here's a question for anyone that can help

[thatboy37]

here is all the track power supply and bridges that i already have. all or the majority of it is fastrack. is there anyone out here who can help me design a layout with these supplies without charging me a arm and a leg to do so. and are there any other supplies that i might need to make this train layout come true for me. hey SPANKYBIRD if you are out there could you please help me here i'm lost and dont know what to do with all this stuff. it all is just sitting in the room over my garage all in their original boxes never been used except for one of my sd80macs and a few pieces of my track. this is not only for spankybird but for all of you who would like to help me in getting this matter resolved. please help tired of just watching my trains sit and not get any action.


ITEMS QTY.
Lionel Fastrack 30" Section # 6-012042024 182
Lionel 072 WYE Remote Switch # 6-12047 13
Lionel 072 Left Hand Remote Switch # 6-12048 6
Lionel 072 Right Hand Remote Switch # 6-12049 4
Lionel Fastrack Accessory Activator # 6-12029 2
Lionel Fastrack Uncoupling Track # 6-12020 8
Lionel Fastrack Grade Crossing # 6-12036 6
Lionel Fastrack Grade Crossing w/ Flashers # 6-12052 1
Lionel Fastrack Terminal Section # 6-12016 15
Lionel Fastrack Transition Piece # 6-12040 16
Lionel Fastrack Earthen Bumpers # 6-12059 3
Lionel Fastrack 036 1/4" Curve # 6-????? 28
Lionel Insulating Track Pins # 6-65543 1
10" Track Piece # 4960 29
5" Track Piece # 4961 3
Lionel Fastrack 4.5" Inch Track # 6-????? 10
Lionel Fastrack 072 Curve Track # 6-????? 114
Lionel Fastrack 060 Curve Track # 6-????? 104
Lionel Fastrack 048 Curve Track # 6-????? 66
Lionel Fastrack 036 Curve Track # 6-????? 10
Lionel Fastrack Graduated Trestle # 6-12037 6
Lionel Fastrack Elevated Trestle # 6-12038 12

Lionel 350 engine Transfer Table # 6-14113 1
Lionel 350 Transfer Table Ext Piece # 6-14114 1

Atlas Turntable # 6910 1
Atlas Roundhouse Kit # 6904 2
5 Stall Wooden Roundhouse Kit # 1000 1

Lionel Truss Bridge w/ Flashers # 6-12772 2
MTH Steel Arch Bridge # 40-1013 1 Lionel Covered Bridge # 6-24117 1
Model Power High Truss Bridge # 6095 1
Cedar Falls Truss Bridge # 3060 1
K-Line Fisherman On Bridge # K42402 1
MTH Girder Bridge # 40-1014 1
Lionel Drawbridge # 6-14173 1
K-Line Operating Swing Bridge # K42439 1

MTH Z4000 Transformer # 40-4000 2
Cab-1 Remote Controller # 6-12868 1
TMCC Command Base # 6-12911 1
Lionel TMCC Track Power Controller # 6-14179 1
Lionel TMCC Switch Accessory Controller # 6-22980 2

MTH Yard Master Tower # 30-11027 2
MTH Pennsy Signal Bridge # 30-11030 1
Lionel Double Floodlight Tower # 6-24103 1
Lionel Yard Lights # 6-12927 1
Lionel Diesel Fueling Station # 6-14156 1
Lionel Die Cast Cantilever # 6-22931 1
Lionel Pedestrian Walkover & Speed Sensor # 6-14082 1
Lionel Street Lamps # 6-24156 5
Life-Like Spotlights # 1628 4
MTH Tell Tale # 30-11026 1
MTH Fuel/Water Column Set # 30-11037 1
U.P. Operating Car Painting Acces # K-42434 1

Lionel Accessory Pack # 6-24197 2
Lionel Carnival People Pack # 6-24124 2
Lionel Railroad Yard People Pack # 6-24193 1
Life-Like Benches # 6058 2
Life-Like Walking Figures # 6178 2
Life-Like Fat People # 6062 2
Life-Like People Walking # 1856 2
Model Power Deer # 6177 3
Life-Like Railroad People # 1862 2
Life-Like People Standing # 1855 2
Life-Like City People # 1854 2
Life-Like People # 1861 2
Life-Like People Sitting # 1857 2

