I'm getting kind of a late start on this year's Christmas layout. Still have a couple track adjustments to make. I just received my DCC sound equipped Thomas from the guy who did the work on it.
What happened to the other layout?
I didn't start it yet. I didn't want to start on it until after Christmas so I could do another Christmas layout.
I gave away a bunch of the track I had to my Grandson so he could set it up for my Great Grandson to have some trains. I gave him my Thomas and Clarabel and Annie to go with it. It was DC. I got the DCC Thomas no for the Christmas layout and I now have everything DCC except for the trolley. I had to buy some more new track to replace what I gave away.
When I start the other one I have to add some extension pieces, so I have to get more foam. I need like 2"- 4" wider so that's 8' of 2 - 4 wide piece. I don't have a truck nor do any of my kids that live nearby so I have to find someone to haul a big piece for me. I'll have to check and what sizes Menard's has. I think they have smaller than 4 x 8 but I hoping to add one long piece in back. Then I have to add an angled piece in front where the wing sticks out.
I also just stepped away from it for a while because I'm a not living and breathing trains 24/7 guy.
I have to get back to finishing the turntable. The engine shed took me a while so I needed a break. I wanted to have the shed and the turntable done before I started laying track. I have a three curved trestle type bridges to build also. One for an 18" curve and two for 15" curves. It was four but I did some rearranging and can use a straight bridge I had already built in place of where i had a curve.
Sometimes, it's just hard to keep these old bones motivated. I get a lot pleasure just watching the progress on some of the layouts that others are building.
I guess it's what you would call a quandary.
I want to do the layout that I designed on Anyrail. I also like doing my Christmas layouts every year and usually try to do something different each year.
If I build the layout I want to build, I won't be able to do my Christmas layouts. I wouldn't have room for the animated stuff or the tree(s) on the layout. My wife always wants me to leave the Christmas ones up throughout the year.
First test run of the Christmas trains. I'm just using my E-Z Command to run it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8gOpzpbXPw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8gOpzpbXPw)
Thomas and his friends had to be shipped over to the U. S. from England. They were loaded on a ship for the trip across the Atlantic Ocean. Once they arrived in New Jersey, they had to be transferred to flat cars for the trip by train to Park Hills. Fortunately, they arrived before Christmas. Here they are being off loaded from the flat cars onto Terry's Christmas layout.
(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/s960x960/79022099_10157862377940522_3460005308397518848_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ohc=oH1PCXB-j54AQm_YNCVXX3AL3ukbLfQchKMluSJqx-vrPRfKtIbIxjm5Q&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=0d1f457c13d76cf776fdb61cf06986bf&oe=5E754B67)
In previous years, I've used snow blankets and felt type material to cover the board and ended up spending a lot of time picking little bits of white cotton stuff out of the train axles. This year, I just bought a cheap white sheet to cover it. I cut it down and stapled it around the edges. It will save me a lot of cotton picking headaches after Christmas is over.
(https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/78980979_10157867424625522_6200457887949520896_o.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ohc=sJtrsswRvzQAQkZQEP0KTqEEUgXJS0YZHdOFQedWpgCRwuG2-R_qKcbYA&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-2.xx&oh=20e2f3c5996d6267c2f38543e60380ea&oe=5E711105)
Clever!
I'm getting there little by little. Here the trains and trolley are running. I have all the track insulated now. The first part is without sound and the second is with the sound on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCd69Kgm75w&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCd69Kgm75w&feature=youtu.be)
The layout is just about finished. I added a little extra to the steam powered reindeer.
(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/80112770_10157892574160522_7375998030366900224_o.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ohc=CHaHDZ5R3KMAQkonllifoYS1nGoPB_Xq2mJy_G93UEsyie7FfsXR_3NEg&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=747efe7bb3e28f93c827f9afeaf22d3b&oe=5EAD2FB4)
Well if that doesn't put you in the Christmas Spirit, nothing will!
Great!
Regards,
Jonathan
Thanks Jonathan. I found some cheap reindeer ornaments and cut the top of their heads off. When I trimmed them down, there was just enough room between the headlight and the stack to wedge the antlers in there. On the Mogul, it is wedged between the light platform and wrap-around railing. This way they aren't permanent on the locos.
Finally finished. I don't have the trolley on there yet. I'll switch Thomas and friends in there when the young 'uns are here. It's not as elaborate as in some years past.
