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 Posted - September 28 2016 : 8:17:16 PM
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Came across a piece of plywood and it was just what I needed to try again at putting together a layout that would fit my attic space without overtaking it; that I could disassemble to carry down the steps; that would be big enough to watch the trains go round and round; that would be a bit higher for better viewing; and that would allow me to put all the "train stuff" underneath it. I also moved to the other side of the room to gain a little skylight illumination. The "yard" will allow me to have a few trains to run around that intriguing oval. It will certainly be a challenge trying to make this oval interesting, but it is definitely more fun to be able to actually let some trains roll . . . [the main portion of the layout is 4 X 4 with a 15" X 30" yard; still trying to figure out how the yard will go]
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Posted - September 28 2016 : 9:53:58 PM
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| Love it, Barry. Less is more!
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Posted - September 28 2016 : 11:38:51 PM
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Step 1 to an interesting oval layout - don't place the straightaways parallel to the edge of the layout table.
Check!  
Glenn
I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"
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Posted - September 29 2016 : 11:19:56 PM
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Welcome back among those of us who are blessed to have a layout. 
Is that power pack in the picture one of the old Lionel packs with a variable transformer as a throttle?
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - September 30 2016 : 12:33:57 AM
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| It is an older Lionel Don, though I don't know about the inner workings. I'll have to plead ignorance to the inner workings, but it seems relatively heavy and also seems to put out good current to the track. And I am glad to have a place to run trains again. Even though the track isn't nailed down yet (still trying to decide on what I want to live with for awhile . . . realizing change is inevitable), I've have fun watching them go round and round.
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Posted - September 30 2016 : 07:20:40 AM
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quote:It is an older Lionel Don, though I don't know about the inner workings. I'll have to plead ignorance to the inner workings,
Originally posted by Barry - September 30 2016 : 12:33:57 AM
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Yes, that's the old "coil swipe" design transformer, has copper windings that the contact arm moves over with rollers. Can't tell which model it is, similar to a 1033. Lionel made MANY variations of transformers over the years, it's hard to keep track of them all. But they're nearly bullet proof, and can be repaired fairly easity ( unless burned up ). A keeper for sure.
Jerry
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - September 30 2016 : 08:32:28 AM
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Loving the layout Barry. Small layouts are the way to go for sure.
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Posted - October 25 2016 : 7:46:43 PM
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Many digressions over the past several weeks (discovered a split brake drum on my 50 Chevy; now I'm going to write a story for Mechanics Illustrated . . . 'Brake Job In Six Weeks'). I did work on the layout from time to time, including what I thought would really make it fine . . . painting the track. Ha! I thought I was really being careful, and I had these "vintage" brass tracks and turnouts (even powered turnouts!). It ran terrible. I thought I was really being careful and tedious with cleaning the contact points, and maybe it is that brass track is that much less dependable. So . . I went back to the Atlas nickle silver and it seems to work fine. Now I'm in the process of cleaning up the locomotives that needed it because of the track mishap and probably sitting for several months.
Lastly, a short run . . .
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Posted - October 25 2016 : 11:17:59 PM
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I see buildings. Are scenery and structures in the offing, down the road?
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - October 26 2016 : 12:03:11 AM
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| Lionel Made a HO version of the 1044 and the SW
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Posted - October 26 2016 : 11:24:37 AM
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| I believe some scenery and structures will be in the offing; soon as this weather gets to where it's uncomfortable to work outside. This layout can be unbolted and hauled out of the room, so maybe in some respects I can do some more permanent type scenery? I've just gotten the track to where I believe it is reliable and now I want to get all the locomotives serviced. I should be able to have 3 trains on the layout at one time; maybe one running around the circle and a couple in the yard. That one pile of pieces in the background is the freight station that I've been messing with the windows on. As per your suggestion Don, I'm putting trim around the windows; styrene strips. By the way, the transformer is "Lionel Model 0100 Power Pack".
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Posted - October 26 2016 : 11:30:16 AM
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Most people see a slab of plywood, and think "wood." To guys like us it is a
blank canvas. This little plan comes from one of the Atlas track plan books,
I think, but it is my next project. I am fascinated with how much can be done
in a small place.
Are you going to do the granite dells, aka the boulders, again? Nice little video.
That Mantua runs like a Swiss watch.
Oh, BTW, are the leaves turning, yet, in Colorado? Must be gorgeous.
Edited by - Chops124 on October 26 2016 11:33:23 AM
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Posted - October 26 2016 : 4:07:55 PM
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| Leaves started turning a few weeks back, but this has been a fall of magnificent color. Just came on slow enough I guess? That is a pretty cool track plan you posted there Jeff. I did strongly consider doing something like that, but the grades were steep enough that I wouldn't have been able to enjoy just letting the locomotives run. I'm thinking something will develop over the course of a few months and rocks is one place I'm going to begin.
