Well, it is only a year late in starting , but late is better than never I suppose.
My old layout can be found here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.zealot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109544">http://www.zealot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109544</a><!-- m -->
It was a good sized HO layout with continuous running and the emphasis on scenery, but there was a problem: it took up too much room! Well the family has the family room back but I need my trains so.............

The first idea was to do a 2' X 21' shelf layout (track plans were made and a lot of time spent on searching for locales, structures etc) but I felt that 2' still encroached on the room too much. I really didn't have hope that a 1' deep shelf could be both interesting operationally and scenically satisfying. Any one who knows me understands that I have NO track planning ability whatsoever but I was not in this alone. Kurt (cnw1961) is the track planner and the real vision behind this 1' X 21' HO shelf layout (he'll say I helped...don't believe him! well I guess I did help a little....does saying "Great idea!" pass as helping?)



Left Side    (The track above the coal house leads to a hidden staging area in a closet)


Right Side


It represents the industrial end of a smallish town set in a rural area.
Transitional era
RR is Northern Pacific (who else?)

The real key, as I see it, is to try and make 1ft seem as deep as possible. I have been researching methods and techniques designed to do just that. It is a challenge but that will also be the great fun in building this layout.
I hope you all find this thread fun as well.

You ain't seen nuttin' yet as far as a costly hobby. I was poking around on E Bay looking for more 1/64 cars when I spotted a 48 Buick with a buy it now price of 345 .00 BUCKS. I just had to see this , must be a mistake ---- NOPE it was real . It was a 1/43 model from some outfit called Motor City , still thinking it had to be wrong I looked at the guy selling it. He had a big feedback number & that Motor City stuff seemed to be all he had AND he had SOLD A BUNCH of them --- Many for over 1000.00 DOLLARS -- for a 1/43 scale car . I can't even get my head around how a 4 inch long mass produced ( even in limited editions they are mass produced) diecast car can fetch 1500 dollars as one Packard ambulance did.

I haven't been able to find a Calendar in the Forum.
Is there a thread where we could post coming events? Can we get postings like those to expire?

I dont know if this is posted in the right spot but here it goes. :?

I am looking for a HO Steam engine that would fit into this style of layout. Its modern and I know steam isnt but I want one!
http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=184

Now, here are the details. It MUST have DCC, SOUND and all the bells and whistles so to speak. Smoke would be nice but not a must. I also want it to be able to run on 22" radius. It doesnt need to be huge but it does need to go along with the Road names I am doing now which are BNSF, BN, Santa Fe, Candian National or BC Rail. I am modeling the Pacific Northwest so that is an option too. Now the biggest issue is I dont think anyone makes a steam engine in those road names. I DO NOT WANT BRASS, so please dont suggest it.

If you have any suggestions PLEASE let me know. I tried to look around but dont know ANYTHING about steam engines. Oh, I did see a show called Extreme Trains on the History Channel. http://www.history.com/minisites/extreme-trains They showed a Steam Engine that has been converted from Coal to Oil?? Here is an excerpt from the shows details:
The Union Pacific's famous 844 steam locomotive, built in 1944, is the longest-running steam train in America. It still runs on UP's mainlines today. Matt rides the 844 on its annual outing, taking 750 rail fans from Denver to the biggest rodeo in the world in Cheyenne, Wyoming. This train is so popular that traffic jams form along the tracks when it runs, as people "chase the train." This episode also looks at the gold rush of the 1850s.

Now, I wouldnt mind a Steam Engine that has been converted to this type of operation but again, no one makes a model like this do they?

Hope you arent laughing at me to hard yet as I am serious about the engine I want to buy but dont know what to get. Thanks in advance for your help!

A lot of you have probably seen this but I'm having so much fun being able to post some pics I just can't stop.

This station was built from some scraps of a plasticville suburban house & other junk. the gas pumps are scratched in brass ( & YES ---I soldered them I LOVE solder , must be all the lead has addelled my brain). The tires are rubber O rings . I had a wood W/Shield washing bucket & wringer on the island but it went south , the tire dunking trough is wood tho, wish I could remember what I used for water , it was not anything normally used & now I can't remember what --- darn that SOLDER .

   
   
   

hi all




im looking to buy that walthers coal fllod loader that they had put out a few years ago. its not the western coal flood loader but i think they called it the applachian coal flood loader. for the life of me i cant find one any where. if anyone knows where i can get one id greatly appreciate it. thanks very much.





todd

Well - if I missed anyones birthdays - I apologize!!!

The tradition continues - Starting NOW!!

Several times in the last hour I keep getting kicked out & told I must log in to post, right in the middle of posting a picture , Of course when I relog in what I was doing is gone. After I relog I click on automatic log in & when I come back I'm logged in TILL I try to put up a picture again. Any Idea what is happening ??

I have mentioned this before but I see with the different size requirement for the photos for the gauge that I should put up a link. This is one of the Windows power toys that are available.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/learnmore/tips/eschelman2.mspx">http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/usin ... lman2.mspx</a><!-- m -->
Once you have it installed you can right click on a photograph or a bunch of selected photographs and "resize photos" is one of the options that comes up. It is perhaps the fastest way to resize photos I have found, and is available with a simple right click. It will not change the size of the original unless you tell it to. It will place a smaller copy in the same folder. It gives you 3 standard options and you also can use a custom size too.
Just remember, you can go smaller, but making a picture larger just doesn't work well.
I sure hopes this helps some of you so we can get some of those great pictures up.
Charlie

Just found out that the old Gauge was not there- A quick email to Don (EZdays) and I find out about the new Gauge.
Looking forward to seeing old friends here.
So hi, to all.
woodone