Teen Model Railroad Place March 2010

[ns3010]

April

[ns3010]

Yeah, I noticed that, considering that the thread got deleted...
The fact that the video was originally blocked probably didn't help...

I saw the SeaSnaxx one with the Owl first, so I could see that coming. But even before that, I knew something was up there...

Sorry!

[Anonymous]

This didn't go over too well as its own thread, but I know you guys have a sense of humor. This WAS an April Fools joke.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtvzIIsAHHI

[ns3010]

 IM ON SPRING BREAKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John, I'll watch the video again later and find some specific spots.

To make a long story short, practice was cancelled and I missed the bus (by 20 minutes...) and I was thinking of walking into town (since I had no way of getting home) and checking out the LHS there, but I didn't, because it was pouring (and still is...) and I didn't have money. I'll just go some other time I guess

[Railfan Alex]

I don't want to get into what my current roster is, as it really is all over the map, especially locomotives. I end up spending most of my income on model railroad stuff, and I definately have enough cars to run a layout in the 30'-30' range. Now if only I had the layout!

I will count up the cars one day, and maybe it will get me motivated to work on them. Right now I am swamped in schoolwork, and well all projects are on the sideline. Although it is Easter weekend, so maybe, just maybe I will finish that SOO GP9.

[IVRW]

Joe, I saw your comments on the video. Please name the spots and I will fix the volume.

[Anonymous]

My yard was empty too last weekend...but there were three 8 or 10 car road trains (one an intermodal) out on the road, another 7 car local switching in Enfield, and cars at industries! Now my roster looks big, especially when I was dragging around 24 cars (two road trains and part of the yard) with a GP18 after the session organizing my staging yard!

[ns3010]

Ugh, I'm almost embarrassed at how small my roster is. But everything I used to have was Athearn Blue Box, which I would normally be fine with (my SW1500/SW15G is a BB), except they were missing parts and so beat up they couldn't even be used. So in the trash those went, and now I'm working on a large roster of Walthers Gold cars.

Here's a sneak peek at what I hope the roster will eventually look like, not even including other railroad's cars:
http://sites.google.com/site/tristaterail/carroster

I removed that page from the navigation, so the only way to get to it is by direct URL. I was going to keep it a secret, since such a small number of those cars are actually modeled, but I'll let you guys see it anyway.

And note that those are only cars I intend to model. Yes, TSR has other cars that are used on other lines, but I chose not to include those in the roster.

I added the quick facts to the homepage and hid the "About TSR" page (for now, but it'll probably come back eventually). Fixed the map. Added a bit to the "About the Layout" page. Added a page about the old layout. And added a little color to the page, just so it's not the plain template.
I like the colors of the template, especially with adding the orange, green, and black to it, so I think I'll leave it as is.

[IVRW]

Joe, I realized something like you said when doing my "operating session." I always though I had a large roster. When I actually put the cars out on the track, I was amazed at how barren the yard looked. I too, as I discovered, have a small roster.

[ns3010]

Thanks guys! Some great advice all around, very useful.

Labeling the lines on the map somehow completely slipped my mind. I intended to, but forgot to before I uploaded it...
I actually got the basic idea for the roster from [url]nsdash9.com[url], and added a few of my own things to it and left others out. There will be a rolling stock roster in the future as well, but seeing that the current fleet includes 5 cars, that will be added at a later date.
The reason it's so bare is because I don't have any photos. Unless I put photos of the old layout on (which never got even basic scenery completed...), I don't have much for now. Maybe I'll have a page for the old layout... hmm...
Once something actually happens, I'll end up adding a blog for the layout construction. But seeing that there is nothing but a basic frame for now, that can wait.

Very nice photos John! And glad you could get the locos up and running again.

[IVRW]

Thanks guys! Heres a bonus photo that shows much less solid photography. I was pulling the cars off the main to put on the barrel track spur and I wasn't paying attention to where the train was, and so, well, I got this:

Thanks for the kind comments and I hope you all enjoyed it.

[Packers#1]

 Thanks Joe! web page looks good. I tried Google out, but I prefer webs.

John, very nice photos man, thanks!

[Anonymous]

That's some solid photography, John! Nice job, and congrats on your miracles!

EDIT: 100th reply to this thread! And my 3,697th post...