Lionel Intermodal Crane # 6-12741 1
Lionel Tractor Trailor # 6-29271 9
Lionel 3 Pack Intermodal Containers # 6-12855 13
Lionel Trailor Frame # 6-12852 14

Government of Canada Cylindrical Hopper # 6-27113 12
C.N. Ore Car w/o load # 6-6126 7
K-Line Die Cast 2 Bay Hopper # 6254-1251 23
Atlas Die Cast 2 Bay Hopper # 6440-2 10
Lionel Die Cast 2 Bay Hopper # 6-17058 55
K-Line TTAX 2 Pack Spine Car # K77023 3
Lionel TTUX 2 Pack Spine Car # 6-16363 13
Lionel Polar Express Diner Car # 6-25134 1
Lionel Polar Express Baggage Car # 6-25135 1
C.N. Roadrailer # 87023 30
C.N. Roadrailer # 87018 9
Couplermate # 87000 1

Lionel C.N. Ext Vision Caboose # 6-17659 1
MTH CSX Ext Vision Caboose # 20-91118 1

Lionel C.P. SD-90 # 6-18271 1
Lionel CSX Dash 9-44 CW # 6-18283 1
Lionel N.S. SD80Mac # 6-28240 3
Lionel C.N. Dash 9-44 CW # 6-18287 2
MTH C.N. RS-3 Non-Power # 30-2410-3 1
MTH N.S. Non-Power SD60 # 20-2449-3 1
Lionel U.P. Ballast Tamper # 6-18490 2
Lionel Dodge Inspection Truck # 6-18484 1
Lionel CSX Rail Bonder # 6-28406 1

K-Line 3 Bay Unloading Station # -41411 1
Lionel 3 Piece Coaling Station # 6-22936 1
Lionel Operating Coal Loader # 6-14004 1
Lionel Electric Coal Elevator # 6-32921 1
Bachmann Coaling Station # 45301 1

Lionel The Scrambler # 6-24179 1
Lionel Pirate Ship Ride # 6-14171 1
Lionel Kiddie City Toy # 6-34129 1
Lionel Carousel # 6-34190 1
Lionel Park Swing Ride # 6-14170 1
Lionel Hot Air Balloon Ride # 6-24177 1
Lionel Test O Strength # 6-24161 1
Lionel Camel Race Game # 6-34159 1
Lionel Balancing Man # 6-24172 1
Lionel Playtime Playground # 6-24138 1
Lionel Franks Hotdog Stand # 6-14160 1
Lionel Playground Swing # 6-14199 1
Lionel Operating Ferris Wheel # 6-14110 1
Lionel Duck Shooting Gallery # 6-24139 1
Lionel Cotton Candy Stand # 6-14231 1
K-Line Suzy's Ice Cream Stand # 43042 1
K-Line Joe's Burger Stand # 43041 1
Lionel Ring Toss Game # 6-34158 1
MTH A&W Rootbeer Stand # 30-9068 1

Amtrak Acela Train Set # 6-31714 1
Black Diamond Frieght Set # 6-31993 1
Polar Express # 6-31960 1
CP Grain Train Set # 6-31736 1

[Anonymous]

From the Sets, Locomotives, and Cars listed the theme you are hinting at is a rail line from Minneapolis to Chicago to Detroit or Toledo.

What is missing in the layout caculation is a limit for the room dimensions.

Andrew

[Anonymous]

From the extensive list of items on your inventory list, it looks as if you've already had something in mind. I think you should go with your own ideas and plans. That's the way most have build their layouts. Thru trial and error. It's part of the fun in my opinion. Just start putting it together. You'll probably surprise yourself.

[traindaddy1]

Wow! A lot of goodies. I think the first thing to do is to define the amount of space that you have to work with for your layout. Next, think of the overall vision. Ask: Do you want to use everything or do you want to use only those items that will make an interesting little world? Sometimes "less is more". Keep us updated. All the best.

[jimhaleyscomet]

As others have said, it all depends on your space. That being said I would do two things.
1. Start with an oval and then start adding things (switches, operating) to get a feel for what you like.
2. Strongly consider RR track. It will enable you to lay out and try different things on the computer.