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Posted - October 26 2016 : 4:19:28 PM
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Barry, I love what you're doing, and it's inspired my own small layout.
Chops, I always liked that plan. The only mods I would make would be to shorten the upper tunnel and bring a mine spur off the upper right and possibly a 1 or 2 car spur at Dennison.
It takes alot to design a large layout, but alot more to design a good small one.
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Posted - October 27 2016 : 6:29:31 PM
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quote:Leaves started turning a few weeks back, but this has been a fall of magnificent color. Just came on slow enough I guess? That is a pretty cool track plan you posted there Jeff. I did strongly consider doing something like that, but the grades were steep enough that I wouldn't have been able to enjoy just letting the locomotives run. I'm thinking something will develop over the course of a few months and rocks is one place I'm going to begin.
Originally posted by Barry - October 26 2016 : 4:07:55 PM
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Yes, sometimes having a track plan grow "organically" can be quite interesting. I did that, by force of
circumstance, with my OO layout, and it turned out surprisingly well- for my interests.
I intend build above mentioned layout, even have the slab, the blank canvas as it were, sitting in
the garage. And as you mentioned, the grades might be a limiting factor to running rather short
trains. To get the track up and over itself in 3.5 feet may require a fairly precipitous rise.
But then, the curiousity factor draws me in; can it be done??? Certainly a question raised by
early railway builders as they navigated terrain.
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Posted - November 05 2016 : 10:00:07 PM
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Posted - November 05 2016 : 10:49:21 PM
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Looks like things are taking shape.
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - November 06 2016 : 12:30:11 AM
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Looking good Barry!
So what era and region are you aiming for? I'm thinking 1870's Kansas myself :)
Looking forward to progress on this gem. I love your yard layout.
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Posted - November 06 2016 : 10:07:29 AM
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| I'm thinking circa 1900 . . . maybe a "broad" circa, but I do favor the steam and maybe some geography like my neighborhood. I'm not sure where things are going. I'm building this freight station kit presently that's probably too big for this layout, but I liked the model. Maybe this will be the "eclectic" electric railroad. I'm thinking I probably lack the patience (and time and money) to do a really fine realistic looking layout diorama, so at this point I'm just playing with a few toys, placing them hither and tither and seeing how it strikes me.
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Posted - December 24 2016 : 12:56:59 PM
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A few photos from this morning . . .
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Posted - December 24 2016 : 1:53:09 PM
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Remarkable! Your use of found rocks is most striking.
Arizona back country. Granite dells.
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Posted - December 24 2016 : 2:36:07 PM
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Nice pictures. I like the one with the guys loafing on the station platform.
I also like that engine with the Russia Iron jacket. I remember when you were building that one.
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - December 25 2016 : 08:38:06 AM
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| That looks great, Barry!
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Posted - December 27 2016 : 1:06:16 PM
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Posted - December 27 2016 : 1:49:49 PM
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| I love all the details Barry.
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Posted - December 27 2016 : 2:18:59 PM
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I was gonna do a mine scene using Fool's Gold 
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Posted - December 27 2016 : 6:46:12 PM
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I still think that coal loading dock is the cat's meow.
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - December 28 2016 : 7:33:57 PM
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Not a video of particularly fine quality, but for you, a peek into someone else's mess . . .
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Posted - December 29 2016 : 7:00:06 PM
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| Enjoyed the video. Craftsman quality.
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Posted - January 11 2017 : 8:21:36 PM
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I don't really have a specific idea where this layout is going. But, I did pop for some trees yesterday. I'm fairly pleased with the dimension and color they seem capable of adding. If I look at them too closely, I pick up on them not looking that real, but from a few feet away and squinting the whole thing looks a bit more convincing than it did [with the addition of trees].
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Posted - January 11 2017 : 9:27:46 PM
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Trees have a way of blending scenery together. If you approach an old town in the open countryside, you see the trees and the buildings and they blend in as part of the landscape. If you approach a brand new subdivision where the trees have yet to grow, the houses sit starkly on the land looking out of place like something that just dropped from the sky.
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - June 17 2017 : 3:02:57 PM
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Haven't done a great deal to this Spartan layout, but the light coming through this morning was quite nice. Camera could do better at translating that idea. Have added some deciduous trees and a few more stones and rocks. If you get at just the right angle and narrow your field of vision, it looks pretty cool.
Such a busy place this morning. Looks like they're gettin' backed up for some reason.
Looks like they got movin' along.
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Posted - June 18 2017 : 2:05:21 PM
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| Wow, that Mite runs like a Swiss watch.
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