Now I have gone and done it...

[N8XE]

Maybe I am going through a mid-life-crisis (I turn 42 this year) or maybe my ADHD medicine isn't working as well as it should. No matter, I just plunked down some cash to pick up some N-Scale rolling stock and a nice 4-6-0 engine.

There is precedence here as I have been around Model Railroading off and on throughout my life. My earliest memories include my dad's HO layout and sneaking downstairs to "play" with them (and thus getting admonished for breaking the wheels, how was I to know it wasn't a "toy"?) We almost always had some 4x8 unfinished sheet of plywood set up somewhere with HO track on it. When I moved out, I wanted to have my own layout so I built it and put it in my basement. I would collect HO cars and engines and play around with laying track, but never really finished a layout. Plus I went from HO to N scale. I got involved in the local club and went to fairs to run trains for the public. About 15 years ago, I sold all of the gear (I had one too many hobbies!) and used the money for my radio and astronomy pursuits.

Recently, My wife's uncle (N8CPA, who, by the way, got me into radio) picked up a Z scale set last year and has been slowly adding to it. We have been talking about it and that old desire started creeping back. When I was into it before, I had visions of long stack trains pulled by a consist of GE Dash 9's. This needed a large layout but I never had the space or funds to complete my "vision". Being older (and finding that I like things to be simple) I have been using some computer software to design a small 30" by 60" layout geared for a balance of running and operations. I no longer need a 100 cars to have fun. A smaller collection should suite me fine and I have the space for it. I am also in no rush to finish it. I can leisurely work on it when I have time.

Jason N8XE
CEO of the Grandon East Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio

[WØTKX]

ADHD? Me too, is it a gift? :shifty: May you find bliss and peace in your personal Zen Garden. :mrgreen:

http://www.srmduluth.org/images/Model%20RR%20Days/100_0215.JPG

[N8XE]

Ya know, there is something Zen like to watching trains. Why is that?

Jason N8XE

[KG4NEL]

When I was a young'un, N scale was my choice too. I spent more time building mountains and tunnels than running the trains, I think.

[WØTKX]

I had a thing for tree platforms and houses.

[KG4CGC]

I had a couple of model trains railroads growing up. Just never got into it. Gomez Addams on the other hand ...

[KG4CGC]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMxJtMoTnx8

[XE1/N5AL]

Ya know, there is something Zen like to watching trains.

As long as you're not standing on the tracks! :)

[WØTKX]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9lWysZIK7M


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9lWysZIK7M

[K4PIH]

Now you've gone and done it!

Back in the day when I lived on base and outdoor antenna's were not allowed, I had to funnel my energies elswhere and model railroading was it. Didn't help that a civilian friend of mine had an entire basement of HO.

I was into "N" due to size restrictions. My older brother (also a ham) was into "O" and had a nice Lionel set, the Texas Special.

Two gauges that has always intrigued me are "Z" and "S". There is some nice stuff avaiable in Z, but S never really took hold and finding stock, track, and accessories for it is a task.

[kb2vxa]

Ah, Gomez had my Lionel ZW transformer! I had a Z transformer with an O gauge set from the 1930s, a cast metal PRR K-4 pulling 3 rather rare blue and white (PRR normally used Tuscan Red) lighted coaches, the K-4 made a good battering ram. No I'm not confused with the CNJ Blue Comet, this was the model of a one of a kind special train that seems to have vanished from the Internet or I would name it. Then there were two O27 gauge freight sets, a 2-6-4 and a USATC gas turbine switcher, the other being a Marx set. As it turned out Gene Niemiec K2KJI http://www.kjielectronics.com/ is an avid modeler and my trains morphed into my first ham station.

[N8XE]

Some rolling stock showed up today. I really like the Microtrain line of cars. They are well made and ride well. I am trying to focus on the transition era so I can run steam and early diesels. I love the Alco RS3 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALCO_RS-3) and EMD GP7 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_GP7) for diesels.

14142

[KG4CGC]

Mind the gap.

[NQ6U]

Mind the gap.

Mind old navy, too.

[W3WN]

My brother and I had O when we were kids in NNJ, which later got changed over to HO.

We never did get a new layout set up when we moved from NJ to PA. Getting involved with the NH&I and later the BR&W had a lot to do with that.

I have none of my old trains left from that era. My brother had some sort of arrangement with a hobby shop in Lambertville NJ, to exchange working on repairs for new things for him. At least, that's what he told my parents. Somehow, though, his collection dwindled... and mine disappeared. My father looked into it when my last engine evaporated. I never did get the full story (he wouldn't tell me) but apparently, the store was ripping my brother off and confiscating our rolling stock when they were supposedly being "repaired". Neither of us ever did get anything back.

