout001_zps61b355d9.jpg)
(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l499/jeborne/Trainlayout002_zps8c2d9f68.jpg)
(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l499/jeborne/Trainlayout003_zpsfdfef8c7.jpg)
(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l499/jeborne/Trainlayout004_zpsa7bbb179.jpg)
#5 turnout entering yard and yard made up of #4's
(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l499/jeborne/Trainlayout005_zps99448a01.jpg)
(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l499/jeborne/Trainlayout006_zps64c65b30.jpg)
New project waiting on neighbors from e-bay
(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l499/jeborne/Trainlayout007_zps0256a4fd.jpg)
My favorite
(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l499/jeborne/Trainlayout008_zps8016c7ef.jpg)
Jerry
Evolving nicely! Enjoying your progress.
Regards,
Jonathan
Jerry.
Coming along nicely. I see you're ahead of me with your scenery. :-)
great pics, Jerry! Thanks for sharing, I love how your layout has the big open feel to it...some great videos can be taken with that and watching I bet is just awesome..seeing the trains from far away and them slowly coming to you. Nice stuff!
Great progress, Napa!
well, I wonder what the odds are for this....went on Friday and took the vids...then this Sunday morning trying to catch a train and this was parked down in the yard getting a lube job and some electrical work done because of the inspection pits that are still here and operation. Grafton, my little went completely ballistic when he saw the engine parked there.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/CN2_zpsf851800d.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/CN1_zps4361ad4e.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/JandGCN_zps92737e2e.jpg)
Thanks Balrog !!!!!!!!!!
That rail yard still has life in it!!!!
Not really a layout, yet, this Old West station will be part of a layout someday. (Rebuilding the house first). For now it's just a test-loop...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU5uCbCFoUM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU5uCbCFoUM)
(http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/2486/1009096kopie.jpg)
Nice, Wekke. Keep us posted!
M1Fred, a vid of the interior of the musuem is up in the trainiacs thread. Hope you like it!
B
Looks good Jerry! As I am building my 4 x 8 I keep wishing I had more room to do what I want to do with it. Although it is very stressful at times to me since this is WAY out of my comfort zone I must say I am sooo enjoying it. Rather than watching tv I cant wait for the kids to get to sleep so I can work on the layout....
If anyone is interested I am doing videos on how to build a layout, you can see my layout on youtube.
I will try and post pictures this weekend.
http://www.youtube.com/user/noahsgamewalkthrus?feature=mhee
Thanks Balrog!!!!!!!!!!!!
I posted a thank you on the other thread. Can't wait to show Joey tonight
AFTER he finishes studying for his spelling test !!!!!! It's a great tour!!!
Balrog, That looks great
bfelix, I too am in the process of building my first layout. I'm doing it so the grandkids and I can do something together. All the time I'm thinking "bigger, bigger, bigger," but you have shown that it doesn't have to be big for the little one to have fun with it.
Thanks bfelix
Bigger is not always better. Start and finish small and add on... I am living proof.
Barry I replied to your PM.
Jerry
Sorry Bal I looked.
No Problem, M1, I sent you a private message with the the conact info and phone number to the musuem.
B
Got the big boy in two days ago, here is the vid of it in action. VERY pleased with this engine, but it came with plastic handrails...surely this is a mistake with the retail price that is on this sucker. Not that I paid that much for it, but still...other than that though, this baby purrs and creeps like no other. Enjoy!
Bal
http://youtu.be/OLdmfMCCuqc (http://youtu.be/OLdmfMCCuqc)
PS This will be (hopefully)what it looks like when it's all painted up.
B
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/ShalefordGEAC4000logo.jpg)
Joe nice sound and good mover loco. Dave
obviously it runs better than the real ones did. I assume the sound file is for the HDL engine, which ge pulled from every ac6000 under warranty, after years of trying to get them to run right.
the union pacific ac6000s got the same fdl16 engine as the ac4400s, and are now 4400hp. csx opted for a 16 cylinder gevo, and theirs still have the full 6000hp rating. so the HDL is history.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScanWDpCrqQ
Wow, this thread has gotten long!
If the link works, this this a video from my home layout. Obviously the three Consolidations are modified Spectrums. Of the next 20 or so wagontop freight cars, all but three were built from craftsman kits. They are heavily sun faded (almost orange) from years of weather. The setting is 'supposed' to be the late '50s as steam is about to disappear.
My next project is to build a homemade flasher unit and get the crossing signals working.
The train is so long I sped it up a bit to keep from boring the watcher. The cars go by so fast, you can't tell the first ten cars are in numerical order. I'm weird like that. Enjoy (I hope).
Regards,
Jonathan
jonathan
QuoteThe train is so long I sped it up a bit to keep from boring the watcher.
Never get bored watching anything you post. Wish you would post more.
I like getting ideas from your layout, just wish I had more time to spend on mine. ( I am rearranging again) ::) :o ;D
Jerry
jerry,
do I see blue diesels with capitol domes in your future? GO B&O!!!
Nice video, Jonathon! Great job!
Jeff
Gotta say, Jonathan makes all his engine's desirable but I know nothing about B&O. Never got a chance to see one down here. Now he does have a few CSX engine's that would look great on my layout. ;D
Jerry
Thank's guys.
Oooooh sorry, I sold all my CSX. :'(
regards
Jonathan
b&o is an old friend. I grew up around it. always the poor stepchild in the northeast, it always ran in the shadow of the pennsy and nyc. but it got the last laugh by staying a profitable railroad while everything around it spiraled into bankruptcy led by the merged successor of the prr and nyc. b&o had its own way of doing things, and its employees were friendly enough to let a teenager hang around with them in the signal towers.
b&o also ran through some of the best scenery in the east. and the foresight to stay away from ge locomotives......
jonathan-
Is it just me or is there a bit of a 3-D effect in this video? The tower,
in particular, seems to stand out in front of the rest of the scene. Or
maybe my monitor is goofy.
-- D
Jonathan.
Really nice job on those engines.
I just found I have a tender with a doghouse and I don't use the doghouse (Not used in Canada AFAIK) so it's yours for the postage, if you want it.
I can either send you just the doghouse or, if you have a non-doghouse tender going spare (any road name), we could simply swap tender bodies and each pay the postage.
Doneldon,
My digital camera focused on the crossing signal (Nikon P500). I couldn't get it to focus on the moving train. The signal is the brightest object in the scene. Hence, the video messes with your eyes a bit. One day, I'll invest in some good video equipment. :)
Roger, thanks much, but I have no extra tenders left, and no longer need doghouses. They were a bit rare on the B&O. They preferred to build a brakeman's hooch behind the fireman. There were a few locos that got doghouses in the '50s, but not many.
Thanks again for the kind words.
Regards,
Jonathan
nice vid, Jonathan! Awesome scenery!!
Bal
Here is a short video of my BLI GE-AC6000 pulling a LONG consist...I love how this baby can creep without any trouble. The vid starts out with 35 it ends up being 37 after Grafton, the conductor adds a few more cars and a dummy engine!
http://youtu.be/R9worQpP40o (http://youtu.be/R9worQpP40o)
Balrog-
That is a long train! And it started so smoothly, even without
bunching the cars so you only had to start them little by little. I'm
impressed. Nice work and a neat piece of video, too.
-- D
B21,
Two things I loved about the video:
1) The great interest that young man displayed in the trains. Thanks for letting him put his hands all over it. Hope it becomes a lifelong joy.
2) The wooden train whistle on the layout: I have one stored on a shelf under my layout. I can't help but give it a toot every once in a while (when no one is looking of course). ;D
That loco looks impressive as well. Now that you have all the bells and whistles, and flashing markers, will you be painting it yourself?
Regards,
Jonathan
JP, I got the same wooden train whistle you have in your vid, for my son, last Christmas.
Quote from: jonathan on May 06, 2013, 07:26:05 PM
B21, things I loved about the video:
The great interest that young man displayed in the trains. Thanks for letting him put his hands all over it. Hope it becomes a lifelong joy.
I would be amazed if that kid doesn't run trains as an adult. This type of bonding is as priceless, as the lessons are endless. The evident respect, as he attempts to remain calm and controlled, shows real character development and a need to earn being able handle these trains solo. Trains were an excellent "motive" for me to do, or not do, anything. Only responsible young men could run the good trains at Grandpas!. The pride of "being skilled enough" to put a Madisn on the track, advancing to the Super Chief a-b-b-a, Lackawanna FM Trainmaster, and just running a first year black gg1 is all I asked for. Waited till I was 13. I got 15min during a lube session, an honor Ill never forget(paint is an oops. you can only see the green under bright light at certain angles) Even if kiddo forgets us all for awhile, he's undoubtedly "the future of model railroading" I'm sure. Maybe The Bachmann would be wise to keep tuned to this kid tastes so the kid keeps paying attention to Bachmann well into the future?
Thanks, guys for the comments. I do let him have pretty much free reign over the layout. I hope it does endure throuhg his lifetime.
Jonathan, yes, I will be painting the AC6000 in my own rail line. If you watch another vid towards the end I show what it will or I HOPE it will end up like.
well, I was impressed with BLI so much I got an undecorated SD40-2 here is the video for that one as well. =) Thanks again for the comments!
well, darn..can't get the link to work..will post it up when I get home!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/ShalefordGEAC4000logo.jpg)
and here is the photo I was talking about in the SD40-2 video...I don't think they will be able to do it. The BLI has only 2 top lights the photo ref has 3....kinda bummed... :-\
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/ICGSD40-2b.jpg)
here is the link for the SD40-2 BLI engine. =)
Enjoy,
Bal
http://youtu.be/zCbLO4hadPw (http://youtu.be/zCbLO4hadPw)
Balrog
Really enjoyed the video. I watched it tonight with my son Joey. We really liked seeing
Illinois Central Gulf and lots of Santa Fe. What are your plans for the unmarked Engine we are all curious.!!!!!??
I am sure after school tomorrow Joe will probably hook up all our rolling stock to see if any of our locomotives can pull the whole bunch of them!!!
Thanks for sharing!!!!
I liked the "drag race" between the 2 locomotives!!!
Please let us know how you paint those!!
bal,
ic/icg had several different groups of sd40-2s. the one you had a photo of was one of 4 bought new by icg. they also inherited 10 from the rock island, and bought 60-70 from the Burlington northern. perhaps one of those would have the light package on the bli units. or, you could look into detail parts for the headlights you want.
Thanks, for the comments! I am scouring Jward for the headlights. =) Thanks for the info!
Bal
Some changes to the layout not to terribly much, but some. Changed the #5 turnouts to #4's, and got another line because of it. Changed the industry area a bit to allow for two plastic plant buildings and holding areas. Still haven't decided what will go on the offshoot to the left of the industry area. Widened the bottom right area for a bit more room for the Shaleford Rail head office, Railroad museum, static steam display, and the two amtrack cars that will be converted over to a diner and bar car. Anywho, here ya go!
Best,
Bal
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/LongYardPlanF_zpsb8e9536b.jpg)
Well, I figured a video would be better than pics eh? ;D
I forgot to say in the video that on that Sunday afternoon those were Accurail hopper car kits I found in an Ebay auction, and those specific cars are VERY hard to find, so yeah, I feel lucky to have them. All of those were assembled in one afternoon. I like them very much and I'm slowly adding metal wheels to all of them.
For those interested I'm doing a video series of all the buildings that will go on my layout, the pitfalls, tips, and things to avoid if you choose to get one of these models. I will have some Bachmann structures as well in the near future so give them a watch if you want! Just look through my channel it's labeled, Modeling Series.
Best and Enoy!
Bal
http://youtu.be/QUMK9fMGko0 (http://youtu.be/QUMK9fMGko0)
I've been repainting the backdrop of my layout. I started with a quart of flat, bright white household paint and added a dollop of true blue acrylic paint—just enough to add a bluish tint. For the hills in the background I started with some cobalt blue which is a bit purplish, you know, for the "purple mountains majesty". To that I added a touch of green, gray and white. The front hills are various shades of green. I'm no artist, so being able to give a sense of depth was quite a challenge. The photo below shows about 18 inches of depth from the front tree line to the backdrop. It seems to work OK:
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2473_zps460ca92e.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2473_zps460ca92e.jpg.html)
Finally I took about 100 shots of the northeast end of my layout. A dozen or so are shown below. I find the camera is a great tool for finding things that need to be fixed. For instance, my rock faces are too bright and need to be darkened a bit. Also, that curved bridge desperately needs to be changed. It's just a piece of 22" radius EZ-track. Haven't figured that out, yet. I'm afraid there's nothing I can do about the electrical box in some of the photos. Anyway, here a few pics of my layout progress so far:
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2491_zps2cc3e5fb.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2491_zps2cc3e5fb.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2495_01_zps6e477586.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2495_01_zps6e477586.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2496_01_zps25580f36.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2496_01_zps25580f36.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2500_01_zps89d60406.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2500_01_zps89d60406.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2507_01_zps792b9e29.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2507_01_zps792b9e29.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2513_01_zps2fcb74eb.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2513_01_zps2fcb74eb.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2524_01_zpsb4673ad6.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2524_01_zpsb4673ad6.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2536_01_zpsa0d85fec.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN2536_01_zpsa0d85fec.jpg.html)
Regards,
Jonathan
Breathtaking!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I always get inspired to keep trying and just keep it fun.
Thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!!
Jonathan.
To put it simply, I'm impressed. :-)
BTW, do not put your artistic skills down. Your hand painted backdrop is excellent and your skills show in the scenery.
Jonathan, wow that's nice! Inspiring! I don't think anyone would be angry if you loaded us up with a few hundred photos of your layout. ;)
Jonathan-
Is there any aspect of this hobby at which you do not excel? Like all of
your other work, your scenery and backdrop look professionally done.
I envy your advanced skills.
-- D
Wow, NO....WOOOOW!
I am speechless so I'll just say ditto to everyone's response's
Jerry
That is quite impressive, Jonathan! VERY VERY nice! I have an idea for your electrical box. You can make an addition to the mountain that's already in place. A VERY steep face and just use Velcro on the back, so if you need to access it you can just peel it off. Blending the two together shouldn't be that hard. That would be my idea anyway, and by all means please post more pics!
Quote from: Balrog21 on July 25, 2013, 12:20:07 AM
I have an idea for your electrical box. You can make an addition to the mountain that's already in place. A VERY steep face and just use Velcro on the back
Bal-
That's a great idea but I'd use a piece of 1/8" Masonite for the back of the cliff
and magnets to hold it to the electrical box.
-- D
As usual, everyone is very kind with their comments. Thanks very much!
I will continue to add photos as I make progress. Seems I've already posted a thousand or so over the years.
If there is any part of the hobby that vexes me it's carpentry. My benchwork is very basic at best. You can't stand on my layout, which leads to some intersting problems if I have to get to a hard to reach area. The benchwork is strong enough to lean on, but that's about it. The whole layout is built on 2' X 8' frames, made with 1"X3" lumber with stringers every 22". These frames are screwed together, but not bolted to the walls. It is possible to give the layout a hard bump and derail a train. If I had to do it over again, I would have spent more time on sturdier construction.
Regards,
Jonathan
QuoteAs usual, everyone is very kind with their comments. Thanks very much!
Kind yes, jealous extremely. Wish I could model half as well as you.
Jerry
Jonathan-
You can still put some screws through the back frame into the way. Just use a stud finder and put some 3.5" or 4"
screws right through the 2x8s into them. It will make your framing plenty strong enough to stand on and will
probably stop most bump-the-layout derailments.
-- D
Quote from: Doneldon on July 25, 2013, 11:40:43 AM
Jonathan-
You can still put some screws through the back frame into the way. Just use a stud finder and put some 3.5" or 4"
screws right through the 2x8s into them. It will make your framing plenty strong enough to stand on and will
probably stop most bump-the-layout derailments.
-- D
Donald.
He used 1 x 3 lumber to make 2 x 8 frames (modules) for his bench work, not 2 x 8 lumber which is how I also first read it. :)
Sway bracing on the legs should help, if it's not already there. And Donald's suggestion regarding screws into the wall is a good one, if you own your own house. If you rent, you'll need to repair the wall and repaint before you move. A minor inconvenience.
My currently building GER is screwed to the walls and is also built with 1 x 3 lumber and is as solid as a rock.
Quote from: rogertra on July 25, 2013, 01:29:04 PM
He used 1 x 3 lumber to make 2 x 8 frames (modules) for his bench work, not 2 x 8 lumber which is how I also first read it. :)
Roger-
So he did. I stand corrected.
It's easy to repair wall damage from screws. The holes are small (#8 screws would be plenty big) and today's repair materials are outstanding. Many landlords repaint when a tenant moves and wouldn't have an issue with repaired walls. Or the tenant could repaint and the landlord would never know there was ever a problem.
-- D
Actually, my biggest problem is the garage walls are cinder blocks. I know there are ways to anchor to cinder block, but I'm hestistant to drill into them. However, some angled braces on the legs may be just the ticket to firm up the layout. Thanks for that.
Regards,
Jonathan
Jonathan to do it right, you would need to use a hammer drill versus a regular drill, and then place wall anchors in the holes in the cinder block for the bolts to grip into. Hammer drills can be rented for use from hardware stores if there is no desire to own one for future projects.
...or, if it is not possible to move the wood to get an anchor in the cinder block, you could drill the hole through both wood and wall, then secure the bench through both the wood and cinder block with a concrete screw. These work well. I have used them to secure a wood threshold to a concrete floor-12 years ago. It has not moved since.
Just to clarify so there is no misunderstandings, when say "to do it right" I mean to drill into the cinder block, I don't mean to infer that I think that is the only proper fix. I agree with the approach to try the simpleest approach first, which would be the idea of added wooden bracing.
jonathan-
Block walls change everything. But don't be concerned about drilling into them. It's not difficult with masonry drills which are carbide tipped. Just take it easy and let the drill do the work. A hammer drill will do the job faster but isn't absolutely necessary.
You don't need many holes. Lead anchors and lag bolts are the traditional hardware items but you can use plastic anchors. The nice thing about lag bolts is that they come out easily. You could fix your mounting boards to the walls with construction adhesive but they would pretty much be there forever.
-- D
Doc, when you said "masonry drills" did you mean to say "masonry drill bits"? Bc yes, whatever drill is used to drill masonry, would need to have a masonry bit in it. Now, I cannot claim to have been on this planet for 70+ years or anything like that, but I have drilled into masonry using both kinds of electric drills (a hammer drill and a standard drill) and can attest that in my experience, nothing beat using a hammer drill to do so. The hole is the size you want and the job goes much easier and faster. To me, it is a clear case of "right tool for the right job". I could use a butter knife to screw a pan head screw or use a pocket knife to strip wire, but I would recommend neither.
jb-
You are absolutely correct in saying that a hammer drill works better with masonry bits than does a regular drill. My point was just that a rotary drill will do the job without buying or renting a hammer drill which might not get used again.
