This is a better shot of my water formula:
These are the latest additions; 0-6-0 is a P2K and the BLI Cab Forward.
I tore out 6 turnouts to handle my crazy idea to run Big Steam on all routes. Only Have one loco to complete the collection an Allegheny. Want the brass BUT after the Brass Big Boy that would be pushing my luck. Can not wait for that to come in!!!
George,
Great water. I will not be doing water for awhile. Nice detail on your loco photo.
We are trying to hold off on spending. That TT was the price of another loco.
I put two layers of stain on the rocks tonight. Not even close to the color that I want. Oh, well.
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
Those pictures are nice.
The Falls Valley Railroad might be acquiring a turn table in 2007 despite my hard fisted stubborn reluctance to blow 4 square feet to a nice 130'er The more I look at my operating plan the more it sinks in that I will need to have one of those big tables. But they are NOT cheap.
Safety Valve wrote: Those pictures are nice. The Falls Valley Railroad might be acquiring a turn table in 2007 despite my hard fisted stubborn reluctance to blow 4 square feet to a nice 130'er The more I look at my operating plan the more it sinks in that I will need to have one of those big tables. But they are NOT cheap.
Got that right! I got one for $285.00 and the other for $260.00. The CFO of the rail road helps me find deals!!!
Fianly got a picture of our Ashley yard
This is the larger of the the two yards. At least the roundhouses fit this time!!
Wow! Great reviews for a Walthers' product? Whoda thunk it. I'm thrilled to hear it though, as I also got mine "cheap" on Ebay and now can't wait to go get it put in...
Milwhiawatha wrote:Thats how much I paid for mine two. Got it from a guy on ebay selling real cheap. I got photos on my website of it. I havent gotten photos of the 90' at the cement silos.
Nice photos and website
TheK4Kid wrote:Maybe I shouldn't say this, got my 130 foot TT for $229.Yes it takes up some real estate!I figure my engine service yard area will be first to be built.But there has been 10,000 other projects that needed done before winter sets in, like painting all the trim on my house, and now a new roof.All of you guys with your pictures keep inspiring me on! Going to go lay down and read Digitrax book "The Big Book of DCC" until I fall asleep.TheK4Kid
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
Brunton wrote: TheK4Kid wrote:Maybe I shouldn't say this, got my 130 foot TT for $229.Yes it takes up some real estate!I figure my engine service yard area will be first to be built.But there has been 10,000 other projects that needed done before winter sets in, like painting all the trim on my house, and now a new roof.All of you guys with your pictures keep inspiring me on! Going to go lay down and read Digitrax book "The Big Book of DCC" until I fall asleep.TheK4KidI got my 90-footer at Timonium this past weekend for $210 - Twenty bucks cheaper than anyone else selling them there. The 130-footer the guy had was also $210. New, not used. I was building the Walthers 90 foot turntable kit, but decided the spot I was going to put it will be too busy to trust with what many report is a problematic unit, so in will go the new one instead. The kit I'll use at another, lower traffic location instead.
Smart move, mine was nothing but trouble, it is now at an abandoned terminal (the shelf!)
Our 90' foot TT is on the floor under that layout, where it is far enough out of the way that we will not be tempted to give it a swift kick. Too many hours were invested on that jerky thing. The 130' Walthers sure runs nice and quiet.
gear-jammer wrote: Our 90' foot TT is on the floor under that layout, where it is far enough out of the way that we will not be tempted to give it a swift kick. Too many hours were invested on that jerky thing. The 130' Walthers sure runs nice and quiet. Sue
Keep talking some more... half tempted to give up a loco purchase for one of those. What you said about jerky vs nice quiet is quite the testamony.
Add to that: Every thing fits on it perfect, big Boy, Challenger, Cab Forwadr, Y6b. The programming, AFTER YOU READ THE INSTRUCTIONS (do not ask) is very easy. On one I have 14 stops on the other 32 stops and no problems. Power with a $7.95 transformer from the shack and all is well.
I spent $36.00 for a drive, $29.95 for the 90 ft table, $125.00 for sensors and readers for the index and over 50 hours tring to make it work. Then it worked and the drive made it turn so jerky that it almost derailed a pilot truck.
It is worth the money.
claycts wrote: AFTER YOU READ THE INSTRUCTIONS (do not ask)
AFTER YOU READ THE INSTRUCTIONS (do not ask)
My favorite line from Home Improvement - "Those aren't instructions, they're the manufacturer's recommendations . . ... "
I love it. You are so right. What ever happened to customer service?