[IVRW]

Recently, I had a few locomotive problems. One had a short in the tender, and the other would just plane not run. Miraculously, I managed to reprogram the last with my new cool locomotive problems. To celebrate, I had my first, and rather informal, operating session.

In the early morning light, we find IVRW No. 950 switching for the first train of the day.

A few minutes later, we are under way.

The first stop on their list is to check paperwork at St. John Station.

After everything is done, we sneak away from the station master though the freight house and the Co-Op.

A few (Z scale) miles later, we cross the "Bottomless Bridge"

Pulling into Stockton, Utah, we pull into the station downtown for further instructions.

Our job today is to drop off log cars at "Mill's Lumber"

and to spot a refer for the team track farmers and a boxcar of metal for "Clyde and Dale's Barrel Factory."

Finally, after a good day's work, we stop to refuel for the way home. As we do so, the team track agent leaves for lunch with friends.

Finally, I thought I would share this very nice picture I took with you all.

[Anonymous]

Website design looks familiar, Joe... I like the site! Here's a few things I noticed -- you can use or discard any of them.

• First, I'd move the "About TSR" information to the home page, at least until you beef it up with more photos, information, videos, etc. It's a bit barren right now and gives the look of an empty website.
• TSR News: Nice! That's the way a real railroad's news page should look! 
• System Map: Good job, perhaps you could label the lines in NJ (and other states when they have maps) since us out-of-towners have no idea where that short squiggly line in the middle-left is. 
• History: Very nice, and certainly illustrates the picture of an east-coast short line running mostly on trackage rights at startup. Reminds me of RJ Corman.
• Motive power roster: REALLY like the list sorted by number series! If I wasn't too lazy to decal numberboards I could do that... I also like the separate pages for that locomotive series.
• Disclaimer: Might want to add a copyright label -- just my preference.

All in all, a solid site base for whatever you may add in the future!

[IVRW]

Very nice Joe. Heres something for you. I wrote a History of my RR a while back (Ill try to get it to you sometime). It was something like yours, promising deals, new routes, and the such, but I brought a demise to the IVRW in the late 20s by economic depression. After being handed over to a private investor who kept it alive for a while more, the RR was abandon in 1938 due to extreme lack of customers and assets. My suggestion is to say that your RR was in economic depression before it was reorganized. Then, this crack team of RRers wanted to save their jobs, so they started lobbying at CSX and customers and the whatnot. They eventually reorganized the operation's assets, and also, unintentionally, reorganized the RR itself. Now, the team of friends runs the RR in perfectness or whatever.

[ns3010]

Very nice Sawyer!

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So, as some of you may or may not know, I've been working on my new website lately. Google closed my old account with the Tri-State Railway and I was kinda unhappy with Webs, so I created a new Google account and made a new Tri State Rail website.

I've still got work to do, but it's presentable. I like how it's coming along so far. I'm really happy with the system map (click the photo on the page, and then click it again to enlarge), considering that I completely freehanded that in MS Paint. I have yet to do the CT and NY maps. Connecticut should be pretty easy, but New York will be pretty hard, mostly because of its size.

Also, what do you guys think of the history? It's really a rough draft, and I'm open to suggestions for that.

Questions, comments, suggestions, whatever are of course welcome.

[Packers#1]

 Today I did some decal work. Good lord I hate those tiny numbers, but U23B #6330 now has ANRR on her in accordance w/ the ANRR history. Also got her fixed/tuned up to where she's running pretty good. still picks one turnout; it's the only turnout she picks and she's the only one that picks it. I think it may be the turn though; she's also the longest so it could be she follows the curve across the points. The camera is a cruel mistress as well. never noticed the finger print behind the cab until now.

 

Look who finally has her black trucks! GP9 #3 is patched to match ANRR lore. I'll be picking up shells for all three locos to paint into ANRR company colors for my 2000 operating scenario (check the history of the ANRR @ http://sbpackernut.webs.com/aikennorthernrwyco.htm for background info)



GP35 #5 sports her patch as well



Group photo



Also planted some more weeds this weekend

[IVRW]

Are we talking about trains or typos? Or has somebody made "typo" a typo of "train." Tehehe. Well, my layout has nothing. A day into spring break, I got sick. This is my last day of freedom. Spring break was totally wasted. Im going to investigate all the DCC problems. Also, on April 2nd, I will be employing all the Boy Scouts to do "Free Labor"... Otherwise known as the RR Merit Badge. The next day, we will be getting a tour of Roper Yard. I am also in a hot debate with the Parks Service as to where to put a Model Railroad/Eagle Project at Golden Spike NHS. But other than that, Im bored. No Trains to work on. I have HTBYFMRR Episode 1 done in the Final Version, and I almost have 2 done, but thats it. See you next time...