I have three electric hand drills: an old Craftsman 1/4" that my Dad used to build the house I grew up in, a 3/8" B&D hammer drill and a 3/8" Makita 18v cordless. Mostly I used the cordless because of its convenience, but I haul out the B&D for heavy drilling and anything in stone, brick or concrete. I have my Dad's old drill in a fixture which lets me use it as a sort of portable drill press. If possible, though, I use my real drill press whenever possible because it does a superior job.
Does anybody actually care about my drills? I'll bet not.
-- D
If I were to take a wild guess Doc, I would bet that renting a hammer drill for the time he would need it, would not break the bank for Jonathan. But I am just guessing here.
Quote from: Doneldon on July 26, 2013, 06:41:07 PM
jonathan-
Block walls change everything. But don't be concerned about drilling into them. It's not difficult with masonry drills which are carbide tipped. Just take it easy and let the drill do the work. A hammer drill will do the job faster but isn't absolutely necessary.
You don't need many holes. Lead anchors and lag bolts are the traditional hardware items but you can use plastic anchors. The nice thing about lag bolts is that they come out easily. You could fix your mounting boards to the walls with construction adhesive but they would pretty much be there forever.
-- D
Donald is correct, a hammer drill, though making the job easier, is not a requirement. There are also concrete "screws" available, I've used them, that do not require lead or plastic anchors in the wall. The lag screw is also a good idea as they are easier to remove than screws as the head of the screw can get damaged. Follow Donald's advice and take your time and let the drill do the work. As Donald says, you don't need many holes, just enough to do the job.
I have never felt the need to anchor any of my layouts to the wall. build a good foundation and you don't have a lot of those problems.
for benchwork, I use 1x4. jonathan's use of 1x3 is still acceptable it a bit less strong. legs are the key. I build mine out of a 1x4 and a 1x3 screwed together in an l shape, then fastened into a corner of the benchwork. you can either use toe outside corner, or one where a joist intersects the main frame. minimal cross bracing will eliminate most of the wobble.
the legs and bracing are something you can add to the existing layout. legs can be fastened to the table frame in a different location from the originals, then the originals removed. if you are using sectional benchwork it is better to have the legs inset from the ends. fasten them to both the frame and the joist with carriage bolts and washers.
the l shape of these legs adds to the stability of the table, much more than using solid legs.
A picture is worth a thousand words they say..........
This is the early stages of my benchwork. 1X4 with 1X2 for the L-girders.......2X2 legs......1X4 and 1X3 for joists.......brace as needed with either pieces of plywood or 1X2s.
(http://members.shaw.ca/wbearart1/Models/Benchwork005.jpg)
(http://members.shaw.ca/wbearart1/Models/Benchwork006.jpg)
Here's a later shot......the whole thing is only anchored to the walls in 3 places with a total of 6 screws. Other than those, she's a free standing layout.
Sid
(http://members.shaw.ca/wbearart1/Models/Peninsula640.jpg)
Sid
I have allway's admired your benchwork. It is first class.
I used 2x4's all the way as I am not the skinniest guy on the block and want to make sure I don't break a leg (on the table that is).
Jerry
Quote from: WoundedBear on July 27, 2013, 11:22:37 AM
A picture is worth a thousand words they say..........
This is the early stages of my benchwork. 1X4 with 1X2 for the L-girders.......2X2 legs......1X4 and 1X3 for joists.......brace as needed with either pieces of plywood or 1X2s.
Here's a later shot......the whole thing is only anchored to the walls in 3 places with a total of 6 screws. Other than those, she's a free standing layout.
Sid
(http://members.shaw.ca/wbearart1/Models/Peninsula640.jpg)
Sid.
Perfect benchwork. Light yet sturdy. No need for anything larger than 1 x 4. 2 x 4 or larger is just a waste of money and is over build as we are only supporting scenery, track and models. No weight at all. With the benchwork you have, you it will easily support your weight.
Thanks for the compliments guys. Jerry...believe me....I am no carpenter, yet I found doing this type of benchwork to be very easy and economical.
Roger......I can't remember where I saw the structural loads that an L-girder like mine can take, but it's waaaaaaaay more than one would think. I agree that 2X4s would have been overkill in my situation.
You should damn near be able to park a Smart Car up there with no sag ;D
Sid
Roger
Most of my tables are leftover from my O layout ( just the L portion ). Having a neighbor who does construction helps for scrap pieces and an occasional uncut piece.
The 2x4's if bought were a heck of a lot cheaper than the foam board.
Sid
I always admired the type of bench work on your layout but somehow got talked into the table top and foam board way.
I would have to say you could definitely park a Smart car up there, maybe even a semi-truck. ;D
I tend to overdo things a bit.
Jerry
My 2 cents on the great hammer drill debate of 2013- ::)
If its a normal thin wall cinderblock and under 1/2, I don't always run for the hammer drill or even bits :o(I sharpen mine myself and have lots)... unless the holes accuracy is important. Larger or fussy holes or concrete Im digging under the drill press for the hammer drill too.
Quote from: jbrock27 on July 27, 2013, 11:53:54 AM
I think it is funny :D that after all of Doc's talk (and now Traviss') of it being "ok" to use a regular drill to drill masonry, he states he breaks out his B & D hammer drill when he wants to put holes in masonry :D
jb-
Not so funny, really. A regular drill will work just fine; a hammer drill works faster. Both holes are equally round and I can make them equally deep. Other than time, the hammer drill has nothing to offer compared to the regular drill. Since most folks will have little or no use for a hammer drill, it's good for them to know they don't have to run out and buy or rent a hammer drill to make a couple of holes in concrete or a brick. That would be a big waste of money.
So ... I stand by my earlier statement.
-- D
Quote from: Doneldon on July 27, 2013, 10:06:20 PM
Quote from: jbrock27 on July 27, 2013, 11:53:54 AM
I think it is funny :D that after all of Doc's talk (and now Traviss') of it being "ok" to use a regular drill to drill masonry, he states he breaks out his B & D hammer drill when he wants to put holes in masonry :D
jb-
Not so funny, really. A regular drill will work just fine; a hammer drill works faster. Both holes are equally round and I can make them equally deep. Other than time, the hammer drill has nothing to offer compared to the regular drill. Since most folks will have little or no use for a hammer drill, it's good for them to know they don't have to run out and buy or rent a hammer drill to make a couple of holes in concrete or a brick. That would be a big waste of money.
So ... I stand by my earlier statement. -- D
Same here, 100% support for Donald's statement.
Let's see if I can't stir the pot.
Did anyone think of using glue? There is several types out there to do just this.
I agree with jonathan, as I would be hesitant to drill into cinder block also. If it should crack then we would have another problem on our hands.
Just a thought and would be easy (somewhat) to remove the glue if needed.
OK let the remarks fly!
Jerry
Has anybody seen the glue? I think it would make your table a little more sturdier.
Jerry
Quote from: Jerrys HO on July 28, 2013, 09:20:05 PM
Has anybody seen the glue? I think it would make your table a little more sturdier.
Jerry
Gluing to a wall will work but it's difficult to make changes.
Quote from: Jerrys HO on July 28, 2013, 07:19:43 PM
Let's see if I can't stir the pot.
Did anyone think of using glue?
Jerry-
Yes! Check my post on July 26.
"You could fix your mounting boards to the walls with construction adhesive but they would pretty much be there forever."
-- D
D
Quote from: Doneldon on July 29, 2013, 12:47:00 AM
Quote from: Jerrys HO on July 28, 2013, 07:19:43 PM
Let's see if I can't stir the pot.
Did anyone think of using glue?
Jerry-
Yes! Check my post on July 26.
"You could fix your mounting boards to the walls with construction adhesive but they would pretty much be there forever."
-- D
and so you did. sorry about that, I must have missed or forgot it. heck I have trouble remembering what I did yesterday much less what happened two days ago.
your drills made an issue though. I think someone cares about them.
Jerry
As one of the principals in this little tempest, may I suggest that we knock it off and get back to the business of model railroading?
I apologize if my comments about drilling sounded hypocritical to others or somehow offended them -- it certainly wasn't intended nor am I -- and I'll not go further with this myself. All-in-all, I believe we gave the OP some good information with which to decide what he wants to do about putting his railroad on a wall or not.
In a way, I'm glad for the controversy because it demonstrates that there are generally more than one way to skin a cat, even if some alternatives are better than others. Different people have different interests, resources, skills spaces and inclinations. I think this board and its various contributors can all tolerate that.
-- D
I think when buying a new drill, the hammer option is often the better option even if you don't "need" it. Buying one can get you a tougher drill, with better parts and design, for a small increase in price. I.e., More quality per $.
Quote from: rogertra on July 28, 2013, 09:39:50 PM
Gluing to a wall will work but it's difficult to make changes.
Gluing a sacrificial board to the wall might allow conventional attachment and easy removal.(of the layout)
Same thing happened to me a good number of years ago , I bought an electric drill with a half inch capacity chuck to use larger drills and two weeks later I needed to put in hole through the brick wall to bring leads from a antenna rotator . I decided that I was definitely not going to devote eight hours to using a 3 pound sledge hammer and a star-drill to go through the wall . I bought a hammer drill and a carbide masonry drill and was done in five minutes . Best investment I made that day Both drills are still in good condition and still get used from time to time . The right tool makes the job doable and results in less wear & tear on the body. J2
Thought it was time for a short update....in other words its raining SD40-2's on my layout. =) all with the Bachmann ez track controller. 2 sound units, 2 non sound units. All DCC. Progress is slowly being made. ;D LOVE that GE 'WHOOOP!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgg9qnddLrk&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgg9qnddLrk&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg)
Shaleford Rail receives some power today, IC SD40 #6005 has the duty, while IC SD40-2 #6153 waits for the move. Some of the new power will remain in it's old flag colors while others will receive the old ICG Orange and White paint scheme. During the move, IC SD40 #6004 passes by with a slow drag, and Shaleford Rail's AC6000 #2121 waits on a siding for the green light to carry visitors and locals to the Shaleford Railway Museum and Diner on the other side of town.
Bal-
Are you doing your engine servicing facility side by side or end to end? I think it would look very cool end to end.
-- D
I saw it end to end and it does look very nice, Don. I'm toying and looking at doing it that way but I think I don't have the space to do it. :/ or rather for it to look right and function properly if it were end to end. But I'm going to give it a whirl and see!
Ok, Mr. Don,
Here ya go. I actually like this way. But what do you all think? I'm posting the side by side pic first and then the end to end pic second.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/LongYardPlanRevamped_zpsd95c71a2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/LongYardPlanDieselHouseBUTT_zps62c89631.jpg)
If you can pull it off just like that, end to end. I really like the small storage tracks right next to the shops too.
No paint shed/booth? Just kidding. ;) I got to work on one, it was pretty cool 8) I think of it every time I see a RR shop. But I don't think I ever saw one modeled. Just a 2 car long, almost empty, and very clean building, with one heck of a fresh air system. Half dozen silver "chefs hats" on top a warehouse, filters and lights on the interior walls, a mixing table, air compressor and/or air lines from the shops, and your done.
Bal-
I like it both ways, and the rest of your plan, too. The second makes better use of the space inside the awkward circle in the area
where you have your shops. The insides of loops like that are always hard to use but I think you may have enough rail activity
going on there to make it a bit less obvious that the area is a turn back loop. The first layout has enough room to conceal the
through tracks behind some building flats or a hillside. Both arrangements make the transfer table an integral part of a crowded
service area, much like so many real railroad terminals where things were built up over many years and more-or-less fitted
together in whatever way was possible. You really capture the flavor of those congested rail activity districts. I think you'll have a
terrific scene regardless of which way you go. But I, like you, prefer the first arrangement by just a hair. When do you break ground,
er, plywood?
-- D
You were reading my mid GG1, I'm going to put one in right next to the diesel house. Figured I best have one since repainting and upkeep is a prime directive of my fictional railroad eh?
Yeah, the end to end is really growing on me. I checked the video again where I saw it end to end and he has it on a dead end on one side so I don't feel so bad for having it run into the transfer table now. I figure quick fixes will come in off the 3 tracks and the heavier jobs will be brought in via the transfer table.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/LongYardPlanDieselHouseBUTT_zps71c66e8c.jpg)
I'm really liking the end to end now Mr. Don! Lol, well, two tables are already built and some switches have been ordered. But gosh oh mighty is my switch board going to be a nightmare to operate. The other three 5'x8' tables that need to be added will be commencing next weekend! ;D You really can't see it on the layout to well but the top track will have a 2% incline that begins at the top right outside curve and will slow climb for 16' until the top left corner, and then she'll be comin round the mountain...literally! =) The whole left side will be the 'scenery' part of the layout. I've got some neat plans for it I think, and it won't be just a flat plane, lots of hills and rock outcroppings making up some neat and different elevations on those two tables.
Here is the video where I saw it end to end, this guy has tons of money evidently(over 2300 square feet of track). Really nice looking layout as well. The Diesel House is around the 9 minute mark on the vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEPGhVaGAgE&feature=share&list=PLqHQgiAJ9oRLXlHHqJcUATUvI4lAXnKh1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEPGhVaGAgE&feature=share&list=PLqHQgiAJ9oRLXlHHqJcUATUvI4lAXnKh1)
B
Are you using Anyrail? I like it a lot. Recently started using SCARM too. A totally free program by a guy who just seems to like producing design programs. It has a 3-d view too 8). Not as easy as Anyrail, almost, but not quite. That 3-d bit is very cool, and makes that little bit of extra work worth the effort.
Nice job Bal.
Very detailed. Love the yard.
Which turntable are you gonna use? Either way it is very tight and you may have issues when you finally start laying track.
That is the reason I am moving mine to a 3ft. by 3ft table next to my yard table.
Jerry
Bal,
I like your linear engine terminal, too. It reminds me of a place I visited 40+ years ago, C&NW's ex-M&StL Cedar Lake Shops. An engine terminal located in a narrow, wooded valley in the midst of an upscale Minneapolis neighborhood. An unusual juxtaposition that would make a great model. The trees acted as a viewblock to the houses, and the narrow valley dictated the use of an end-to-end facility. And yes, there was a transfer table in the middle of the shop buildings, requiring much less width than a track ladder would need.
Les
Yepperz, Anyrail to the rescue! Thanks guys, Jerry it's going to be the 90' Cornerstone DCC turntable, I'm not running steam so it's no need for the 130' foot one.
Wow, would have loved to see pics of the transfer table hidden in the woods like that, Desert..but thanks for the comment. I can't wait to get it all together.
Best,
Bal
Being originally from Illinois I really liked the IC pieces!!!!!
The whole thing looks great!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep us up to date
Thanks
Thanks M1. I think I've figured out a way to use the empty space on the bottom right in the curve. I thinking I'm going Tao back the two bottom buildings up some and have a way through for forklifts and use the right as a storage area or something along those lines. Should be pretty easy with some good ole plasticard or match sticks. We will see how it comes out though. The biggest problem is going to be leveling all the buildings and transfer table so it's functional as one unit. They are all at different heights, go figure eh? The inside of the buildings will be lighted. A led strip on the underside of each lines in the engine facility and some strips on the top overheads.
Thanks M1, I've started the crazy endeavor to try collect the IC/ICG entire fleet of Sd40/SD40-2's. I'm using mostly dummy engines so I'm really not looking for power, but I'm off to a real good start. That was the power move in the vid. The Chessie and BN will stay as is but the UP is getting a facelift. Along with a few others that weren't in the video.
Finished the basic table on layout #3 8). Going to play around with it as is for while. Till it "tells" me what it wants to look like :D
This is the first table layout I did for myself, helped with a few others when I was young, but this is my first solo "benchwork". Total cost....$2 for one 2x4! All the rest was laying around,(plywood donated), including some unused Super O track I found in a box for L's "the General" gift set from the late 50s.
I had planned on normal legs then I saw an old Post War style layout built on shelves and remembered a couple of shelves, and two quarts of green oil based paint kicking around since the 70s(no lead ;)). Stirring it took awhile, but it was still good paint. A few shelf modifications, a few days, and this is what I had.
There are two folding legs at the rear attached with strong folding hinges that lock into place. I found those in the family junk hardware too. The top is just sitting on the shelves, blocks and weight keep it locked in place. I hope everything fits on the shelves!
Just a basic PW style loopy layout, but what do you think so far?
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/000_1007_zpsc53bde23.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/000_1007_zpsc53bde23.jpg.html)
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/000_1008_zps26b5b17e.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/000_1008_zps26b5b17e.jpg.html)
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/000_1009_zpsdd681fdc.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/000_1009_zpsdd681fdc.jpg.html)
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/000_1006_zps0d52dfa5.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/000_1006_zps0d52dfa5.jpg.html)
With all due respect.......I'm not sure what to think.
I know, and admit, that sometimes I take things the wrong way on these forums but , looking at the photos you posted....I am left wondering if you are being serious or trying to play a prank? These kind of look like the photos that a BIGJOE fellow posted a while ago, and I wasn't sure what to make of them either.
Curiously,
Sid
How vicious, Sid! WoundedBear?...sounds right ::). Whats to "get" about a TABLE built from what I had laying around. Looks better than a bunch of raw wood legs in my eyes. Maybe you should research O gauge "dealer layouts" of the 50s. They were simple, and fun. I run trains for fun first, not always modeling them. Lighten up, not everyone counts every rivet, or even wants to. Ive done the whole big diorama bit with others, and with automobiles, its just not for me anymore. I outgrew it(for now). And besides nothing here is permanent.
Well thanks for your opinion anyhow, I did ask.
Oh yes, forgot, mine functions.
One of the problems on a board like this is we have a wide variety of opinions on what a model railroad is.
To some of it's prototype accuracy either through modelling an actual prototype or prototypical freelancing, like I do. No tail chasing, point to point or point to staging yard, realistic operation, realistic scenery (when we get around to it), "scale" track work, etc., the sort of thing you see often featured in MR and RMC magazines.
To others, it's modelling steam, diesel, anything in fact and running it all at the same time around a continuous loop, code 100 rail, set track and No. 4 switches etc., etc..
To others, it's O scale tinplate with tinplate "scenery", rocket firing flat cars, giraffe's heads out the top of a boxcar etc., etc..
To others, somewhere in between.
The point is, none of the above are "right" and none of them are "wrong". If the owner has fun, then that's all that matters.
You know where my interest lay but that makes me neither right nor wrong but it does make me discriminate over what model railroads I prefer to see. And there's nothing wrong with that, either.
There is nothing wrong with GG1's layout. If that is what he is happy with, more power to him!
Remember, this is a non-competitive hobby. We do not build these model railroads to please anyone but ourselves. We share images of them so others can see and enjoy them. But they are really built for ourselves, as it should be.
And it is better to have a small model railroad that can be maintained and works, than a big one that doesn't work.
Les
I wasn't trying to be mean, vicious or anything nasty. All I did was ask a simple question in a polite manner. I'm so very sorry if I hurt your feelings.
