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 Posted - September 30 2015 : 8:19:02 PM
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quote:
I see you do not use any roadbed under the track. How do you like that? I think it looks fine, especially with your layout's style
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I always thought using cork roadbed with regular sectional track would've been a bit of extra trouble. At least I add ballast to the track in some areas after nailing it in.
My next layout I build, I will probably use Bachmann E-Z Track.
Here's some more new pics...
One of my current freight train setups, with a DCC Walthers Trainline Santa Fe Dash-8 warbonnet locomotive I recently got. Except for that and the Walthers caboose, the rest of the rolling stock is TYCO!
The train backs into the piggyback terminal to drop off one of the BN trailers...
The freight-unloading depot in action.
One BNSF freight waiting for the other to pass so it can pull onto the main line...
Edited by - wiley209 on September 30 2015 8:20:58 PM
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Posted - September 30 2015 : 8:26:19 PM
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| Nice work, Wiley!
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Posted - October 11 2015 : 12:00:21 AM
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Doing some cleaning with my new Walthers Trainline track-cleaning boxcar.
I'm surprised TYCO never made a track-cleaning car or something. After all, AHM, Bachmann and Life-Like did!
Once again it's autumn on the layout. (Then again, it's ALWAYS autumn with the trees in that area!)
A yard worker shouts up to the locomotive crew...
Two of my trains in the dark. The Amtrak train especially looks neat...
My new traffic light setup! The hanging one is a Walthers Cornerstone 4-way traffic signal. I plan to get a Walthers traffic light controller to hook it up to soon, along with maybe an additional signal for one part of the intersection. The TYCO traffic lights are now being used as fire station signals! (Maybe I'll even wire them up so they flash on and off like the real ones do.)
A Union Pacific diesel locomotive and caboose passes through the town. (I know the UP never had any real Dash 8-40BWs, but I thought it looked cool!) I don't plan to put a decoder in it anytime soon...
A slightly-longer double-header freight train!
Another configuration for my DCC BNSF Warbonnets. They're on the same address, so I can run double-header trains like this.
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Posted - October 16 2015 : 10:45:42 PM
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Another one of my HO buildings finally has light...
Yep, Doug's Drug Store! When I bought it back when I was building my current layout, there wasn't an opening in the bottom of the base, but the roof was removable. I didn't attempt to install interior lighting in it until today; I drilled a small hole in the base and into the table, stuck a Model Power peel-and-stick light onto the ceiling, ran the wire through the hole, wired it up to one of my "accessory" power packs (already powering some of the lights), and it was all set! It does make a difference, especially with the interior detailing.
A shot showing some of the illuminated buildings and accessories on my layout.
Wow, this is my 400th post!
Edited by - wiley209 on October 16 2015 10:46:09 PM
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Posted - October 17 2015 : 10:57:45 AM
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Just keeps looking cooler and cooler, even after 400
posts! I've experimented with Bachmann EZ track
and it did provide for some smoother running,
but it took up more room and left me with a
fairly simple design. The EZ Track layout planner
has some pretty neat designs.
P.S.: I won't let on to Walt that you have a couple
of street lamps!!
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Posted - November 03 2015 : 7:39:11 PM
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Here's some more updates, including new stuff I bought at a train show in Randolph this past Sunday (they moved from Brockton)...
An AHM Rio Grande gondola car. I already swapped out the horn-hooks with Life-Like knuckle couplers, though I did have to fix one of the coupler pocket covers...
I also got a TYCO Durango-style stock car.
Another TYCO Santa Fe boxcar, this time the red El Capitan 50-foot car.
Another long-distance Amtrak passenger train of sorts; this one I kind of based off the 1954 Encyclopedia Britannica documentary film "The Passenger Train."
A Model Power railroad signal.
I've even let K-O, the Brockton Rox kangaroo, play with my model train layout! ;)
Edited by - wiley209 on November 03 2015 7:40:50 PM
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Posted - November 03 2015 : 8:06:22 PM
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| That's quite a nice city there Wiley.
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Posted - November 04 2015 : 12:20:08 PM
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Wiley209 what Intermountain metal wheels did you use on your tyco cars.
they come in a few different sizes and i'm not sure what works on the stock tyco trucks
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 Posted - November 04 2015 : 10:59:15 PM
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quote:
I've even let K-O, the Brockton Rox kangaroo, play with my model train layout! ;)
Originally posted by wiley209Â -Â November 03 2015Â :Â 7:39:11 PM
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How'd you convince Ben to visit you in Massachusetts?
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - November 05 2015 : 12:57:52 PM
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quote:
How'd you convince Ben to visit you in Massachusetts?
