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Well, it looks like I'm making the jump from the old forums! Welcome

This gives me the oppertunity to start with a fresh layout thread, since my old one was easily the most epically long and ancient thread within the first 2 pages of the HO section on zealot. It also lets me name it more accurately, considering I rarely have new pictures.

That said, I do have layout news!

Just today, I have taken on my second ever HO steam locomotive. I model Conrail, but a Pennsy J1 2-10-4 can never hurt.... I'll get pictures of the J1, and some extra old ones to fill the thread out soon!
GEC! Looking forward to the new layout thread. Steamer? I smell a rail fan trip on that Conrail layout!
Ralph
GEC.....
A fresh start is something most of us could use! Thumbsup

I am looking forward to seeing your continuing excellent work! Thumbsup Thumbsup
Chris glad you made it over to the new "old" gauge Goldth

Im looking forward to seeing and reading about the new layout progressing!! 2285_
Well, I can't sleep, so i'll post some pictures. They aren't necessarily new, but they kinda show where I'm at.

First off, still need to get that catenary up. It took ALL DAY to build that one span. I'm still searching for tools to make it easier.

[Image: 100608016cn8.jpg]

I've added extra tracks to help the layout operate a little better. One of the primary issues i face is that the base layout, which is known as the "Callahan Central", never really matched the kind of layout I wanted. It featured an "SW" and a GP18, and maybe a few 40' cars. I only made things worse by adding more industrial tracks when i first built the layout. While i only run slight larger trains like GP40-2s and 50' cars, the length adds up, and so the yard is almost beyond capacity, and i've had to dig up increasingly smaller locomotives to run the industrial park (I now replaced my 44 tonner with a trackmobile).

Luckily, i've managed to make enough changes to the way it all operates that i can pull off some what of an operating session. The trains still eventually end up stretching across the layout and around to the other side, but with the passing tracks i've added, it makes things alot easier to run, in either direction, without interupting the work of other trains.

[Image: chrisslayoutmodifcationye1.jpg]

One solution I had was to replace some of the old industries There used to be an oil loading platform where this loading dock is, but it didn't really fit well where it was. This way, i can have about 5 boxcars parked by American Hardware Supply at full capacity, and i don't necessarily have to remove all the boxcars at once. While this essentialy limits me to box cars and hoppers (at the plastic pellet transfer), I could always through a flat car in. Who knows?

[Image: 81007014jl7.jpg]

My 44 tonner works, but it is a tight fit between it and two 50' cars. The trackmobile works much better. These are scenes from when i still had oil on my layout

[Image: 31907033mr5.jpg]

[Image: 31907005rx9.jpg]

A lot of the action goes on at the front, by the yard. This is a pre-passing track photo, but the job is relatively the same. The passing tracks would allow this locomotive to switch the interchange without having to go all the way around the layout to use the original run around. They also allow the locomotive to sort cars in the yard without fouling the main.

[Image: 1125070082jpgeditedxy9.jpg]

You can see here how the Locomotives can pull around the train so that it can push it out on to the interchange (which is just left of the camera). In the past, this would not be possible, atleast not easily.

[Image: chrisslayoutmodifcationkj5.jpg]

In an effort to downsize, i've also stopped running some of my larger push-pull NJ transit trains, and switched over to Electric Multiple Units. I do have some Arrow III EMUs that need to be built, but for now, these Pennsylvania RR Silverliner IIs work fine. Its still relatively common to find a pair of these old EMUs (although in SEPTA rather than Pennsy) running about PA, and my layout is generically eastern enough for that to fly.

[Image: 72108silverlineriis012kj1.jpg]

I'm hoping to try and get everything so that it can function while i plan my new layout, which will be able to handle the larger trains i'd like.

Thats the state of the layout for now, more pictures of the AC6000CW, Trackmobile, J1, and some other scenery items i've been working on soon.
WOW Chris, thanks for the pics, everything looks good and i like the change from the oil loading platform to the loading dock!! Thumbsup
Looks good Chris, will you be ballasting the track for better drainage?
Great choice for your first pic! Smile That loading dock photo is especially realistic!
Ralph
Ralph Wrote:Great choice for your first pic! Smile That loading dock photo is especially realistic!
Ralph

Trucklover Wrote:WOW Chris, thanks for the pics, everything looks good and i like the change from the oil loading platform to the loading dock!! Thumbsup

Thanks! I really need to finish it, its really just a thing i quickly put together from some scrap styrene! The main problem is I can't figure out a good way to get between the building itself and the loading dock. The rail loading dock on American Hardware Supply is very skinny, and building a ramp around the two inside tracks and to the loading dock there looks alittle hazardous for fork lifts. I do know that on the prototype, boxcars had little bridges across eachother to get to a second set of box cars, and I've already begun doing that. I've thought about extending the loading dock, but the building has been built into the surrounding scenery, and if i start taking up more space, I'm going to loose some believeablility i think. The only other option i thought about was building up to the truck loading docks on the side. I could almost make the industry be a team track as well, but it wouldn't really change the way it all operated. I haven't heard of a business sharing its loading dock, but we'll see how it works.

That whole corner needs to be finished, actually. I have the scenery i wanted to use, and so i'm thinking before christmas i'll have most of it done.

wgrider Wrote:Looks good Chris, will you be ballasting the track for better drainage?

I'm really hesitant to ballast the mainline. I know I really should get that done soon, before the catenary goes in permanently. The problem is i've been thinking about adding block detection, so that maybe I can have a few signals that change aspects or something. On the other hand, the layout is so compact that i don't think i really could accurately make Signals for most of it, but I figure atleast for the passing tracks, there should be a signal of some kind. I'm guessing i'm going to have to use the electrically operated block detectors, which means i need to wire and islolate my blocks. If I have to tear up ballasted track, it won't look right and i'll need to re-do it, so i've been putting off ballasting the mainline.

I also want to add under-table switch machines, and so i'll probably try to get things prepped for that before i add more ballast. We'll see how it goes!
Great pictures, really like your layout too!

- Dan
I know what you mean about putting an idea in concrete, I'm also hesitant about a lot of what I do , do I do wood abudments or stone , block retaining wall or wood etc. I guess what you can do for block detection if your thinking about it is run some wires under the layout and put the insulators and then you can take move forward.
Yeah, but i'm lazy. Its probably not worth it to do, but i better get it done.

I did just spontaneously cover an exposed corner of my layout, so now only a few places need scenery. I should really post more about it, but i'm waiting for my camera battery to charge. Pictures speak 1000 words.
You know sometimes our great hobby does turn into a labour because not everything is fun so we just have to take our time and setup a time frame where we just have to jump in and get it done then we realize (or not) that it wasn't all that bad. Icon_lol
Great to see your here also and love your pics 2285_
Well, i got my ALP44 rolling today, which is good. It apparently was having a problem shorting out. The atlast Wheelsets are set up to have two half wheelsets and a plastic geared central section. the wheelset ends must have been touching, causing a short. I wish i had noticed this BEFORE i tore apart and rewired the whole locomotive, lol!

Still crying over the lack of a camera to take pictures with, but i'll have some soon.

Also, my sister came home with a puppy (and i thought i was crazy for buying that BLI J1 2-10-4, which was only a quarter of the price of the dog, if that sends any hint to the madness...). It looks like pretty soon i'll have to take my trains up.

the AC6000CW's horns scared it away, but they are going to get chewed up if no one watches it, so it looks like the old lionel will be whats under the christmas tree this year. That makes me sad to, i had my E60MA and AC6000CW running smoothely with nice long trains.

whatever! More fun on my layout then!
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