Sid
We're good Sid! Hope your ribs are OK from the pokes :-* or the laughter ;D
GG1
Kinda reminds me of mine but I had two sheets of plywood. Scenery then was a lot easier than it is for me now. Then ... set a lumber shed down on green painted plwood.
Now... model from the forest to the mill to the yard.
Lot more room now than then. ;D
I really like the shelves for legs. Nice way to display your trains or store them.
Jerry
GG1-
You absolutely captured the flavor of both store and home Lionel layouts from days gone by. It looks like a lot of fun and I'll bet it has outstanding kid appeal. Although your layout isn't what I would build for myself as a serious layout, I'd be more than happy to have it to fool around with. I think it's great!
-- D
I eventually hope to post pictures of what I have had up the last few years.
I picked up some hollow damaged doors from Menards for $5 a piece(5 doors) total
30inches x 84inches put them up on some cheapie wood horses covered it with indoor outdoor green carpet and proceeded to set up a 3 line layout with line in the middle going through our Makeshift town so a bumper car or the Peter Witt goes through.
We have set up the old tube track in between the lines as a "rail yard". Menards sells these nice looking buildings at Christmas Time and we have accumulated a number of them. Well Joey and I have had a lot of fun running the various engines, rolling stock, and sets we hav picked up.
We keep trying to tear it down because we have someone now who is willing to help us build what I have dubbed a "Balrog Like Table" that Balrog posted on another thread. Our builder has built many layouts for people but agreed to only do the initial table set up and then Joe and I do the rest.
I can appreciate what GG-1 has as mine is not much better but we have all kinds of experimental "areas" all over the place as we have tried out various types of carpet colors the latest is the stuff that looks like real lawn. We paint different colors. We use empty Clorox wipes containers paint them up and use black straws to simulate piping and abra ka dabra oil refinery!!! The kid is having a great time. The buildings are a hodge podge of HO and those Menards Ceramic as well as some real O-scale.
Joey made a Coal tower using legos which we painted and it looks really OK !!! Key is we are practicing and trying to have fun until we get the green light that our builder is ready to make our table for us.
I always admire what a lot of folks can do with their layouts. It's really inspirational. I also like the fact my son is using his imagination to work the lay-out and create all kinds of things like over head bridges and under bridges, trestles, delivery platforms, oil refineries and barrel delivery platforms etc.
Today we took some of my 1/48 scale airplanes and made a airport runway. With the wife gone for a few hours we ran the trains for over an hour!!!!!!
It was a good day!!
Just wanted to say I really like what everyone is sharing on this thread and it has all been a great help!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks
Just to show I can be nit picky in my modeling, a few autos left from diorama days of old below. The scenery boards couldn't come with me when I moved 20+ years ago, I witnessed someone saving them from the garbage man though. All my toys and models I could fit in a single showcase were kept. A lot of the stuff will eventually end up on "mean green"(this layouts new name :D) some might become part of a garden layout in G. Another hobby should become apparent too, I own real ones and toys(sold a few hundred toys this year, bought after the move, and got more trains). Best pics I could manage outside the showcase, which is semi-buried in the basement.
No master cylinder or brake lines....not aceptable! (http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/models/000_1017_zps2054109d.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/models/000_1017_zps2054109d.jpg.html)
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/models/000_1021_zps58a3df79.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/models/000_1021_zps58a3df79.jpg.html)
Ignition wires, fuel lines, and throttle cable and linkage?
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/models/000_1025_zpsab26e34e.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/models/000_1025_zpsab26e34e.jpg.html)
Not all car models are "scale" either.
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/models/000_1015_zpsa3c9dfed.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/models/000_1015_zpsa3c9dfed.jpg.html)
For the drag racers ;D Before you pooh pooh a Beetle as a dragster please research Deano's Dyno-soar and realize this car caused rule changes in NHRA as to not embarrass some V8 gasers of the day. Watch this launch too! (not Deano) http://youtu.be/o3MpngZkBuo
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/models/000_1023_zps86942139.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/models/000_1023_zps86942139.jpg.html)
For watching the races from up high, a copy of my real van, with some liberties taken. Couldn't aim the camera higher but there are two grills there(one on the platform), with steaks, hamburger, and brats, complete with sear marks on the meat. Back seat folds into a bed. Fridge right were it should be, at the door for easy access. No, I don't drink but friends do. "All I wanted was a Pepsi, but they wouldn't give it to me" ;)".
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/models/000_1029_zps5e547467.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/models/000_1029_zps5e547467.jpg.html)
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/models/000_1013_zps80f6ff49.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/models/000_1013_zps80f6ff49.jpg.html)
Just to show I know other cars exist too. The red Riviera is my favorite, slammed right.(lowered)
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/models/000_1014_zpsb0ed01c5.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/models/000_1014_zpsb0ed01c5.jpg.html)
Hope this proves I can be a little guilty of "rivet counting" too. :-\ Im just too busy having fun right now 8)
BigSlo could have never been this creative or organized.
GG - I'm on your side here. This forum is for people having FUN with Bachmann Products. It appears that describes you to a T.
And that's all that's needed.
Bachmann - where the fun is always shinning.
To me, no matter what you have for a layout, if you're not building 1:1 scale, you're still playing with trains. Ain't it fun?
Quote from: GG1onFordsDTandI on August 25, 2013, 03:18:21 PM
Finished the basic table on layout #3 8). Going to play around with it as is for while. Till it "tells" me what it wants to look like :D
This is the first table layout I did for myself, helped with a few others when I was young, but this is my first solo "benchwork". Total cost....$2 for one 2x4! All the rest was laying around,(plywood donated), including some unused Super O track I found in a box for L's "the General" gift set from the late 50s.
I had planned on normal legs then I saw an old Post War style layout built on shelves and remembered a couple of shelves, and two quarts of green oil based paint kicking around since the 70s(no lead ;)). Stirring it took awhile, but it was still good paint. A few shelf modifications, a few days, and this is what I had.
There are two folding legs at the rear attached with strong folding hinges that lock into place. I found those in the family junk hardware too. The top is just sitting on the shelves, blocks and weight keep it locked in place. I hope everything fits on the shelves!
Just a basic PW style loopy layout, but what do you think so far?
For a 1950's or 1960's layout, not bad at all.
Even for now days. Especially if watching trains going roundy round is what you were going for.
Much like the museum or train club layout that is just for watching trains moving.
My layout is point to point, but if I had a lot more room I would like to have some continuous running, such as your layout.
Thanks all, but now I'm feeling coddled by you a little :-[.
Coddled admittedly could also describe my temperament too, from time to time, hope all can handle it when I slip.
Cant think of another word with two such contrary definitions attached ;)
Now, any constructive criticism, or brainstorms (keeping in mind on this one my goal is on the K.I.S.S. side?)(You too Sid!)
I may not do what's suggested, but I will enjoy listening. This is the time to spout those wild ideas that would never work on a true scale layout. There might be a foam layer and "flora" in my future, and flipping of outer loop S-turns to the other side. A few more inches of track here and there etc.
Some things I know- Yes its a spaghetti bowl, crowded, and is a "switchers" nightmare with an O-27, fig 8 in an
oval. The 3 types of old track is on purpose, just for display, and comparison.
The Super O S-turn cannot be backed through either. (heavier, short, O-27s ok)
There is a shoe style operating track and uncouple (does both, 2 functions)
Operating cars (by shoe track)- 3 milk cars, 1 log dumper,
(by un-coupler)- 1 log dump, and a giraffe car modified to stay
mid-level, bar makes him duck for tunnels. Comes up/down to mid level by gravity,
un-coupler track electromagnet causes him to stretch up fully. Im thinking a small apple or
pear tree for it to be eating from.
Most scenery here will be scratch built from common items, real old, or irresistibly cool/funny
I also play with Anyrail and SCARM. Maybe Ill start posting some "scale" thoughts too. Its not like I don't have them.
For others that like to cyber-build its a 56" by 96" table, Super O, O-31, and O-27. O-27 switches-(4 total) 4 more uncoupler tracks in O-27,
Take care folks!
Hehe, a Balrog type table. That made my night, M1! Thanks!
I love the layout GG, to have fun is the main purpose of the hobby and I would have hours of fun on yours that you posted. I LOVE the leg shelves, great idea! Wish I could do that, but alas with another toddler up and coming its just not feasible for me right now, but the idea is awesome!
B
Quote from: WoundedBear on August 25, 2013, 04:20:58 PM
With all due respect.......I'm not sure what to think.
I know, and admit, that sometimes I take things the wrong way on these forums but , looking at the photos you posted....I am left wondering if you are being serious or trying to play a prank? These kind of look like the photos that a BIGJOE fellow posted a while ago, and I wasn't sure what to make of them either.
Curiously,
Sid
Sid is an asset to this site I know. I've been reviewing to see what set me off on this post. The first line can be read with sarcasm, or respect (most written language is interpretable is various ways), but I suppose it was "the name we shall not mention"(above), which made me read it as sarcasm, which I enjoy, if tongue in cheek and a roll of the eyes ::) vs attempts to truly belittle. I don't always tolerate that well, even directed at others.
I want to make clear, I accept Sid's apology, and hope he accepts mine.
Bro-mance over, lets blame it on the Salmon moon (blue moon) we had, and move on please.
Balrog, I was thinking tempered glass showcase doors in front of the shelves too. Locking wooden ones might be better in your case ;). Hey, there's no need for you two to try to fill the population loss of this hobby alone ;D. (Congratulations!)
Thanks, not to worry, this is and was the last one of the little ones. ;D
On another note...had some spare time and wanted to see what it looked like...I like what it gives me in the yard aspect....I don't know, what do you all think? Everything is still there, just moved around a bit. the only major difference is the size of the walking trail and houses. It got shrunk a tad, but overall it's pretty much the same just moved around a bit and now instead of 10 yard lines I have 17 in this revamp. Thoughts? Likes? Hates? hehe..
Best,
Bal
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/RevampPlanAlpha_zps3fc33546.jpg)
bal,
you should be careful that all your switches, especially your yard, are easily reachable. nothing is worse than having things pile up where you can't reach them, and things are much more likely to go off the track when backing,
yeppers, not to worry, I'm a tall slender fella, with them long monkey arms. plus there is a two foot clearance all the way around on the backside of the layout and more on the front. ;D
They get better every time, The two green areas with the yard between, I like. It looks like your elevating that line in the back too, I think it will generate more a look of "wide open country" for traveling through. Can you fill a yard that size?
Shortening the leg lengths could leave another small area for greenery, small cabin/house/store etc.
Thanks, GG1, yeah the back track will be elevated on a 2% for a 16' so climb starting in the top right corner.
This railroad is in the town Shaleford of my novel, Pray, which is modeled after Telluride, Colorado. Basically it's just a box canyon town, hence the U shape layout. I do plan on having some different elevations though throughout the layout.
Here is a pic of Telluride, Co
https://www.google.com/search?q=telluride+co+pictures&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=NiMeUor4N9epsATluYDwAg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=932#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=ur_qHCzrxr279M%3A%3BGKl3p6SFv1B12M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fmedia.outsideonline.com%252Fimages%252FP413453-1-1_telluride-town-center.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.outsideonline.com%252Fadventure-travel%252Fnorth-america%252Funited-states%252Fcolorado%252Ftelluride%252FThe-Uncrowded-Mountain-Town.html%3B440%3B270 (https://www.google.com/search?q=telluride+co+pictures&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=NiMeUor4N9epsATluYDwAg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=932#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=ur_qHCzrxr279M%3A%3BGKl3p6SFv1B12M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fmedia.outsideonline.com%252Fimages%252FP413453-1-1_telluride-town-center.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.outsideonline.com%252Fadventure-travel%252Fnorth-america%252Funited-states%252Fcolorado%252Ftelluride%252FThe-Uncrowded-Mountain-Town.html%3B440%3B270)
Wow! Can you direct me to the Overlook Hotel? :D........ I really, really, think you should give the SCARM freeware program a whirl. Anyrail is great with buildings ready and such and is what I use for "quick builds". But I really think you would benefit from the one button, for 2d to 3d toggling feature, in SCARM. It is also actively being improved by the author who posts on another forum I frequent, so who knows buildings might have been added. You can make your own.....well,.. everything, too.
Bal
Like GG1 said... They get better every time. I also like the idea of shortening the yard for more green space.
GG, yes I believe he has enough to fill the yard or maybe he will be a car short. ;D
Bal I just can't wait for you to get started.
Jerry
Actually GG1, I can. I've toured that Hotel a few times. ;D Creepy place to say the least. I'm a huge S.King fan.
Me either Jerry, all the yard except the turnouts leading into the yard are peco switches and flex track. Thanks for the kind words. Means a lot!
Yeah, GG, I might a car or two short...maybe more, but that leaves us something to keep going to the train store for eh?
B
Balrog21
Those pictures would make nice backdrops.
I would love to take a break and go to those places!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The best lay-outs for us are going to be these "U" types folks are posting which make sense
for reaching and fixing derailed rolling stock. Right now we have a 9x9 and its tough to reach
toward the middle but it has served the purpose for the time being. Now that all the kids are back
in school and getting settled we can start to look forward to getting this project moving.
Thanks everyone for sharing!!!!!!!!
Another layout! While you were eating burgers this last weekend, I finished off a couple of projects. (enough to run them anyhow)
CLICK TO WATCH
Sid, please sit down before you watch this, and I apologize in advance ;). (but its so fun ;D)
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/mars%20attacks/th_Marattack_zpsfcbc6809.jpg) (http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/mars%20attacks/Marattack_zpsfcbc6809.mp4)
Rocket Ship-
Motor- $5 show special, Engine body is an aluminum water bottle- $1, Nose-Nylon egg package-free, Portholes- frames are tarp grommets- 60cents and marbles-free, Fins-scrap styrene, Flashing "rocket" effect- 25cent bike LED flasher, and a used, modified, fan driven, smoke unit.
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/mars%20attacks/000_1048_zpscd14e28e.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/mars%20attacks/000_1048_zpscd14e28e.jpg.html)
Missile launcher and Instant Martian cars are old stock from Lionel.(and the "why" behind it all).
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/mars%20attacks/bashrayatbugs_zpsff55be0e.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/mars%20attacks/bashrayatbugs_zpsff55be0e.jpg.html)(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/mars%20attacks/000_1068_zps09e92fc4.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/mars%20attacks/000_1068_zps09e92fc4.jpg.html)(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/mars%20attacks/space6655acmerentalsearthdesintegratorrocket_zpsc3a05b23.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/mars%20attacks/space6655acmerentalsearthdesintegratorrocket_zpsc3a05b23.jpg.html)
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/mars%20attacks/000_1091_zpsd221f7cf.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/mars%20attacks/000_1091_zpsd221f7cf.jpg.html)
The duplicating ray and replicator car, was inspired by one of the cartoons. The computer screens Error message lights up, as does the "copying" and "replicating" screens in each gondola(more cheap LEDs) backlights a silhouette of "a wabbit"
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/mars%20attacks/000_1050_zpsb89a75c1.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/mars%20attacks/000_1050_zpsb89a75c1.jpg.html)
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/mars%20attacks/000_1051_zps39da89e9.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/mars%20attacks/000_1051_zps39da89e9.jpg.html)
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/mars%20attacks/000_1053_zps13f1a7f6.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/mars%20attacks/000_1053_zps13f1a7f6.jpg.html)
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/mars%20attacks/000_1055_zpsa4880855.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/mars%20attacks/000_1055_zpsa4880855.jpg.html)
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/mars%20attacks/000_1093_zps20cd6580.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/mars%20attacks/000_1093_zps20cd6580.jpg.html)
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/mars%20attacks/000_1085_zps65a43a6d.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/mars%20attacks/000_1085_zps65a43a6d.jpg.html)
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/mars%20attacks/000_1062_zpsefcab048.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/mars%20attacks/000_1062_zpsefcab048.jpg.html)
Oops! I see a crack in the control panel now. Each wabbit will eventually have a different hat.
My "Funky Rear Emissions Device" or "Flagrant Articulated Rear Tender" or whatever (input wanted) Will become a cage for a certain canary if I find one to fit. It is the stand for a TV remote control(free), the dome off a pair of "bug catching scissors" $1 from the dollar store, a semi-truck lighted stud from a truck stop bought 2 decades ago- $2(?), and lose styrene scraps. The center pickup it the un-coupler tack from the plastic truck (no front wheels, smaller American Flyer S gauge wheels) it just drags along, the outer rail pickup is a strand of solid bell wire rubbing the rail. Sometimes it flashes, sometimes it doesn't.
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/mars%20attacks/000_1066_zps4379111d.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/mars%20attacks/000_1066_zps4379111d.jpg.html)
Oh the "Monster" is nothing to worry about. He's not hungry....he's stuffed :D. Controls are a simple model ship on/off knife switch hooked to a 12v 3a dc volt "floor wart" I had around, no speed adjustment. If hooked to an AC supply the smoke unit increases its output x2.
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/mars%20attacks/000_1067_zps3618e88e.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/mars%20attacks/000_1067_zps3618e88e.jpg.html)
Well I hope you enjoyed this silliness......... That's all folks!
There is some creativity there GG1!!
Neat job.
Quote from: GG1onFordsDTandI on September 05, 2013, 06:27:21 PM
Quote from: rogertra on August 25, 2013, 06:16:15 PM
The point is, none of the above are "right" and none of them are "wrong". If the owner has fun, then that's all that matters.
You know where my interest lay but that makes me neither right nor wrong but it does make me discriminate over what model railroads I prefer to see. And there's nothing wrong with that, either.
Didn't you type this post roger? Seems rather hypocritical now.
Yes, you are quite right, I did and was being hypocritical.
I actually just logged on to delete my previous posts as I realised I was in the wrong.
Please accept my unreserved apology. I shall delete my post as, in hind sight, it was completely off the mark.
Hi gang.
Just an update on my layout. No pics as of yet as I have been trying to finish it off on anyrail as per Mr. Bal's request. So here it is and what you see is actually there. I'll try to post pics soon. Any replies welcome...
(http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l499/jeborne/TTandyardtwoFINAL_zps9cae530b.jpg) (http://s1120.photobucket.com/user/jeborne/media/TTandyardtwoFINAL_zps9cae530b.jpg.html)
Wish the scenery was coming along as fast as the layout growth.
Jerry
Quote from: Jerrys HO on September 05, 2013, 07:13:31 PM
Hi gang.
Just an update on my layout.
Jerry
Best of both worlds, with loops, and a yard, its tailored to suit a variety of action 8).
Has anyone else screwed around with the SCARM program yet? Any-rail is great for 2d planning fast, but the 3d feature on SCARM is pretty cool 8) and full version is free. (The script is harmless, from what I've read, and experienced, and it will likely be removed soon too.)
Alright you readers from afar, as you look below, Where are we? (Double points if you're a "Yank")
2d view-(track can be colored, ties on/off, multiple trestle styles, tunnels bridges, etc..)