(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/79484091_10157894456755522_1140133050504445952_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ohc=Jxvz8U1-MAQAQn_WafMuvyDMkkEzL0ZO9_qRRWV7-MpJ8g7XTNdzi4IsA&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=2bf703befa6fbc2c583da1b7b24a8570&oe=5EAB887D)
Looks good! I think the young ones will get a kick out of the elves catching a ride.
Len
Looks great, Terry;
You can run three trains continuously plus the trolley!
Chuck
It's just not the same without using the snow blankets and batting because it now looks so flat. It will be a lot easier for me because I won't have to pull all stuff off of the wheels and axles.
Some close-ups
(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/79940793_10157895832625522_6517729802164633600_o.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ohc=ieVHJxIU1j0AQmQ827FdSVjH0VpirpLaM9oUevS6o8lYD5BxSDrgELEjg&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=9448b3f9923b254b6358b6dbb1263eaa&oe=5EAF35E5)
(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/80064608_10157895836665522_1377273270251814912_o.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ohc=pE03z02LWKQAQmH2YplVlvg8BymaqRaNRhpXHaOcdyV_V9iMiCi7wy-kg&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=5c01f823faa8af88418538502152022a&oe=5E762887)
(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/81001623_10157895839900522_827944870034276352_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ohc=xUsemgldonQAQmJDpG0h5gXEgFBxHyAK3yBfanlub-kulAHY-DpFNUHew&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=b9dc0e6ef3972f505877768cbb65e4ab&oe=5EB24283)
(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/80188558_10157895846185522_8265890338992816128_o.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ohc=X2X7_Y-CEOkAQm84POxLyNAXlLoXLWxxa6-msRSxlxXeENktJuWK268TQ&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=c3568f1464ece442271866563eed8ecc&oe=5E6961E2)
Quote from: Terry Toenges on December 20, 2019, 11:28:30 AM
It's just not the same without using the snow blankets and batting because it now looks so flat. It will be a lot easier for me because I won't have to pull all stuff off of the wheels and axles.
Maybe next year you could try putting the snow blankets and batting under the sheet to create some hills. The sheet should still keep it from getting into the works of the trains.
Len
That's a good thought Len. Thanks.
I have a new video up with the finished set-up and the trains running.
https://youtu.be/2YjnAOWLei0 (https://youtu.be/2YjnAOWLei0)
I made a few changes. I still had some pieces of sheet left so I made a few mounds by crumpling up paper towels under pieces of sheet and stapling them down so it doesn't all look so flat. Then I covered the staples with bits of white duct tape. I still had my "mountains" in the garage from last year's layout so I modified those to fit this one. I switched up the trains on this one, too. When my five year old Great Granddaughter saw it for the first time yesterday, the first thing she said was, "Where's my Grinch?" I had forgotten about the Grinch piece I had gotten last or the year before. That had to be retrieved from the garage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPs99xK_etk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPs99xK_etk)
I've been playing around trying to get some close up shots. I can't get close enough to see what I'm shooting. I have to just sit the camera down on the layout and press the button.
(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/80574444_10157916004145522_4264669630326374400_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ohc=pWb0bAu67Y0AQnJRlIILXCUNaLgEy1zK4b7_DM5gFky6Y6e710GImshzA&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=47c179b42848a7165b63b59657d51b55&oe=5E6D1CC6)
(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/80559920_10157916729565522_5310777342686134272_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ohc=POkrXbimy4MAQmZM0_3tncTWxoYBkbWHbw9PHxiBMm5laGEEwKRUmiF5A&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=89a2c723f8b73a4acdcffaa8a625606f&oe=5E9F5166)
(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/80296913_10157916896435522_5678225130732388352_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ohc=1jZx9gTjY9oAQmQhzPaD_pETOmJpfGZ9RVqo2qyYIqtkLvV1XliERrcpw&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=ceca75f02b75c0fb103bdcf0b5bfd805&oe=5EAA4B87)
(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/81214016_10157917224145522_6981004937719185408_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ohc=oiZQM0Tv8ZgAQmCUcE2U2LSPsA5tXIyhUoc7IXAohXcK_cBaCSuwyENMQ&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=95181f6289e18d1e1fa4e034744e3d25&oe=5E7341B9)
The reason for doing it.
