PRR Tool House

I was cleaning off my desk from building the cabin cars, putting my tools back on the rack behind the desk and washing all the graphic off the cutting board when I discovered the American Model Builders PRR Tool House laser cut wood kit I had bought at the train show. I had hung it on one of the pegs on the peg board, then hung something in front of it and completely forgot about it. What a pleasant surprise!

Irwin Yard's new tool house, next to the old boxcar that formerly served as the shed.

 This is only my second laser cut wood kit - the outhouses for Vic's being the first kit - but I really like them. Nothing looks more natural for a wood building than wood. The style of the building is board and batton siding. I painted both sides of all the wood parts, with the the main pieces in Depot Buff and the trim in Roof Brown. Once dried, I began assembling the parts. The instructions recommended CA super glue (which I have) and an accelerator (which I do not) but I have always thought white glue was best for assembling wood projects. I tried both and no matter how careful I always get a little glue that dries on the surface. The white glue is clear to milky but the CA was shiny. After the first experiment, I stuck with white glue. This slowed my progress a little as I had to wait for pieces to dry but I did some other activities on the railroad like programming the new RS-3 and gluing some track to the B&O bridge (a story for another day).

Overall, it took me an afternoon of one day and a morning of the next before I placed the kit on the layout. I am very pleased with how it turned out and once I add a couple of figures moving around the scene, some tools and materials near the building, and maybe even a table saw visible in the window, it will look very realistic. I do need to tone down the grass in this area and make it more dirty and stone.

I think I am ready to tackle building a row of identical company houses for the Herminie mining area. I have my eye on the 3 pack kit from City Classics but I am still looking.

Christmas and Cabin Cars

Lisa gave me a Bachmann RS-3 that I have been wanting. I've always liked how the RS series looked and the model from Bachmann is very well detailed, nicely priced and comes ready to run for DCC layouts. I ran it on the track a few times, solo and then pulling a west bound freight train, using the default 03 address. I still need to program it to respond to the engine number, 8604.

Irwin Yard's newest engine, and RS-3, grabs a car from the cabin track for the next outbound train.

I spent the rest of Christmas afternoon finishing the four cabin car (caboose) kits from Bowser. I really like the price and details on these kits but they are tough to build! The ends are thin plastic that have to curve a little. I was getting a bit frustrated, breaking the small pieces but finally figured out that if I mounted them into the roof first, then I could attach the roof and ends to the floor a little easier than the other way around. Of course, I figured this out on the fourth and final car! I now have a cabin car track fully stocked for building trains in the Irwin yard.

Lisa and the kids also gave me some other great gifts for the railroad - a couple of books by Tony Koester, some cinder block walls for scratchbuilding and Model Builder software to print builds and paste them to cardstock. I built Vic's Bait & Tackle from the downloadable sample. Looks like I'll be pretty busy the rest of the Christmas break.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Vic's Bait & Tackle - A Complete Scene

Today, I finished Vic's Bait & Tackle scene. I had built the building some time ago and placed it on the layout. The scene sort of developed from there. Named after my friend and co-worker, Vic W., who lives on the east coast and loves to fish,  I finally finished the supporting scenery adding trees, outhouses, and the fishermen Vic picked up from a hobby shop near his house.

East end of Irwin Yard

In the first photo, taken from the Irwin Yard looking eastward, we see the Irwin switcher pulling a set of hopper cars probably heading under the B&O bridge and taking them to the Westmoreland Coal Company mine in Herminie. One of the through freights, led by GP-7 #8805, is passing LAS Fabrics heading towards East McKeesport and then Pittsburgh. Just past the caboose, and in the shadow of the B&O bridge, you can see Vic's.

 In this view, you can see the details of the scene. The fishermen are swapping stories before they head to Keystone Lake which is down the road behind the yellow sedan. That's Vic on the hillside, practicing his casting with a new fly fishing pole. Gotta be able to tell the customers how it handles! Sitting on the porch, a young lady enjoys a Coca Cola, from the six pack at her feet. Behind Vic's you can see the his and hers (Goose and Gander) out houses. I found this Durango Press wood kit at T & K Hobby back in September and I knew that I HAD to add it to the scene. I finished it this morning, as well as the trees I needed and started putting it all together.

I had planned to add the trees and take a picture but the ground between the tracks was still bare so I added some grass. Well, the area between this scene and LAS Fabrics needs some grass too. And the end of the Irwin yard area looked really bare. You get the idea. I spent about 90 minutes adding grass to various areas for the photo and I could not stop myself. I am very happy that I finally finished this scene!

Clearing the workbench

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I had some time today before we visited family for Thanksgiving dinner so I decided to clear off the workbench by completing a few projects that I have moved 4 or 5 (dozen) times. First, I renumbered a duplicate PRR boxcar. I had some old decals that would match so I carefully cut out three new numbers (743) and watched them dissolve in the water! Hmmm. Guess 25+ years in the drawer will do that to decals. I once read a trick is to spray them with Dullcote to extend their life ... add that to the next train show list! I ended up with a 7, partial 4, and after two attempts freehand painted the 3! Oh, and on one side of the car only .. fortunately I do not have a loop or wye on the layout.

Next, I scratch built a coal bunker from scale 4"x6" and 6"x6" lumber. Once it drys, I'll stain it, weather it and then place it on the layout behind Dailey's Coal and Fuel Oil with a mound of coal and a front loader (add THAT to the shopping list!) and this scene will be complete!

I had a couple more cars on the bench to finish. I started working on the H33 covered hopper car. I very quickly realized the instruction sheet I had in the box was not correct. Ploughing ahead, I was missing several key pieces and had glued two pieces in the wrong order. Other than that ... I put that box back in the rolling stock kit drawer. Hey, I've waited 5 or 8 years to finish that project, what's another few?

Building the Red Caboose P&LE boxcar was much smoother. I had instructions ... and the right ones! This is a pretty detailed kit and I was gluing individual grab irons, stirrups and brake lines. While I appreciate the level of detail in a kit like this, I also no that even I won't notice it once I have it on the layout, and I doubt others will either.I think I prefer the kits where you add a brake wheel, the trucks and couplers ... then run it on the layout!

