Congratulations, we've got some winners to announce.

For the "Going Somewhere Scale" contest, we have the following:

• 1st place - Selector
  2nd place - cn nutbar
  3rd place - shaygetz and Steamtrains (tie)

• 1st place - Trains Winnipeg
  2nd place - Selector
  3rd place - jbaakko and ezdays (tie)

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL.

...which isn't the same thing as an eye test.
Evidently, some folks, especially those on dial-up, are having trouble viewing pictures on Big Blue. Below are four photos from various sources - if there are any that you can't see, please answer here to let me know which ones and if you're on dial-up.

The first one is from photobucket:


This one is a thumbnail from photobucket:


One from our own Gallery:
[album]1153[/album]

And finally, an attachment:    

Thanks for your input.

Wayne

I have a small 3x5' layout that I've been working on (I've posted about this layout here earlier this year).

The layout is coming along very nicely now and working really well. It has two loops of track which are connected, an outer loop (using 18”R curves) and an inner loop (using 15”R curves). There is one siding on the outside edge of the layout as well as some sidings — basically an Inglenook arrangement — inside the inner loop.

I’m now thinking of adding a small fiddle yard in the next little while. I would simply add an extra 12” to 18” onto one end of the layout. I would set up 2 to 3 storage sidings where various trains (i.e. "actors") could wait when they’re not “on-stage," on the layout.

I’ve never used a fiddle yard before on my layouts, partly due to lack of space. I also have a larger 4x6’ layout but it has never had a fiddle yard as well. I’m just beginning to understand the benefits of having a fiddle yard and was wondering if anyone could offer any suggestions or feedback.

I’ll try to post some updated pics in due course as well.

Rob

Hi guys,

Ive been thinking about my plans for the Modesto & Empire Traction Company. I have it hanging on my closet door, so everytime i open my closet or walk out of my room, i see it hanging, waiting for some more work.... Ive been thinking alot, and i really want to condense it somewhat. Currently, i have it set up in somewhat of a Free-Mo setup, with 35 modules which would occupy a space of 40'x30' if they were all set up together. Of coarse, i did not plan to set them up all at once anyways, and rather just run a few at a time....

Now im thinking of trying to setup this plan to be partial layout, and partial modules. I have always wanted to take a few modules to a train show, set them up with a group, and run them and watch people look at my work. I had planed to do this with my original M&ET plans, and i still want to be able to take a few modules with me to a train show here and there, so i will have to keep that in mind.

My plans for this re-design on this M&ET layout would be to have a double decker layout, with a helix connecting the 2 levels. Now since the M&ET is a shortline railroad, and they only have switchers (the newest ones being 2 Gensets #2000 and 2001 which arrived in December of 2008) this would mean i could keep the helix radius down to a fairly small radius of 22". It does not have to be large, nor does it have to look good with a train going up or down, because it will not be seen.


Here is the original plans for the M&ET i came up with after spending 2 months working from Google Earth, Live Maps, and Google Maps Street View. This first pic is a shot showing the overall design, zoomed out

Attached Files

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I spent this past winter in Portland, Oregon. Boredom got the better of me tonight so I thought I'd finally post some photos from my trip.



Portland's best-known railroad attraction is Union Station home to Amtrak's Empire Builder, Coast Startlight, and Cascades corridor. It is also soon to be host to Portland's MAX light rail network once a new north-south alignment opens later in 2009. There was a great article on the station in Trains magazine not too long ago.




Amtrak's southbound Coast Starlight departs the station on an abnormally sunny winter day. The condo developments around the station are definitely a recent phenomenon. Through the 1980s much of the land was occupied by railroad infrastructure.




The north end of the station is just as good for train-watching as a southbound Cascades with Talgo equipment approaches 9th Street and the north throat of the station. The Fremont Bridge is in the distance and carries I-405 over the Willamette River.




Freight trains can also be seen downtown as evidenced by this Union Pacific transfer run returning home to Albina Yard after making a run to BNSF's Lake Yard. Note the speed limit signs for Freight, Passenger, and Talgo.




A few blocks away in the Pearl District is the northern extremity of Portland's municipally-owned streetcar. A southbound car is passing Jameson Square with the Fremont Bridge looming in the distance.




Portland's light rail network, known as MAX, is operated by Tri-Met the regional transit authority. Here at Elmonica, near the west end of the system, a westbound train shows off its advertising wraps.




Also at Elmonica are the west end shops for MAX as viewed here from the eastbound platform. The eastern shops are located at Ruby Junction and were also the subject of a recent Trains magazine article.




In Beaverton the line's heritage shows. Built on the former Oregon Electric right-of-way later operated by Burlington Northern and Portland & Western freight operations were not entirely vacated before transit construction started. Here can be seen the remnant of a freight stub kept along the light rail to serve a now-closed GM plant.




At Beaverton Central a westbound MAX train crosses Hall Blvd. with two cars showing off MAX's paint schemes. The close car is a low-floor Type 2 while the far car is a rebuilt high-floor Type 1 sporting Tri-Met's newest colors.




Beaverton is home to a store of the Powell's chain that is known for its railroad section. This is one-fifth of the new and used books available on one of my many visits to the store.




Streetcar and MAX are not the only rail transit options available in the Portland metro area. Starting in February a new commuter service known as WES, for Westside Express Service, opened linking the western suburbs of Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin, and Wilsonville. Colorado Railcar DMUs are operated over Portland & Western trains during rush hours on weekdays only. In spite of this the operation is generally well-received by patrons and local transit officials are already eying expansion options. Here a southbound train eases down Lombard Ave. in Beaverton on February 3, the second day of regular service.




WES trains are crewed by Portland & Western and wear a modified Tri-Met uniform. First time patrons were shocked to find a conductor on all runs; MAX and the streetcar operate on a proof-of-payment system with random checks by fare inspectors.




And so our tour ends with two WES trains meeting in Tigard in this view from Main Street. The gantlet track to the left is required for freight trains to clear the high level platforms; freight trains do not utilize the right track.

I need some advice on how to store these little guys after I'm done painting them, throwing them in an old pill bottle will still allow them to rub together and scratch the paint off

So far I have 3 guys done

..One Giant Leap For Mankind."

Tomorrow is the 40th anniversary of the first landing on the moon. You youngins, under thirty years of age, probably only read about it in your history books, saw a special on the History Channel or Discovery.
Us gray hairs though, more than likley actually watched the historic event live on TV. Balck and white, with rabbit ears, or an antenna mounted on the roof.(Another history book item).

My question is, Do you remember what, where, you were when it happened?
Me...Sitting on the couch, eight years old, watching it on a black and white console tv(no remotes back then kids, we actually had to GET UP OFF OUR DUFFS to change channels(only three came in on ours)or adjust the volume!). I remember my father running around the house yelling"Now they're going to have to change the history books!".


FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION:

Its the only one in the same series of five, that never went into space, though its namesake has been.

Good Luck Players!

I am looking for a rather simple method of operating my layout. It is switching only and I don't want to just switch car for car.
In the current issue of Model Railroad Planning there is an article by John Flann and in it he mentions that he uses an oversized deck of playing cards to switch his layout. He uses the cards for train length and movements but does not go into any detail as to how his system works. Is anyone familiar with this system? Any help will be appreciated.
Bob

Hi guys been dreaming of building a 3ft x 8ft layout split down the middke so as to have holding stage for about 6 to 8 locos plus i like a 2d mountin backscene with a long bridge with to rail buses passing one another on a timer also like to have isolating switches to stop at stations ect and also like to build over have cantenary powered all of the above need your help please also what is the biggest radius curves please any help welcomed.mike