Jim H

[thatboy37]

thanks for the comments and input will just start uilding and go from there. the themes i have choosing are a coal yard, intermodal yard, a carnival area, i also want to put a airpor on there, and last but not least a passenger station for my accella and polar express. but being that i have fastrack and it is not as flexiable do you think i will be able to get all these things in a area of about 550 sq ft in a room above my 3 car garage the table top area is actually 550 sq ft and i have about a 30" walk around space around the whole layout. i dont know how to post pictures yet but will learn eventually. i will try to explain the deminsions of my layout by words if you can get a visual picture thats great but i will need to learn how to post pistures that way you can get a true idea but here goes. along back wall it will go 4 feet up back wall then make right turn in for 2 1/2' then it will go up for 28 1/4' then make right turn at top of room for 12 1/2' then make right turn for 12 1/4' then left turn for 4' then right turn for 17 1/2' then right turn for 4' then left turn for 5 1/3' then right turn for 8' 7" then right turn for 2' 8" then left turn for 6' 6" which will then join in the corner where it all started at. you actually can walk all the way around the layout except for when you get to that initial corner where it all started. so what im saying is you can walk all the way around from the top corner al the way around but when you get around to the back corner where it all meets up again you will have to walk back around the whole layout to get back to the start point. you have a walk around space of 30" around the layout. if you can get a visual let me know or tell me how to post a picture and then we can get a better idea of what im talking about. hope to hear from you soon.

[Anonymous]

That surface area is enormous. It is 5 times as large as what I am working on.

The Coal accessories could be divided into loading and unloading. Load at one place and unload at other locations.

One possible way of working out the track is to start by putting the curved track at all the corners and meeting the straight sections between the curves. the track plan will flow more realistically.

I notice that the many bridges and bridge supports will require cut down sections for the river to "Flow-Through". These will be best located down below the tracks in a cut away of the building material like extruded polystyrene foam or a fiberboard material.

At the Kalamazoo Train Show in October Dave Williams was there selling his amazing simulated water product called MAGIC WATER. It is an epoxy solution that looks just like water and does not crack or haze. www.unrealdetails.com is the website.

I might think of more later.

Andrew Falconer

[Anonymous]

From the amount of things on that list, it looks more like your starting a hobby shop than a layout!

[Anonymous]

Wow that's amazing! With all those items you have enough to create quite a layout! Like the others have suggested, go with your own feel on what kind of RR empire you want, and build it to suit you and to resemble you. Others helping is always a great thing, but a layout is always better and has a better personality from the person who build it himself.

You have alot of awesome items, no doubt worth several thousands of dollars worth....you should work on putting that investment to good use! [:)]

[thatboy37]

i will put it all to work but i know i will need alot of advice to get this thing up and running. the first thing i will need is for someone to help me figure out how to post pictures that way i can keep you guys posted on how im doing and where this layout is headed. i tried earlier to post but it didnt work. actually i can think of his name at the time but he posted them for and asked is this what im trying to do. please help lost in this aspect of the hobby of posting pictures

[darianj]

QUOTE: Originally posted by thatboy37

i will put it all to work but i know i will need alot of advice to get this thing up and running. the first thing i will need is for someone to help me figure out how to post pictures that way i can keep you guys posted on how im doing and where this layout is headed. i tried earlier to post but it didnt work. actually i can think of his name at the time but he posted them for and asked is this what im trying to do. please help lost in this aspect of the hobby of posting pictures

Thatboy...I saw your attempts to post your pics. All you have to do is take the link and put image tags around it. So it shoud look like this:

<img>
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6d803b3127cce8af2bd8f118a00000016100AcN3LJo1aMmMg</img>"

BUT you have to replace "<" with "[" and ">" with "]". Leave out the quotes. I can't show you exactly because of the way the forum works.

Give it a try when you get a chance.

Darianj

[Anonymous]

I know others here are probably thinking it, so I just gotta ask?

Why in the world would you accumulate such an extensive array of track and accessory items if you didn't first have a plan for what you might need and how you would use it?

Kind of a different approach, to be sure. I know of a great many hobbyists who have more trains than they can possibly use, but very few who have tons of track and accessories but relatively few trains (aside from those who may collect a particular type of accessory).