One of these days, maybe.

[XE1/N5AL]

I had an HO layout when I was a kid. It was built on a couple of 4 ft. x 6 ft. plywood sheets, laid end-to-end. My Mom was constantly barraged with requests to drive me to a place called Jo-Jo Toys, in Dallas' Hillside Village Shopping Center. As I recall, this magical place was more of a hobby shop than a typical toy store. They had trains ranging from economical plastic models, up to very detailed brass locomotives costing more money than I would ever make from my paper route. A young lad could dream, though!

I had all of the Linn Westcott authored model railroad books that were published in the day. In the model railroad world, he was kind of the equivalent to Amateur Radio's Bill Orr (W6SAI).

I always envied those guys, with layouts featured in magazines like Model Railroader, who had massive 3-dimensional layouts that completely filled a room. Layouts like this one...

14143

[kb2vxa]

"I love the Alco RS3 and EMD GP7 for diesels."

The ubiquitous geeps (pron. jeeps) must be the longest living locomotives in history. Rebuild after rebuild the old Red Barons that New Jersey Transit scrounged from the long defunct Jersey Central periodically upgraded in keeping with EPA emissions standards are still running. I have pictures every step of the way, but here are the first and last rather than clutter the whole place up.

So, you think the Freedom Train of 1976 was unique? Guess again! The first one, the Spirit of 1776 toured the country in 1947-48 pulled by my favorite Alco painted white, the PA-1. White served a dual purpose, red, white and blue of course AND to advertize how clean Alco Diesel was compared to dirty (but smells wonderful) coal. Irony or some sick joke? Alco was famous for thick, black, sooty smoke! I don't think it went over as well as the DL&W Phoebe Snow train, rather than post a whole page of URLs just look it up.

[NQ6U]

Took the grandkids to see the San Diego Model Railroad Museum this morning. Since I was there last, they moved to the basement (which seems appropriate) of the building to gain themselves more room. The place is huge now. The grandkids loved it and I'm thinking about joining up so I can help out. They have tons of people who like to operate the trains but not enough who want to do the building and modeling, which was always my favorite part of model railroading.

[N8XE]

Took the grandkids to see the San Diego Model Railroad Museum this morning. Since I was there last, they moved to the basement (which seems appropriate) of the building to gain themselves more room. The place is huge now. The grandkids loved it and I'm thinking about joining up so I can help out. They have tons of people who like to operate the trains but not enough who want to do the building and modeling, which was always my favorite part of model railroading.

That sounds great! We don't have something like that here in Columbus. I was just reading about how the San Diego Model Railroad Museum having one of the original Timesaver (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timesaver) layouts.

Jason N8XE

[NQ6U]

That sounds great! We don't have something like that here in Columbus. I was just reading about how the San Diego Model Railroad Museum having one of the original Timesaver (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timesaver) layouts.

Jason N8XE

I didn't even notice that, but I always enjoyed the switching puzzles they'd post in Model Railroader magazine every month.

[XE1/N5AL]

Mind old navy, too.

Ha! My brother-in-laws speak almost zero English, but when we are together and one of us makes a reference to his own age (we're all in our 50's), the others will invariably point to him and exclaim (in English): "Old Navy!!! Old Navy!!!" :)

[WØTKX]

That sounds great!

Yea, yea yea. Didja try the Crown Rye?

[N8XE]

Yea, yea yea. Didja try the Crown Rye?

Not yet however, I did pick up a bottle. It is in the liquor cabinet waiting to be opened Saturday night when the better half is out of town. Me and the dog are bachelors this weekend. So we are going to make some popcorn and watch movies we are not allowed to watch when she is around (like Star Wars, Star Trek, Chronicles of Riddick, Tron, etc). The dog just likes popcorn :)

I also picked up a liter of Crown Royal for emergencies.

Jason N8XE

[N8XE]

The engine showed up yesterday and three cars. This weekend I am going to set up a temporary layout and see it run.

14167

[kb2vxa]

Just like Amtrak, four days late is ahead of schedule.

[XE1/N5AL]

All aboard the Jose Cuervo Express!

Actually, it's just a cheap plastic, battery-powered toy that I noticed today at the Jose Cuervo factory gift shop, in Tequila. The town of Tequila is about 40 miles west of us, so it's a short drive for an afternoon getaway. The town is famous for something, but after a few shots I can't remember what that is. :)

14184

[WØTKX]

Kitschy promotional model trains are collectible, and possibly refreshing... Perhaps with the Cuervo, no?