Overall a good thanksgiving ... and I have some space back on the workbench. For the moment.

Tuesday Progress

I made some serious progress tonight, but first an observation.

Insulators on HO scale telephone poles are small. Really, really small. Ten per crosspiece, 36 crosspieces ... lots of little insulators to paint green. Yes, I painted 360 insulators green and 36 vertical supports white. I picked up these Rix Products telephones at T&K Hobby a few weeks ago for along the Route 30 overpass. I decided I wanted to get them ready tonight ... right after my left arm took out the one detailed telephone that was actually mounted on the layout. Grrrrrrr.

The telephone pole calamity happened because I was running trains back and forth and I solved one of the problems we had with the 3 operator scenario on Sunday. I need a timetable. I know this sounds obvious but I realized the best way for the mainline operators to work is to know ahead of time (1) through or local freight and (2) who goes next. Following the PRR rules of eastbound trains having superiority, I determined tonight that we can start the operating session with a westbound through or local from Greensburg that has to layover in the Irwin yard passing siding until the westbound through train from Pittsburgh passes. If its a local (still working this part out), he can drop some cars and continue on to Pittsburgh.

I need to work out each aspect of the operations in isolation and then when Eric and Jack are here, we can connect the sequence. I have a plan! I also did a little research tonight - really, just started this part - into some real freight trains from the PRR circa 1955-ish. For example, there was an eastbound Cincinnati, OH to Enola yard (Harrisburg, PA area) train with the symbol CIN-2 and known as "The Captivator". In the opposite direction, CIN-2 or "The Rocket" ran westbound from Enola to Cincinnati. I think with names and a specified sequence, the operating session will only get better.

And I was doing more tonight. Basically, I dabbled here and there. There is now a roof mounted tank on LAS Fabrics and two fuel oil tanks at Dailey's Coal and Fuel Oil. In fact, around Dailey's I completed a stone road to the building  and fixed some of the grass area. I only need to build the partial coal bunker and this little scene will be complete.

And on the other side of the layout, I added some details to Vic's Bait & Tackle scene. I had added a short stair case a couple of weeks ago and finished the gravel road and parking area. I added a girl sitting on a bench on the porch with a six pack of soda at her feet and a kerosene pump and propane tank around the building. I completed the grass and dirt scenery and started added some bushes, trees and a couple of tree stumps. I have an outhouse kit that I need to build, plus more trees and bushes and this scene will be done. Well ... almost done. I decide to give the impression of a barn yard between this scene and LAS Fabrics so I want to added a split rail fence and finish weathering the B&O trestle bridge - which Vic's sits in the shadow of - and THEN it will be complete.

I think I can call tonight progress. Stay tuned, I think I will get some serious work done this week!

Three Operators

Yesterday, I held an operating session for the first time with 3 operators. Both Eric and Jack had a couple of operating sessions under their belt and I had 3 throttles so it was time to up the ante. Jack had not seen the layout in a while so I walked him through the changes in West Staging and the Rt 30 overpass. I gave him a DT-402 and put him in charge of the eastbound traffic coming from Pittsburgh (West Staging).

Eric took the other DT-402 throttle and handled the westbound traffic (from East Staging / Greensburg). Again, we basically alternated traffic rather than run to a schedule. While this more or less worked, Jack commented at the end of the session that it was helpful to know ahead of time the sequence of trains. We did a little work with the P&LE interchange but never brought out the train that was on the P&LE staging track. Jack handled this train and had become pretty good at switching East McKeesport but I again failed to work in the West Penn Power or May Stern spurs.

I took the new UT-4 throttle and my usual job as Irwin yardmaster. I like the UT-4 for this situation where I am using a single engine and don't have to change addresses. I am not crazy about the hardware reverse switch as opposed to the soft switches in the DT-402s.

One of the challenges I've had before is trying to switch the industries in Irwin and on the Herminie mine spur from the Irwin yard. While Eric was waiting for Jack to move an eastbound local, I had him switch the Heinz and LAS Fabrics spurs. I pulled the cars from mine but left empty tracks for a while until I could take the next train over. Not ideal. An we missed the Irwin Industries track again.

Overall the session was a success. I only had about 90 minutes before the session to get things staged and I pulled a few cars (good move) and quickly arranged the staged trains (not-so-good, should have been more careful in the makeup of a couple of the trains). The Irwin yard became the choke point and a couple of times both mainline operators were waiting for the yardmaster - me! - to get caught up.

On the positive, the layout easily supports 3 people. I definitely need to fix the spotty track and make sure all the cars on the layout meet specs. Most of the bad orders are gondolas or hoppers that are underweight. I have too many freight cars to leave these on the tracks. Finally, I need a specific train sequence before the next operating session.

Getting closer.

Back at the layout

I was on the road this week for work and did not even get a chance to stop in a local hobby store. But I did think a lot about what I wanted to do when I got back and created the list in the previous post. Right after dinner tonight, I was in the basement working on a couple different projects. First, I fixed a couple of the fascia edges with some trim molding my dad gave me from his scrap pile - saved me a fortune!  I would have bought 16' of wood for some 3'+. Anyway, I glued those to the fascia so I can paint them tomorrow.

Next I tried to plant some underbrush in the park on the Rt 30 overpass. I do not like how my trees and plants are turning out so I will have to keep experimenting. This effort was no improvement. I'll let it dry and then determine the damages. I did put some dirt and grass down on the far side of the overpass and I hope to have this scene pretty complete except for a small Mom & Pop roadside store.

I ballasted the sides of the remaining mainline. This is a two step process so I hope to finish it tomorrow as well as finish the remaining 4 or 5 feet of sidings. Then ... maybe ... I can put up the ballast containers except for a patch here or there. Of course, as I was working tonight I noticed ALOT of heres and theres already. *Sigh*.

