The Wise Young man's Small layout update & How-to thread

[The wise young man]

 -Large UPDATE-

I JUST GOT BACK FROM THE GTE!

My purchases were a dwarf brand new signal - $10

new crossing gate , only lights on it no sound or gates, -25, but saw another same thing for $35

Lionel 244 with tender $15, and a Need-wiring uncoupling/unload track wire was $3 and fixed it

and some track

My question is about the signal, the push down thing for under the rail, is not good enough, the signal will go from green to red when the loco passes but as the cars go across it is stuck and doesn't show a color then after the train it goes back to  green, what can I do , I have swapped it and its not the push down, I think I need a better type. any suggestions? thanks in advance

[Brutus]

Hey Man - you might want to check out some plans on the thor website?  Keep us posted, it sounds like a fun project!  Maybe you could comibine a door with the plywood sheet and have a sort of L shaped layout?

[The wise young man]

 -Update-

The doors were too narrow so i tried to bolt them together. and after 3 hours of work, i took a break only to see a 38x74 piece of plywood buried behind pictures, fishing poles and golf bags, so I will build on the about 3x6 piece of wood, Track plan is sketchy but with some pin pulling I am trying to have two loops that will be very close but will provide alot of action in a extremely small (for O-31) space.

[The wise young man]

 Quick side note, I finally got my Smoker on my 2026 to work properly, however sometimes the little cord in the steamer glows orange, is this a fire? is this OK, do I have a problem?

[Demay]

Glad to hear it.  I post pics of mine when I make some progress.  Work on it has been slow recently since we just had our third child.  I look forward to seeing your progress.

Joe

[The wise young man]

 I have seen update threads for layouts so I am creating one fro my first layout which after a few months of preparation will begin.

in the last the month I have bought more switches, 6 Plastic-ville buildings, and recently i found two doors, they perfect being hollow, in good condition and free. Tomorrow work starts.