Originally posted by NickelPlate759Â -Â November 04 2015Â :Â 10:59:15 PM
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hehe that isn't me 
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Posted - November 12 2015 : 6:49:27 PM
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More updates!
I got a new locomotive this week! An Athearn ready-to-roll Amtrak P42 "Genesis" diesel in Phase III! Today I installed a decoder in it, and it was quite a pain at first; the "dummy" plug was stuck into the DCC harness pretty tight, and then a wire got pulled out by accident and needed to be re-attached, and then a couple of the motor wires got tangled in one of the shafts! But after fixing all that, it runs pretty well now.
Here's the Woodland Scenics painter and van I got for my birthday set up on my layout...
Parked on my isolated siding is my Mantua Classics BN GP20 locomotive with the TYCO crane car and boom tender.
Even in my town, the school buses must stop at railroad crossings before going over the tracks! (After all, that's what the Schoolhouse Rock bill was for!)
A freight train stopping at the TYCO freight station...
The full Amtrak train, powered by my Amtrak Genesis locomotive. I will say even though the TYCO and Life-Like cars don't look that prototypical, at least having a prototypical locomotive like the Genesis pull the cars looks better than having TYCO's Amtrak F9 or GG1 pulling them!
I already have two of the Walthers Cornerstone electrical towers built. I may even string some thread on them to simulate the power lines.
A couple of overviews of my trains...
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Posted - November 12 2015 : 8:32:04 PM
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| Nice Wiley. Around here (Pueblo, Colorado; not far) they're trying to get Amtrac to go through Pueblo again. That could be pretty cool to have passenger train service within an hour.
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Posted - November 22 2015 : 8:41:41 PM
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Some more updates, especially since I've been to the November Greenberg's Train and Toy Show...
Installing knuckle couplers on some new rolling stock I bought...
Today I bought a Bachmann Deleware & Hudson hopper, an IHC/Mehano Railbox 50-ft boxcar (like TYCO sold in some of their later train sets), and a Walthers Trainline Santa Fe hopper and BNSF wide-vision caboose!
I also installed a second Walthers traffic light at my main intersection, and also hooked up a Walthers traffic signal controller. It took hours or trial and error to get it working properly, but so far it looks great. Here's a video of it in action...
Just a couple shots showing my new Bachmann "Train Crew" figures. Bachmann has been making these since 1979.
The Walthers Santa Fe hopper. I know AHM and Life-Like also made similar ones in the past. It may not be that prototypical, but I will say it does look cool. Maybe with a bit of weathering it would look even better.
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Posted - November 22 2015 : 10:26:10 PM
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| well I wants the traffic lights *grabby paws!*
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Posted - November 26 2015 : 11:49:09 PM
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Signs of Christmas are beginning to appear on my layout!
The train station has its' Christmas roof added...
I've placed the town tree near the church...
And my Christmas train is just about ready to go!
Edited by - wiley209 on November 26 2015 11:50:08 PM
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Posted - December 20 2015 : 1:22:48 PM
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Some more Christmas updates...
Here's a neat sight; my steam-powered Christmas train passes a modern Amtrak train; something you probably wouldn't see in real life!
The Amtrak train stopping at the Christmas-decorated train station.
Just another shot of the residential area...
A shot of one of the BNSF freight trains waiting for the Christmas train to pass.
People waiting at the crossings are definitely surprised to see live reindeer in the stock car!
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Posted - December 20 2015 : 4:34:17 PM
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| Merry Christmas to you Wiley!
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Posted - December 25 2015 : 2:46:03 PM
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Here are some Christmas Day updates!
Last night, Santa Claus was sighted preparing to climb down this chimney, except there was no sleigh anywhere. So what's going on? Some say it really was Santa, but he didn't use his sleigh this year due to very little places getting snow this Christmas. And other say it's the father of the family living in that house, dressed up as Santa to go down the chimney and put the presents under the tree!
One of the things I got for Christmas this year were a few of these wind turbines for the train layout. I got three, but so far I might just stick one or two on the layout.
I also got some sidewalks that I have laid in the downtown area!
Another angle of the wind turbines. Unfortunately, they won't stay up on their own, even if I tried gluing them onto the platform. They fell over after I took this pic; I will find another way to keep them standing.
The stock pen with a couple of the new Walthers Scenemaster farm people figures I got.
The Christmas train passing through town, of course...
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bnsfIA
Big Six
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Posted - December 25 2015 : 5:51:00 PM
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quote:
You should motorize the turbines
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Posted - January 01 2016 : 5:37:24 PM
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| Wowzer! And I love that mix of old and new Amtrak.
