I love that BL-2, of which I am proud owner! It is in Western Maryland livery, but has a scale low speed of about 40 But I guess that is what you get for $20 at a train show...and I have also seen a lot of repowering kits for them. Are you guys running DCC or do you still have good ole pure DC power?
Acela
The timbers beneath the rails are not the only ties that bind on the railroad. --Robert S. McGonigal
I'm kinda both DC and DCC. I use a Bachmann E-Z Command to power my layout (for now). But, none of my locomotives have decoders (I had a Bachmann DCC On Board that came with the E-Z Command, but that was less than worhtless garbage). I use the E-Z C's DC function (address 10) to power all my locomotives.And that's how I burned out the circut board on my brand new Atlas Genset (which I finally sent in for replacement, BTW). Good thing Atlas told us that there was a compatibility issue between the board and a DCC controller in DC mode...
Once I go back to work in May, I plan to decoderize my fleet and buy a Digitrax Zephyr system. At that time, I will also expand my rolling stock fleet and finish up scenery.
My Model Railroad: Tri State RailMy Photos on Flickr: FlickrMy Videos on Youtube: YoutubeMy Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives
Acela, I'm also the lone guy with a layout, although I know a kid who's got a loop of track. I model N scale and have pure DC power. Hopefully my latest update video will load so's I can share it (it's till saving so we'll see).
My layout is 2x8 feet with a small extension on one end. All the spurs face one way and there's no passing siding and one line, so there's no point in a passing siding. I run a variety of 4 axle power from Atlas, but my favorite are my U23Bs (followed closely by my C420)
EDIT: finished! video
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
Well, I had a vid last week, but I finally took some good old pics. First up is the bed for Clay Creek. I laid the switch across to show the tracks; I have a scratchbashed bridge made from a code 80 Atlas bridge in the works.
Next up is the Clay Creek Industrial Park. In the back is a plastic pellet distributor; up front I'm not sure, and the middle industry is still in limbo.
Finally here's the latest work on the corner. I bought some Tempra paint at Hobby Lobby (couldn't find any acrylic at wally world). It's a bit bright, but I'll try toning it down. Also painted some grass; I'll be putting bushes over that and we'll see how it looks.
Nice photos! I am waiting on an order for some manual switch machines, then I think I can start on some scenery (finally!). And I think an Atlas Genset may be in the future... In the meantime, here is an old photo of good ole no. 214 creeping (at prototypical Amtrak speed) across a Fleischman bridge. (sorry that it's so blurry)
Happy Modeling!
Nice work, Sawyer!
Acela, great shot! As a novice photographer, I actually love playing with the focus for different results.
I made a stop by the LHS today to pick up some more supplies. I got a bottle of Scenic CEMENT (which works way better than water and glue, IMO) -not glue-, two bags of ballast (one each of gray and gray blend), a two pack of sheet styrene, and a pair of Walthers 65' Drop-End Gondolas painted for CN (for use with the not-modeled scrapper on the far end of the line).
I continued ballasting, and the track at Andover Stone & Gravel is nearly done. That's easy, since the entire thing is completely embedded in the ballast, but the rest of the layout (which will be done normally) will be a difficult learning experience.I also began paving the lot at Kuiken Brothers Lumber with the sheet styrene. I have one sheet cut, painted, Dullcoted, and in place, and the other is cut, painted, Dullcoted, and will be laid down tomorrow. So far, I am pleased with this method of paving, so it looks like I'll be needing a lot more styrene for the rest of the KBL lot and the lots at the Team Track and bakery. I'm still deciding on what I'll do for the overpass.
I'll have photos tomorrow once the second piece of styrene is in place.
Acela, I think the focus on that picture makes it really neat.
Joe, sounds like a good time.
I'm seriously giving thought to redoing my layout. The track is dirty, but overall I'm just not happy with the performance of the layout. I'm thinking I'll make a move to Kato unitrak on the mainline and Kato switches off the mainline, while switches off passing sidings and industrial areas will be Micro Engineering. I have a couple ideas, from going to a 6x6 or 6x8 design to widening my current 2x8 footprint to 2'3" or 2 and a half feet (not sure which). If I did the later, I'd have a nice mainline scene on one side with a bridge over a nice river, then have the branchline split off, supposedly with Clay Creek Junction justtttttttttt around the bend. I'd then have an end of the line scene with several warehouses etc to show off my boxcars, with a town scene in between. I'm not sure. First thing I will do is make a list of scenes I would want to include, then plan around that. Overall I believe I'll keep the current layout as it is for a while, but build a small mainline layout as well. who knows, I may go back to the original extension plan. Oh how fun possibilities can be
Packers#1 I'm seriously giving thought to redoing my layout. The track is dirty, but overall I'm just not happy with the performance of the layout.
I'm seriously giving thought to redoing my layout. The track is dirty, but overall I'm just not happy with the performance of the layout.
Let me give some advice, having been through this before. Go modular. What I have found for these situations which I have found as very useful is to build a layout in sections. My layout is 3X9 feet, and is a mere portion of what I want to do, however, the current section has two important parts about it: alone, it is self contained, and needs little work, beyond actually completing it to make it, operational; and, when combined with a newer section, it is complementary, and will create a layout with plenty of operational opportunity. Building my layout in sections allows me to perfect each section, and if Im not happy with the whole thing, little is lost. So, in your case, build the warehouse, then the town, and whatever else, and connect the sections each time they are completed. When going back and looking at, say, the warehouse, you might not like it, as your modeling skills could have improved, so all you need to do, is create a new warehouse section. Trust me on this, it works.
~John, executive editor of MRCV, and chief engineer for the BWTC
~G4
19 Years old, modeling the Cowlitz, Chehalis, and Cascade Railroad of Western Washington in 1927 in 6X6 feet.
Sawyer, just a thought, don't go so crazy changing your mind that you end up starting a layout that you'll never finish before college. I almost did that, and now I'm rushing to get it done before next June. Fortunately, I'm almost done (for now), and it's not that big of a deal if I don't get every tree planted. I decided that I needed to stop planning (read: procrastinating) and that I needed to just go ahead and build. If I waited much longer, there would be no chance of getting the layout complete (more or less) by June 2012.
Photos:
The Andover Stone & Gravel scene is nearly complete. I just need to finish one last patch of gravel adjacent to the bakery and add some fencing, and it will be complete. And, of course, get a bunch more cars for the unit train...Andover Stone & Gravel by ns3010, on Flickr
The paving crews began work yesterday at Kuiken Brothers Lumber. They still need to do some touchup, but the first two sections are otherwise done.Paving by ns3010, on Flickr
And the pair of CN gondolas for scrap service:Gondolas by ns3010, on Flickr
Nice work Joe.
OK, so I think I'm going to relay the mainline with Unitrak, and then expand the industrial switching in the back to two tracks. The far hill will also be gone, although my width will remain the same. I will probably get rid of the extension though. I may go ahead and build the show layout as well. Decisions, decisions. Did I mention I'm also saving up for a laptop? lol