claycts wrote: gear-jammer wrote: George, Our house is about 2300 sq. ft. I can not imagine a layout room that size. Our 13' x 13' is a good starting point. The room is actually 13' x 28', but we would have to remove a climbing wall and find a place for our weight room equipment. We did not get our track to the TT this weekend. Larry had to take off for California. We got the frogs powered for three turnouts and another siding in the yard completed. I think that we are going to make some changes to the original yard. The larger TT, and the Walthers 3 stall RH, have taken up some space. I finished placing the geodesic rocks on the section that I have been taking photos of. Hopefully, I will have photos tomorrow. We even found time to ride our dirt bikes, and share the layout with a friend who stopped by. Sue This is a whole top floor he had added just for the trains. He has a seperate A/C and power panel. I think 30 breakers just for lights and the layout. His problem is like mine AGE!!! I could gave went to the full 1800 sq ft of the basement but thought that would take longer than I have to get it to at least some scenery. The CFO (Krysti) wanted me to build what ever I wanted so budget just build it. We are adding CCTV for the Dispatcher feeding back 4 cameras to a 28" LCD which looks to be to small. If this works out then I will start on some scenery. We tried running without the cameras but with the 2 room type of arrangemwnt you can not see most of the layout at any one time. Well it is annib. on the 15th so will see what she wants to do. Probably drive her Corvette or her Jag I guess.
gear-jammer wrote: George, Our house is about 2300 sq. ft. I can not imagine a layout room that size. Our 13' x 13' is a good starting point. The room is actually 13' x 28', but we would have to remove a climbing wall and find a place for our weight room equipment. We did not get our track to the TT this weekend. Larry had to take off for California. We got the frogs powered for three turnouts and another siding in the yard completed. I think that we are going to make some changes to the original yard. The larger TT, and the Walthers 3 stall RH, have taken up some space. I finished placing the geodesic rocks on the section that I have been taking photos of. Hopefully, I will have photos tomorrow. We even found time to ride our dirt bikes, and share the layout with a friend who stopped by. Sue
Our house is about 2300 sq. ft. I can not imagine a layout room that size. Our 13' x 13' is a good starting point. The room is actually 13' x 28', but we would have to remove a climbing wall and find a place for our weight room equipment.
We did not get our track to the TT this weekend. Larry had to take off for California. We got the frogs powered for three turnouts and another siding in the yard completed. I think that we are going to make some changes to the original yard. The larger TT, and the Walthers 3 stall RH, have taken up some space.
I finished placing the geodesic rocks on the section that I have been taking photos of. Hopefully, I will have photos tomorrow.
We even found time to ride our dirt bikes, and share the layout with a friend who stopped by.
This is a whole top floor he had added just for the trains. He has a seperate A/C and power panel. I think 30 breakers just for lights and the layout. His problem is like mine AGE!!! I could gave went to the full 1800 sq ft of the basement but thought that would take longer than I have to get it to at least some scenery. The CFO (Krysti) wanted me to build what ever I wanted so budget just build it. We are adding CCTV for the Dispatcher feeding back 4 cameras to a 28" LCD which looks to be to small. If this works out then I will start on some scenery.
We tried running without the cameras but with the 2 room type of arrangemwnt you can not see most of the layout at any one time.
Well it is annib. on the 15th so will see what she wants to do. Probably drive her Corvette or her Jag I guess.
rrebell wrote: claycts wrote: gear-jammer wrote: George, Our house is about 2300 sq. ft. I can not imagine a layout room that size. Our 13' x 13' is a good starting point. The room is actually 13' x 28', but we would have to remove a climbing wall and find a place for our weight room equipment. We did not get our track to the TT this weekend. Larry had to take off for California. We got the frogs powered for three turnouts and another siding in the yard completed. I think that we are going to make some changes to the original yard. The larger TT, and the Walthers 3 stall RH, have taken up some space. I finished placing the geodesic rocks on the section that I have been taking photos of. Hopefully, I will have photos tomorrow. We even found time to ride our dirt bikes, and share the layout with a friend who stopped by. Sue This is a whole top floor he had added just for the trains. He has a seperate A/C and power panel. I think 30 breakers just for lights and the layout. His problem is like mine AGE!!! I could gave went to the full 1800 sq ft of the basement but thought that would take longer than I have to get it to at least some scenery. The CFO (Krysti) wanted me to build what ever I wanted so budget just build it. We are adding CCTV for the Dispatcher feeding back 4 cameras to a 28" LCD which looks to be to small. If this works out then I will start on some scenery. We tried running without the cameras but with the 2 room type of arrangemwnt you can not see most of the layout at any one time. Well it is annib. on the 15th so will see what she wants to do. Probably drive her Corvette or her Jag I guess. He should start a club, if this area has an outside entrance then that would be ideal. A lot of people need a place to run trains and if someone else is footing the bill for materials they ussually have no problem with the providers ideas. Since this could be a new club he could write his own bylaws in stone, then open it up to membership.
He IS in the same club as me Georgia Carolina model railroaders. The background is this. He and I have the space, funds and time so we are building two railroads. Mine is the 1950's style bowl of pasta that John Allen and Armstrong made famous. And Don's is a 20th century liniar design that you walk along with. We are building these so the club members have someplace to run. The deal was simple Don and I supplied the money, material and space and the club helps with the labor. I am way ahead of Don since I am taking all of 2006 off to build this to an operating stage less the scenery.