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/ivorCapture_zps906cd2bd.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/ivorCapture_zps906cd2bd.jpg.html)
3d view-
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/ivor3dCapture_zps2aaacb5a.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/ivor3dCapture_zps2aaacb5a.jpg.html)
3d wire frame view-
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/ivorwireCapture_zpsb1bf0371.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/ivorwireCapture_zpsb1bf0371.jpg.html)
3d bare track-
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/iverbareCapture_zpse0301714.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/iverbareCapture_zpse0301714.jpg.html)
Modified-
3d wire from another angle
(http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u570/GGa1lin/betterCapture_zpsbe8a4a2e.jpg) (http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/GGa1lin/media/betterCapture_zpsbe8a4a2e.jpg.html)
Jerry-
I like it. You have some excellent continuous running and great display areas in the yard and engine facility. It also looks like a layout which could be a tour de force of scenery. You might need an access hatch or two in the wider areas. I am wondering, however, why you stopped the yard tracks rather than running them to the edge of the table. Assuming a one-foot grid, you could go about another 18 inches.
-- D
Don
You got me. The track is to the edge of the table for the yard. I guess I got lazy and forgot to put them in my quest to finish. I wanted a little continuous running with a little switching and a variety of scenery. On the table across from the yard will be my industrial area, where the water is there is already a country living scene along with a beach and boat launch as you may have seen in the pics I posted a couple of pages earlier. To make more room I decided to add the extra 6 ft. for the turn table and round house and possibly an engine shed behind the round house.
Still designing the center loops section where there will be the old coal mine (abandoned or operating?). The table in front of the TT will be houses and businesses.
Thanks for comments
Jerry
Looking great, Jerry!
I did my outer two lines, GG! and put it in 3d..my long slow 2% climb on the back is going to be awesome I think! Thanks for sharing the software!
B
Quote from: rogertra on August 25, 2013, 06:16:15 PM
One of the problems on a board like this is we have a wide variety of opinions on what a model railroad is.
I think it's very simple. A model railroad is a model of a railroad. The railroad may be a particular place at a particular time or it may be some place that does not and has never existed. The modelling may be dead to scale or there may be a degree of compression so that things fit in whatever space the modeller has available, but the underlying assumption is that if you multiply by 87 then your HO model looks plausibly like the real thing.
If it doesn't look plausibly like the real thing then it ain't a model and people should call, it what it is. A toy train set.
Quote from: Skarloey Railway on September 06, 2013, 06:03:34 PM
Quote from: rogertra on August 25, 2013, 06:16:15 PM
One of the problems on a board like this is we have a wide variety of opinions on what a model railroad is.
I think it's very simple. A model railroad is a model of a railroad. The railroad may be a particular place at a particular time or it may be some place that does not and has never existed. The modelling may be dead to scale or there may be a degree of compression so that things fit in whatever space the modeller has available, but the underlying assumption is that if you multiply by 87 then your HO model looks plausibly like the real thing.
If it doesn't look plausibly like the real thing then it ain't a model and people should call, it what it is. A toy train set.
Possibly, although I think "toy train" can sometimes be too much. But let's not go there as we will upset more than half the people on this board. :)
The thing with most modellers is they model what the see on other people's model railroads so what you end up with is not a model of a railroad but a model of other people's model railroads. Classic examples? The curved wooden trestle at the end of a peninsula, the house on fire with emergency vehicles in attendance, the traffic accident, the fisherman in a river or in a boat, a model railroad with no purpose, no interchange with the outside world, a roundhouse out in the middle of nowhere and not attached to a yard, just "'cause it looks cool" etc., etc..
Thomas is the perfect example. There never was a real Thomas, so every Thomas model railway (It's British so it's a "railway") is a model of a model railway, not a model of a railway. If you see what I mean?
But that's not to say they are wrong if they have fun but don't say it's prototypical or "realistic".
roger,
that may be true of some, but it is by no means true of all. some of us are railfans first, and modellers second. to us, a day along the line trumps working on the layout hands down. we come home and model what we've seen, or what we wish we'd have been around to see.
as an example, we'll use my dad's wvc&p ry, which was featured a past issue of model railroad planning. the centerpiece is a model of an obscure junction on a western Maryland branchline, accessable only on foot. the track on the layout twists and turns just like the railroad which inspired it. there are models not of burning houses and fire engines, but of the beehive coke ovens once so common in the eastern coal fields. the track arrangements are patterned loosely after typical ones found in the real world. the end result is a railroad which captures the feeling of actually being there. add to that the waybills and train orders and you can literally lose yourself in running the line.
i'm not saying a model of a model is bad. whatever floats your boat...... but to be honest, many of the layouts I see in the magazines bore me. it becomes painfully obvious who gets what a real railroad does, and who doesn't.
Roger,
You make a good philosophical point. But model railroads always have available space as the great constraining factor.
Actual railroads are not faced with the problem of how to make a continuous run in a limited space. Also, actual railroads do not build curves unless these is a reason to. That reason is never the table edge.
So, point-to-point or continuous run, when the track runs to the edge of the table, it either has to turn or end.
You can hide the obvious with a tunnel, or tall buildings or trees. Or you can make it a scenic feature with that long curved trestle. Or, you can just leave your curves out there for all the world to see. You have to allow the artist his medium.
I have operated on a model railroad that put its turnback curve in a helix inside a mountain. The entire train would disappear into the tunnel and not reappear for a minute or so. A variation is the "mountain with many portals". The train goes in, but where will it come out? Not very realistic, but very entertaining.
Les
Roger,
QuoteThe thing with most modellers is they model what the see on other people's model railroads so what you end up with is not a model of a railroad but a model of other people's model railroads.
Don't take this the wrong way, but modeling a prototype is modeling another railroad if you think about it. In turn if everyone modeled prototypes you would visit layouts that all looked the same.
Which is not bad at all if that is what you want.
I am trying to freelance a bit and put in as Jeff said the things I like or would have liked to see. I have a little country setting of a row of houses with a boat launch near by and yes there are people fishing. This is a place I would like to end up living in or near.
I have mountains because I love the mountains and they look cool on a layout.
I even have a few acquaintances that have just track no scenery that enjoy just running and switching and the set ups are pretty awesome even without all the hoopla of houses, mountains, industrial parks, etc..
I appreciate visiting and seeing the different types of layouts people can come up with, even the toy train setups. Speaking of toy train setups I guess you could call my layout a toy train layout, I used all Bachmann track, although you can not get some of the radius's I have in a toy train set I have no problem with you calling my layout a toy train set. I am not saying you did say that but rather I am OK with it if you do think that it is. As they say "It's my railroad and I will do what ever I like". I would love to build something along the lines like yours,but I have so much space now that I just let my imagination run wild while I was building it and got carried away.
Jeff
I would enjoy seeing some more pics other than the earlier posts, sounds like your dad had a great layout.
Les
QuoteI have operated on a model railroad that put its turnback curve in a helix inside a mountain. The entire train would disappear into the tunnel and not reappear for a minute or so. A variation is the "mountain with many portals". The train goes in, but where will it come out? Not very realistic, but very entertaining.
That sounds very cool and exciting. Round and round there she goes where she comes out no one knows.
Jerry
jerry,
he still has it. next time I get out there i'll take some more photos.
Thanks Jeff I really enjoyed the ones you posted earlier. You said your dad's layout was featured in a past issue, can you recall which one. The club by my house converted all theirs onto disk and said if there was any particular one I was interested in let them know. Although they did not have the Jack Work's coal mine issue ( thanks to Ken I have copies now) they may have it.
Jerry
I think it was 2009 or 2010.
Jerrys HO.
I agree 100% with everything you wrote.
Quote from: Desertdweller on September 06, 2013, 09:11:11 PM
You have to allow the artist his medium.
Modeling is an art ;).
Monet, Van Gogh, Dali, Picasso, They were not serious artists, they were playing ::).
I for one think you're all a bit off. The answer is in multiple terms, "true to life", "scale modeling","a "precision scale modeler"(the guys that actually build your models for you, IE Bachmanns team of modelers"),"model collector" or things like "semi scale" and even tin plate. Sorry to break it to you, but those are models too. Not extremely true to life, but, models none the less. And the lines between them all blur.
The term toy is derogatory when used callously, as it often is here. Plain and simple it too often denotes a certain snide superiority in some kind of contest that most often doesn't exist to the person its directed at. Like calling a kid on a playground "four eyes" from behind you're new contact lenses. I would remind you all of the proverbial visitors, or wife that laughs at or belittles hubby for playing with the toy trains despite his obvious modeling expertise. Its dismissive.
Models are toys if any type of fantasy/play is involved, outside of building them, or if used as a "tool" (for testing, sales of modeled item, art display, etc.) If you run a model railroad for pleasure, it is in fact a toy, no matter how detailed...But the term toy used without respect, is disrespectful in itself even to a toy modeler.
Oh..... the 3d layout was a setting for?..... ;D Nope not telling you yet! ;)
Quote from: GG1onFordsDTandI on September 07, 2013, 03:44:05 AM
Monet, Van Gogh, Dali, Picasso, They were not serious artists, they were playing ::).
I for one think you're all a bit off. The answer is in multiple terms, "true to life", "scale modeling","a "precision scale modeler"(the guys that actually build your models for you, IE Bachmanns team of modelers"),"model collector" or things like "semi scale" and even tin plate. Sorry to break it to you, but those are models too. Not extremely true to life, but, models none the less. And the lines between them all blur.
The term toy is derogatory when used callously, as it often is here. Plain and simple it too often denotes a certain snide superiority in some kind of contest that most often doesn't exist to the person its directed at. Like calling a kid on a playground "four eyes" from behind you're new contact lenses. I would remind you all of the proverbial visitors, or wife that laughs at or belittles hubby for playing with the toy trains despite his obvious modeling expertise. Its dismissive.
Models are toys if any type of fantasy/play is involved, outside of building them, or if used as a "tool" (for testing, sales of modeled item, art display, etc.) If you run a model railroad for pleasure, it is in fact a toy, no matter how detailed...But the term toy used without respect, is disrespectful in itself even to a toy modeler.
GG1-
Thank you. I was about to write the same thing. We're all modelers. And yet we all play with
toy trains, too. It's condescending and disrespectful to refer to another hobbyists's set up as toys while conceitedly implying that our own choices of how to play with toys is somehow superior.
-- D
Yep, as has been touched on here and in other spots on this board, the most important thing, I think, is the enjoyment each of us and our associated family members get, out of doing whatever it is we are doing concerning our endeavors and interests in scale model railroads.
Thanks for sharing the layout plans I got a lot of ideas to to work with. Creativity and Imagination are 2 more of the many positive adjectives I would add to this great hobby.
Dear All,
Quote Les:
".. the mountain with many portals...very entertaining."
As an example, see "Mystery Mountain" layout in Classic Toy Trains (CTT) magazine, September 2013, page 40.
A bit of fun on the D-27:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utuTnDjrI34
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
Joe,
That is a real classic!
Very well done!
Les
On the subject of regarding one type of modelling as better or superior to another, I was just reminded of the phenomenon of "rabbit-warren" layouts that had a, thankfully, brief spell of popularity in the UK back in the early days of OO9 - a scale equivalent to HOn3 using OO scale on N gauge track. Basically, a "rabbit-warren" layout used the small radii possible in OO9 (down to 6"), along with as many changes of level as possible, to cram a lot of track into a small amount of space, say 4' by 2'.
They are much less common now, but you still see them about: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fairlightworks/410062449/ is end-to-end and so not technically a rabbit-warren, which were continuous run, but which shows the general look of such layouts.
It's fair to say that the great majority of UK railway modellers despised them and their popularity pretty much stopped narrow-gauge modelling being taken seriously for well over a decade.
Quote from: Skarloey Railway on September 07, 2013, 12:14:42 PM
On the subject of regarding one type of modelling as better or superior to another, I was just reminded of the phenomenon of "rabbit-warren" layouts that had a, thankfully, brief spell of popularity in the UK back in the early days of OO9 - a scale equivalent to HOn3 using OO scale on N gauge track. Basically, a "rabbit-warren" layout used the small radii possible in OO9 (down to 6"), along with as many changes of level as possible, to cram a lot of track into a small amount of space, say 4' by 2'.
They are much less common now, but you still see them about: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fairlightworks/410062449/ is end-to-end and so not technically a rabbit-warren, which were continuous run, but which shows the general look of such layouts.
It's fair to say that the great majority of UK railway modellers despised them and their popularity pretty much stopped narrow-gauge modelling being taken seriously for well over a decade.
While not true to scale in many respects, those builders obviously took their work seriously, just not seriously scale.
Dear Les and All,
Just to be clear:
I only provided the youtube link,
not my layout,
not my video.
Hope you enjoyed it anyway.
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
Quote from: Joe Satnik on September 07, 2013, 12:50:04 PM
Dear Les and All,
Just to be clear:
I only provided the youtube link,
not my layout,
not my video.
Hope you enjoyed it anyway.
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
I know I did , Thanks for spending the time to do this for us.
Now hers to hoping page 25 of this fine thread can return to its original topic, showing layouts of all forms of trains.
Maybe a new thread devoted to scale vs toys is needed for all to have their further say in?
Quote from: Skarloey Railway on September 07, 2013, 12:14:42 PM
On the subject of regarding one type of modelling as better or superior to another, I was just reminded of the phenomenon of "rabbit-warren" layouts that had a, thankfully, brief spell of popularity in the UK back in the early days of OO9 - a scale equivalent to HOn3 using OO scale on N gauge track. Basically, a "rabbit-warren" layout used the small radii possible in OO9 (down to 6"), along with as many changes of level as possible, to cram a lot of track into a small amount of space, say 4' by 2'.
They are much less common now, but you still see them about: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fairlightworks/410062449/ is end-to-end and so not technically a rabbit-warren, which were continuous run, but which shows the general look of such layouts.
It's fair to say that the great majority of UK railway modellers despised them and their popularity pretty much stopped narrow-gauge modelling being taken seriously for well over a decade.
Skar-
Well, I don't know. I think the rabbit warren layouts have a certain appeal, kind of a
tour-de-force of track work. I think a branch mining or logging run like this could be a lot of fun on a larger layout, introducing some meticulous animation while displaying the builder's equally meticulous commitment to quality construction standards. Such a thing would also capture the
ad lib quality of many back woods and mountain short lines. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
-- D
Quote from: Doneldon on September 07, 2013, 01:48:13 PM
Skar-
Well, I don't know. I think the rabbit warren layouts have a certain appeal, kind of a tour-de-force of track work. I think a branch mining or logging run like this could be a lot of fun on a larger layout, introducing some meticulous animation while displaying the builder's equally meticulous commitment to quality construction standards. Such a thing would also capture the ad lib quality of many back woods and mountain short lines. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
-- D
I can only give a UK perspective and here they were looked down on and made it hard for any modeller of narrow gauge to be taken seriously by the wider community of railway modellers.
I have a feeling that in the UK there has been a greater focus on emulating the prototype, particularly in how the model looks, both in modelling a specific prototype or in creating a 'might-have-been' layout, than there is in the US. Three possible reasons for this might be:
The content of model railway magazines in the UK has leant heavily towards the prototype.
The popularity of local model railway clubs means that joining in with (and therefore becoming influenced by) an established group of modellers leads to a collective standard of 'good modelling' to which most then aspire to.
The number of local model railway exhibitions means that anyone interested in model railways has a reasonably easy way of seeing a variety of layouts, scales, prototypes and so on, in the flesh.
Having observed US and UK model railways/railroads for a number of years now, they, and their creators, are, in my opinion, surprisingly different in aim and execution.
:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
I agree with Skar.
UK magazines concentrate on prototype modelling even if the station is a "what if".
If you are modelling say British Railways, Southern Region, like I did until recently, then the architectural style of the station buildings, signalboxs, signals, fencing, lettering, colours and even the track layout are expected to follow Southern practice. And of course, let's not forget locomotives and the Southern rolling stock as well. Freight cars are all expected to be models of the real thing and not some generic "Athearn" type freight cars painted in various liveries.
Of course that's just the models that appear in the model press.
Freelance modelling, like mine, where the whole railway is made up, is almost unknown in the UK, except perhaps for the narrow gauge crowd.
Not saying one is better than the other, just showing how UK modellers differ from North American modellers.
Quote from: rogertra on September 07, 2013, 03:57:29 PM
I agree with Skar.
UK magazines concentrate on prototype modelling even if the station is a "what if".
If you are modelling say British Railways, Southern Region, like I did until recently, then the architectural style of the station buildings, signalboxs, signals, fencing, lettering, colours and even the track layout are expected to follow Southern practice. And of course, let's not forget locomotives and the Southern rolling stock as well. Freight cars are all expected to be models of the real thing and not some generic "Athearn" type freight cars painted in various liveries.
Of course that's just the models that appear in the model press.
Freelance modelling, like mine, where the whole railway is made up, is almost unknown in the UK, except perhaps for the narrow gauge crowd.
Not saying one is better than the other, just showing how UK modellers differ from North American modellers.
phew :o thought I was on my own there. It would be nice to have a discussion of differences without any side feeling they are under attack.
Yes, free-lancing of 'mainline' railroads is very rare in the UK. What tends to happen is people either follow a prototype location or they imagineer a might have been location operated by a real railway company, the archetypal Great Western Railway branch terminus being the classic example. Conversely, modelling in narrow-gauge, industrial, and what we call 'light' railways (standard gauge but in other respects similar to quirky narrow-gauge lines and maybe similar to US short-lines) tends to see as many, if not more, wholly freelance modelling as prototype modelling.
At a guess the lack of freelance work in mainline railways is because few modellers work pre 1923 when most of the independent companies were amalgamated into the big four and post 1923 the very names of the companies, Southern Railway, Great Western Railway, London Midland and Scottish, and London and North-Eastern Railway, pretty much boxed the compass and didn't leave any actual geography in which to place a freelanced railway, though a rare few have tried. Post 1948, of course, we only had one railway, British Railways, and again there was no place left over in which the imagination could create anything plausible.
In narrow-gauge, industrial and 'light' railways there are dozens of prototypes the modeller can draw on and it's relatively easy to freelance and still be plausible.
Another reason UK modelling is different is each of our railway companies going right back into the nineteenth century tended to build or design their own locomotives, often with a distinctive style. Freelancing then becomes tricky because your line also needs its distinctive style and the degree of scratch-building involved is more than most modellers want. In the US, builders like Baldwin, Lima, Mason and the predecessors of Alco provided locos for mainline RRs so it's easier to freelance as you just need a few standard designs with the name of your RR on the tender and it looks perfectly plausible. Case in point being Bachmann's and other US manufacturers habit of releasing a loco in a variety of road names. I cannot stress enough that if Bachmann UK or Hornby did that (other than for a model intended for children, such as Hogwarts castle), they would be derided. In the UK a model loco intended for serious modellers will likely be released in some of the different liveries it carried during its life but never in a freelance livery or that of another company.
