Who ran trains today?

@Chops here are a few of his latest YT videos middle one I took at the yearly "Tour de Chooch" which is a yearly event the weekend after Thanskgiving where area model railroaders in the area have open houses and you can drive around and check out everyone elses layouts!

Sorry, I'm going to butt in with an N scale video.

I recently installed a drop-in sound decoder from XL Systems into this Kato SD70ACe. The sounds are bit muted, as I have not made any holes in the shell to let the sound out yet. Overall, I'm happy.

I also cleaned the locomotive really well for the first time since I bought it a little over a year ago. There was some fuzz up in the axles. Boy want a difference a little cleaning made in it's pulling ability. Easily added 10 cars in the consist just because the loco is clean.

I finally got back in the swing!!!

JeffHurl said:

Sorry, I'm going to butt in with an N scale video.

I recently installed a drop-in sound decoder from XL Systems into this Kato SD70ACe. The sounds are bit muted, as I have not made any holes in the shell to let the sound out yet. Overall, I'm happy.

I also cleaned the locomotive really well for the first time since I bought it a little over a year ago. There was some fuzz up in the axles. Boy want a difference a little cleaning made in it's pulling ability. Easily added 10 cars in the consist just because the loco is clean.

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That's an impressive consist, how many cars? And that's gotta be one of the nicest N scale layouts I've ever seen! Please post more pics/videos to show more details!

Thanks!! I believe I have 37 cars being pulled by that one loco. There is one area with a 2-foot long 2% incline. I wanted the Victorian mansion to be up on the highest point, so I raised one area up a half an inch. It slows down a little bit going up the hill and speeds back up going down. And I just got done cleaning the loco, so it's pulling at its strongest right now.

I still have a lot to do with ballasting, and so far there are no people on the layout yet, and very little small details like shipping crates, and other "dock" items along the riverfronts.

JeffHurl said:

Thanks!! I believe I have 37 cars being pulled by that one loco. There is one area with a 2-foot long 2% incline. I wanted the Victorian mansion to be up on the highest point, so I raised one area up a half an inch. It slows down a little bit going up the hill and speeds back up going down. And I just got done cleaning the loco, so it's pulling at its strongest right now.

I still have a lot to do with ballasting, and so far there are no people on the layout yet, and very little small details like shipping crates, and other "dock" items along the riverfronts.

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I didn't even notice the 'missing' stuff like people or crates. I was too busy trying to take in what WAS there. I'm guessing you've put a few years in... nice work. 👍

Actually, the majority of that was done between November, 2021 and April 2022, but I started building structures 6 months prior to that.

I don't get to work on it much in the summer... I'd rather be outside than in the basement.👍

The only significant thing I've done this winter is to pour the river. For the longest time, the river was white sheets of styrene, waiting to become a river, lol.

I will say, that taking up this hobby has been really good for me spiritually. It is relaxing, and keeps my mind active. I like building it more than running the trains.

JeffHurl said:

Actually, the majority of that was done between November, 2021 and April 2022, but I started building structures 6 months prior to that.

I don't get to work on it much in the summer... I'd rather be outside than in the basement.👍

The only significant thing I've done this winter is to pour the river. For the longest time, the river was white sheets of styrene, waiting to become a river, lol.

I will say, that taking up this hobby has been really good for me spiritually. It is relaxing, and keeps my mind active. I like building it more than running the trains.

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I agree, there is a very soul satisfying quality to the creative aspect of the whole building process. Even though my layout is small, I've definitely benefited. And though I also love running trains, I'm always tinkering with some 'improvement' at the same time.

That Pennsy BL shattered my windows. I am also now suffering from permanent hearing loss, and my implants got rattled loose. Refund please.

I did. And noticed one of my can motor conversion DCC steamers is running jerky now. Bummer.
Pulled out the diesels for some smooth running today.

I would title that vignette "Changing of the Guard." A marvelous story told without a single word. The hulking, slowly rusting steamers parked on a siding, their throaty whistles silenced as the sleek F units, announced by their shrill horns hiss and rumble slowly across the foreground hauling battered veterans of wood and iron intermingled with some glistening cars that appear to have just been delivered from their manufactories.

My feeble attempt at another changing of the guard, my morbid obsession with the fall of the PC. The oddly painted GP is inspired by the Tyco paint schemes of similar fantasy.

I attempted to today but without much success... I finally wired in the interior two tracks that loop behind the chimney on my layout and no power!!! Technically I ran my F3 AB and F7 ABA set ups about once around the outside tracks to make sure they still worked which they did which is even more frustrating!!!

It’s frustrating when your trains worked….?

I tested and ran my only sound locomotive that was close to being damaged from water. I got lucky and it is not showing any signs of any damage...but it was close. But I did find my module moved and unhooked from the shelve layout so that ended any more fun till I resecure the module. Guess it's a good time to make a permanent mounting brackets for the backdrop while it is unhooked and accessible. I did make a scenery video while I was at it....

@SF Gal every time you post nighttime videos or pictures it makes me want to skip all the scenery stuff and go right to nighttime lighting!

Nice video, SFG! It's nice to see some of your recent projects have turned out so well -- I really like the LED 'starlight' and the interior of that glass-walled office building is really well done! Kudos!

afboundguy said:

@SF Gal every time you post nighttime videos or pictures it makes me want to skip all the scenery stuff and go right to nighttime lighting!

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I totally thought I lost my mind!!! I thought I was posting this in @SF Gal 's build thread but when I looked at the thread it wasn't there! Glad to see I'm not totally senile and it did get posted somewhere!!!