[ns3010]

Wow. I didn't even notice that.

I didn't think that was possible... I guess you found a way to!

Just don't tell the other games... They might get jealous...

[Packers#1]

TrainManTy

Packers#1

fortunately I should be getting some extra cash forr effing some rec league soccer games this spring.

 

This is a good typo! 

 

dang keyboards...

[Anonymous]

Packers#1

fortunately I should be getting some extra cash forr effing some rec league soccer games this spring.

 

This is a good typo! 

[ns3010]

There's a spell check?!

[RailfanS]

TrainManTy

Alex was there, but I'm Tyler...

Sorry Tyler. I guess spell check dosn't find all my mistakes.

[Packers#1]

 Tyler, sounds like a great operating session working out some more bugs.

I did a little work on the layout today. fixed the arching-over forest at the end of the yard so it wouldn't clog the track and also planted some more weeds. that project, building and installing my wood kits, and fixing the scrap yard track and installing the scrap pile, I really have no more projects that I can do w/o spending more money. fortunately I should be getting some extra cash for (edited here) reffing some rec league soccer games this spring.

[Anonymous]

RailfanS

Alex: Murphy likes trains dosn't he. He visited the club with me last weekend. He caused my the leading truck on my GS-4 to clip a frog (on a turnout) and send the loco sliding on it's side into another train. No damage luckily. He also caused my first attempt to run a loco on DCC to end with a me chasing after my runaway F45 (a club member cut the track power and we decided to run it on DC). Anyway, good luck with fixing the lift bridge, and getting the booster you need. One quick question: what type of booster do you need for a Zephyr?

 

Alex was there, but I'm Tyler...

I'm posting a question on the DCC forum here right now about what booster to get. The cheapest option may actually be to get another Zephyr and set it as a booster - bonus is that it can also act as an auto-reverser for my reversing track!

[Guilford Guy]

It will be a NPCU, I just need to make a few cuts and pick up some styrene to represent the doors.

Picked up an SW9 from a friend's house tonight, so now I need to decide what to paint it into.

[ns3010]

So, I'm SUPPOSED to be making a Powerpoint for Theology due Monday, but I'm kinda procrastinating...

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Tyler, sounds like, aside from a few mishaps, it went pretty well! I LOVE those standard cab GEs, especially in the P&W scheme...

Jamie, this is where my layout is at the current moment:

Depending on our practice schedule, I'll get the benchwork fixed (I was gonna do that a month and a half ago, when I built it, but, of course, that never happened...) and the plywood put on top. I have absolutely no money right now (and I'm not exaggerating even a little bit...), so that's about all I can do for now. I have all that track I bought from Tyler a while back, but I don't have cork, so I can't even lay parts of the passing siding and industries.
We'll see what happens.

[RailfanS]

Hi guys, let's start from the top,

Alex: Cool project, are you converting it to a cabbage car (like the one in the photo, a Cab/Baggage car) or just repainting the F40PH into the Downeaster scheme? 

Joe: It is a neat club, I like it. There's a few more pic's over on WPF. Hows the layout coming?

John: Sorry to hear about your DCC problem. Hope you get it fixed soon.

Alex: Murphy likes trains dosn't he. He visited the club with me last weekend. He caused my the leading truck on my GS-4 to clip a frog (on a turnout) and send the loco sliding on it's side into another train. No damage luckily. He also caused my first attempt to run a loco on DCC to end with a me chasing after my runaway F45 (a club member cut the track power and we decided to run it on DC). Anyway, good luck with fixing the lift bridge, and getting the booster you need. One quick question: what type of booster do you need for a Zephyr?

As for me, not much new here. I'm considering picking up a cheap airbrush from Harbor Freight so I can try it. I already have a compressor. I also am looking into patching my loco's again. I'm considering using white decal paper to make my patches (white lettering on blue). See how it goes.

see you later,

Jamie