The downside to the above is, if exhibitions are anything to go by, British railway modelling can be very nicely done and 'true to life' but also rather dull and originality and imagination tends to be at a premium.
while that standardization of locomotive designs may have been true with diesels, it was most certainly not true with steam. railroads tended to write specs for, and purchase locomotives for, specific conditions on their line. a locomotive from pennsy did not look like a locomotive from reading, or union pacific. and steamers on any particular road tended to have a family look.
with diesels, the situation was different. emd in particular designed an all purpose locomotive, the ft, and sent it all over the country on a demonstration tour, where it performed beyond anybody's wildest expectations. numerous lines were so impressed that they ordered as many as they could get, with production limited by world war 2. once the war was over, they flocked to emd for the upgraded successor models, the f3 and f7. due to the backlog of orders at emd, many were forced to purchase similar locomotives from other suppliers. as soon as the backlog of orders dried up, so did the diesel business of Baldwin and Fairbanks morse.
to show how far the standardization went in emd products, consider the line as of the late 1940s. the models offered were the sw1, sw7, gp7, f7 and e7. the sw1 was he oddball of the bunch, using a 6 cylinder version of the 567 engine. the 12 cylinder version of this engine powered the sw7, and two of them powered the e7/e8. that's right: you could transplant the engine out of a passenger locomotive capable of over 100mph into a yard unit with a 40mph top speed. the gp7 and f7 shared the 16 cylinder version of this engine. many parts were standard and could be used in any size 567 block. contrast that to steam, where many railroads had foundries and blacksmith shops to fabricate replacement parts.
this standardization is why you can take an American diesel and paint it for a dozen or more roads and still be reasonably accurate. or freelance your own line and be sure a standard off the shelf diesel looks right. minor differences could be ordered as options if desired. they included dynamic brakes for mountain roads, a steam boiler for passenger service, or a variety of headlight options.
pulling to give an idea of how these options worked, many railroads ordered at least some of their gp7s and gp9s with boilers for passenger service. these were commonly seen pulling commuter trains during the week, and freights on the weekends. the new haven even had a fleet of diesels, the dl109s, built to run passenger trains during the day and freights at night. those same gp7s and gp9s could work the low speed yard jobs as well.
Jeff.
You comments below are, for intents and purposes, correct for the USA but not for Canada.
Canadian diesels were different from US diesels in subtle ways. You cannot really paint an American GP9, for example, in Canadian National colours and call it correct as it isn't. Canadian diesels have headlights in different locations, bells in different locations, usually up on the hood whereas in the US it's under the running board and Canadian units have one more step on the step boards than American units do. There are differences in car body vents and filters and the number of each, winerization hatches, exhaust mufflers and several other detail variations just to name a few. Oh, and CN GP9s ran long hood forward. :)
I find it rather disturbing that model railroaders in the UK are influenced so much by peer pressure, to the extent of a whole variety of model railroads being disapproved of by other modelers.
That is too bad, because model railroading is a non-competitive hobby, intended for the enjoyment of the owner/builder. My first N-scale railroad was built in a desk drawer. It featured a twice-around folded loop, a forked siding in the center with a mine, and a siding outside the loop in front that acted as an interchange track.
Rolling stock was limited to 40' cars and short four-axle or even three axle locomotives.
I don't suppose that would have gone over well in the UK.
My present railroad models a real place, selectively compressed. I like it when other people like my railroad, but it really doesn't much matter to me. It is my railroad in my own house, built by myself with my own money.
It can be nit-picked by critics, but I figure, if they don't like my railroad they can build their own. Actually, I've found few critics who actually have their own model railroads.
Les
@Jward
Apologies. I knew the Penn RR had distinctive loco designs (those Belpaire fireboxes) but didn't appreciate other standard gauge roads did as well. Thanks for the correction. My comment was based on US 3' narrow-gauge where many lines in the 1870s and 1880s were equipped with 'off-the-shelf' Baldwin Americans, Moguls and Consolidations - hence why I'm so keen on Bachmann doing an early 3' gauge 4-4-0 in ON30! In the UK, for comparison, between 1863 and 1914 just about every narrow-gauge common carrier went to a different loco builder and got a one-off design, which is rather frustrating for the modeller wanting to equip his own railway.
I note that on Bachmann's current HO product list the Richmond 4-4-0 is only named for the Ma & Pa, presumably the only road it ran on, while the Baldwin 2-8-0 is named for a number of roads, including the Durango & Silverton which I'm pretty sure it couldn't run on even if it tried!
I am not normally one who gets into the mix when things go awry...
However, the intention of this thread was to share photos and diagrams of members' layouts and/or plans for layouts.
How did this become an endless yack fest? We seem to have gone off the rails somehow.
More photos, less words, please.
Regards,
Jonathan
GG1
QuoteNow hers to hoping page 25 of this fine thread can return to its original topic, showing layouts of all forms of trains.
Maybe a new thread devoted to scale vs toys is needed for all to have their further say in?
Jonathan
Quoteam not normally one who gets into the mix when things go awry...
However, the intention of this thread was to share photos and diagrams of members' layouts and/or plans for layouts.
How did this become an endless yack fest? We seem to have gone off the rails somehow.
More photos, less words, please.
Yes lets continue to enjoy what this thread was for. For those who wish to get off the topic please start another thread. Would really hate to see this thread get locked.
Jerry
Quote from: Jerrys HO on September 08, 2013, 07:48:53 AM
GG1
QuoteNow hers to hoping page 25 of this fine thread can return to its original topic, showing layouts of all forms of trains.
Maybe a new thread devoted to scale vs toys is needed for all to have their further say in?
Jonathan
Quoteam not normally one who gets into the mix when things go awry...
However, the intention of this thread was to share photos and diagrams of members' layouts and/or plans for layouts.
How did this become an endless yack fest? We seem to have gone off the rails somehow.
More photos, less words, please.
Yes lets continue to enjoy what this thread was for. For those who wish to get off the topic please start another thread. Would really hate to see this thread get locked.
Jerry
Nothing has been said to make this thread go awry and nothing has been said that would be cause to get the thread locked.
The IHC covered hopper thread and this one have made my trigger finger rather itchy......
Quote from: Yardmaster on September 08, 2013, 01:44:49 PM
The IHC covered hopper thread and this one have made my trigger finger rather itchy......
Genuinely, I would like to know why you feel that way.
There does seem to be a different approach between US and UK model rail enthusiasts and given that Bachmann supplies both countries it seems a worthwhile discussion. I accept it probably needs its own thread but your comment suggests any such discussion would not be welcome.
I will quote Jonathan:
"the intention of this thread was to share photos and diagrams of members' layouts and/or plans for layouts.
How did this become an endless yack fest? We seem to have gone off the rails somehow.
More photos, less words, please."
Fine, GG1onFordsDTandI has started a new thread on the subject.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,24350.0.html
As it should be.....
To get this back on the correct track, I will show some of my Bachmann equipment. ;D
(http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/kengprice/DSCN0002.jpg)
Now that's more like it.... nice!
Thank you.
Excellent work Ken excellent.
Here are two of my Bachmann engines pulling some fast freight through Shaleford, CO this morning. UP and Norfolk Southern SD40-2's have the duty! Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoBBrUjW3rA&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoBBrUjW3rA&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg)
Thanks, roger!
Whoee! Balrog lots of trains, a running! :)
Ken, awesome scenery!
Ken looks great any damage from the falling rocks off that hill? ;)
Bal, a few more videos from you, and I could sell my trains and just watch yours ;D.
If anyone was interested the 3d layout I posted was of the M&LRTCL Merioneth and Llantisilly Railway Traction Company Limited, home to Ivor the Engine, and Edwin Jones "the Steam", his driver. An English childrens story book, and TV show from the 50s, and again in the 70s.
Ken great scenery!!!
Balrog21 always I thank you for sharing what you do. How thick is the plywood on your table top? Do you screw down your track through the foam board into the plywood?
I like the mattress up against the wall. I think its funny how my wife likes to store things always near around the layout when we have room in the basemant!!!!!!
Just finished Spectrum Connie number 6. Loco #201 in the photos below is a DCC/Sound loco. It was formerly #2788. Modified, repainted and weathered. All six Connies are in the photos, plus two T-Class Mountains in the back.
I'm experimenting with all the settings on my camera (fancy point and shoot). Took around 100 photos. Saved 7, which I'm posting here.
Regards,
Jonathan
If you click the link on the photos, you'll get bigger, more detailed pix, and can tell the difference between camera settings. For instance, photo #6 uses a flash setting called "backlight". It shoots a flash just prior to the shutter opening. Opens up the dark areas a bit. I gotta get a DSLR one of these days. :)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN2917_zpsdc70a3d3.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN2917_zpsdc70a3d3.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN2925_zpsaaac3a5e.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN2925_zpsaaac3a5e.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN2926_zps6aa93bec.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN2926_zps6aa93bec.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN2927_zps6ada8c01.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN2927_zps6ada8c01.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN2942_zps571982aa.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN2942_zps571982aa.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN2944_zps51ad63aa.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN2944_zps51ad63aa.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN2949_zps8680f295.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN2949_zps8680f295.jpg.html)
Johnathan.
Really, really nice work on those engines.
I have half a dozen or so Connies that need DCC and more details added. Wanna job?
Here are some pictures of my Denver Union Terminal Railroad. (http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/N-scale%20Trains%20of%20Denver/UPE7satPullman.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/N-scale%20Trains%20of%20Denver/UPE7satPullman.jpg.html)
Here are UP E7's at Pullman Terminal in Commerce City. (http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/N-scale%20Trains%20of%20Denver/UPWorkEquipmentatPullmanYard.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/N-scale%20Trains%20of%20Denver/UPWorkEquipmentatPullmanYard.jpg.html)
Some UP work equipment at Pullman. (http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/N-scale%20Trains%20of%20Denver/CBQpoweratRice.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/N-scale%20Trains%20of%20Denver/CBQpoweratRice.jpg.html)
Burlington passenger engines at Rice Roundhouse.
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/N-scale%20Trains%20of%20Denver/CS30.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/N-scale%20Trains%20of%20Denver/CS30.jpg.html)
C&S Billings Local in front of passenger terminal.
Burnham Street in Denver. (http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/N-scale%20Trains%20of%20Denver/BurnhamStcommercialbuildings.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/N-scale%20Trains%20of%20Denver/BurnhamStcommercialbuildings.jpg.html)
That is a start. I'll work on getting the captions closer to the right photos.
Les
Here are some more:
Burnham Shops
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/N-scale%20Trains%20of%20Denver/PassengerPoweratBurnham.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/N-scale%20Trains%20of%20Denver/PassengerPoweratBurnham.jpg.html)
My Grandson Nicky
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/N-scale%20Trains%20of%20Denver/NickyatControlPanel.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/N-scale%20Trains%20of%20Denver/NickyatControlPanel.jpg.html)
New BBQ smoker at Burnham Shops
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/NewBBQsmoker.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/NewBBQsmoker.jpg.html)
E5 on Rice turntable.
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/NewCBQE5A.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/NewCBQE5A.jpg.html)
Denver Police question notorious Chicago pimp LeRoy Brown.
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/Busstop.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/Busstop.jpg.html)
Commerce City.
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/NewSiding.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/NewSiding.jpg.html)
UP rotary plows at Pullman.
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/UPRotaryPlows.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/UPRotaryPlows.jpg.html)
Les
Nice work Les. The effort shows.
Sid
Very nice work Les. Thanks for sharing those pics.
Looking through your photo's I noticed your battleship and sub, very nice work.
Jerry
Thankyou, Jerry.
Model ships are a secondary hobby of mine.
The destroyer and the U-boat are in the same scale, 1/350. That is a very common model ship scale. Most of my ships are either 1/350 or 1/600. The 1/600 ships are mostly from Airfix kits, but not entirely.
1/700 is a more common scale, but that is just too small for me.
Did you see the airplanes above the railroad? They are 1/144 scale, only 10% larger than N scale.
"The sky is crowded, take the train."
Stapleton International Airport was located next to Commerce City. It is now hotels and shopping malls.
The airplanes themselves are period-correct.
I'm glad you liked them. After all the bloviating I've done about my model railroad, it's good to be able to show it really exists!
I'm now in the process of going through an operating "day", taking pictures of each train arrival and departure. That is going to take awhile.
Les
Les
I must not be seeing your whole album, I went back and looked and did not see the planes. Try angling your camera a little more up. ;D ;D
My grandfather and dad were in the Navy and my grandfather built a bunch of Navy boats and your destroyer reminded me of one. I had tried to collect them after he passed but with him in California and me in Louisiana my cousins beat me to them and they have no idea what happened to them.
Really enjoyed touring your layout. If possible take a panoramic shot and post.
Jerry
Thanks, Sid.
I planned the layout while I was working in Connecticut, and started it in 2007. But the equipment I had been collecting since 1978. I had a general idea of what I wanted to build, but had a hard time choosing what terminal I would model. Kansas City and Omaha came in close seconds, but I wanted to include the Rio Grande. Pueblo was also considered, but it would have meant leaving out most of the Burlington action and all the UP.
Denver meant giving up running most of my Milwaukee Road train equipment, but some finds its way to Denver in UP trains, including pool passenger power.
The large collection of older model locomotives influenced me to go with DC instead of DCC. I think it was the right decision.
As it is set in the early 1960's, it hosts trains from seven railroads: CB&Q; C&S; UP; D&RGW; AT&SF; RI; and MP. I fudged a little and included a Rio Grande train that was discontinued in 1959, the "Mountaineer". I already had a set of custom-painted cars for it.
Jerry,
My ships (and planes) are on my Photobucket site, but in other abums.
I'll try to find and post the pictures you want.
Les
I may have to reshoot some plane photos, but here are a couple for now:
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/PlanesnearStapletonAirport.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/PlanesnearStapletonAirport.jpg.html)
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/NC121landing.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/NC121landing.jpg.html)
I don't want to get too far off-topic.
Les
Quote from: Desertdweller on September 15, 2013, 05:01:34 PM
E5 on Rice turntable.
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/NewCBQE5A.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/NewCBQE5A.jpg.html)
Very pretty! :-* Carbodies, the more they slope, the less I mope :D. Quote from: Desertdweller on September 15, 2013, 05:01:34 PM
Denver Police question notorious Chicago pimp LeRoy Brown.
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/Busstop.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/Busstop.jpg.html)
Indians, and hippies! :D (Is the cops name Jim?...I wouldn't mess around with him! 8) ).
Quote from: Desertdweller on September 15, 2013, 06:51:11 PM
I may have to reshoot some plane photos, but here are a couple for now:
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/PlanesnearStapletonAirport.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/PlanesnearStapletonAirport.jpg.html)
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/NC121landing.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/NC121landing.jpg.html)
Whoa! Looks like an Air Traffic Controller strike! :o It all looks great. Thanks for showing it all off!
Desertdweller
Nice Train room!
I like the idea of hanging the model airplanes up above.
Frank Sinatra did the same thing with his layout!!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Fred!
I didn't know Frank Sinatra was into this stuff.
I'll bet he had a nice outfit.
Les
I watched a show that did a story on Frank's Lionel layout at his home in Palm Springs. The show indicated at the time the current property owner had left the layout intact, don't know if that is still the case. Nice layout you have :)
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/Calamty_Jane_B-52H_2.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/Calamty_Jane_B-52H_2.jpg.html)Here are some pictures you guys have been requesting.
I'll start with overall views of the railroad room.
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/Left_half_of_model_rr.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/Left_half_of_model_rr.jpg.html)
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/Model_railroad_room.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/Model_railroad_room.jpg.html)
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/Right_half_of_model_rr.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/Right_half_of_model_rr.jpg.html)
Here are some more airplanes:
US Coast Guard R5D (military version of DC4)
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/USCG_R5D_2.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/USCG_R5D_2.jpg.html)
KC-97 "D-Cup" refueling tanker.
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/D-Cup_KC-97_2.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/D-Cup_KC-97_2.jpg.html)
B-52H "Urban Renewal".
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/Urban_Renewal_B-52H_2.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/Urban_Renewal_B-52H_2.jpg.html)
B-52H "Calamity Jane".
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff315/Lesforan/Calamty_Jane_B-52H_2.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/Lesforan/media/Calamty_Jane_B-52H_2.jpg.html)
I'll post some more later.
Les
Brewman,
Thanks.
I'll bet that layout was a honey!
Hope the new owner leaves it intact. It has historical significance even if the new owner isn't into model trains.
Les
Nice model railroad.
Here is a video of my n scale layout. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQUhmN4vJX4&feature=share&list=UU6FlQJDXlHIayXVtC4L0xIg
Chessie,
Backing up is the acid test!
Reminded me of my Bonanza Borax Railroad. It used the same mainline layout.
Thanks for sharing that video.
Les
Chessie
How do you sleep with such a nice layout. ;D ;D ;D ;D
Very nice.
Jerry
Your welcome and Thanks. I had this n scale layout for a long time found it in the attic awhile back and track was still on it but was rotten and brittle so i replaced the track and added scenery to it. I was trying to post pic's but says file to large.
Jeff
You need to upload your pics to a separate account such as photo bucket and then there is a box that has IMG, select it and it will show copied, then go back to your post and paste.
I still don't know how you sleep with that layout.
Jerry
just a quick vid with some progress.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z7hpWO0CGk&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z7hpWO0CGk&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg)
Quote from: Jerrys HO on September 16, 2013, 09:14:12 PM
Chessie
How do you sleep with such a nice layout. ;D ;D ;D ;D
Very nice.
Jerry
Quote from: Chessie1971 on September 16, 2013, 09:01:46 PM
Here is a video of my n scale layout. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQUhmN4vJX4&feature=share&list=UU6FlQJDXlHIayXVtC4L0xIg
That's funny! :D I was expecting something huge ;D! Looks like fun though. Talk about storable.
Les- That's one nice room you have for yourself 8).
Balrog- I hadn't thought about the end to end giving a better view through the windows. Another win, win, for you. ;D
Thanks, GG1. I'm planning to take and post a series of photos of my "slanty things" for you.
Les
Thanks GG1
Balrog
Nice video!!
Layout is looking really good!!!
Thanks for the update
I have been enjoying the photos and the youtube videos! Hats off to Balrog and the other video posters. That takes some serious time for shooting and uploading. Here's my attempt at yet another video. Has no background music or dialog yet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yoo_OxNET4
Featured a couple of brass locos in the beginning. The rest is just trains running
around the layout.
Regards,
Jonathan
Jonathan,
I really like the crickets, are they spectators or passengers?
Nice vid.
Jerry
Thanks. ;D The advantage of a garage layout: free sound effects.
Regards,
Jonathan
That's a pretty neat video. Lots of action on a well-finished model railroad!
Les
Quote from: Desertdweller on September 22, 2013, 02:04:23 PM
Thanks, GG1. I'm planning to take and post a series of photos of my "slanty things" for you.
Les
Oh Id hate to have to look at those ;) :D
Jonathon:
What Jazz piece are you using on your video very cool !!!!!!