I guess I'm just curious about why someone would gather such a huge array of such things as track items, which are readily available, along with bridges and such, without any prior plan in mind for the size and type of layout he might want.

I'm not being critical, because anyone is free to approach the hobby in any way he or she desires, but I think this is probably the first time in my many years in the hobby that I've seen this particular scenario.

[thatboy37]

well the reason is that i had the money right then to do it and i was not planning on building this layout until i was finished playing professional football with the cincinnati bengals. which i didnt think wold happen until a couple of years from now. but like they say all things ont happen as planned. plus once i finished playing i didnt want to have to start from scratch once i finished playing so what i did was as i traveled of the u.s. to different cities to play a game i would find time during which i had free. i would make it a point to go to every hobbyshop that i possibly could and buy what i liked and thought i would need or use on my layout. now that i have all this stuff i dont have to worry about trying to find it as i build my layout it is all here like the accessories, track, and rolling stock which i think that i might not have all of the switches that a want to make the size train yard that i want but hey i guess i have a good enough start to get me going. plus this stuff is so expensive that there is no way that i would be able to purchase this stuff with especially on a regular paying salary not to brag or boast but i have been truely blessed to have played 4 fun and exciting years with the bengals from 2002 to 2005. i havent really been posting and talking to you guys but i have been checking up on this web site periodically to see what you guys have been talking. but being that i dont play anymore now i have time to chat, find out whats good to use and whats not good. the nfl people say that those guys are very over payed but if you played the game at that level and had to go through pain after every game or be away from your family for more than half the year you guys would deffiently see why they are payed as such. plus the life exspectantcy of all football players is the tender age of 55. the more and more you play the lower that age is for the guys who get out there and try to entertain guys like yourself for a living. so that is why i bought all this stuff because i seen online the few times i checked online alot of you guys ask why do some of the hobby shops charge so much or you guys try to find a great deal on something, or you say you cant afford to get this stuff so i took that as get what you like and surround what you think you want to build your layout around and thats what i did. im going to try to and put a coal yard and facility on there, an intermodal yard, a couple of passenger station, a airport, and a carnival area. plus the track scenario i would see online that a few guys would ask are the fastrack in abundance or or is lionel running low or you would travel how ever far to get a particular track piece and they would have it and that would be a wasted trip. hen you have to wait a couple of weeks for the part and not be able to finish what you started. so i bought all this stuff in abundance. but the hobby shops here where i live in memphis, tn they said that what ever i didnt use they would swap it out for what i need if i didnt need that piece which i think is really nice of them. buy the way i been into trains since the age of 5. and as a little kid you always dreaned of having this enormous train layout in your house when you get older, and being that i was blessed to play professional football. i took advantage of the situation. not that it matters but i have been to hobby shops in indiana, ohio, philly, kentucky, tennessee, mississippi, alabama, california, florida, las vegas, texas illinois, georgia, edmonton-alberta, plus i have ordered online from shops that might be in your home town or surrounding area. so like i've said i have really been truely blessed to have been able to go to,and see these shops and be able to get what i want without having to worry about how long it would ake me to save up and buy a particular piece. so in other words thats why i bought all this stuff. now that im not playing anymore i have alot of time on my hand now to start building my layout and get started with the other phase of my life outside of football. which will be trains and now try to find a job in the working world which seems very impossible for right now but im sure things will fall in place as the LORD sees fit. adapting and adjusting to life after football is not the easiest thing to do if you know what i mean. yes i did et my college degree in human environmental sciences from the great university of alabama. roll tide for any roll tiders out there. i have gotten a great start on life and blessed to this point and will continue to be blessed because i believe and know that he ( THE LORD) has something for me all have to do is be patience and wait. but patience has always been a virtue for me, but im getting better at it. so please pray for me as i will do the same for you if you ever need it. i will pray for you to have great health and blessed life even if you dont ask. if this doesnt explain why ask me again and i will try to clarify it for you again. now thats enough on my life what about yours and can we start to figure out what to do with all this stuff which i already have a hind site but its going to take your advice plus the help of others to help me get started and get this layout up and running. so here's my official choo-choo all aboard into this world of train modeling. i do travel alot and when i do travel to different cities i will post it online to what city i will be traveling to. hopefully it is where some of you guys stay or the surrounding cities. if you dont mind i would like to stop by and visit you and your layout to get some pointers and great advice which i know all of you have and is not the same. because we all have different approaches to how we do and get results to what we want done in our little train world which we call our own world. same goes for you guys if you are ever in memphis, tn and want to stop buy my house to talk or even give me some of your great train advice which we all have please feel free to do so as my house is open to you and all who want to come see my layout. just give me a heads up to make sure i will be here and we can make it a train weekend. contact me via email at [e-mail] i check my email 6 to 7 times a day so it want go unnoticed for at least a hour or two before i respond. i wish you all the best of luck with what ever you do. GOD BLESS and have a great day.