This experience has been more fun and a bigger education than I thought it would be. In 2007 I have some collector cars to finish for the 2008 show season and my wife wants her 1971 "E" type Jag finished so the trains will be on Tuesday and Thiusday nights instead of 8 to 10 hours per day.
I have a '41 plymouth that I expect my husband to keep running. We have not had it out much this year. It is a drive in fair weather vehicle because the power of a street rod can be dangerous on wet pavement. The tires churp when back out of the garage.
Too many hobbies.
Sue, I assume you have seen pictures of some of my toys. Trying to find time for them. Just the was and wax thing is a couple of weekends.
I have not driven the "F" car since July and the Porsche and Vette have been sitting longer tham that. Forget about the others they very seldom see the light of day. Maybe I need to put DCC in them.
I think there are more than people think in this position. I am lucky that my dads business is almost on cruise control. He started it back in 1963 and still perking along. He passed on in 1984 and my mom in 1999. Krysti keeps the thing running and i do the R&D on some things. Had a LONG work week last week a whole 6 hours!!
Krysti and I joke about how ruff things are when we have to go shopping!!! LOL. We are supposed to have a training session tonight so people can see how the CTC and CCTV works and try and get a handle on this layout. It is very simple BUT it looks like a wet bowl of pasta when you see the track plan.
I had a long work week(5 days). I will be back to my 2 days per week next week. That means I will have more time for the layout. I just ordered 3 Peco turnouts and a Walthers 30 degree crossing for the yard. Maybe we will get to use the turntable this weekend.
I started working on the Walthers roundhouse on Sunday. I had some trouble with my rock painting and decided to take a break.
I will try to get a picture of the Plymouth when it finds its way out of the garage. Too much rain in the forecast.
gear-jammer wrote: George, I had a long work week(5 days). I will be back to my 2 days per week next week. That means I will have more time for the layout. I just ordered 3 Peco turnouts and a Walthers 30 degree crossing for the yard. Maybe we will get to use the turntable this weekend. I started working on the Walthers roundhouse on Sunday. I had some trouble with my rock painting and decided to take a break. I will try to get a picture of the Plymouth when it finds its way out of the garage. Too much rain in the forecast. Sue
The modern makes a nice kit. I wish the bricks where better Like the Pola kits. see how easy they weather. Good castings.
Walthers
I have (4) more to build, will try some different weathering since they are supposed to be the newer roundhouse in the towns.
claycts wrote: Fianly got a picture of our Ashley yard This is the larger of the the two yards. At least the roundhouses fit this time!!
Is there any reason to place an insulator on the edge of the roundhouse? Or is your rail/track in the roundhouse one piece to the TT? As soon as I paint the floor, I will be to that stage.
The Walthers RH has a pit that I have decided to leave off. It would be too messy to cut a hole in the bench work. Black paint should do the job. The angle is such that the change will never show.
Is Krysti building the other RHs?
gear-jammer wrote: claycts wrote: Fianly got a picture of our Ashley yard This is the larger of the the two yards. At least the roundhouses fit this time!! George, Is there any reason to place an insulator on the edge of the roundhouse? Or is your rail/track in the roundhouse one piece to the TT? As soon as I paint the floor, I will be to that stage. The Walthers RH has a pit that I have decided to leave off. It would be too messy to cut a hole in the bench work. Black paint should do the job. The angle is such that the change will never show. Is Krysti building the other RHs? Sue
Sue that is one piece to the TT. I will build the roundhouse at the table after it is painted and weathered. Krysti si walpapering the drawiing room so this one is on me.
The pits on this are painted black. I ahve a real pit in the other one.
I am at the what to do next stage. I should continue on with the soldering and wiring for all the feedback circuits and the local dwarfs and signals. Have been running using the CTC and CCTV like a video game. Works great, was worth the money and effort to do it.
rrinker wrote: Bet you just need to run the calibration routine. If it stops within a step of the actual point, it hans't lost its memory - if it forgot the programmed stop it wouldn;t stop anywhere near where it's supposed to. The whole thing works by 'knowing' how many steps from a fixed starting point you set the stop - so if it's close that just means the calibration has slipped and the start point is no longer where it's supposed to be. --Randy
Hi Randy,
It's nice to hear all the positive comments about this TT.
I have a question about the programmed stops around the circumference. With the controller counting steps to know where each stop is, is it safe to assume that final location of each track is done AFTER the TT is mounted and each stop is programmed?
Does this present any challenges to get the tracks aligned with round house doors. I guess this would depend on how small the steps are I guess.
Thanks for your help
Lynn
Lynn the TT uses an optical reader that starts a "0" as defined by the factory. Before you set anything you put in your track AFTER you find where the dead spot on the table will fall.
I have found that before every session to push the ZERO button on all the TT's so that they are strating from REAL zero. The table is very good about finding it's points after programming. Read the instructions and you will see that you must program both ends of the table at every point. I did not and of course blamed the table not me forgetting to read ALL the instructions.
I am working on the location for the 3rd one IF we build phase two.