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I JUST WANT TO RUN TRAINS!!!

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  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Monday, February 12, 2018 4:15 PM

SeeYou190
Oh well, either version of the Dark Side is OK, as long as they have COOKIES! .

Yeah. I like cookies.

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, February 12, 2018 3:45 PM

BRAKIE
Chip,Come to the dark side, feel the power of a ISL

.

I thought the Dark Side was freelancing your roadname.

.

Oh well, either version of the Dark Side is OK, as long as they have COOKIES!

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Monday, February 12, 2018 3:42 PM

stokesda
unless of course, you already have a DT400, then it's a moot point 

I'm joining the 21st Century and replying with my phone. Talk about learning curve. 

Yeah, I have a DT400 and 2 UT1s.

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: San Diego
  • 954 posts
Posted by stokesda on Monday, February 12, 2018 2:21 PM

SpaceMouse

...Somebody tell me that someday I'll be walking around with a DT400 in my hand listening to my choo-choo chug.

 
For what it's worth, I say forget the DT500 (current version) and get yourself a Digitrax "LNWI" WiFi unit and a free smartphone throttle app. It's a lot cheaper (important criteria to me) if you just want walkaround throttle capability. I just plugged an LNWI into my old Zephyr command station, and it put a big smile on my face Big Smile
 
... unless of course, you already have a DT400, then it's a moot point Whistling

Dan Stokes

My other car is a tunnel motor

  • Member since
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  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Monday, February 12, 2018 1:15 PM

BRAKIE
Chip,Come to the dark side, feel the power of a ISL that can be built in a weekend and will give thousands of hours of switching enjoyent..

One weekend for laughs and giggles, I built John Allen's switching puzzle. That cured me.

I also built a switching layout. I was just writing about it.

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/267882.aspx?page=2#3037093

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
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Posted by BRAKIE on Monday, February 12, 2018 12:01 PM

SpaceMouse
I'm not sure what I can do to make things move faster. I'm pretty much spending all day every day working on it.

Chip,Come to the dark side, feel the power of a ISL that can be built in a weekend and will give thousands of hours of switching enjoyent..

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    June 2007
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Posted by riogrande5761 on Monday, February 12, 2018 10:41 AM

I really want to run trains too, but with new fixerupper home projects first and then finishing the basement, second, I'll need to do those things before the layout starts going up.  Yeah, probably 6+ months at least.  Water filter and softener going in today.  Still need new kitchen countertops, sink, faucet and garbage disposal installed.  You get the idea.  Then hardwood floors finished.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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  • From: Boise, Idaho
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Posted by E-L man tom on Monday, February 12, 2018 9:59 AM

Well, after having built my bench work some 12 years ago (by the way, I believe that's the quickest and easiest thing you can do on a layout), the track came along very quickly on my 20' long around-the-walls switching layout. Yes, I changed the track configuration three or four times over the years (and expanded the length from 14'). The layout is in four bolted together sections and has survived a move since then too. I'm moving again in a couple of months, so all I need to do is remove all the structures, snip the wiring, take the sections apart and move it. One caveat:  I knew that a move was ensuing, so I did not scenic it; it is otherwise fully operational. 

Also, before I moved to where I am now, my layout shared space in a 10' X12' second bedroom with my office, which was very cramped. The space that my layout is in now is the same size, but does not share space with my office; its a dedicated train room. Where I'm moving to will also have a deicated train room, and the area somewhat larger. Yes, I'm thinking new layout! The original layout may be incorporated into the new one, not sure on that one yet.

My point:  as said in the Nike commercials, "just do it".

And, don't forget the number one rule:  Have fun!

 

Tom Modeling the free-lanced Toledo Erie Central switching layout.
  • Member since
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  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Saturday, February 10, 2018 9:35 PM

riogrande5761
It's really up to you to make it happen so if you are unhappy or impatient, make a plan and make it happen.

I'm not sure what I can do to make things move faster. I'm pretty much spending all day every day working on it.

Today I took a break from sorting out my stuff and cleaned up my Fastracks turnouts from a previous layout. As I said on another post it was both gratifying and humbling. Humbling be cause I saw every sloppy solder joint and mistake, and gratifying because I finally felt like I was doing something hobby related. 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, February 10, 2018 8:49 PM

I feel your pain. I have been without a layout for over a year now.

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This has helped: I bough a bunch of Kato Unitrack and set up trains on the floor and run them like a little kid!

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It is not running a layout, but it is enjoyable, and scratches the itch.