To access the track, I piled most of the buildings on my workbench which means I can't work in the cabin cars or weather the B&O bridge but that is probably a good thing. As you can tell, I dabbled on 3 different projects already. FOCUS Eric!

Road Trip

Last week, the twins had Thursday and Friday off, so we planned a mini vacation/road trip to West Virginia and Pittsburgh with something for everyone. Besides riding the Monongahela Incline Railway and visiting the Heinz History Museum, I got a chance to stop into my favorite hobby shop, T & K Hobby in Bridgeport OH, and check out Patrick's Trains in Wheeling WV. Of course, I came back with a collection of projects - pine trees, scenery materials, two Pennsy cabin cars (caboose) and a B&O box car. I also got some Walther's fuel tanks to detail Dailey's Coal and Fuel. I won't be able to work on the layout until this weekend but I think I have a list of activities I will try to make some progress on:

• Finish ballasting the track. I have about 20 feet of mainline and a few sidings and this aspect of layout building will be done.
• Finish Rt 30 overpass scenery. I created the park and want to add some bushes and complete the other hillside that is still bare earth colored paint. 
• Detail Dailey's. I plan to add the fuel tanks, a partial coal bunker, and some details here. Adding a lighted office in the building would clinch this little scene vignette.
• Scenery around Vic's Bait and Tackle. I have a couple of laser cut wood outhouses to build and I want to carve a canoe to lean against the building but I should have enough trees and bushes to complete the scenery. Since this is below the B&O trestle bridge, I need to finish that to complete the scene. 
• Build one or two cabin cars.

Hope the family doesn't have too many activities planned this weekend!

Cincinnati Train Show - A Success

Nicholas and I had a great time at the Cincinnati train show. I came back with a heavier bag than I ever expected. I got to meet my TrainLife friend, Alex Kolesnikov, from DCCTrains. Not only did I get the LocoBuffer and UT-4 throttle I wanted at excellent prices, he had some Intermountain wheelsets and Kadee couplers at the best prices I have ever seen. Nicholas even ended up with a bargain on a new N-scale B&O hopper car. I had suggested that he consider if he likes one railroad over others and he thinks its the B&O.

I discovered two new vendors that I really liked, both are in the Cincinnati area but run completely different business models. Bob The Train Guy does all his business at shows and on the Internet. He had a great collection of items but what I focused on was some laser wood kits with good prices. I have never built these before but have been interested in trying this type of model. I got the PRR Standard Tool House from American Model Builders. Bob also had some excellent details for my scenes so I picked up some pallets and steel drums.

The other vendor was Hamilton Hobby, a traditional store front. I picked up 2 Bowser cabin cars (caboose) and a Coffman right clamp to hold building walls at 90 degees while the glue dries. I've wanted one of these clamps for quite a while and finally got one.

So now I am off to test the new UT-4 on the layout. Maybe tonight I will move the old kids computer and hook up the LocoBuffer. Then again, I can build the laserkit or the cabin cars ... decisions, decisions!

Getting Ready for Cincinnati Train Show

Since I was out of town all week on the west coast I had a lot of time to think about trains but not work on the layout. I did a quick check for hobby stores in the area but could not find any and did not really get away from work early enough to stop by any. All this means I am really geared up for the train show in Cincinnati which opened today but commitments with the boys, I won't be able to go until tomorrow. Nicholas wants to go with me so I think we will be shopping for some HO models for Dad and N models for the boys.

Sometimes, these shows can be a little disappointing. Frequently they have lots of toy train and railfan stuff. I almost always go with a specific list of items, like Pennsy cabin (caboose) cars, or a specific Walther's building that I want to find at a bargain. More than once I have come home only spending twice the $7 admission fee which is disappointing. This year should be different as I want two DCC (digital command control) items and my favorite DCC vendor from Cincinnati will be there. I was posting about the show on TrainLife - a Facebook for train enthusiasts - and discovered one of the guys I was friends with and chatting back and forth is the owner of the store! Small virtual world, eh? I am looking forward to meeting Alex face-to-face and learning more about DCC from him.

I will post later tomorrow all the steals and deals I got. Wish me luck! 

Operating Session Analysis

Eric D. and I did get a chance to run trains last week. He noticed right away the scenery changes I had made in West Staging - very rewarding! I walked him though my ideas for how we would operate the trains and overall things went well. I had done a lot of ballasting along the mainline since the last operating session so there were a few rough spots that required the pick to dig out the errant stones. Both of us seemed to have a problem running through switches  that were turned wrong. At one point, I pulled the PRR wrecker I have and placed it on the maintenance of way (MoW) track. I don't recall Eric or I dumping another train after that.

Eric drops some cars on the P&LE Interchange before heading to Irwin, PA.

 To start, I had cars at all the industries except May Stern Furniture and I had 2 empty tracks in each staging yard. I had decided to only have one through freight from Greensburg to Pittsburgh, all the other trains would be locals stopping in Irwin or East McKeesport to drop off cars for the P&LE. I had the Irwin yard at about 1/2 capacity and could set out a train for either east or west at any moment. I continued my role as Irwin Yardmaster and also the local tuns for the Herminie mine run and exchanging cars with the Heinz factory and LAS Fabrics. After we were operating, I realized I did not have any plans for exchanging cars on the Irwin Industrials track. Operating these 3 sections of the layout was probably the biggest glitch we ran into. Below is a schematic showing this section of the layout. I was able to squeeze in H-1 and H-2 local runs to the mine in Herminie but because the mine tracks were full, I had to run light to pull all the cars from the mine then make another run to place them. I need to determine a scheme where I send a train out there a couple of times an operating session to pull each siding rather that service the entire complex (3 tracks) at once).

Irwin Yard and surrounding tracks that in theory are serviced by locals originating in Irwin

Eric was responsible for all the local trains including the traffic from east or west staging, which we basically alternated. This actually worked out very well except for the engine shortage. Since I only have a few DCC engines, I told Eric to turn them once he reaches his destination. OK, train lingo for a newbie! He literally picked up the engine, turned it 180 degrees and placed it back on the same track. I meant to take the engine from the arrival train and place it on one of the outbound tracks to complete a train. Once we worked out the communication glitches, we were humming along.