Also
Frank Sinatra was a BIG and Serious O-Gauge train collector and model railroader. After he died TomMcComas of "I Love Toy Trains" fame got an invite to his estate and was able to filmthe whole layout and all of his collection.
My nine year old loves it !! Also the layout and stories of Mandy Patinkin are NOT TO BE MISSED> He was in the film "Princess Bride" "You killed my Father Prepare to Die". Great layout LOTS of stories he is awesome !!!!
Fred,
Thanks for making me re-watch Jonathans video.
The first version starring the crickets was good but there music did not fit the layout, maybe if he dimmed the lights it would have been nice.
Now playing a little or should I say a long version of the "A-Train" was spectacular background music. (I am from New Orleans) Love that jazz and Duke Ellington
Thanks Jonathan and Fred,
Jerry
Thanks, guys. When I put the video together, I was hearing big-band jazz in my head. It just so happens that version of "Take the A Train" was 9 minutes long, same as the video.
Some folks hear banjos and harmonicas when they watch trains. I hear brass horns.
:)
Regards,
Jonathan
i hear air horns, bells and primemovers. the mainline runs 100 ft from my apartment so it's the soundtrack to my life.
No bells, but I hear the horn of each loco 12 times at night. Only one crossing is close enough to hear during the middle of the day. Wait....yep the first 3 blasts of a eastbound to Detroit....3 more..3 more...He is nonstop!!(someone must have went around the crossing gate!).........house rumble is gone now.....3 more...through the hill...quiet...last 3...gone....
Wait, Oh that's quick.... another section?.........not really, this ones running light.....no house rumble. :D
i am on a 1% grade. i hear the coal trains especially grinding upgrade with helper engines pushing on the rear. about 30 minutes later, the helpers come back having cut away from the train at the top of the hill. lately, they have a significant traffic on oil trains woth the loaded ones screaming by me with the dynamic brakes howling.
there are 3 routes through Pittsburgh on the former pennsy. the one i live on is used for higher priority trains without excess height cars. as in spite of the heavy grades it is the quickest.
Interesting
I didn't appreciate low numbered grades like 1, 2 ,3 or 4% until I had to ride up those grades on my bicycle in the mountains of Georgia.
What a workout!!!!!!!!!!
Really a scarry rush on the decent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've always said there were two things that would give you an appreciation for grades: running trains and riding bicycles!
Les
Chessie1971-
Fantastic layout! I thought I was the only one around who still used one of those layouts! Mine is the one Bachmann put out in the 1980's, with the single oval and made out of the vacuform type of plastic.
I'm right now in the process of converting it to an English countryside style layout, using European styled buildings (church, cottage, small station) and I'm also getting some Graham Farish equipment to run on it.
Once I get the buildings ready, I'll post some pics with something running on it!
Thanks Raveoned !!!! I had one a long time ago. Mine burnt up in the house in 1984 and my neighbor had one just like the one burnt up. He went into HO scale. I bought his old one. I found this in the attic a few months ago. I said to myself i will fix this up and put new track on it. I 'm hoping to add some signals and few other things then i may add ext. and add more track. I will be watching for your pictures.
He has posted one a bit ago. http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,13645.msg110932.html#msg110932
Hopefully we wont be waiting 3 more years for the next batch of posts ;).
Great vid, Jonathan. Love the music as well. Just a FYI...MASSIVE layout update coming VERY soon! ;)
I can appreciated the grades. We have a very small hill that tops right as it's leaving the old yards heading North...and we have a south yard that is 1.5 miles long with 18 sidings on it about a mile south of the main yards, so when the train pulls out to head North it's struggling bad to get going and up the hill...so even though I live about 5 blocks from the tracks it still manages to shake the wooden deck we have on our house. NICE sounds to hear. It's even better when a NEW CN engineer whose never been down this way before comes in from the North heading South to fast and tops the hill...he's got too much going and then you can almost count the seconds before you hear the dynamic brakes getting yanked on and then left on......then the rolling thunder as the stretch slack gets caught up with engine...very nice sounds to hear at night! Rolling Thunder at its finest!
Best,
Bal
Quote from: GG1onFordsDTandI on October 03, 2013, 08:31:56 PM
He has posted one a bit ago. http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,13645.msg110932.html#msg110932
Hopefully we wont be waiting 3 more years for the next batch of posts ;).
You know, I was thinking that I had posted pics of the Susquehanna Mikado on my little HO layout. Thank you for that link!
I did do a video not long ago, showing my Bachmann/Jouef Orient Express set, ending with it running on that layout!
Hopefully this will suffice until I get some shots of the N one up and running with some buildings, but before my Graham Farish equipment!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PFDrM3Adus (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PFDrM3Adus)
Just got around to watching Jonathan's video, and I think it's great--and best of all, my wife liked it, too! It's that jazz that did it. . .we both like big band stuff.
I happen to like bluegrass, too--most appropriate for a C&O fan--but I have to say my wife, well, tolerates that!
Can you post some of those Jazz tunes if you get a chance. My daughter wants to put them in my Sharktunes
Pretty big update here. Shaleford Rail gets and expansion!
Enjoy!
Bal
http://youtu.be/96DzFhQ6Utc (http://youtu.be/96DzFhQ6Utc)
Enjoyed the update, Bal! I like how you showed the plans while panning to the progress of the layout. Makes it, Idunno, more real to me somehow.
Regards,
Jonathan
Quite a set up and quite a collection J.P.!
heres my grandsons frist train and hes layout he did all by himself hes 4 yrs old
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag74/ezdaveut/aydenstrainlayout_zpsbba1dd08.jpg)
I bet it would be bigger if he had more track :D Looks he's about old enough for an O gauge or Lil Big Hauler to me ;)
Thanks guys!
Didn't check Bals video out 100% till tonight. My loss ::). Wow, talk about expansion! Thats progress, in a BIG way. Long trains are going to look great on that. 8)
Are you going to miss caboose chasing ???::):D.
Balrog,
That is fantastic! I like how things are set up before the track is laid, but you can still easily visualize it all there!
That layout would work well with either modern freights or some luxury passenger trains making those wide, sweeping curves.
Thanks, GG1, and no I'm not going to miss it in the least bit.
and Thanks Raven, it's been a long road to get it to that stage..lots of reworking, etc, but I'm happy with the results thus far.
the big issue I see is that the grade to your upper level will be about 6%. that's way too steep and your locomotives won't pull much on this grade. another problem is that you have 18r reverse curves both in the back where the upper level joins the main loop, and on the elevated spur track.
you can fix both with a simple rearranging of your track components. you should have at least 6" of straight track between left and right hand curves. and you can move the junctions between the upper and lower lines to the ends of the right side curve, with the switches as part of the curve, the right hand switch will be to the rear, and the left in the front. this will also add enough length to the upper line that you can reduce the grade to a much more acceptable 4%.
Balrog21
As usual thank you multiple times for sharing!!!!!
My kids enjoy watching!!!!!!!!!!!
Quote from: jward on October 12, 2013, 09:17:34 AM
the big issue I see is that the grade to your upper level will be about 6%. that's way too steep and your locomotives won't pull much on this grade. another problem is that you have 18r reverse curves both in the back where the upper level joins the main loop, and on the elevated spur track.
you can fix both with a simple rearranging of your track components. you should have at least 6" of straight track between left and right hand curves. and you can move the junctions between the upper and lower lines to the ends of the right side curve, with the switches as part of the curve, the right hand switch will be to the rear, and the left in the front. this will also add enough length to the upper line that you can reduce the grade to a much more acceptable 4%.
Thanks jward. I had mocked it up earlier this morning and knew right away that I'd have grade issues. Also, I've been using Anyrail for about 2-3 months now and just now discovered the 'show slope pcts' option (feel pretty stupid about that discovery)
Anyway, the right hand turnout on the right side is pretty much located to dodge the door casing that I left in place. If we ever sell this house, I'm certain I'd have to revert that area back into the 5x5 closet, so I don't want to disturb the casing. I'd have to wreck out the surface area but all of the support structure is screwed in. In the long run I lowered the far end on the upper line to 2 1/2" and hit 4% both directions. I've decided to enclose both the upper and lower line in a double tunnel, with the 2 1/2" height difference. I figure that'd be pretty cool and the 28 month old grandson loves tunnels. I did as you suggested and put a 9" straight track between the 'S' curve on the high siding. I was able to elevate that from 2 1/2" to 3 5/8" with the last three sections flat at 3 5/8" so the parked cars wouldn't roll down the hill.
For a bit of humor relief, this morning after I mocked up the elevations with blocks of wood, I took a caboose and let it go from the back going downhill on the right side. It rolled all the way down, around the front end full curve, back up the left hand turnout on the left and up about 1/2 way. It then rolled back to about the middle of the full curve. I said to myself 'this isn't gonna work'
Thanks again jward.
(http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac359/8stargazer/58x96revised_zpseabf691c.jpg) (http://s915.photobucket.com/user/8stargazer/media/58x96revised_zpseabf691c.jpg.html)
I would strongly urge you to do whatever it takes to eliminate that s curve at the rear of the layout. it will cause derailments in an area you won't be able to reach easily. there are ways to work around your limitations.
why are those 18r s curves bad? when your cars enter the curve, the ends swing out. the couplers pivot in their boxes to compensate for the changed angle between the cars, but they are limited to about 30 degrees of swing. on an s curve, adjacent cars ends swing out to opposite sides, and on a sharp curve like 18r, the couplers try to swing farther than the coupler boxes will allow, forcing the cars off the rails.
Lonnie-
You just might be able to have your cake and eat it too, or at least your curve and cars on the track, too. Move the end of the turnout at the rear of the layout to the right as far as you can while leaving 6-9" of straight between the end curve and the turnout. Then use a very mild turnout -- at least #8 or maybe even #10 or #12 -- so that reverse curve is straightened out. I think that will work okay as long as you don't try to run overly-long equipment like scale 80-foot passenger cars. I'm pretty sure anything up to 60-65' should make the transition to your outside track. Just back slowly through the turnouts.
You can keep your steep grades if you use geared locomotives. You can also gain elevation with less steep grades if you use switchbacks.
-- D
Doneldon, jward,
Thanks to both of you pointing out the possible (and probable) issues in my layout. I was pretty busy yesterday doing other things but tinkered on Anyrail last night and on and off today.
As per suggestions by the both of you, I have eliminated any 's' curves directly connected with two 18" radius curves. I placed a 9" straight between the only one left. I moved both the LH and RH turnouts to the end of the curve that is on the right of the drawing. I altered the higher level to not be directly over the lower level. I've set the highest elevation to 3" on the Anyrail drawing, but mocked it up at 2 1/2" as the highest elevation.
Again I thank both of you for pointing out the issues. Basically I've set this up with what I have on hand. This is my first go with DCC as well as EZ track. I bought the Dynamis Spectrum 56"x38" set with a C&O locomotive, purchased a set of the identical track on ebay, which included two DCC LH turnouts. I added a LH & RH turnout pair-remote, a dozen 9" straight, a DCC diesel and a few rolling stock to run two trains. I bought it all from 'thefavoritespot' in one purchase and stayed on a modest budget that I set for myself up front.
Once I get this all done and down the road, I'll eventually replace the radius curve on the upper right hand side with a RH turnout to head to the right and all the way down the remaining 12' wall. I'll have to figure out how to bring a return back to the point of origin . Give me something to much later on. For now, I think this will entertain my and my 28 month old grandson for quite awhile. He came over yesterday and when he saw the track mocked up with a 'boose (as he calls it) he literally screamed!
(http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac359/8stargazer/5x8revised_zpsffb25d19.jpg) (http://s915.photobucket.com/user/8stargazer/media/5x8revised_zpsffb25d19.jpg.html)
Lonnie-
This looks much improved. I'm sure it will operate for you and your grandson just fine. I'm glad to see you purchased your items from the Favorite Spot. It's been a well regarded seller on this board for a long time..
Please keep us up to date on your progress.
-- D
I gave my 28 month old grandson a few pieces of Lionel 027 track as well as a few train cars. He pretty much did this on his own. I did have to put a couple of pieces together since it's an odd shape he's put together and he had a couple of pieces upside down.
(http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac359/8stargazer/null_zps116a6e4b.jpg) (http://s915.photobucket.com/user/8stargazer/media/null_zps116a6e4b.jpg.html)
8 star gaz kids really like doing what dads do or grandpa does . and my grandson only found 2 tubs of track and cars and engines. i have a long tub yet to get out for him to put togather but it was hes xmas gift this year and buying mattel train stuff at garage sales for hardly nothing. its battery operated with remote sound controls. he loves honking the horns. and i bet you had just as much fun as him.
papa utah Dave
Quote from: 8stargazer on October 16, 2013, 09:42:13 AM
I gave my 28 month old grandson a few pieces of Lionel 027 track as well as a few train cars. He pretty much did this on his own. I did have to put a couple of pieces together since it's an odd shape he's put together and he had a couple of pieces upside down.
Not enough good can be said for exposure to toys, where kids are able to form geometric shapes and patterns. He's obviously focused on the geometry and lining up the pin couplings vs upside down track. Try making some 30 and 22.5 curves if you have some more extras around. Some half straights too. They will provide him enough flexibility to more successfully complete his more complex concepts. Show him the size, and new angles, with a side by side comparison, and stand back :D Being limited to 45s can be frustrating to a builder :-\, even if you're 2yrs old...especially if you're 2 :-\ ??? >:( :-[ :'( (I speak from memory 8))
And save those pictures! They will need it for posts here in the year 2113! ;)
Lucky kids? Or lucky Grandpas! :)
hey were are those big em1s I cant find them in the pictures post some with either of those steam giants in it please
regards and regrets ho rocks
I've posted EM-1s in the HO section. However, here's a few shots of my big locos on my layout:
Regards,
Jonathan
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN0539-1.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN0539-1.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN0550-1.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN0550-1.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN0555-1.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Rolling%20Stock/DSCN0555-1.jpg.html)
Quote from: GG1onFordsDTandI on October 17, 2013, 05:23:59 AM
Quote from: 8stargazer on October 16, 2013, 09:42:13 AM
I gave my 28 month old grandson a few pieces of Lionel 027 track as well as a few train cars. He pretty much did this on his own. I did have to put a couple of pieces together since it's an odd shape he's put together and he had a couple of pieces upside down.
Not enough good can be said for exposure to toys, where kids are able to form geometric shapes and patterns. He's obviously focused on the geometry and lining up the pin couplings vs upside down track. Try making some 30 and 22.5 curves if you have some more extras around. Some half straights too. They will provide him enough flexibility to more successfully complete his more complex concepts. Show him the size, and new angles, with a side by side comparison, and stand back :D Being limited to 45s can be frustrating to a builder :-\, even if you're 2yrs old...especially if you're 2 :-\ ??? >:( :-[ :'( (I speak from memory 8))
And save those pictures! They will need it for posts here in the year 2113! ;)
Lucky kids? Or lucky Grandpas! :)
I'd say lucky Grandpas. He is a joy unto my soul. I have 5 grandkids, the oldest is 11 and lives in Seattle (I'm in Texas) The other three are in Lawton, Oklahoma-where I'll be this weekend. But this little fellow is around me everyday. I'm self-employed so all last week I kept him here with me and we played with trains. I saw the picture of your grandson with that plastic set. Yours is further evidence that if we as adults, give toys that stimulate the mind, we are doing a far, far better thing for them in the long run than handing them a video game - which I think dulls the senses in the long run. Keep at it utdave!
Quote from: 8stargazer on October 22, 2013, 08:38:09 PM
...toys that stimulate the mind, we are doing a far, far better thing for them in the long run than handing them a video game - which I think dulls the senses in the long run. Keep at it utdave
A video game can also stimulate the mind, developing eye hand coordination, and problem solving skills. I.E. toy variety is important, video is not all bad. Right now, hands on playing with different substrates, trumps most video games for sure, but video can be an important teaching tool too. Think of the games as fast moving puzzles 8).
Progress so far. Jward, I know that I have two of the 's' curves. However, I have 3-4" between each one and have not had one issue at all. I don't plan on having long rolling stock which I think will be ok in the long run. I've ran both trains (as seen in the picture) over and over and over. The only issue I've had is the turnouts that I addressed in the HO forum. I may have to file the points as you suggested (I think it was you)
I even programed the two left DCC turnouts last night. I did some research on here as well as the internet. The manual is fairly brief on the programming. I was glad to discover that the turnout being programmed needs to be the only one that is powered up on the track. It took a couple of times but I managed. A rookie, especially with DCC, was quite proud of that moment!
(http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac359/8stargazer/null_zps0e33c9aa.jpg) (http://s915.photobucket.com/user/8stargazer/media/null_zps0e33c9aa.jpg.html)
8SG,
Very nicely done! Lot's of possibilities for scenery. You may have said this and I missed it but, have you anything in mind?
The turnout issues are a little challenging when you do have one creating problems but they can be remedied.
Jerry
Jerry,
Yes it is a challenging layout considering the turnout situation. It's about as good as I could come up in order to pretty much have and upper and lower level with 2 trains running on separate levels. Of course it's pretty easy to let them follow each other. The two terminal sidings have DCC control so that's pretty easy. One came with the Dynamis set, the other came with the exact set of EZ track (completely new) that I won on an ebay auction. I purchased the right turnout (seen) and the left turnout (not visible in the picture) as remotes since this is my first time with DCC. The oddest thing is after I resolved some derail issues regarding the 2-8-0 steam loco, I discovered that I can leave the left turnout switched for the curve on the lower level, and the downhill train will travel right across it with no issues. With that being said, I only have to deal with the right turnout.
Scenery: (my wife is very anxious about getting the scenery started) I wanted to get all of the design flaws addressed (several of you have helped in that regard) and all of the 'bugs' out before I got that far. I'm going to build a 'mountain' in the far left and right corners. Down the long side on the right, it will taper downward to ground level. The lower track will have a short tunnel that starts on the left beyond the access hole and emerge at the back and beyond the access hole to the right. (The train on the high level will 'disappear' beyond the hill over said tunnel) We live in central Texas at the northern fringe of the Hill Country, and the terrain is very rocky with gray/white stones showing, several hills, and a lot of mesquite trees. I want to duplicate that as best as possible with a few trees and ground cover here and there.
I've used all of the track that I had (even all of the 3/4"-2" set I bought). The main siding I will add 2-3 left turnouts in place of the straights and have 3-4 pieces of 9" straight directly from them giving me about 4 'industrial' sidings on the lower level. I also plan to build a mountain where the high siding dead ends and have a tunnel from the far side with enough room for one ore car to go into. Way down the road if all goes well, I'll eventually use this siding and bring it on down as part of an expansion. On the other side I've allowed enough room to add a turnout that will be an exit from this layout with the the one on the right I just mentioned, as a return leg. There is 12' of wall left and I'll want two tracks running to the other side of the room that will enter and exit from another 'town'. Big plans I know. For now, I wanted to get as much into and out of what I have.