thatboy aka reggie

[spankybird]

HI Reggie,

I have not been on the forum much, but have now seen your posting. Check your email.

here is the pic that was tring to be posted

[Anonymous]

i also have a question for anyone that can help. ijust started in o guage and would like to know if 0-27 trains can run on regulure o guage track and can o guage trains run on 0-27 track? is the 0-27 just refering to the curve radius or is the track itself a different width

[thatboy37]

i dont know really as you can tell im just starting myself but maybe someone who's been in this for a while can tell you the difference

[spankybird]

QUOTE: Originally posted by hughw

i also have a question for anyone that can help. ijust started in o guage and would like to know if 0-27 trains can run on regulure o guage track and can o guage trains run on 0-27 track? is the 0-27 just refering to the curve radius or is the track itself a different width

O27 trains can run on 'O' gauge track without any problem

'O' gauge trains running on O27 track depends on the trains, engines and cars. There is a differance in height of the profile of the track and of course the '27' refers to the dia of the track. And it dose come in much larger diameters. The problem most people have is with the Lionel switches. If you are using the low profile K-line switches it will be ok.

If the recommand size track is 054 then you will need that dia track in either O gauge or O27 profile track. [:D]

[Anonymous]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH !!

[Anonymous]

thatboy37,

welcome to the sedentary lifestyle. i hope your trains are fulfilling.

a small word of advice: sometimes when a body is fine tuned, as yours should be, the transition to a sedentary lifestyle is not without side effects. when i went from pro athlete to trainguy, my body reacted. cholesterol and blood sugar went up, bone density went down, and the osteo-arthritis came on with a passion. had i not been under medical supervision at the time, i'd be a lot more of a physical wreck than i am now.

keep an eye on yourself. trains are no good if your'e not healthy.

-rrick

[Poppa_Zit]

I was the one who configured your pictures properly. At the bottom, I told you to click on "Quote" so you could see the commands I added.

Anyway, do you know this guy?

[thatboy37]

yeah thats me with my signature pose after every tackle i made. i can say i was truely blessed to be or have a chance to play in the nfl. where did you get that picture and i also have a 3 1/2 feet x 5 feet painting of that exact picture on my wall as we speak right now.

[Poppa_Zit]

QUOTE: Originally posted by thatboy37

yeah thats me with my signature pose after every tackle i made. i can say i was truely blessed to be or have a chance to play in the nfl. where did you get that picture and i also have a 3 1/2 feet x 5 feet painting of that exact picture on my wall as we speak right now.

Reggie -- on my post with the picture, click on "Quote" on the upper right corner. That will show you the post in raw form, and you'll be able to see the "html" commands, which will give you the web address of the photograph.

The photo is free wallpaper the Bengals made available to fans on their website. You can download it and use it as the background when your computer turns on.

I found your ID after doing a search of Bengals rosters in 2004, and saw your name listed as No. 37 (as in thatboy37). I played college ball and covered the Chicago Bears as a reporter for nine years (1981-1989) -- so it was an educated guess 37 was your football number, as most guys I know still sign an autograph with their number -- even 35 years after they retire. I did another search and found head and shoulders cuts of Reggie Myles -- then compared them to the face in picture of your intended and you. It matched the head and shoulder cuts I found.

So, fellow train people, we now have former Crimson Tide, former Bengal, now rug-runner, soon-to-be-husband Reggie Myles in our midst.

