Just finished regearing 3 out of 4 of my Shays.  WOW !  It's a lot easier than it
looks.  A high quality needle pliers is an absolute must.  The performance of
these engines can't be beat.  Super slow crawl, up steep grades, short radius
turns, and traction out the yingyang !  Don't be afraid to dive in if you haven't
already done so.  I'm glad I did.

Correction to my 'above' post.

Just got my gear sets today, they are blackened steel.

I'm drooling...

I ordered 4 sets of the Shay gears, they're brass.  Will need a set for the
Climax too.

Happy, happy, joy, joy.

Here's some pictures of my layout.  The photo quality isn't the best but you
should get a pretty good idea of my operation.  The two lower levels consist
of a folded dog-bone which provide continuous running with two sidings and
a lot of spurs, along with small turntable (big enough to turn my Shays and
Heisler) and a small yard.  The upper lever is a reverse loop.

This is the scratch-build matchstick trestle on the 'downside' of the reverse
loop.

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/6794/mvc022s.jpg

Here's two and the stack of a third my Bachmann Shays.  I have four

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7530/mvc019sy.jpg

This is the Woodland Scenics Moonshine still installed just above the turntable.

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/6717/mvc018s.jpg

The fourth Bachmann Shay out to pick up a work crew.

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/107/mvc011sd.jpg

The rest of the Bachmann Shay that you only saw the smokestack of in the
second picture.

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/2417/mvc010sy.jpg

The only other motive power I have is a Mantua 2-6-6-2.  It doesn't get
used very much...it's just too much fun watching those Shay's.  The coaling
and water tower are scratch-built items.

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/6940/mvc009s.jpg

This is a Campbell kit of an ore mine.  I can't remember the name of the kit
but two Bachmann Ore cars are taking their turns on getting filled.

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4571/mvc006s.jpg

Everybody needs a junkyard.  These are Jordan kits.

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/7392/mvc003sn.jpg

Here's my scratch-built turntable, I got the plans from Model Railroader
magazine February 1987 issue

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/7977/mvc002sx.jpg

Well, that's pretty much about it, I still got a lot of scenery to go yet but I
keep getting side-tracked (pun intended).

I use ImageShack to host my pictures.  Hope you enjoy them

Ken

Thanks Joe, I'll get on it.  Might be a few days though.
Meanwhile, here's a 'teaser'.

Woodland Scenics, "Moonshine Still"
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/9836/huckmoonshine.jpg

8X12 Basement, U-shaped, 2-cab DC.

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/4571/mvc006s.jpg

SLOW...under construction.

Nice poll subject.

Ken

Oh JOY !  Oh Joy ! ! !...

...i need five (5) sets....

PS: Whoopee

Hi Bill, put me on your list too, for the Climax and the Shay.  I recently purchased
some 'Lab Metal' and RTV mold material from Micro-Mark in hopes I could cast
some 'metal gears'  Wish me luck.

On a separate note, you can purchase Shay 'trucks' directly from Bachmann
for only $15.00 apiece.  It only takes one screw to change them out.  Electric
contacts are build right in.

Do you want address, etc off line ?

Ken

Thanks Rich,  now I won't have to wait around every day waiting
for the mailman.  When a package too big for my mailbox is being
delivered, they 'honk' their horn.  Then I have to run out and get
it before they get impatient and leave.  Then they put a notice in
my box and I have to drive down town to the post office to get it.
This way I can guestimate arrival time and be ready.  Thanks again.

Ken

Maybe I should have asked: What the turn-abound time was after your order
was verified ?

Anybody ordered 'online' before ?  I don't mean by telephone, but from your
own keyboard.  Ordered 'parts', got verification, and  then received your parts.
I don't want to raise any hackles, just get an answer.

I ordered (successfully, I might add) parts from the 'Order Parts' page and
received my verification E-mail saying my 'order would be shipped as soon
as possible'.  Anybody know off hand how long that might be ?

Hi Bill,

     Radio Shack sells some stuff called 'Color TV Tuner Cleaner'.  It's non-
flammable and safe to use on plastics.  That may be just the thing to use.

For Terry Toenges:  No, I wasn't there when you were, but I did retire from
the Corps in '89.  I was wondering if you might be interested in railroading
in the 'lead belt' area...or if you might want to get together some time and
'jaw jack' at the ge dunk ?  I'm in the book.

SEMO, Southeast Missouri, (Ste. Genevieve to be exact)

Note to Terry Toenges:  Been down to 'Tracks Ahead' hobby shop in
                                       Farmington yet ?