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Posted - January 05 2016 : 11:17:12 PM
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First updates of 2016!
A Walthers Trainline Santa Fe boxcar I got for Christmas.
I also got this Life-Like container flatcar recently. Surprised I never had one of these yet!
Winter break is over, and the school is back in session...
I had put some more new figures on the farm.
I've been installing a bit more fencing for one of the houses and the library. It's a Bachmann picket fence kit. Bachmann has been making it since the '80s.
A couple action shots of one of the freight trains on my layout.
The current consist for this freight train, pulled by a Bachmann blue/yellow Santa Fe GP40.
I may soon be getting one of those E-Z App Bluetooth-controlled locomotives; probably the BNSF GP35.
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Posted - January 06 2016 : 7:08:13 PM
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| Nice shots. I like what you did with the fences. Let us know how the Bluetooth engine works for you.
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Posted - January 21 2016 : 4:23:35 PM
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Digital technology has made it's mark even more with my model railroad layout...
Yup, I got one of Bachmann's new E-Z App Bluetooth locomotives! Naturally, I went with the BNSF GP35.
Look at that detailing! I believe this is because the Bachmann originally introduced the GP35 as a "Bachmann Plus" diesel locomotive, hance the slightly better-detailed shell than, say, their GP40 or FT diesels.
 I am operating it using my iPod Touch 5G. It runs really well, even on areas where the track often needs to be cleaned (they say this is a big advantage with Bluetooth locomotives like these.)
Bachmann says an Android version of the E-Z App will come out soon; when it does, I can install it on my Samsung Galaxy smartphone!
Here's a video of it in action...
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Posted - January 28 2016 : 11:52:18 AM
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THat's a pretty good loco and it offers very good features for those barely getting into the hobby. THe sound feature on the phone is cool too. That said, Im so far into the dcc thing to consider buying these. I am tempted through:)
If you are not having fun, you are not doing it right.
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Posted - January 28 2016 : 1:34:01 PM
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I thinks I'd want a loco like that in 2028 since its the local switcher here
Also gotta someday do 2155 in either BN or BNSF
That one got destroyed in a wreck  
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bnsfIA
Big Six
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Posted - January 30 2016 : 09:27:54 AM
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| Neat loco! What was the cost?
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Posted - February 26 2016 : 8:13:42 PM
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quote:Neat loco! What was the cost?
Originally posted by bnsfIAÂ -Â January 30 2016Â :Â 09:27:54 AM
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Buying one direct from Bachmann would cost $239.00. But I only paid $135 for mine, new in the box!
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Posted - February 26 2016 : 9:41:56 PM
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| I just watched the video Wiley. Pretty cool. Pretty decent sound. I'll bet all those little people living near the tracks have had to get use to that loco rumblin' by. Looks like you've done a bunch of work to get things operating nice and smooth.
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Posted - March 09 2016 : 12:17:51 PM
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This a magnificent layout. Lots of business, lots of activity, passenger trains... And any MR whiners who complain about it being a spaghetti bowl should be told "Shut up, spaghetti's delicious."
Feedback-hungry attention w****
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Posted - March 20 2016 : 6:39:21 PM
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More updates, now that I've also been to the March 2016 Greenberg Train and Toy Show in Wilmington MA...
Updating the firmware in my Bluetooth-equipped Bachmann GP35. This also removed the problem with the noticeable hum caused by the decoder when operating, and also allows for better slow-movement operation.
The latest version of Bachmann's blinking oil storage tank, equipped with an LED light! I'm thinking of painting the tank to resemble the Rainbow Swash tank in Boston.
Walthers Trainline CSX hopper car. I thought I'd get this to support the freight railroad that runs through my hometown of Brockton MA.
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Posted - March 23 2016 : 08:47:08 AM
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Great stuff. as always. I much prefer this kind of
work to the museum quality dioramas one finds
in the glossies. I look forward to the "rainbow
swash" on the oil tank.
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Posted - March 23 2016 : 10:04:54 PM
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The car and the tank are nice additions, and it's always good to see an update that actually improves performance instead of breaking everything
Feedback-hungry attention w****
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Posted - December 26 2016 : 9:55:49 PM
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Been a long time, but I have some more updates to share; most of these photos I took yesterday...
The Christmas train stops and waits for my Bluetooth BNSF GP35 to pass by, pulling the Walthers track-cleaning boxcar. (That's what I get for setting up my model trains in a dusty basement!)
New Bachmann depressed-center flatcar with an electrical generator on it.
The steam-driven Christmas train gets a green signal to go ahead.