The last layout I built was mostly wood and weighs a ton. From this board I've learned a whole lot in my short time here. 1" blue or pink styrofoam is our friend.
Lonnie
@8, nice one man! Operation fun times ahead!
Well, got a chance to run some trains this evening. Kinda hard to do with the lil one gone and me by myself with no switches hooked up. =) But I managed. Anywho, enjoy the vid if you care to take a watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YddbsoeTuSE&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YddbsoeTuSE&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg)
Now, let's see more pics from everyone! Nice steamers, Jonathan!
Here are two babies I picked up for literally a steal. 2 BLI SD40-2's - Paragon 2, Undecorated, yeppers they will be getting the orange and white ICG paint in the very near future. I got these two engine for $85.00 a piece; a steal considering they list for $269.00-$289.00, and Lord of mighty don't even get me started on that !@#$% Walthers transfer table and pit extension. JerryO will be coming over very soon to help me with it. I'm having him there to safe guard the transfer table and pit extension's life expectancy if I do it alone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR0-GrwqVmU&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR0-GrwqVmU&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg)
Best,
Bal
Thanks Balrog 21. Man I drool over the space and layout that you're building. I've laid mine out with the possible expansion in the future by allowing an outbound and inbound turnout.
Anyway, my 28 month old grandson loves watching 'choo-choo's' on here when he's around. Normally a typical evening when he's here is to watch some real trains on youtube, mostly steam powered since that's his favorite. And then I come here to see if anything new is on here. Always good to see your latest progress. I have the blue/yellow Santa Fe and the Santa Fe caboose that you have. I feel your pain in trying to video. I haven't hooked up the two remote turnouts on mine but they are pretty easy to manage from the open end. The two turnouts on the sidings are DCC.
Once I get done with the wiring and scenery I'm going to purchase some of the Santa Fe rolling stock similar to what you have. I'll probably add another diesel engine, one that has sound. I bought the blue/yellow Santa Fe since my wife is fond of that one (as am I) but it doesn't have sound. I live in Brownwood, TX and the BNSF services this area. We see the blue/yellow from time to time. I spent most of my life near Tyler Texas in the eastern part of the state and grew up watching the Cotton Belt short line right down the street. I've found a double diesel set that is DCC with sound and think I'll add that one in the future as well as some Cotton Belt rolling stock.
By the way, those are some nice steamers you posted Jonathan.
Went to Lawton, OK this weekend to visit my son and daughter in law and the two grand daughters and newest grandson. Stopped at the railroad museum in Wichita Falls on the way home and got a nice pick of Rylan, my 28 year old grandson and 'partner' in model railroading
(http://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac359/8stargazer/null_zps5552ada1.jpg) (http://s915.photobucket.com/user/8stargazer/media/null_zps5552ada1.jpg.html)
He sure is small for a 28 years old.
Quote from: 8stargazer on October 27, 2013, 10:58:55 PM
Anyway, my 28 month old grandson loves watching 'choo-choo's' on here when he's around. Normally a typical evening when he's here is to watch some real trains on youtube, mostly steam powered since that's his favorite.
Lonnie-
That's a fine looking young man you have there. And I like him even more now that you've revealed that he's a steam buff. Diesels are fine -- they get the job done and many have great paint jobs -- but steam locomotives are the best. They're alive in a way that diesels can never be.
-- D
Quote from: RAM on October 28, 2013, 03:37:28 PM
He sure is small for a 28 years old.
ooops... Well, he really doesn't each much...
Quote from: Doneldon on October 28, 2013, 03:48:19 PM
Quote from: 8stargazer on October 27, 2013, 10:58:55 PM
Anyway, my 28 month old grandson loves watching 'choo-choo's' on here when he's around. Normally a typical evening when he's here is to watch some real trains on youtube, mostly steam powered since that's his favorite.
Lonnie-
That's a fine looking young man you have there. And I like him even more now that you've revealed that he's a steam buff. Diesels are fine -- they get the job done and many have great paint jobs -- but steam locomotives are the best. They're alive in a way that diesels can never be.
-- D
That is very true Doneldon. For him, the steam, the chuffing, and the whistle are what excites him. I was watching one video with him last spring and it was a Pennrail video talking about that very thing. The steam locos seem 'alive' with all of the steam belching out, the smoke pouring from the stack and it's very movement down the track. I bought the Dynamis for the wireless handset but the steam loco was the prize for me in the long run since I knew that little guy would go nuts
No room in this house so----I'm outside!
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee259/smcgill_pics/CopyofDSCN1517_zpsf677e7ee.jpg)
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee259/smcgill_pics/CopyofDSCN1512_zpsf4edf081.jpg)
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee259/smcgill_pics/Walterstrain002jpg-1.jpg)
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee259/smcgill_pics/RDCs2012spring015jpg-1.jpg)
Here are couple vid's to show you how much fun it can get !!
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QZrwULqWEs"
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6s4RV7bsog"
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbDL79akR78"
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foEq_SCn5TM"
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAXxFnmbm70"
Yes I've lost my mind!
Updated video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-3ol72uL14
smcgill,
(1) wow! Awesome backyard layout
(2) love the inboard camera view
(3) snowplow is pretty ingenuous
(4) leaf blower - priceless
Can't wait for my grandson to see these
Good work
Really nice work on the back yard, I'm jealous.
SWMBO won't let put anything in the back yard. :(
Hi all,
Here's a video of my (work in progress) "Pennsy & Bellefonte Central RR", showing my four Bachmann HO, DCC sound equipped, steam locomotives.
I began construction of this layout in 1978, while I was in the Air Force and stationed in Athens, Greece. The initial size was 8' x 10', two level, "U" shape design. It was made up of four bolt together sections so that it could be taken apart for shipment. About all I was able to complete before being transferred back to the states in 1980, was the bench work, track and a few structures. I built crates for each of the four sections and that's where the layout remained until I finally retired in March of 2009.
I un-crated the layout after finishing a room in the basement. I then wired it for dual cab, block operation, but soon discovered the advantages of DCC. I converted one of the cabs to DCC using NCE Powercab and left the other cab direct current. The scenery is about 70% complete and I hope to finish more of it this winter.
Anyway, here is the video; you may want to adjust the quality to at least 360p before viewing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADa0EU7p-3Y
Thanks to all that have or are now serving,
Rod
Rod,
That is a fantastic layout you have there. Very much enjoyed watching.
Jerry
Likewise, I really enjoyed the video. Great layout! Congrats...
Regards,
Jonathan
P.S. Raising the headlight on the Connies make all the difference. ;)
You can send me that little Baldwin work train anytime your ready ;D.(makes me want sound, must stay strong ::))
Static smoke and all, nice work! 8)
Neat railroad! Smooth running engines, too.
Of course, you know there was a real Bellefonte Central that had a variety of steamers over the years, including a pair of C&O G-7 2-8-0s, and closing out steam with, if I recall, a trio of PRR H-9 or something 2-8-0s.
I am VERY curious of the orange and white station at the end. That's a station from the Virginian Railway; if my memory is right (my book on the road with the photo of the station is in the basement), it's from a place called Culloden, Va.
How did you obtain the model? Is it a kit, or did you scratch build it? Either way, it looks good in the traditional Virginian orange and white paint.
Thanks all for the kind comments.
J3a-614, I know, I grew up living next to the BFC tracks. Many of my relations, including my grandfather, great uncles, uncles and my dad all worked for the BFC at one time. As kids, these railroad tracks were a path to many of our outdoor activities; baseball field, swimming and fishing holes, and just exploring the country side. If your interested, there's a book titled "Rails to Penn State" that tells the history of the BFC. You can get it through Amazon.com. The #15,
2-8-0 in the video represents one of the steam locomotives that was actually owned by the BFC and engineered by my grandfather. The little station is a laser cut kit, I don't recall the maker but I can find out if your interested. It looks a great deal like a small station that was serviced by the BFC and located at Scotia, PA.
Thanks again everyone,
Rod
J3a-614,
That kit is by American Model Builders, "Cullen Station", about $25 from Hobbylinc.
Rod
Hey everyone smcgill has repaired his video links at the bottom of his post pictures page 31 of this thread.
They are all separate links now! 8)
Thanks smcgill!
Quote from: Rod in PA on November 10, 2013, 10:27:33 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADa0EU7p-3Y
Very, very nice. I really enjoyed watching. Thanks!
JBJ
Just completed some work on my local depot. This is a laser cut wood kit. Interior is lit with LEDs. Just need some shepherd's crook lamps for the exterior. Coming together...
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN3113_zpsf78410cf.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Projects/DSCN3113_zpsf78410cf.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN3118_zpsaed02449.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Projects/DSCN3118_zpsaed02449.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN3116_zps0768a9b3.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Projects/DSCN3116_zps0768a9b3.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN3120_zps82b0c6ee.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Projects/DSCN3120_zps82b0c6ee.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN3119_zpsd850742b.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Projects/DSCN3119_zpsd850742b.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN3112_zps0c93a4d2.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Projects/DSCN3112_zps0c93a4d2.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN3106_zpsd90ce3d7.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Projects/DSCN3106_zpsd90ce3d7.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN3108_zps72e89926.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Projects/DSCN3108_zps72e89926.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN3109_zps76862d6a.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Projects/DSCN3109_zps76862d6a.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN3111_zps8dc19fa7.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Projects/DSCN3111_zps8dc19fa7.jpg.html)
Regards,
Jonathan
Looks great!
jonathan,
that looks just like MK in Versailles, pa. spent a lot of time pestering the operator for train orders back in the day.
now if only somebody built a model of viaduct jc........
who says you can't go home again....
jonathan,
That really looks great!
I especially like the use of people inside the station.
Les
Thanks, guys. All my people, dogs and cats have metal pins drilled into their feet. Then I can plant them wherever I want.
Regards,
Jonathan
Jonathon: Nice work as always. That was a "standard" B&O station design that was used with minor local variations at many locations on the system around the turn of the (last) century. I believe Baldwin did the designs for these depots for the B&O. Whose kit is this?
Thanks, ebtnut.
It is an American Model Builders kit. They are still in business. However, this one was quite old, that I picked up in Timonium for cheap. The wood and paper parts were turning funny colors. The metal parts were getting discolored as well. Still went together OK. After sanding, I painted at least three coats on all the parts, so that should preserve it somewhat.
Regards,
Jonathan
Were do you get the metal pins from Jonathan?
I tend to use .015" steel wire I get from a not-so-local Hobbytown. Drill a #78 hole in the heel, glue in the wire and trim to desired length. Brass wire works, too, as well as different widths. The steel wire is my personal favorite.
Regards,
Jonathan
Thank you very much for the info and getting back to me Jonathan.
Very nice Jonathan
Now all you have to do is run the meter pan pole out the top of the roof and wire it to your light poles. ;D
Jerry
Jonathan-
This looks great, like all of your work.
-- D
Here are the newest tank cars added to my layout.
Two syrup and one Emory chemical tank car
(http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/kengprice/DSCN0003-2_zps74f98460.jpg)
Quote from: Ken G Price on November 26, 2013, 06:30:08 PM
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/kengprice/DSCN0003-2_zps74f98460.jpg (http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/kengprice/DSCN0003-2_zps74f98460.jpg)
Very nice work Ken and I like your track work as well, nicely done.
Quote from: Ken G Price on November 26, 2013, 06:30:08 PM
<a href="http://s567.photobucket.com/user/kengprice/media/DSCN0003-2_zps74f98460.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/kengprice/DSCN0003-2_zps74f98460.jpg" border="0" alt="Two syrup and one chemical tank car. photo DSCN0003-2_zps74f98460.jpg"/></a> (http://<a%20href="http://s567.photobucket.com/user/kengprice/media/DSCN0003-2_zps74f98460.jpg.html"%20target="_blank"><img%20src="http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/kengprice/DSCN0003-2_zps74f98460.jpg"%20border="0"%20alt="Two%20syrup%20and%20one%20chemical%20tank%20car.%20photo%20DSCN0003-2_zps74f98460.jpg"/></a>)
Sadly, this link doesn't work.
Do you have a Photobucket site where we can see more of your work?
Ken- Nice work!
All- Has anyone else noticed that Jerry opened up a topic for us which
has nearly 500 posts and still going strong? Great job, Jerry!
-- D
Thanks D
it sure is nice to scroll through all these pics. kinda makes me feel the way my wife does when she takes out the wedding album. ::) ;D
Very, very nice, Ken!
I enjoyed peeking at some of your other photos as well.
Agreed, Jerry started a thread I always hoped would come along. It's great to see what others are modeling... and to steal an idea or two along the way. :)
Regards,
Jonathan
Im in O and G gauge so its easier, but with plastic figures, I too use a nice stainless packaging wire, and melt it into a foot, then trim. Drilling tiny holes, or puncturing foam like a stick pin in O. Making a flat, coiled, stake to bury in the earth for G.
Enjoying all of these, even if I don't always comment!
I'm going to have to take a look at what's available from AMB; judging from the results, they look like the have some good models to work with.
Sadly, two plastic kits that were once made by Life Like and Bachmann that were based on B&O prototypes no longer seem to be available, at least not as new models.
The Life Like model was billed as "Baldwin's Station," was available in HO and N scales, and was based on the station at Sykesville, Md., which like a number of B&O facilities was designed by architect E. Francis Baldwin. The Bachmann model was a small wooden station based on the one at Dickerson, Md. Both prototypes exist today; the Sykesville station is now a restaurant called "Baldwin's Station," and the Dickerson station is a stop for some Maryland Rail Commuter (MARC) trains.
Sykesville:
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM7ZDJ_Baldwin_Station_Formerly_Sykesville_Station_Sykesville_MD
Dickerson:
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/49197804
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/39786781
Great work guys. Sorry for the long hiatus just been really busy of late, but here is the latest from what I've been up to. About got it nailed down. I'm sure with everything there will be some minor changes but after some longs thoughts and too many reworks to even count I'm pretty darn happy with this layout. It gives me more switching ops, more use of the real estate and I even got to put in a small intermodal yard to boot! The only thing I really lose is the old valley off the left of the original one, but it's no great loss, I'd rather have something to switch and play with than looking at a bunch of trees and wishing I would have done something different. Attaching a few vids as well. Just some work in progress things. 1 is my yard tower that I've mod'd and chopped up a bit, and the second are some of the plastic plant buildings.
I do hope everyone is gearing up for a nice Christmas!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/balrog21/PossibleChange_zps27607347.jpg)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1JDFDOCY4w&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg&index=3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1JDFDOCY4w&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg&index=3)
also, in this second one you can see some new power I've gotten in as well.
http://youtu.be/sAtPpQ-ISYQ (http://youtu.be/sAtPpQ-ISYQ)
Enjoying your progress! Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Jonathan
Quote from: rogertra on November 26, 2013, 08:55:46 PM
Quote from: Ken G Price on November 26, 2013, 06:30:08 PM
http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/kengprice/DSCN0003-2_zps74f98460.jpg (http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/kengprice/DSCN0003-2_zps74f98460.jpg)
Very nice work Ken and I like your track work as well, nicely done.
Quote from: Ken G Price on November 26, 2013, 06:30:08 PM
<a href="http://s567.photobucket.com/user/kengprice/media/DSCN0003-2_zps74f98460.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/kengprice/DSCN0003-2_zps74f98460.jpg" border="0" alt="Two syrup and one chemical tank car. photo DSCN0003-2_zps74f98460.jpg"/></a> (http://<a%20href="http://s567.photobucket.com/user/kengprice/media/DSCN0003-2_zps74f98460.jpg.html"%20target="_blank"><img%20src="http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/kengprice/DSCN0003-2_zps74f98460.jpg"%20border="0"%20alt="Two%20syrup%20and%20one%20chemical%20tank%20car.%20photo%20DSCN0003-2_zps74f98460.jpg"/></a>)
Sadly, this link doesn't work.
Do you have a Photobucket site where we can see more of your work?
Roger:
Thanks, the link is now corrected and shows the picture on the previous post.
When I posted it last time they worked. Oh, well. :-[
Balrog21, That looks good!
Had a great time with Jerry this weekend working on the layout. MUCH KUDOS goes to him for helping me. Anywho, here is a vid of what we got done. Enjoy!
Best,
Bal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzaA07t7tLw&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzaA07t7tLw&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg)
Parker Creek & Eastern Railroad
(http://fixedgeargallery.com/trains/pce/trackplan.jpg)
I built this small switching layout in 1993, and I continue to add small vignettes to if occasionally. Mostly for the last 5-6 years I've been contributing time to a large local basement layout of a friend. I've been adding a pulpwood run and a paper mill to that project.
(http://fixedgeargallery.com/trains/pce/stenfeldt.jpg)
This layout is 20" x 6'0" and I've used all the space I think. There's a 9" radius at one end that goes to the switchback to the upper level which is about a third over the top of the stenfeldt building. Yes, HO can make a 9" radius, originally I used a re-motored re-geared Manuta 0-4-0 with tender, now I use an SW1. The curve is very well constructed - easement and super-elevated and two 40' athearn gondolas will make the curve....just barely.
(http://fixedgeargallery.com/trains/pce/dispatch.jpg)
Looks like the local is late and the yard agent is pretty upset.
And below, is the view from the left end - all the place and business names are after family... Lindsay is our daughter - 33 now, but 11 when I built this in the living room. It look about a year to build. It takes an hour of real time to complete all the switching moves. Hope to install NCE DCC one of these days.
(http://fixedgeargallery.com/trains/pce/lindsay1.jpg)
Dennis - Traverse City, Michogan
Welcome. And a very nice looking layout indeed. :)
Dennis,
Magazine quality scenes!
Thanks for sharing. Very impressive!
Regards,
Jonathan
Dennis,
Very nice detail to the scenery. Would love to see more.
Jerry
Balrog21 ... an aside –
It may not matter to you, but in case you have not taken it into consideration - the Bachmann HO E-Z Track roadbed, except for some mainline track, is way too high for yards, sidings, etc. As you add true to scale structures in areas not on mainline, the track roadbed out of scale size will stick out. You can compensate by raising the ground grade thus reducing the height of the roadbed but that can be expensive and add more weight than you want on the layout support structure. Look at photos of yards, sidings and area around turntable.
Thanks, Hunt for the info, but I already found that out while doing some placements of buildings next to the bachman track. To compensate for this, I'm using Peco code 100 flex track and I have to use code 83 for the transfer table and engine facility. All my yards and industries will have Peco code 100 flex run to them off of the main line. Support won't be a problem. I made my tables able to withstand my 5 year old and my wee lil one that will be coming up in the next few years. I.e. Legs are 4x4's, with 2x6's for the frames, with a 3/4 sheet for the top. You could have a party on these suckers. The only part I'm a little worried about is the Intermodal yard entrance. But I will elevate it without too much trouble. Thanks though for the heads up!
Bal
Excellent work Dennis.
Been tinkering with a double track crossing over the years... it's taken a long time. I keep finding other things to do.
