Teen Model Railroader Place -Spring 2010-

[IVRW]

Joe, its a digitrax. I dont know anything beyond that because poor grandpa forgot the instructions.

[Anonymous]

 John - Is is a Zephyr?

http://www.digitrax.com/prd_zep_basic_set.php

[SD60M]

WOW! Thats awsome Sawyer i really like the idea i wanted to have a warehouse as a industry anyway since i work at one. I really thank you man for doing this for me i cant wait to see what else you come up with!

-Kade

[IVRW]

No Tyler, I did some looking and its a DB 150. http://www.digitrax.com/prd_boost_db150.php He bought that with two utility controllers.

[Anonymous]

That narrows it down considerably. What was the problem again? A short? Are you sure it's that? I have the Zephyr but a quick look at the DB150 turned up this:

Auto shutdown if command control drive signal is lost so that the layout will not convert to DC operation if a cable or connection is broken. The trains won't just "take-off" if they are not getting the DCC signal.

This could easily act just like a short if you've tried everything else. I'm not sure how the signal would be lost though.

[IVRW]

Here is all I know:

a) DC locomotive works, but will not be recognized or controlled by this DCC system, when it can be on other systems.

b) DCC locomotives are shorting out.

c) Locomotive 1 was not shorting out before, but now is on this and another DCC system.

d) Locomotive 2 had a few programing problems, but issue was solved by reprogramming the locomotive with a new address. Suddenly, a few weeks after it was working fine, it started shorting out. It is not known if it will on other systems.

e) Locomotive 3 is known to be working, however it too shorts out.

f) Before I moved to Utah, everything worked spotlessly.

g) When I moved to Utah, after extreme disuse due to broken leg, similar problems arose. It was found the cause was extremely dirty track. After some good cleaning, all locomotives, except DC one, worked fine.

h) My hypothesis is that the DCC system is somehow doing something that is shorting the DCC decoders in the locomotives. I also believe that there is a short in the DCC system. I will soon try the method you recommended Tyler, and that might finally prove something.

[Packers#1]

Joe, thanks! Well, today as a little "gift" i suppose you'd call it my grandma bought me two bags of woodland scenics turf and also two boards of foam board for scratchbuilding. so hopefully that'll work and I'll have the cannery and bagging plant cores built and just need some texture covering by monday. Kade, any input you have on that industrial park? I'm thinking a 44-tonner would be a perfect switcher for it, or heck, even a trackmobile. just pm me with anything you'd like to see done differently.

[SD60M]

Packers#1

Joe, thanks! Well, today as a little "gift" i suppose you'd call it my grandma bought me two bags of woodland scenics turf and also two boards of foam board for scratchbuilding. so hopefully that'll work and I'll have the cannery and bagging plant cores built and just need some texture covering by monday. Kade, any input you have on that industrial park? I'm thinking a 44-tonner would be a perfect switcher for it, or heck, even a trackmobile. just pm me with anything you'd like to see done differently.

I really like the idea and i already have a SW1000 for switching plus several Geeps. I like the overal design i have a mix of 22" and 18" curves in EZ track, some atlas code 100 flex track, and other sections of of code 100 rail i could use the ez switches and then use the atlas track for spurs so the industry rails dont have the same height as the mainline. I

[Packers#1]

Kade, then just take the switches etc. and kick them around until you have a little industrial park that operates good. well, I've been scratchbuilding this weekend. Overview: Spotting cars: The lot. I need some trucks to fill the lot up. Pulling by the cannery: The Dixie Quick-Mix bagging plant. I have a lot left to do but the two basic structures are there. Looking between the buildings: Pulling out of the spur:

[IVRW]

Sawyer. Outstanding!!! You have done so much lately. Any more pictures?

[Anonymous]

Took this for part of my 365 Project. Yes, it is a model...

Full-size: http://www.flickr.com/photos/trainmanty/4604796427/

[Packers#1]

givin the thread a bump. John, nope, no new pictures, ain't done much else either. Tyler, interesting project! Like I said, I haven't done much on the layout. once my dad fixes the compressor and I get some aged concrete I'll paint my Dixie Quick-Mix plant and start that scenery. Also doing some work on the cannery right now though.

[Quinton Fallon]

 

[Packers#1]

Quinton Fallon

I know this is a little off topic but what is the Teen Model Railroader Place string? is there requirements?please help? i'd like to join.

thanks in advance

just be under 21 to join really. although I think when all of us are older we'll still be dropping in. are there really any requirements other than being a teen actually? I think the last discussion on that was over a year ago.