The P&LE run continues to be a sort of whatever-whenever deal. I had a short train staged, only four cars but they were all heading to interchange with the PRR. This meant that I had no room to pull the cars from the P&LE industries - Dailey Coal & Fuel, Pgh Brewery, Keystone Sand, and A&J Tool & Die.

Tracks in East McKeesport, red indicates the P&LE sidings with the staging off to the upper right

So I ran the engine back light until Eric had a chance to collect the cars, then I ran back down and pulled all the cars from the sidings - of course, all going out to the PRR so again I ran the engine back to Eric light. Ultimately, we never delivered cars to those sidings.

So we had a good time and I think some of the ideas I tried in this session - trains on 3 staging tracks, locals ready to leave Irwin, no or limited thru trains - I will keep. Next I will concentrate on the traffic patterns around the Irwin yard - maybe the west bound local from Greensburg staging so handle the Heinz factory exchange with the eastbound doing the same for LAS Fabrics. Once I get those settled down, I will turn my attention to East McKeesport.

Oh, and I found two engines waiting for DCC conversion. Both are Atlas SW1200s that I have hesitated because of warning I read on potential shorts. I did not want to burn out a $20 board but then it occurred to me that I've had it for about 4 years so maybe it was time to take the plunge! Looking over the engines, I had started to convert one but forget where I left off. So now I have to trace everything! I REALLY need to stop procrastinating and finish the jobs I start!

Finishing a scene

Well, another major milestone tonight - I actually finished detailing West Staging. Now mind you, it's a series of building mockups but at least it looks like a complete scene. I was built a couple of trees (actually, I built about 6 and only needed 4 because they are so large!) to serve as a sort of view block between the "offline staging" and Rt 30 which is the start of the actual operating layout. Route 30 separates West Staging (Pittsburgh and points west) form "downtown" E. McKeesport. 

To help break up the scene, I decided to create little roadside park. Now this scene is not actually complete, but you get a sense for what I am going for. I still need to string the wire barrier to keep the cars from going over the hillside, add more telephone poles (and maybe string wire along them as well) but I was able to complete the park scene complete with trees, a parked car, a couple of benches and people sitting around, resting from their long trip on the famous Lincoln Highway as Rt 30 was known in the 50s. 

I think across the bridge I will put a small Mom & Pop grocery store - maybe even with a sign for Wilmerding! A few more bushes, more railing and finish grassing the hillside and I can move onto E. McKeesport.

In addition to finishing this scene tonight, I set up the cars for the operating session with Eric tomorrow. First, I pulled all the 50' boxcars (6 of them), reduced the staging to only 3 tracks in both East and West Staging representing 2 locals and 1 thru train each. Irwin Yard is pretty full (all four tracks have at least a couple of cars) but I think I can work through this in pretty short order as I have a couple of trains ready, one east bound, one westbound and the H-1 Herminie local which works the WCC Mine No. 4 spur. I have one more train staged, EREM-1 the P&LE run from Erie PA to E. McKeesport. After I set everything up I realize there were no cars on the May Stern/Stetson Convention spur.

Before Eric stops over, I need to jot down some notes on the waybills and the train composition - just to see if this scheme works a little better. Wish me luck!

Preparing for the next operating session

I had a chance to catch up with Eric D. on Sunday during the Cub Scout meetings and invited him over this week to run trains again. This will be Eric's second session and about the 5th official operating session on the Irwin District. I have to serious projects that I want to finish before Eric comes over.

First, I have been working hard on detailing the West Staging area. While this is technically supposed to represent offline industries and staging in Pittsburgh, PA and points west, it is in fact very visible. As people walk into the basement, they can see the whole layout but West Staging is closest to them so it's important to me that is have some detail and at least somewhat completed scenery. I am almost done with the second new building "mockup" to add to the two industries already there. I have completed most of the grass scenery and added a couple of bushes to hide some of the rough edges of the scenery breaks. My final task is to complete some trees for the park on Route 30 and complete the line of posts that keep the cars from rolling over the hill ... about another two hours or so worth of work and I should be complete.

The second task is more difficult - fix the operating schedule. I finally determined 4-cycles for the 3 iron ore cars. Good deal. Now I just need to come up with something for the other 55 some odd cars that are physically on the layout! I did pull all the 50' boxcars to try and even things out a little bit. I am considering eliminating one of the industries on the P&LE in East McKeesport (probably Allegheny Cold Storage) for less congestion.

I'll post a photo before the operating session so you can see how far I got this week!

Finishing a project

Below is a picture of my workbench from last night. This is the typical of my modeling work bench. In case you think you think it was hit by an errant missile from the twins Nir-Myss Ammunition Factory on the N Scale layout, this actually represents several started-but-yet-to-complete projects.

On the left, you actually see three different projects, stacked. On the bottom is a a collection of PRR books and a file folder of some notes on buildings and scenes I would like to reproduce. I need to load these details into the computer so I don't lose the ideas - would have been nice if I remembered to grab that folder before the last business trip! Next on the stack is some sheet styrene when I started to organize my scratch building supplies but quit in the middle because I could not come up with a better scheme. Next to them is some scale lumber I picked up this past week at Lyn's Junction in Lansdale PA.

On the cutting board, left to right, is a mockup building for West Staging; the front truck from an Athearn SW-9 waiting to be cleaned and the engine converted to DCC; another building mockup for West Staging, this time built from DPM plastic walls rather than foam board; the Chooch stone wall that will plug the tunnel entrance in Herminie; behind that is the drill and with the small cup hidden behind the buildings - I am making the barrier strip for Rt 30.

On the right are 2 box cars that need to be completely refitted with couplers and Intermountain wheelsets. These came from my old underbed layout and I found them in a drawer of "things-I-don't-know-what-I-will-do-with-these". On top is a car that happens to be a duplicate on the layout so I need to change the last 3 digits of the road number with decals. A tedious but 20 minute job that at this point is about 6 years in the making!