Anyway, I made the road from cereal boxes, glued down and painted a billion coats to water proof it. I finally got around to putting in a wood crossing from Blair Line and installing a flasher circuit. The gates have armatures, but I haven't felt froggy enough to try motorizing them. Hence you see little wire stands to keep the gates level for now.
You may, or may not be able to make out the motion sensors between the track ties:
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN3291_zps49c3471d.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Projects/DSCN3291_zps49c3471d.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN3283_zpsbe9d0991.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Projects/DSCN3283_zpsbe9d0991.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN3284_zpsad0effc7.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Projects/DSCN3284_zpsad0effc7.jpg.html)
Yes, I still have to stain and weather the wood. There's always something left to do... ;D
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN3287_zpsf08583d0.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Projects/DSCN3287_zpsf08583d0.jpg.html)
Finally, as an aside, I completed several months of work on a brass locomotive. It features an upgraded motor, working directional lights, crew, coal load, weathering, and so on. Surprisingly it runs great. I must have got the gearing just right because I can doublehead it with my Spectrum Heavy Mountains.
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN3280_zpsd3375843.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Projects/DSCN3280_zpsd3375843.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN3281_zps946f05b0.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Projects/DSCN3281_zps946f05b0.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Projects/DSCN3279_zps4e2a308c.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Projects/DSCN3279_zps4e2a308c.jpg.html)
Happy New Year...
Regards,
Jonathan
It all looks great, as per usual!
Happy New Year to you and yours as well!
Jonathan.
Looks really good, well done.
Happy New Year...
Regards,
Roger.
Thumbs up on Jonathans railway someday i hope i can get that far with mine DAve
Jonathan, your layout looks great... you did a great job on the asphalt colors, on most layouts I see they are off a bit but yours are nice.
My favorite part of model railroading is making things super detailed.
This is not criticism here just a tip from my eye, next time you go by a crossing look at the oil drip stains leading away from the crossing that are caused when the bumping causes drips to fall off of the car as it traverses the crossing. For that matter any place there is a dip or bump in the Road you will find these oil accumulations.
I know I'm excessive compulsive about stuff like this... :P
Nm-Jeff
Thanks, guys. Constructive criticism is always helpful. I can't wait to go to work tomorrow. I have to drive over two crossings through the course of my day. you can bet I will pull off to the side and check out the oil drips and other little details. ;D
Regards,
Jonathan
Jonathan,
I am still waiting on your layout to appear in Model Railroader.
Love those Blair Line crossings.
Jerry
Most recent shot! :o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQZ1tclS27U (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQZ1tclS27U)
Let it snow let it snow!! ;D
Mc-
I suppose you must be the brains behind the roboplow. What fun. And it really works! What depth
can it move? And, thanks for putting this on line. I love it.
-- D
Quote from: smcgill on January 08, 2014, 07:14:35 PM
Most recent shot! :o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQZ1tclS27U (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQZ1tclS27U)
Let it snow let it snow!! ;D
Excellent. :-)
I understand why there are so many large scale fans. That was great! I felt sorry for the poor fellow in the signal tower who got pelted by the plow. :)
Regards,
Jonathan
Quote from: jonathan on January 09, 2014, 06:33:34 AM
I felt sorry for the poor fellow in the signal tower who got pelted by the plow. :)
Regards, Jonathan
Why he's inside with the heat on!!;)
Quote from: smcgill on January 09, 2014, 06:32:54 PM
Quote from: jonathan on January 09, 2014, 06:33:34 AM
I felt sorry for the poor fellow in the signal tower who got pelted by the plow. :)
Regards, Jonathan
Why he's inside with the heat on!!;)
I saw it too! Laughed my butt off! Figured the engineer must have been "best of pals >:(" with the tower guys :D. Wonder who scrapes the windows clean again? Heat or not, it cant wait for a melt!
Quote from: GG1onFordsDTandI on January 13, 2014, 02:24:37 PM
Quote from: smcgill on January 09, 2014, 06:32:54 PM
Quote from: jonathan on January 09, 2014, 06:33:34 AM
I felt sorry for the poor fellow in the signal tower who got pelted by the plow. :)
Regards, Jonathan
Why he's inside with the heat on!!;)
I saw it too! Laughed my butt off! Figured the engineer must have been "best of pals >:(" with the tower guys :D. Wonder who scrapes the windows clean again? Heat or not, it cant wait for a melt!
It's probably the only time the windows get cleaned!
I was in a tower once as a kid. I don't think the windows had ever been cleaned. Mostly tobacco tar on the inside though :o. Gold tint to block the sun? :D
Well here i go showing my oak floor layout (yes i vacume alot its not that bad to do )
frist photo is looking towards the yard i call it the the start piont
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag74/ezdaveut/layouttrainyardentrance_zps416e0cab.jpg)
now hitting the water tower and the outer loop first bridge
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag74/ezdaveut/layoutyardmiddle_zps867afa62.jpg)
maintenance yard John deere forest back (now you know where they get there deere from) second bridge
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag74/ezdaveut/layouttrainyard_zps4ec8981b.jpg)
bridge 3
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag74/ezdaveut/layoutbridge_zps8785e647.jpg)
looking back at this area
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag74/ezdaveut/layoutfinalapproach_zpsba87fa52.jpg)
missed a photo my dinorsour park
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag74/ezdaveut/layoutdinosourpark_zpsa4487b65.jpg)
looking the other way towards deere town
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag74/ezdaveut/layoutpassangertown_zps6a9a0c71.jpg)
need a station to unload passangers
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag74/ezdaveut/layoutpassterminal_zpsbc2d498c.jpg)
the town
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag74/ezdaveut/layoutdeeretown_zps982cddd7.jpg)
got to go by New York
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag74/ezdaveut/layoutnewyork_zpsae18e0eb.jpg)
the christmas village
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag74/ezdaveut/layoutchirstmastown_zpse9fd3fdb.jpg)
then the train museam then it go backs to start
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag74/ezdaveut/layoutmuseam_zps34d1641f.jpg)
ill post the other room next Dave
Heres the Harley shop with solor powered turntable for the show room motorcycle . on the right is my first building i got back in the 60ties Bates motel and on the left is a diner everyone has to eat in a pass car .
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag74/ezdaveut/layoutbatesmotel_zpsd80ea949.jpg)
now to my Farm
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag74/ezdaveut/layoutfarma_zpsc0434420.jpg)
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag74/ezdaveut/layoutfarm_zps06307c6b.jpg)
and now to disneyland with mater
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag74/ezdaveut/layoutradiatorflatts_zps7e118158.jpg)
utdave, somehow I get the feeling that the pictures (as good as they are) don't do you lay out justice.
Hmmm, i wonder if i can convince my wife and kids this would work in our house.
Quote from: NarrowMinded on January 16, 2014, 11:13:27 PM
Hmmm, i wonder if i can convince my wife and kids this would work in our house.
Narrow-
I don't know your family but I feel confident predicting that you won't get the concept off the floor, er, ground.
-- D
Now that is something entirely different. I hope you're not a pet person. :)
That is neat and truly unique. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Jonathan
i do have a catzilla but she doesnt like the trains and avoids it if she gets in the home. i live on a small farm which has 2 homes on it . ill be moving to the bigger home in the future which has a huge basement then i redo this layout even bigger than what i have .. right now is working on things to make a great looking one so i can transfer things allready done. in the meantime i do love running long trains 20 to 50 cars long with 4 running at the same time and still work in a yard moving cars. my narrowest curve is 26 which is on my ez track section .
i also use ez track to help with my flex track curves 35.25 is most of curves or even larger . i run 100 car train no promblem it circles the whole layout gets over my bridge with three locos with the highest slope is 2 degrees most is 1 1/2 just 4 ft of it gets to 2 degrees. my down slope is 4 degree . have no promblem backing long trains up my slopes. i have 3 grandchildren oldest is 4 now i do things on it to make them happy and get interested in the hobby. all my pieces of plywood are 1/4 " 6 ft long 2 sections of flextrack . i can pull apart to move or store. and i even have it quartered so i can expand 4 directions . plans are is when i go into the other home i build my platform and set this on it then take section by section out and replace with what a hobby system looks like. or do you sit with a 4x8 and i had that when i started i out grew it quickly.
yes its different and boy does it work harder to run wires because you cant just stick them through a deck to wire underneath hard to set up the 4-8-8-4 a little . can i get to every location yes . the dirt/dust is no different than on a table i clean every month with a wet dry vac layout and walking areas. and my big promblem which i fixed racoons coming down the chimney and knocking over stuff.
im not just into trains i have a couple old tractors, have horses ,rental homes and make time to relax is my railroad and alot of that time is running them. i have some really nice steam that i only bring out once in a while and seeing what others do to theirs makes me think of the day i can retire and give that a shot also. ive been doing this for three years now and hopefully another 30 so i can show off some cool stuff in my head that needs to come out
Thanx Dave
Wow, a lot great looking layouts. Here are a few of mine. I still have a long ways to go! Here is a link to a few more construction shots and a few prototype shots. http://toddryburnphotography.com/p463579188
(http://toddryburnphotography.com/img/s2/v60/p512881275-6.jpg/)
(http://toddryburnphotography.com/img/s3/v24/p233808629-6.jpg/)
(http://toddryburnphotography.com/img/s5/v132/p983337197-6.jpg/)
(http://toddryburnphotography.com/img/s10/v112/p512068908-6.jpg/)
Your scenery is b-e-a-utiful!
That is some truly sturdy benchwork, I might add.
Thanks for showing us. I love this thread.
Regards,
Jonathan
Tryburn, that is looking very nice!
UTdave. I now see why there is such a large problem with auto and truck traffic on your roads. ::)
You let helicopters drive on them. ;D
Tryburn very nice I like the santa fe
Ken when you have grandkids things seem to get put where ever the chopter makes sounds so they fly it over the trains . and my road is a mess at this time . lol .
Todd
Very nice work. I also love the pic of the girder bridge on your link. You do some nice photography work.
Jonathan
QuoteThanks for showing us. I love this thread.
I love this thread too! :o ::) ;D
To all that posted pics, thanks and keep them coming they look great!
Jerry
I got to run an Engine today. ;D
Scenery is bland but it will get better! ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlKV3sJotGA&list=UUsVatIqoETFwgDl9avX4Heg&feature=c4-overview
Enjoy!
Quote from: smcgill on February 15, 2014, 06:15:30 PM
I got to run an Engine today. ;D
Scenery is bland but it will get better! ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlKV3sJotGA&list=UUsVatIqoETFwgDl9avX4Heg&feature=c4-overview
Enjoy!
Good stuff, thanks for posting.
Cheers
Roger
smcgill
Is that Woodland Scenics snow ;D?
Awesome video, my son is still laughing at your leaf blower train.
Jerry
Hi everyone I have posted pic's of my Layout on my Photo Bucket Library Go to the link & check them out
http://s35.photobucket.com/user/maintrackbrian/profile/ & let me know what you guys think of my layout...
Nice work! Wiring nice and neat. Was that an air compressor I saw? What is that used for Brian?
Yes it was an air compressor.. It runs my air powerd switch motors...
Cool! Thank you for the info.
Thanks jbrock.... I am glad you liked my layout.. It's 2 - 1/2 years in the making I hope to have all the scenery done by May - June. On average I spend about 2-3 hours on weekdays "after work" working on layout & Weekends I put in any where from 5-10 hours of time "even longer sometimes" into layout I enjoy it very much & every day I look forward to when I am done.. But now I have been having thoughts of extending my layout another 7 feet this way I will have the hole back wall of the basement.. I only stopped short on account of workbench I hardly use... LOL
You're welcome.
I believe it. The work, shows the time put in. It never seems to be near an end, does it?
trainbrain,
Very nice start. Can't wait to see more as you progress.
What is the size of your layout, looks like a decent size.
You are the first I have seen to use air controlled turnouts. Heard and read about them but no one around here uses them.
Jerry
Thank you Jerry.. I have posted a few more pictures on my photo library... Of the Air switches I installed 4 of them tonight on my layout if you would like to check them out... Jerry my Layout is 16 feet long x 6 feet wide / 52 inches high / 9 track Yard switching area / 2 track mainline / 3 track interchange / 1 tunnel portal track " It dead End's & I can store about 25 freight car's on the track" I park my Bachman Acela Passenger Train on that track now lol... I put a lot of time and effort into my Layout I am very proud of it & how far I have come with my layout in 2 1/2 years.....
& I wanted to be different & use Air Switches I could of went with Electric switches but my Grandfather used Air on his layout in his basement witch was 40 feet long x 10 feet wide "he used all 4 walls of his basement for his layout" & the Air switch system was handed down to me...
Quote from: Jerrys HO on February 17, 2014, 07:09:53 PM
trainbrain,
Jerry-
I think he's
trainbrian, not
trainbrain.
-- D
QuoteI think he's trainbrian, not trainbrain.
-- D
Really D? after all the silly names you call people.
If it really bothered him I think he would have let me know.
Did you check out the layout or just decided to comment on my dyslexia.
Jerry
Hi everyone... I added a few more pictures to my photo book.. There pictures of my Air Switches & how there installed under my layout. If anyone is interested in how much different they are compared to there electric counterparts...
trainmainbrIAn,
Out of curiosity, is there a check valve that holds the switch in position?
I've heard of this system before just never actually see someone using it.
I think your setup is really cool, thanks for sharing it.
Jerry
Thanks Jerry..... & Yes the Air System is very cool I actually NEVER thought Air Switches existed until my Grandfather came over 1 day & asked me what type of switch motors I was going to use " I org told him Tortoise Slow Motion Switch Machine's " & he said NAA I got the system for you I'll be back in a Hour " & brought over his Air Switch System complete with his Air compressor.. I was in shock I said to my Grandfather I did not know they made such a thing. He Said he used the same exact system on his Layout & handed it down to me.. He said back in his Layout building days this Air System was Expensive & not everyone used it Due to Cost & its complexity of the system itself or just did not have the desire ... I said " SO I am Told LOL "........
But any Jerry The Air Switches have NO check Valves how the Systems works is
The Air Compressor has about 47 pounds of PSI in the main Tank... It kicks in when the pressure drops to round 28-29 PSI..
When I throw a Switch it send's Air through the line to the actual motor & is about 1 -1/2 PSI FYI some of the Switches need about 2-1/2 PSI depending how far away the air line is from switch & compressor My Yard switches need 3 PSI "cause there the most distance away" to the motor under the layout "This is in the Energized Mode"
The Actual Switch Motor has a Spring inside the motor with a little rubber "Gasket" inside & when the Air hits the Gasket you hear a little burst of Air purge & the Switch Throws in whatever Direction "the switch motor is now energized with Air"...
When No Air supplied to Switch or Motor the Spring & rubber gasket "Relax" cause there is NO AIR against the spring or Gasket & the Switch will automatically spring back to "straight through" position & will Throw back to Switch track or siding when Air is supplied back to motor..
I can throw Multi switches @ a time too Pretty much as long As I have the PSI in the Main Tank to the amount of switches I want to throw @ that time.
Main Tank PSI can be raised to a MAX 80 PSI depending on need's of switches being used & total size of layout But for now with the amount of switches I have on my layout 47-55 PSI is working very well for me...
In a nut shell that's pretty much how the Air system works Jerry...
Quote from: Jerrys HO on February 19, 2014, 03:07:06 AM
QuoteI think he's trainbrian, not trainbrain.
-- D
Really D? after all the silly names you call people.
If it really bothered him I think he would have let me know.
Did you check out the layout or just decided to comment on my dyslexia.
Jerry
Jerry-
I'm sorry if I offended you. I was just trying to add a little joke, apparently unsuccessfully.
-- D
QuoteI'm sorry if I offended you. I was just trying to add a little joke, apparently unsuccessfully.
-- D
D,
No offense taken, but if that was a joke I have heard better ones come from your fingers than that.
Seriously though I have mild dyslexia when I tend to think,talk, and type at a real fast pace. Good thing I don't have it bad, would hate to see what I could have said ;D.
Jerry
http://s35.photobucket.com/user/maintrackbrian/library/?sort=3&page=1
Hi everyone I have some new photos in my photo library if anyone is interested.... FEATURED is my Bachmann Acela Passenger Train on my layout...
TMB
(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d175/maintrackbrian/IMG_20140221_220800_zpsr7aumdqe.jpg) (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/maintrackbrian/media/IMG_20140221_220800_zpsr7aumdqe.jpg.html)
The access hole looks close enough to the edge that you could reach it from the top instead of crawling under. But if it's easier for you to go under you must be a young lad ;D.
Jerry
Quote from: Jerrys HO on February 22, 2014, 06:04:23 AM
TMB
(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d175/maintrackbrian/IMG_20140221_220800_zpsr7aumdqe.jpg) (http://s35.photobucket.com/user/maintrackbrian/media/IMG_20140221_220800_zpsr7aumdqe.jpg.html)
The access hole looks close enough to the edge that you could reach it from the top instead of crawling under. But if it's easier for you to go under you must be a young lad ;D.
Jerry
Actually Jerry I built in the access port "when I was in the construction faze of layout " because it's a very long reach from inside the layout & I figured if there's and issue with Rolling stock or to do track cleaning or repair's or switch scenery layout & if someone watching wanted to look @ layout from that port to see the switching action of the Mine they can. The port is actually bigger than it looks I built it " in mind " so a average Adult can stand @ the port with ease. & I am 38yrs old So I am not that too young of a LAD.... LOL LOL LOL
Enjoying those photos! Keep 'em coming.
Just installed a dozen more lamps for my layout. The goal is to be able to shut off the room lights and watch the trains with just the layout lighting. It's ok to dream anyway.
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3733_zpsb3c9c67c.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3733_zpsb3c9c67c.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3734_zpsf69c8b10.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3734_zpsf69c8b10.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3735_zpscd76169c.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3735_zpscd76169c.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3736_zps48f63bbf.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3736_zps48f63bbf.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3737_zpsc209b2d3.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3737_zpsc209b2d3.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3739_zpsa1010aa0.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3739_zpsa1010aa0.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3741_zps8f1c3fc8.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3741_zps8f1c3fc8.jpg.html)
Two Spectrum Connies on the ends and a brassie I just finished rebuilding. Perhaps I'll post about that in the HO section:
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3742_zps2e50c55a.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3742_zps2e50c55a.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3743_zpsb7d27266.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3743_zpsb7d27266.jpg.html)
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3748_zpseeaa3a0e.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3748_zpseeaa3a0e.jpg.html)
Close up of the B&O U-1 0-10-0, just for fun.
(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3732_zpsafa21074.jpg) (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/jsnvogel/media/Larger%20Layout%20Photos/DSCN3732_zpsafa21074.jpg.html)
Regards,
Jonathan
Nice work Jonathan.
This thread is getting overly long, may I suggest that next time anyone posts photos of their model railroad, they start a new thread?
Cheers
Roger.