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

Found in a box ready to ship on my workbench.
Forgot who this was suppose to go to. And all my PM's have been deleted on the old site. I might of PM'ed and told him it was ready but, the guy never responded.(He might of passed)

N scale custom painted"Gauge Railway" Micro Trains OB 40' box. MC couplers.
Old Reporting marks(TGR)
Make Offer.

Attached Files

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I have just finished listing quite a few HO Walthers Gold Line Freight Cars + 2 PROTO N Heritage 0-8-0's (1 Baltimore & Ohio and 1 Chesapeake & Ohio) on ebay. The Gold Line Rolling Stock includes the following:

69' All Purpose Husky Stacks
Front Runner Flats with 45' & 48' Trailers
Canadian 50' Bulkhead Flats
72' Centerbeam Lumber Flats
Bi-Level Auto Carriers
Tri-Level Auto Carriers
Trinity 2-Bay Cement Covered Hoppers
40' Ortner Aggregate Hoppers


If your interested, you can see the listings HERE

Thanks for looking!!!

Would there be any support for a section like "The Academy" that we had on the old place? Have we had any classic threads yet that would qualify?
Is there a spot for preserving single useful posts? I just re-read a terrific explanation of trouble shooting short circuits that should be in the basic skills section.

David posted this form in another thread...I decided to use it for my layout...which needs a thread to help me focus on it

Givens and Druthers

The Tippecanoe Valley Railway
Scale: O, 1:48
Gauge: 36"

Prototype: Generic
Era: 1880s-1930s
Region: Rocky Mountains/Sierras
Railroad: the DSP&P, C&S, etc

Space: 8'x15'

Space is limited by the ceiling's sloop...so the layout height is 24" (track level is 27") to compensate

Governing Rolling Stock: 42'6" passenger cars...possibly a 48' passenger car...so 48' and 54' at coupler face...apprx 12"

Relative Emphasis:

|_________________________________________V____|
Track/Operation .................................................. ..Scenic realism
|___V__________________________________________|
Mainline Running .................................................. ........ Switching

Operation Priorities: (rearrange as required)

1. Main line freight continuous running
2. Testing equipment
3. Local switching
4. Main line passenger service


Typical operating Crew: 1

Eye Level (Owner) 68In.


Layout is to be both DC and DCC powered...though not simultaneously. An additional 2'x15' space is available for a yards once the basic scenery is complete. A small 24" gauge interchange may be built at town site. The mainline is hand laid Code 100 on Kappler 6'6" ties. I'm slowly replacing the medium spikes with micro spikes, 4 per tie. I'll be adding some tie plates. Turnouts are hand laid. The trestle will have code 80 rail harvested from N-scale flex track. The 2' gauge line will be code 55 rail. Buss wires ares 14 gauge, feeders are 18 gauge. Frame is 1"x2" pine. Roadbed is cork on foam on plywood.


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I'm finally getting around to finishing my trestle. I'll upload pictures of it soon.

Here's a short string of C&S cars (Grandt Line) being pulled by what will be bashed into an Oahu Railway 2-8-0 (B-man, converted to On3).


Here is a picture of a curve at the temporary end of track:



The name "Tippecanoe Valley Railway" comes from the fact that there is a statue of Old Tippecanoe across the street from my church.

Yes, if you haven't voted in our current photo contests, now is the time. The voting polls close on Saturday, July 18, so go do what is right... vote for one, vote for all, but just get out and vote.

The polls are here:

SCALE CONTEST: http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic...=37&t=1544

FULL-SCALE CONTEST: http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic...=37&t=1543