Scattered along the back are some park benches I started to paint, the fishermen Vic W. gave me for the Bait & Tackle Shop as soon as I finish the scenery there ... right after I finish the B&O bridge, Herminie Hill and ballasting the mainline! Further to the right is a wide variety of paint and supplies in a bewildering array of disorganization.

But hey, look at all the tools neatly arranged on my desk! I'll finish these projects in no time ...

Lyn's Junction Hobby Shop

Recently, I was on a business trip just north of Philadelphia, staying in Lansdale PA. I found a wonderful hobby shop, Lyn's Junction, that I suggest anyone in the area stop in. Friendly staff and quite a selection for HO and N scale. In addition, they have a large stock of Digitrax supplies.

Current Happenings

Sometimes when I look at the layout I get a strong motivational push to finish something. Other than Dailey's Coal & Fuel, East McKeesport is pretty bare waiting for me to replace the cardboard May Stern Furniture with a real building and I have an idea now how I want West Penn Power to look. The rest of East McKeesport ... not so sure.

But the started projects. Downtown Irwin has construction paper roads and taped together buildings. Herminie has the half-built WCC Mine No. 4, the rough shape of the hillside, a three-quarters-painted B&O truss bridge and in the shadows Vic's Bait & Tackle resting on paint - no scenery.

Last night I spent some time on the West Staging section with the goal of getting something finished. This is the first part of the layout that people see when they walk into the basement so I thought it would be appropriate to complete this scene. I have two building mockups and need two more which I started to build. In the scene there will be a small section of track coming out of the backdrop with a cut boxcar to give the illusion of depth. Since this scene "ends" where Rt 30 crosses the layout, I did a little more work on the scenery there as well. This could be interesting and I'll post a photo as soon as I have something worth showing.

A Look Back

I was organizing some family photos when I discovered a couple of pictures from Sep 2003 of the layout in the building stage. At the time, I had planned a large peninsula (about 4' x 8') to jut out from East McKeesport and add to the mainline length. This would wind around the pennisula then curve into the west staging yard. Below you can see the peninsula ready for a sheet of sub roadbed (pink insulation sheeting).

 I was considering building a large bridge to connect the two peninsulas following a prototype bridge across the Ohio River between Steubensville OH and Wierton WV parallel to Rt 22.  This would have provided a loop for continuous running but required either a lift out or present a duck under for the operators - less than ideal when following a train around the mainline from east to west staging.

In addition, the bridge would be a rather daunting modeling attempt for me. I still may do it, someday, when the layout grows and my skills improve.

Benchwork Complete

Today, I attached the last fascia to the peninsula that represents Herminie PA and the Westmoreland Coal Company Mine No. 4. I put this last piece off for a while because I wanted the fascia to be contoured to match the hillside to the left of town. This hillside has developed with some help from Jack Newton and I think it's about as good as it will get. Yesterday I marked off the profile, got out the scroll saw, cut it and painted the board green.

While I was outside painting, I decided to give the B&O railroad bridge that crosses the PRR mainline just east of Irwin yard a coat of black. Most railroad bridges are black with varying degrees of rust and dirt. I like how it turned out for the most part but I ran out of spray paint and I need to touch up a couple of the beams. Also, it's a little shinier than I hoped and I still want to weather it to blend into the scenery. Once I complete this bridge and the PRR mainline area under it, I can complete the Vic's  Bait & Tackle scene. My plan is to have a B&O freight train heading away from the viewer so there will be a couple of cars and a B&O caboose on the bridge.

Here is how the scene looks right now. More progress!

A&N Railroad: The Next Generation

Way, way back, I joined a local N-Trak group (DaytoN-Track) with a typical 2' x 4' module. I met some fellow railroaders, gained some insights (like N scale is REALLY small) and had some fun. I eventually dropped out because it was hard making the weekend shows but my module did appear in the DISCOVER N '92 convention in Columbus OH.

A year or so ago, I pulled it out and rebuilt a simple loop with a few sidings for Nicholas and Adam to play trains. They would run trains around a little then move on to some other interest. It was a challenge for me to work on the N scale layout when I had so much work to do on my HO basement layout. Recently I was showing the boys how you move trains using car cards & waybills and mentioned switchlists. Nicholas especially was interested in this so I created a custom switchlist for the A&N Railroad. Last night I showed the boys how to set up the trains and use the switch list for a purpose - set out and pick up cars.

Hooked! They loved it! The engine struggled a little with the dirty track and lack of use so after they went to spent I spent time taking it apart, cleaning the wheels and lubricating the gears - did I mention N scale is REALLY, REALLY small?! I put the engine back on the track and it sailed around the loop.

I can't wait to show the boys the improvement. Who knows, maybe we'll even make some time to work on some scenery this weekend!

HI HO A Ballasting We Go!

After completing the ballasting project, I started to mull over the next project to tackle. Complete the scenery around the Rt 30 bridge? I have to fix the edge into the fascia and not sure how to do that yet. Complete the scene around Vic's Bait & Tackle? Well, that's under the B&O bridge which I want to detail a little more and finish the hillside first. Detail the LAS Fabrics Co building or some of the taped together building mock ups in downtown Irwin? Well, first I have to clean off my work bench and find some place for all the tools and parts I have. I want everything organized and when I do try to that, I am never satisfied.

Finish ballasting? I hate ballasting. OK, so this was the lamest of all the excuses, and therefore the new project. Cody Grivner's Scenery Step by Step: Ballasting made easy in Model Railroader January 2007 has been sitting on my shelf for a while and I've tried it a few times in little efforts but still not real happy. I dusted it off again, read it closely - including the two tips I missed the other 3 times - and in one night I finished ballasting between the ties on the entire mainline. Tonight, I started with the first layer of ballast on the sides of the roadbed and I am pretty happy. I completed the mainline through Irwin, the interchange track with the P&LE, the P&LE siding and two other spurs. Sweet!