A shot of the full Christmas train.
My new Walthers Mainline Amtrak F40PH diesel locomotive! Currently it's DC-only, but I'm getting a Bluetooth plug-in decoder from BlueRail Trains to install in it, so I can have a second Bluetooth locomotive on my layout!
Dunkin' Donuts comes to my train layout!
A shot of the new Amtrak diesel pulling my TYCO and Life-Like Amtrak cars...
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Posted - December 26 2016 : 11:57:29 PM
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Always great to see your layout, Wiley. It inspires me to do new stuff.
Love the Dunkin' Donuts. That Amtrak FP40H is getting a workout!
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Posted - December 27 2016 : 12:04:20 AM
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koool
hope to do this someday & I still want yer traffic lights hehe
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Posted - December 27 2016 : 5:19:32 PM
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| Lot of neat things on there Wiley. Today, I'm particularly liking the little trackster and shed.
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Posted - December 29 2016 : 7:59:31 PM
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Some more updates...
I redid the Life-Like Kentucky Fried Chicken on my layout! (i.e. a new kit to replace the worn-out falling-apart building) I also installed a light inside it to show off the interior detailing, but haven't wired it up to one of the power packs yet.
The TYCO Center St. barber shop/laundromat is now on my layout! I bought this for that hobby shop's HO-scale layout, but the shop is unfortunately closing soon and we're dismantling the layout. But at least I was able to take some stuff home, like this.
I also brought home the Bachmann Silver Series Amtrak cars I bought to run on that layout. Turns out with a little clearance from stuff alongside the tracks, they run fine, even with the Lionel-like appearance while they are on curves (then again, my TYCO action accessories are also Lionel-like, too!)
As for that Walthers Mainline Amtrak F40PH, turns out the BlueRail Bluetooth decoder doesn't work that well in it, due to the way Walthers wired the locomotive. So I'm saving the decoder for a future locomotive, and am going to put a regular DCC decoder into the F40PH. (I learned the TCS T1 may not be the right decoder for it, so I sent TCS a message to hear what they recommend.) But from what I noticed, the body is a lot like the Trainline version but with some railings applied, and it uses the Walthers Proto 2000 5-pole motor and ProtoMax metal knuckle couplers instead of the 3-pole motor and E-Z Mate couplers on the Trainline version. It reminds me of the old Bachmann Plus and Life-Like Proto 1000 lines.
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bnsfIA
Big Six
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Posted - December 29 2016 : 9:46:55 PM
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Looking Good!
What did you use for the roads on your layout? I'm using the woodland scenics road stuff and it looks great! Just thought I'd suggest that for better looking roads.
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Posted - December 30 2016 : 11:21:16 AM
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| I painted directly on the plywood using Woodland Scenics asphalt paint. Next layout I do, I'll probably try the Woodland Scenics road material.
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Posted - January 11 2017 : 4:07:29 PM
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First update of 2017!
I now have a new Walthers MainLine Amtrak F40PH locomotive (in Phase III of course) on my layout, pulling my Amfleet cars. I may also use it to pull my TYCO Amtrak cars as well. This week I put a TCS T1A decoder in it, for DCC operation.
One of the clips on the bottom of my Athearn P42's shell broke, so now the shell won't stay on the chassis very well. Either I'll have to get another Athearn Amtrak Genesis locomotive, or find a way to get the shell to stay on (could some kind of liquid plastic do the trick?)
One of my current freight train consists, featuring a mix of Bachmann Silver Series, Walthers TrainLine and TYCO rolling stock! (The locomotive is a Bachmann DCC-equipped Santa Fe GP40.)
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Posted - January 11 2017 : 8:48:16 PM
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| Lookin' good!
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Posted - January 15 2017 : 11:19:44 AM
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Time for a refresher on my layout!
The control panel/workbench on my layout. I use the TYCO Pak to power the turnouts and "Presto-matic" accessories, as the Bachmann E-Z Command DCC unit doesn't have AC accessory terminals.
One of my freight trains parked on a siding (with Bluetooth-equipped Bachmann BNSF GP35 locomotive), along with the 70s TYCO crane car and boom tender.
The residential section and farm on my layout.
IHC Exxon gas station, Life-Like church, general store and school.
Plasticville Suburban Station building kit.
The tunnel and surrounding woodland on the layout.
Deer can be found in the woods here, too!
TYCO operating box car.
One of my freight trains passing through a rail yard with a 4-track railroad crossing!
LED version of Bachmann's blinking storage tank.
TYCO freight unloading depot.
Life-Like's Ace Supermarket, and some industrial buildings.