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/v/vspfiles/photos/categories/3404.jpg

[n2ize]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9lWysZIK7M


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9lWysZIK7M

Great example of how grade timer signals work on that first interval between Grand Central and Vernon-Jackson. In that sped up video that train crossed under the East River from Manhattan to Queens via the Steinway Tunnel. . That was the reason for the grade timers. To keep the train within the 30 mph speed restriction as it travels downgrade through the first half of the tunnel.

[kb2vxa]

Ah Kitschycoo Park, home of K2PG with his Christmas tree bubble lights and out in the yard Santa on the toilet with a bottle of hooch in his hand. Gotta admit I had a hand in it, take a look at the top of the tree. I used to watch the Tropicana train pulled by a couple of GG-1s headed to New York on the Pennsylvania Railroad through my home town Rahway, NJ. When it became Amtrak North East Corridor, CSX Diesels took over on the Trenton Main ex Reading, just about the only train in NJ I don't have pictures of, RATS! Great song Water Mellon Man, more pleasing to the ears than a subway train going through the sharp curve on the Manhattan side of the East River Tunnel, screaming that would scare a banshee! Too bad the NYCTA never heard of flange greasers, they save a lot of wear and tear not to mention ear bleed.

[WX7P]

I want to see a classic Gomez Addams experience!

14189

[WØTKX]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfycNWFe8VA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfycNWFe8VA

[WØTKX]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPt-4Nwght0


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPt-4Nwght0

[kb2vxa]

BNSF meets Amcrash, CLASSIC!

[n2ize]

Too bad the NYCTA never heard of flange greasers, they save a lot of wear and tear not to mention ear bleed.

Oh they know about them quite well.In fact, they do use rail lubrication and rail spraaying on some of the tighter curves. The NYC subway system is loaded with sharp curves and grades with close station stops. Not to mention they cause grease/oil to accumulate and pool up and run which is not very desirable in tunnels and elevated trackage nor compatible with the signaling system. That is why they have to be used sparingly and carefully. Even along mainline railroads flange greasers have some major issues.

[n2ize]

I want to see a classic Gomez Addams experience!

14189

Morticia... let's have a go at the trains... shall we ?? Wink..wink.. :snicker:

[N8XE]

So Saturday my wife decides to stay home.. however, that did not prevent my dog and I from having our popcorn and enjoying the new Crown Royal Rye (well, I had some the dog didn't). So to celebrate being back into model railroading, we watched Silver Streak and Unstoppable.

Silver Streak is damn funny...

"The Emergency Cords were cut!!" "Damn Hippies"

[N8XE]

Car Maintenance...

14192

New couplers are now attached. I forgot how much I enjoyed (and hated) this part of the experience. A few shots of Crown helped.

14193

My wife does yet not know, but I have a set of B&O Passenger cars and a nice set of two B&O F7A units and an F7B unit.

Oh yeah.. and some SD7s.

This is what happens when the shack is packed up!!

Jason N8XE

[n2ize]

Car Maintenance...

14192

New couplers are now attached. I forgot how much I enjoyed (and hated) this part of the experience. A few shots of Crown helped.

14193

My wife does yet not know, but I have a set of B&O Passenger cars and a nice set of two B&O F7A units and an F7B unit.

Oh yeah.. and some SD7s.

This is what happens when the shack is packed up!!

Jason N8XE

Nice !! I always wanted to set up a permanent train layout but I didn't have the space for it. For about a year (back in the early 80''s) I had an N gauge layout in the corner of a room but it got wrecked when I had to relocate it. So I wound up sticking with model aeroplanes. At one point I had so many planes hanging from the ceiling, in the closet, attic, garage, basement, etc. I sold and/or gave away quite a few but I still have a few up in the attic. Don't know if the engines on them would still run. Probably gummed up with old oil.

BTW I do have a nice Lionel passenger set but no place to set a O gauge layout.

[koØm]

"If you aren't spend money on that train stuff, you're spending money on that 'Damnradio' again." She used the words "Damn" and "Radio" together so often, I thought they were one word.

Only the radio is left....for now.

.

[N8XE]

Was at the local hobby shop and found some wagon top boxcars which were a B&O original. Some more stuff coming from EBay. I need to apply the emergency brakes or I may get thrown out of the sleeper car and back to sleeping in coach.

14198

Actually, my wife has been pretty understanding...

Jason N8XE

[N8XE]

So recently, a friend of mine saw that I was back into N Scale railroading and gave me a 36" by 78" layout which was pretty much completed (except it needs some buildings). I picked it up on Saturday and had it set up to try it out.

Here is a "night" scene I did:


https://youtu.be/vjS_jRa7JKI

I still plan to build my own layout, but this will get me by for now :)

Jason N8XE