Except, now I WILL have to clean off the work bench...

Lighting Complete!

Last night, I finally finished the lighting project around the layout. This has been a several months long process but I am very satisfied with the end result. The fact that this combines both carpentry and electrical skills - I am only slightly worse at plumbing - and I was still able to complete it makes it all the sweeter. Here's a quick tour.

Here is the west staging yard which represents the outskirts of Pittsburgh, PA. Just beyond is East McKeesport where the PRR has an interchange with the P&LE railroad. As the road curves to the right (east) we are entering downtown Irwin.

As we leave downtown, we go past the Irwin Yard which besides sorting incoming cars for local deliveries, handles the Heinz, Duquesne Beer, and LAS Fabrics Co. factories. It also has a lead to the Westmoreland Coal Company (WCC) Mine No. 4 in Herminie which is the peninsula on the far right of the photo. The PRR mainline runs behind the yard and under the B&O bridge, taking the trains off the visible layout.

 Here we are, just east of the B&O bridge at the east staging yard.

Now I can concentrate on scenery ... wait! My art skills are much worse than carpentry. Oh, well!

Operating Session with Eric

Last night, my friend Eric Dilger came over to run trains for the first time. We are both in Scouting with Jack who had told Eric all about running the trains. It was the first time with the new lighting which was great - there were no shadows on the layout. Eric jumped right in and quickly got the knack of the Digitrax throttles. I had all the cars positioned for the session and had even made up a train sequence ... which I promptly forgot to follow.

The session really did run surprisingly smooth for Eric's first time. As we went along, I was making mental notes of some adjustments I need to make, like mounting a map since I live in Dayton where most folks don't know the specific geography of the modeled Pittsburgh area. Also, it would be good to pair a new person up with an experienced brakeman to help walk them through the paces. I was doing this in between jobs as yardmaster in Irwin. Of course, I need more throttles and a couple more locomotives would be nice too!

In the end, we managed to run all the scheduled trains (albeit out of sequence) and service all the sidings. A heck of an accomplishment since I had not run any trains for a couple of months. I still need to work on the car card system. We followed the waybills but in the end, the west staging was full, there were only 2 cars in the Irwin yard and 2 tracks in the east staging. I want it to be a bit more balanced so I can flip the waybills, turn the engines and run the next session.

Herminie Lighting & Shopping

I was very busy at the end of last week and over the weekend. First, I finally finished mounting all the lighting around the layout with the final valence place over the mine area in Herminie. Joey was a big help as we had to lift several 8-foot sections and hold them against the vertical supports, level the valence and quick clamp it so I could drill the holes for some drywall screws. There is not a dark spot on the layout now and I can't wait to finish painting the 10" masonite fascias sky blue and mounting them on the valences so you won't be able to directly see the lamps.

Also this weekend, we took a trip to Pittsburgh for my family reunion. We had a good time and, as I always try to do, I was able to stop at T&K Hobbies. I love this store! They have a huge inventory and very reasonable prices. Adam, Nicholas and I spent nearly an hour browsing around and came out with a collection of supplies for both their N-scale and my layouts including plastic scratch building supplies, trees, telephone poles, his & her outhouses (for behind Vic's Bait & Tackle), more J&L detail parts (see the blog post More Awesome Finds), Scenic Cement and an N-scale billboard. Nicholas was especially excited about working on the N-scale layout again and both of the boys want to learn how to run trains with Dad!

My immediate next project, besides the sky valence fascias, is to finish ballasting the layout and then building some more building mock-ups to help operators locate the businesses and drop off or pick up cars. I have a new operator, who also is named Eric, coming over tomorrow to learn how to run trains and I need to get the track and cars up to specs!

Jumping Back In

I have definite ebbs and flows with the hobby and I typically take a break over the summer. First, who wants to be in the basement with the weather is so nice outside? Add to that our oldest son's graduation from high school, the annual church festival, a couple of family trips, a couple of business trips and Webelos Residence Camp with the twins ... who has time for trains!

Even the magazines were piling up on the reading table - Model Railroader, Rail Model Craftsman, Dispatcher's Office and Model Railroad Hobbyist. The great weather just kept calling me outside. Last week, I picked up one of the magazines and it became my inspiration to get back into things. I read all my back issues and then started some planning for the weekend. Besides painting the porch railing, I cleaned up some of the scenery in the west staging yard and added ballast down the center of the tracks throughout East McKeesport and continuing around to Irwin Yard (still have to ballast the sides of the roadbed).

The big change, though, was finally finishing the light valance around the layout. Over the weekend I installed 2 eight foot valences, each with 2 four foot fixtures. Below, you can see the fixtures as the pass behind the Irwin Yard. After I took the photo, I removed the old hanging lights and I really like the even balanced light around the whole layout.

I have to install 2 more valances, one over the east staging and one over Herminie. Next, I'll paint the masonite fascia sky blue and it should blend in very nice. I hope my interest and enthusiasm continues for a while!

Focus

I think I've mentioned before that I have a tendency to jump from project-to-project. I make progress ... don't get me wrong ... but sometimes I wonder if I would make more progress if I had a list and stuck to it. Of course, my day jump is listing To Dos and crossing each one off (some of my coworkers might argue that!) so maybe not having a plan is therapeutic.

Anyway, here is a perfect example. Friday night and I have some ideas of what I want to do. Jack has been helping with Herminie Hill and offered to help ballast track so I ordered some ballast today from First Place Hobbies for our next work/operating session. I have a mental image for how I want to other side of the bridge to look with Vic's Bait & Tackle "in the shadows" so I applied some plaster gauze over the pink insulation land forms I glued down earlier this week. Let it dry overnight and I can start adding some simple scenic materials - brown paint, dirt, grass, brush, etc. I have a kerosene pump and propane tank that will look great next to the building. All I need now is the row boat leaning against the building and maybe a car with a fishing rod leaning against it.

Almost makes me wish I was working that project in Orange County, CA again. The one that was 1 mile from the great little hobby shop that had all the detail parts!