.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    July 2017
  • 201 posts
Posted by marksrailroad on Saturday, February 10, 2018 8:44 PM

Hang in there Mr.Mouse. You'll get there eventually...

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Posted by WilmJunc on Saturday, February 10, 2018 7:46 PM

If you really want it you'll get it.  It has taken me 12 years (I repeat 12 years) to finish out my train room, but the trains are finally running

Modeling the B&M Railroad during the transition era in Lowell, MA

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  • From: NW Pa Snow-belt.
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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Saturday, February 10, 2018 7:18 PM

Chip, don't you want to be walking around with a dt400 following your chuffing loco while you chug the drink instead? Pirate

Yes, with some work, someday, you will be enjoying running trains!

Ricky W.

HO scale Proto-freelancer.

My Railroad rules:

1: It's my railroad, my rules.

2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.

3: Any objections, consult above rules.

  • Member since
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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, February 10, 2018 6:04 PM

Someday you'll be walking around with a DT400 in your hand listening to your choo-choo chug.   Smile, Wink & Grin

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Saturday, February 10, 2018 5:49 PM

SpaceMouse

I've been cleaning up and sorting and rearranging and throwing stuff out for over a month now. I still have work to do on the benchwork. 

Somebody tell me that someday I'll be walking around with a DT400 in my hand listening to my choo-choo chug.

Hey, I don't want to lie to you.  It's really up to you to make it happen so if you are unhappy or impatient, make a plan and make it happen.  Look what Elon Musk has done: he had a plan and he did something none of us has done, shot a sports car into space with a rocket that will lift more than any in the world.

I was without a layout for 15 years.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by selector on Saturday, February 10, 2018 4:49 PM

Chip, I dismantled my last layout in May of 2015.  It wasn't until three weeks ago that I was in a position to run a locomotive around my main line on the new build.  It has given me a tremendous boost and helped me to maintain my aim and momentum.  It was a tough row before then....very tough. Many long weeks without even looking longingly at my benchwork when it was devoid of tracks.

  • Member since
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  • From: Culpeper, Va
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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Saturday, February 10, 2018 3:43 PM

I understand.  I am moving and still tearing down the old layout.  Fortunately, I have room in the new basement to set up my test layout before starting the "big one".  I hope to get that done this week and be running trains even if it is just roundy round.

Paul

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
  • Member since
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  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Saturday, February 10, 2018 3:35 PM

 It's been 4 years since I tore down my layout. I keep thinking I want to build something, anything, just to run trains. Only thing I have left around  to build on is a 2x4 piece of plywood - it can handle a small switching scene. At the same time, I don't want to set up anything that gets in the way of cleaning out the basement.

                           --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by ROBERT PETRICK on Saturday, February 10, 2018 2:26 PM

SpaceMouse

Somebody tell me that someday I'll be walking around with a DT400 in my hand listening to my choo-choo chug.

Well, I  kinda hope your choo-choo doesn't chug so much as it huffs and chuffs. But, not to worry, you'll be walking around behind it with DT400 in hand sooner than you think.

Keep your eye on the prize.

Robert 

LINK to SNSR Blog


  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
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Posted by SpaceMouse on Saturday, February 10, 2018 2:15 PM

mbinsewi
Let me help out: "someday YOU'LL (had to replace the I'll, as I already am) be walking around with a DT400 in YOUR ( replacing "my", as once again, I all ready have that) hand listening to YOUR (once again, replacing "my", you know) choo-choo chug. 

I am not alone.

mbinsewi
I do have 1 steam loco with sound, a Spectrum 2-8-0, so I can do that.

I have a Shay that makes noise, and a Spectrum 2-8-0 that I'm selling. So yeah, the chug was a skin of the teeth thingy. 

 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Saturday, February 10, 2018 2:10 PM

Let me help out: "someday YOU'LL (had to replace the I'll, as I already am) be walking around with a DT400 in YOUR ( replacing "my", as once again, I all ready have that) hand listening to YOUR (once again, replacing "my", you know) choo-choo chug. 

Mike. 

EDIT:  I do have 1 steam loco with sound, a Spectrum 2-8-0, so I can do that.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
I JUST WANT TO RUN TRAINS!!!
Posted by SpaceMouse on Saturday, February 10, 2018 2:03 PM

I've been cleaning up and sorting and rearranging and throwing stuff out for over a month now. I still have work to do on the benchwork. 

Somebody tell me that someday I'll be walking around with a DT400 in my hand listening to my choo-choo chug.

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

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