[Anonymous]

Packers#1

Quinton Fallon

I know this is a little off topic but what is the Teen Model Railroader Place string? is there requirements?please help? i'd like to join.

thanks in advance

just be under 21 to join really. although I think when all of us are older we'll still be dropping in. are there really any requirements other than being a teen actually? I think the last discussion on that was over a year ago.

 

Sawyer is correct - we have no requirements. This is Kalmbach's forum so they make the rules, not us. You're welcome to join in the discussion! A lot of our most regular members are really busy this time of year so it's been really quiet recently!

[IVRW]

Yeah, welcome Quinton. The TMRP is just a hang out for other teens to tell each other what's going on with their layouts. It consists of about 3 regulars, myself included, and then some others who pop in and out. Im John Houston Gardiner IV. I live in Utah but when both my grandparents developed cancer, I moved temporarily out to Orlando Florida, but it could be upwards of 2 years before I go back. I had a Model Railroad in the final stages, but it was deemed a chainsaw Railroad, so I was granted permission to build another smaller, more professional layout out here by He Who Finances Everything (oh dad, the nicest man ever [because he supports my endeavors]). I plan to make it a 1930s Logging operation based on Iain Rice's "Linked Up Logger".

Packers#1 is Sawyer John Berry lives in Aiken, South Carolina and Models a fictional 1995 shortline called the Aiken Northern Railroad. The Railroad is on a 4X8 (?) and has a yard on one side, and a city on the other. Sawyer is President of the Teen Association of Model Railroaders and is in the final stages of finishing his beautiful layout.

TrainManTy is Tyler Trahan, from somewhere in New England. He is a very published modeler and has the best railroad of all of us here, the White River Southern. It is very realistic, and is nearly finished. He is even holding regular operating sessions. The WRS is a massive layout with a yard, and 4 towns (which is really big). It has a massive roster, and works everything from commuter work to manifests. In fact, the layout has already been featured at several local shows.

Well, thats the 3 of us. Others will probably pop around and tell you about themselves. Please, tell us about you.

[Quinton Fallon]

thanks for getting me up to speed everyone. will be comeing here more often. i'm sorry to hear about your grandparents john. I used to live in orlando myself, near winter park in fact. untill i moved to jacksonville about a year ago.

i am now working on a 4x6 n scale modern day layout. i just got the majority of track laying down.

Quinton

[Anonymous]

IVRW

TrainManTy is Tyler Trahan, from somewhere in New England. He is a very published modeler and has the best railroad of all of us here, the White River Southern. It is very realistic, and is nearly finished. He is even holding regular operating sessions. The WRS is a massive layout with a yard, and 4 towns (which is really big). It has a massive roster, and works everything from commuter work to manifests. In fact, the layout has already been featured at several local shows.

 

Thanks for the flattering introduction and kind words. I'll leave it to you to judge whose layout is "best" in your eyes, but I will expand or correct on some of the points you made. Yes, the scenery is coming along and over half of the layout is in some form of partial completion.The layout is approximately 12' by 22' in a kidney shape (you can find more info and a track plan on my website here) and includes the prototype towns of Lebanon, Mascoma, Enfield, and West Canaan. Lebanon includes the division-point yard.

I have been holding regular operating sessions throughout last year and early this year, but after some wiring problems and a major failure relating to the staging yard lift bridge protection and reversing section circuit, the sessions have been postponed. I've got new 14 gauge bus wire in and just have to rebuild the bridge protection and reversing circuit. Then after some track fixes I'll be ready to restart sessions.

My roster isn't actually that large, well not my active roster anyway. I have a GP18, a GP7, and a (kept for sentimental value and in service as a stand-in) SDP35 in service, with another GP18, two GP7s, and a pair of GP15-1s out of service in the paint shop or awaiting it. Regularly scheduled trains consist of two locals, a pair of manifests, and a pair of intermodal trains. Commuter service is coming someday, John!

Finally, my layout is about as far from movable as they come, so I'm not sure what "several local shows" you mean. My layout has never left my basement and no more than ~20 people have ever seen it in person. Oh, and I've been published in a local newspaper and Trains Magazine, but never for anything about my layout. However, as I write this I'm in the middle of writing to Model Railroader, so I'll keep you posted on that!

[Guilford Guy]

While your layout hasn't made it to shows your motive power has. 9423, 8569, and 5817 have made appearances at the National Train Show 2009 at Hartford. Whenever they're actually finished (still need striping) the 1500s and 902 may make another train show appearance.