Since I had the plaster gauze and bowl of warm water, I fixed a section where there was a gap between the ground and the fascia. Again some paint, dirt, and grass and that will look pretty good. (Side note: Why do I always finish the scenery at the end of the layout while the back is still flat and ugly?) I was not ready to call it a night on the railroad yet, so I built a small factory to continue the buildings against the backdrop in the west staging yard. This is important to me because it's the first part of the railroad a visitor sees and walks past. I only need about 3 or 4 more buildings and a little scenery work before and under the Rt 30 highway overpass and this section will look "finished".

Still don't feel like quitting so I wrote this  blog. Had to move 2 half built boxcars to work on the building so maybe I'll see if I can finish those.

Sometimes, no plan works best.

Tactical Errors

Sometimes, I think we read about the experience of others, not so we can learn from their mistakes, but to prove to ourselves that they are mistakes. Maybe it's just me.

I did not finish the basement, like most model railroaders suggest. I did not put up the backdrop before the benchwork which is why I was crawling around underneath the layout with an offset screwdriver attaching the backdrop in the 6" gap between the benchwork and the wall. Difficult, but I did get all the backdrop mounted and I decided then and there I would use bolts & nuts to attach the lighting valence.

Attach the lighting valence. How the heck am I supposed to slide the vertical supports between the ceiling and the backdrop. Dang. This may take a beer to figure out. Or two.

Vic's Bait & Tackle

Vic's Bait & Tackle was something new for me. I've built several Walthers and DPM plastic buildings and even built the LAS Fabrics Co. from DPM modular parts. Vic's is made of cardstock with a laminated a sample building from Model Train Software. Their Model Builder software allows you to create your own buildings with various simulated designs - brick, clapboard, masonry, etc. I downloaded their sample Bait & Tackle shop because I wanted to see how this would work for me since I want most of my buildings to be unique to my layout and not easily recognizable to veteran modelers.

As I was assembling the model, I began to consider where I would place this. I thought in the shadow of the  large B&O truss bridge that separates the active layout area from the east staging yard would be perfect. Through some careful scenery work, I could suggest a dirt road leading past the small shop on the way to Keystone State Park which was where my dad would take the family fishing.

I added a couple of details to the building. First, of course is the custom sign, after a great friend, co-worker, and of course, avid fisherman. Although I don't think Vic would be too excited about the pan fish and sunfish I recall in Keystone Park. He's more of a bass and salt water fisherman I believe. I added the 7-Up soda machine that my son, Joey, made fun of because I paid $4 for it. HA! It was 1/2 off when I paid that. It came with a 6 pack which I placed on the porch and a woman on a bench. Some scenery and maybe a row boat leaning against the building and it will look great!

I was all set to start the scenery work tonight, even though I did not get downstairs until after 9 PM. But apparently, I need to first mop up this puddle of water on the floor. Hmmmmm,

Let There Be Light

As I've mentioned before, I am a procrastinator ... especially with something new. I have been wrestling with how exactly to add lighting the lightout from what type of bulb to how how it should be over the layout and how long the valence should be to hide the bulbs. Just too much.

My first attempt was to use a 2 light four foot fluorescent strip and I had planned to space them about every 2 feet. I noticed this created some serious shadows so I decided I should go with a single bulb four foot strip basically lined up end-to-end for continuous lighting. Well, the single strip light fixture was $15 compared to the $10 for 2 .... huh? That tempered my enthusiasm so it took me about 3 weeks to get the $45 worth of lighting. Then I was reading the install instructions. I have determined that when manufacturers try to present information in 3 languages all they do is make it confusing - universally. Finally, yesterday, I just tackled the job. It actually worked out and now I have some nice lighting over East McKeesport. I still need to paint the valence sky blue and since I have to install 6 more valences, this project will be stretching out for a while as I attempt to spread the investment but I like the results so far.

Motivations

I was hitting a motivation slump. I did putz around yesterday with the buildings and sidewalks in Irwin, laid the roadbed for the B&O bridge across Herminie Hill and I did manage to finish the mockup of Pittsburgh Plate Glass in west staging (Pittsburgh) but I've been somewhat blah. In fact, Jack was coming over this evening for an operating session and I had not realigned the cars from the last session.

Nothing like a friend to motivate. After dinner I quickly moved some cars around, looking for that elusive balance. I don't have the 4-sided waybills completed yet nor have I established the balance for number of cars on the layout versus the staging yards but I'm learning. I pulled four cars from the layout and managed to get things where I thought they would work before Jack showed up. And he came bearing gifts.

I'm not talking about the 6-pack. Ok. That too. But he was at the local hobby shop (Smitty's) and found a girder bridge for lettered for the Pennsy and a sweet box car that I did not own. Naturally these will look great on the layout but I have a special place for the girder bridge. The May Stern & Co. furniture factory I am modeling in the corner of East McKeesport (in reality in North Pittsburgh) had a rail line to a second story freight door that crossed a road via a girder bridge. Perfect! I'll have to blog about that building with some photos one of these days. Thanks Jack!

So ... you may be wondering how the operating session went. Even if you weren't I'm going to talk about it. The trains from east and west staging worked well as did the work in Irwin. I only have 2 throttles so I work Irwin yard with runs to the Westmoreland Coal Company Mine No. 4 in Herminie twice a day (which is one operating session). Jack runs the trains from staging, both thru (direct from one staging to the other) or locals (stops at different locations to drop or pick up cars). All of those went pretty well but the P&LE train continues to be the challenge. And we never serviced 3 of the sidings. I need to spend some time on this.

Well, a couple of things have come up for next week so I won't have as much time to work the layout but I'll have some thinking time to work out a solution. And think about starting the May Stern building ... and what other mockups I want in west staging ... and finish the Irwin stores I started ... and build the interior for the WCC mine ... and ....

Ah. motivation!

Random Tips, 1

As I was putzing around various tasks this weekend (yes - all of the pink insulation is now some shade of dirt brown), I was thinking about what I would do different if I started a new layout.