Here is the picture's address with html commands:

http://www.bengals.com/assets/myles1_1024.jpg

Here's another:

[thatboy37]

yes thats me in the making of future husband and all the above. thanks for the warm welcome to the forum, and all you guys for the help and advice. what you didnt think that was me. you thought i would tell you a lie. no i wouldnt i want you to tell me the truth about all the train tricks so i had to do so. i normally dont like to tell that i played ball because people would forget about you and only want to talk to you about football and not reggie if you know what i mean. being a football player you know we do like our privacy but we really cant get that but it all goes with the territory

[Poppa_Zit]

QUOTE: Originally posted by thatboy37

yes thats me in the making of future husband and all the above. thanks for the warm welcome to the forum, and all you guys for the help and advice. what you didnt think that was me. you thought i would tell you a lie. no i wouldnt i want you to tell me the truth about all the train tricks so i had to do so. i normally dont like to tell that i played ball because people would forget about you and only want to talk to you about football and not reggie if you know what i mean. being a football player you know we do like our privacy but we really cant get that but it all goes with the territory

I understand. Having been in the sports media for over 35 years I have met hundreds of professional athletes, and those who aren't jerks usually end up as my friends (you know how that is).

Sometimes we go out to socialize, sometimes we play golf, sometimes they come over when we have a party and maybe even run trains. And in over 30 years I have never introduced a guy as "so-and-so of the Bears" or whatever. That is what the jock-sniffers do, and I won't use my friends to make myself look good in front of other people, as many others do. You know how that works, too. When you were playing, everyone in the world was palsy-walsy. As soon as you stopped playing, they took you off their list. Those people are front-runners and name-droppers and aren't worth worrying about. You already know who your true friends are, because they don't attempt to show you off to others -- and they'll always be honest to you.

Have fun.

[thatboy37]

no doubt i have seen who they are since i have stopped playing and it kinda hurts to know that you give your all in to being their friend and they dont have two words to say to you once you are not doing what you used to do. but thats the way of the world and who knows when thats going to change or if it will. but the only friends i need in my life are GOD # 1, my family # 2, and my future other half who is pregnant with my first and only child which will move to # 2 when we get married within the next couple of monthes. she doesnt know it yet but im going to go ahead and do it and put the past it the past and move on to have a family of my own and get the second half of my life started. hopefully you will be one of the friends that will be there in time of need not just when all is going good. as for i will be there for you.

[riverrailfan]

You have a heck of a collection of fastrack items. Some of them very difficult if not impossible to find. It took me 3 weeks to find someone that had 30 inch straights. I strongly recommend RR Tracks program to design it on your computer. I used this to design my 12x8 layout. It took me a week to design and it comes down to where you will use those 1.75,4.5 and 5 inch straights along with the 1/4 and 1/2 curves to get the track to connect. If you can make connect on RR Tracks, it does fit together on the bench.

[dwiemer]

Reggie,
Got a few ideas. First, since you have a lot of Fastrack, you should buy the book that just came out, I think it goes for around $20 at Amazon, you can do a search and it will give you the exact title. That way you can get some ideas for your layout. Second, make a list of any type business that you want to model on your layout. Lastly, I notice that you are not afraid to run a floor layout. Since you already have the track, etc, I would play with any layout ideas before building benchwork. go ahead and set up on the floor in the given area you have to work with. Try running trains and see how you like what you have. It may seem like a bit more work, but I think it will be worth it as you can see what works for you. Take pictures as you go and perhaps we can help along the way.
Good luck and I look forward to seeing your posts. We live in Georgia and have family in TN, so perhaps we will get to meet up with you. Take care and God Bless,
Dennis

[dwiemer]

Reggie,
Just got to page two after having posted to page one. First, It is great to see that you have your priorities in propper order. Just wait till the baby comes, you will see a whole new side of life. My wife and I didn't think marriage changed either of us, then child #1 came and our world was totally different. You will never be so tired, so much at wit's end. But, you also will never love another as you will your child and your wife. So, congratulations! God and family are so much more than any job we can do.
Now, onto trains. As others have posted, the RR Tracks program is very usefull. You can get a good idea of what you want to do with your layout and get exact plans with amount of track and accessories to see what else you may need or what you have left over to add to your layout.
On the social side of things, we have the Coffee pot postings where we all just keep up with each other. Lets us talk non train issues, family issues, etc. Stop by when you get a chance. They are a friendly bunch and like to pick on each other.
Take care
Dennis