You should really join the hub div. Think of it, just borrow all the cars out of Boston and run a train with 3 GP7s on the head end and 2 GP15s or GP18s pushing! Oh and btw, I call helpers!

[Anonymous]

Now that I'll have a paying job at least for the summer I might just join the HUB for this year's train show season...but I can't run long trains until I have poweeerrr! The striping hasn't arrived yet?

[Packers#1]

John, there's also GG (Alex or GuilifordGuy), RailfanAlex (the other alex), and Joe, our lacrosse player who is never in this time of year. I myself play rugby, which is in the winter. and there's a few others who drop in when they have time. Tyler does have one heck of a layout! John, yep, it's a 4x8. You're jumping the gun on final stages though, it's not even half completed lol. there's still basic scenery, figures, vehicles, structures, superdetailing, building the fleet, trackwork, the whole lake scene, the list goes on! And the era right now is 1997, but once I get the shells to repaint my locos I'll be moving my era up to 2000 speaking of my layout, here's a progress vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4w1GcWINek Quinton, n scale RULES my friend! what area is your layout set in?

[IVRW]

Sawyer, I know of Alex, Alex, and Joe, but aside from their names, thats all I know. Alex, Alex, and Joe, would you care to enlighten me?

[Guilford Guy]

TrainManTy

Now that I'll have a paying job at least for the summer I might just join the HUB for this year's train show season...but I can't run long trains until I have poweeerrr! The striping hasn't arrived yet?

 

Yeah I'm still waiting on the box from Chris. He said he picked it up from the train club the other day so I'm hoping it arrives soon. I may just end up buying the striping myself. I need to make a trip to Maine Trains anyways so I might as well grab a sheet of decals when I'm up there. You should definitely make it to the Lexington Show. There's always a decent sized layout there, and it's much more relaxed. There's also GOOD food in the National Heritage Museum which is huge news when you compare it to the "stuff" you get at Springfield. 

[Anonymous]

Guilford Guy

Yeah I'm still waiting on the box from Chris. He said he picked it up from the train club the other day so I'm hoping it arrives soon. I may just end up buying the striping myself. I need to make a trip to Maine Trains anyways so I might as well grab a sheet of decals when I'm up there.

 

Yeah, that would be great. Keeping in mind that once more power is on the railroad I can get the photos I need to try to get the WRS into Model Railroader, and they pay (well) upon article acceptance, not publication, so that means more money for the railroad and for you to install ditch lights, if you are in need of work.

When is the Lexington show? I've heard good things about it.

[cdog565]

  Welcome  Quinton. Well this weekend i went to my lhs for some paint for a station when i stumbled upon a Athearn Burlington northern work caboose kit. So this weekend i built the work caboose and started on my station.

[Quinton Fallon]

 

[Packers#1]

Quinton, sounds good! I've always wondered about modeling the mountains, but I don't know enough to build a model RR set there and I love the county I live in here in SC.

[ns3010]

Welcome, Quinton! I'm Joe, 15, from New Jersey. I'm normally a regular around here, but haven't been around because of lacrosse, which is over now. But I'm still in the midst of a massive computer failure (grr...) and haven't had a computer in a few weeks, and don't know when I'll have one again. Moving on though... I model a fictional shortline, Tri State Rail in HO. I model the Lackawanna Cutoff in New Jersey (which in reality is abandoned, but soon to be restored- work is beginning this year), only a few miles from my home. The layout is currently only benchwork, but hopefully that will change in the near future. The link to my website is in my signature- I think it's the one that says "Tri State Rail," or something like that... ___________________________________________ Moving on again, I have some news that should be good for modeling. I have an interview for checking badges down the shore next weekend! So that'll be great if I get the job (I also hear they get pretty good pay, even though they do basically nothing...). I'll finally have money for modeling, and even other stuff! .............................................................................................................................................BTW, please excuse the formatting. I'm using my mom's Mac, which condenses everything into one huge-and-hard-to-read paragraph. Sorry if this is hard to read... //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// EDIT: If anyone has any questions or just wants to say something to me, click on the "Formspring" link in my signature. It's completely anonymous, so that just makes it more fun. Apparently it deleted all the questions I answered since it's been inactive for a while... GET IT GOING AGAIN! IT'S GOOD ENTERTAINMENT!!!

[IVRW]

Don't worry Joe. I have always posted on a mac, and it's just a matter of learning to type your own HTML formatting. Congrats on the layout.

[ns3010]

Uuuuuuhhhhhh, looks like the formatting will continue to be messed up, then... I hate Macs anyway. Ugh I can't wait to get back on a PC again...