Bachmann's animated stock car, Union Pacific version with horses.
TYCO manual piggyback loader/unloader.
Just some TYCO Center St. buildings, along with an intersection featuring working traffic lights!
TYCO log dump car in action.
Life-Like police station and AHM/TYCO Pizza Hut.
TYCO operating crossing gate in action.
Another railroad crossing, along with the Life-Like car wash and Bachmann Plasticville switch tower.
TYCO Burger King, and Life-Like KFC and fire station.
TYCO's simple crossing flasher of the 80s.
Walther's Merchant's Row I building kit with a few businesses in it, most notably a Dunkin' Donuts!
TYCO lighted signal crossing in action.
Passengers waiting for the Amtrak train at the Life-Like Snap-Loc train station building kit.
TYCO billboard next to a small ledge on one corner of the layout.
The Amtrak train waiting for a freight train to pass by.
TYCO lighted freight station.
Amtrak train stopped at the station.
Life-Like used car lot and moped dealership, and Bachmann Plasticville post office.
TYCO barber shop/Chinese laundromat, and Life-Like Belvedere Hotel and downtown business center building kits.
Another angle of the train station.
Overview of the layout.
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Posted - January 15 2017 : 3:05:13 PM
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| That is quite a spread Wiley. Lots of interesting things to look at.
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Posted - January 15 2017 : 4:45:54 PM
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Great stuff! I do like the photo of the passenger cars at the depot.
Makes me want to climb aboard and roll off to some new place.
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Posted - February 19 2017 : 9:55:43 PM
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I now have a second Bluetooth train on my layout...
Yep, I installed that BlueRail Trains "Blue Horse" board into a new Athearn ready-to-run Amtrak P40 "Genesis" locomotive. The headlights don't work (I guess it's due to the way the engine is wired), but it runs very smoothly in forward and reverse, and that's what's important (to me at least). I might email BlueRail and see if I should configure anything in the app to make the headlights work...
Here's my two Bluetooth trains next to each other.
And here's a video of both in action!
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Posted - February 19 2017 : 11:43:18 PM
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I enjoyed your video, Wiley. Does that Blue Tooth basically send a
phone transmission to the train? And can you run multiple trains on
the same line?
Motivates me to get on to the next phase and DCC up some of
my OO stuff. Thanks for the post.
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Posted - February 20 2017 : 10:22:39 PM
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quote:I enjoyed your video, Wiley. Does that Blue Tooth basically send a
phone transmission to the train? And can you run multiple trains on
the same line?
Originally posted by Chops124Â -Â February 19 2017Â :Â 11:43:18 PM
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Yes, you can run more than one Bluetooth trains on the same line.
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Member Since: January 03 2013 ~
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Posted - October 08 2017 : 12:24:46 PM
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Well, that's it for this layout. Reason being is my parents are planning to move us to a new house, and I decided that bringing the existing layout with us would be a lot of work, so I'm instead going to completely dismantle the existing layout, and design and build a brand new layout at the new house! I'm already coming up with a track plan for the new one, and I also have more buildings and accessories that I am saving for such an occasion.
I'm going to reuse the existing controls, buildings, trees, figures, autos, action accessories and such, along with the same locomotives and rolling stock (of course.) But the new layout is going to be built using nickel-silver Bachmann E-Z Track! (Using it at the local downtown museum has grown on me quite a bit.) The new layout will also have a couple of foam layers on top of the plywood, and instead of using the old dining table seen here, I will mount the new layout on an all-new benchwork frame, providing an easier opportunity for drilling through the table to install wires and such, along with building a little ravine and such for a railroad bridge to go over (I'm going to get Bachmann's E-Z Track blinking bridge for that.)
I've often felt that moving to a new house often provides a model railroader an excellent opportunity to design a brand-new model railroad layout. And the house my parents are eyeing is going to have a pretty big basement that will be cleaner than our current one, so that's definitely a good sign!
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Country: USA ~
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Posted - October 08 2017 : 12:36:58 PM
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Moving with trains is always a tough endeavor.
I use Bachmann EZ track on my layout and I love how easy it is to clean and maintain, the turnouts can be a bit picky though.
Can't wait to see your progress on your new layout!
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Posts: 247 ~
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Last Visit: October 14 2025
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Posted - October 08 2017 : 4:52:52 PM
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about the Blinking Bridge?
It uses power from the track & can & will get the locos to lose & gain power when light blinks
I suggest that you power it via a power pack separately from the track
I know this cause I had one on my layout in the old house I lived in
I disconnected & removed the bulb from the track to use it in a Heljen lighthouse
need that lighthouse again!
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