(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/80194698_10157913936520522_3481842622937432064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ohc=UIWCYWTZIQoAQlx7lR_fSYipXC_YqQ9k_g4HtvbI8ZflG18nUP9n6CgZw&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=81346ee10fecd9e723516f11bc649a5d&oe=5EAB4969)
(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/80688428_10157913953025522_5278937311306842112_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_ohc=aY6Rhlo-jZgAQlzKyTKDWsLOBtd9yTj5SlAz3JmWESAfHCr03I8LpZOJg&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=40da7327b6e309d99240d953e6153631&oe=5E747B0A)
This is some random clips of the trains.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38fxuHJtu44 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38fxuHJtu44)
I know that face you're making Terry. "You worked perfectly when it was just me, so don't bugger up when the real audience is here."
Everything went fine when the all the folks were here. No derailments or accidental uncouplings. i had to speak up a time or two when one of the kids was leaning over the layout to get to the skaters on the pond and one of trains was getting close.
Since I have the layout up, I decided to take a trip down memory lane and play with some of my old HO stuff. I gave away most of my HO stuff but kept some of them for sentimental reasons. Most of these I had displayed on a ledge around the dining room for a bunch of years. It's been many years since any of them had been run.
My old Amtrak passenger stuff were some of the first train pieces I bought when I decided I wanted to have trains back in the late 90's. I started a little 4 X 6 layout out in the garage back then. I think the little black tea kettle 4-4-0 was the next one I bought or it might have been the Santa Fe diesel off EBay.
I've seen people wonder how the old time ones like John Bull, Dewitt-Clinton, and Lafayette run. There is some video of those in here, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euFH3Eq6rLE&t= (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euFH3Eq6rLE&t=)
It was modify time now that Christmas is over. She wants me to leave it up. I will, but with modifications. I removed the tunnel in back so I could connect all the loops. I can now go from outside to inside and back to outside. The one crossover is in front (upper right in the pic). The rest of the turnouts and other crossover are in back. Not ideal but the only way I could do it. I'll have to add a turnout somewhere and some track to park stuff.
(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/81186837_10157940143360522_6000293952186482688_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ohc=g6Rde0dzlckAQn4VtxFMy4y_4WHxxLfXFarULMfGBk_tYrstF_-pdFcdQ&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=f3c18665916675590cb744da532c2e75&oe=5EA2C6C2)
I changed it around because I knew that "S" turn wouldn't work out. I had like a double "S" back there. It's a straighter shot back there now. I moved one of the turnouts to the front, also. I also swapped the crossovers around. I plan on having the trains run clockwise. From the outer oval, they can enter the middle oval in front and exit it in back. From the middle one to the inner one, they enter that in back and can exit back to the middle one on the right front.
(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/81370324_10157948792465522_2699062546656133120_o.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_ohc=xPbMd9lPOy4AQmeQWT80aXhj6SrpnwA2bJWroG1c40BR7Cc8VLIuxHF4Q&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=8b0f694029e0f2321c89a84b92e586c3&oe=5EA3685D)
(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/81965188_10157948792835522_8751993019567177728_o.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ohc=nj-dJHZl4tcAQnjIJah7W54OY4zTSQzceSYYz_O6eL0FCFRZvwYyxG4Jw&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=e2fd252db76fe4f1314a092f7b418657&oe=5E68498C)
I was able to tone down the "hump" in front, too and make it a little straighter. Making all the changes allowed me to get rid of some of the 15" curves and use 18" curves.
(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/81531289_10157948866385522_6834491469970014208_o.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ohc=W9gFl4ei4REAQmWV1m4t4D34-HedAXwOmjnh4D1fxEHHkouYEa8LdoKsQ&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.xx&oh=b8757f90add4e5e5239b7d587c7a8590&oe=5EB1F0C1)
I had to do some more rearranging. I was trying to run a string of 5 On30 passenger cars with my Heisler. It was doing ok except for coming from the inner loop back out to the middle loop. There was kind of an "S" there. I didn't have much room to fix it so I put the other crossover in back to go from middle to inner.
I moved the #4 and #5 in front to go from outer to middle so I would have room to add some straight on the S coming out of the inner to the middle. Originally, the crossover was taking up most of the real estate on outer and middle in front.
I ran them all through, in and out of all the loops. It was ok for the most part. I'm having issues with the #5 left turnout. Heisler keeps wanting to go straight and not diverge. When I turn it off and just push it through by hand, it does fine. Pulling it from the front by hand or pushing from the back by hand, it's good going through the turnout. Pulling or pushing the cars through by hand goes ok, too.
When I put power to it, it jumps the inside point and tries to go straight. I clipped the glad hands because they were hanging a little low. I filed the point down where it contacts the rail and still no luck. The point on this one are pretty loose. I guess I'll have to get another one.
I have some more standard DCC turnouts but I can't fit them in anywhere. All my turnouts are DCC.