• I built all 12 module tables - either 2'x4' or 30"x4' - with a mitre box and hand saw because I was too cheap to buy a power mitre saw. A year later I ended up buying one for a home remodeling project.
• Templates help build the modules quickly. Once I cut the two 4' long pieces and 4 cross pieces, I had a template to drill 4 holes for threading wires and then another template to bolt the boards together square - well, my typical 87 degrees square.
• The pink insulation is a great sub road bed  but paint is some earth color before laying the cork roadbed and track.
• Paint the cork road a shade of ballast grey before laying the track.
• "Rust" the rails (paint the viewable sides a rust color) at the workbench before installing.
• More than 2' deep is really deep! East McKeesport is 30" deep and I have to really stretch to get to the West Penn Power / May Stern Furniture siding along the back.  
• Fascia 8" and backdrop 28" works well for me.

There are a couple of things I would not change or at least I am still on the fence.

• Layout height of 50". For a model railroad, this is pretty high. It means the layout is chest high for me so I am never looking down on my trains. 
• East and west staging yard. Like most modelers, I wish they were longer but having yards at either end of the layout is very convenient.
• Domino benchwork. After reading an article by Dave Barrow, I thought this was a very clever idea. I don't build the whole 2'x4' scene at the bench before installing it but it was a convenient way to cut and build the lumber portions in the garage rather than in the basement.

My final tip, if any other model railroader is reading this. Do it. I fretted away too much time worrying about wiring the track, installing DCC, backdrop and fascia lengths, and tackling scenery projects. I could have been operating trains years ago!

Second final tip - a friend or two will help you over that indecisive hurdle.

Juxtaposition

Two events coincide over the last few weeks for a rather pleasant experience. First, due to circumstances beyond my control, I was working from home rather than going into the office. This would be a nice thing under just about any conditions but what made it really great was that we moved my office from the spare bedroom to the basement (and moved Lisa's sewing space into the bedroom).

This move not only gave me more room to spread out my office, but it is really inspiring - both to my work and my hobby - to occasionally pause, look at the layout, and consider the next steps. I wonder if my co-workers realize that's why I am distracted on the conference calls?!

What Next?

One of my challenges has always been planning for times when I had time. Yesterday was one of those. I need some more materials for my lighting project and I am still not sure what I want so I was trying to figure out what to do next. Finish detailing Isley's drug store with an interior and lights? How about attaching the sidewalks in downtown Irwin? Mock buildings along the back of the west staging where guests see the first part of the layout walking into the basement? I ended up on a mission - kill Pink.

No, not the rock star. The subbed of my layout is extruded pink insulation board. And it's pink! I originally intended to spend 20 minutes painting under some of the buildings in Irwin so the pink does not show through. Then I headed left to cover some of the ground in East McKeesport. Looking good. Before I knew it I had painted about 20 linear feet of track!

Sometimes, not having a plan works out.

Backdrops & Fascia, Finale

With Joey's help, all the backdrop has been installed. I did not realize how unwieldy 28" x 8' strips of masonite, with the rigidity of jello, would be. He would lift the boards over the layout while I crawled underneath and fastened them with quick clamps. Then I would continue to crawl with the drill and some #10 x 3/4" screws and washers to bolt them to the layout. The first section behind the west staging yard was pretty easy since there is a 12" aisle behind that section of the layout. One foot is very narrow! I had to crawl under my worked desk to get behind East McKeesport but that was not too bad ... so long a I stood up facing the right direction. One time, my mind was wandering and I stood up facing the wall with no way to turn around.

Behind the rest of the layout was another story. Since I was screwing the masonite into the layout, I would drill a hole from the inside through the layout support and masonite and then reach up in a space of about 4" wide with an offset screw driver!! Yeah, it took a while. And my plan to place a screw every 6" soon became every foot and by the time I reach the east staging yard, about every 16".

I cleaned up the area last night - finally, not tripping over wood, paint cans and saw horses after 3 weeks - and attached the waybill holders and one throttle holster. Both of these are from MicroMark and I really like how these make the layout look more finished. I have the remaining 4 waybill holders and 6 throttle holsters on the way. I wonder if UPS will deliver on a Saturday?

Not sure what I am going to do with the 7 waybill holders I had built from foam board when we used to go RVing. Maybe I'll create a display case for them. HA!

Enjoy the photos. Next step - lighting.

Backdrops & Fascia, Part 2

I was able to carve a little time out this weekend to make some significant progress on the fascia. Yesterday, with Joey's help, I was able to rip the masonite panels into six 28" strips for the backdrops and five 8" strips for the fascia. I also ripped a 12-3/4" strip for the two areas of the layout where I need to contour the fascia to follow the hillside.

Carrying this stack of wood from the garage to the basement, I discovered that masonite is extremely flexible but still very heavy! I set up a couple of sawhorses and put two coats of a forest green on the boards, letting them dry 2 hours between the coats. Today I was able to mount the boards completely around the layout except in Herminie where I need to finish the rough design of the hillside before I can cut the fascia. If you compare the photos below with the picture from the January 22nd blog, I think you'll agree that it makes a world of difference.

Next, I plan to paint the backdrops sky blue and mount them before adding a support system behind for the lighting valence. Also, I am replacing the foam board car card holders with some wooden ones from Micro Mark that will really help make the layout look more "finished".

Now I just have to work on the scenery!!

Backdrops & Fascia, Part 1

Nothing like a coupon to motivate. A couple of weeks ago, I replaced the laundry tub that I broke last summer when we replaced the washing machine. Hey, I only had to move it 2" to fit the new washer - how was I to know the molded drain would crack. I hate plumbing projects! Anyway, Lowe's was kind enough to give us a coupon for $10 off our next purchase of $50 or more. Hmmm. I need masonite, 1x4s, some light fixtures, bulbs ... you get the idea. So the twins and I ran over to Lowe's and gathered some supplies. Loading 5 sheets of masonite over the van seats by myself is a story ... for another day.

The trick, I feel, is figuring out how tall to make the backdrop. This is something I have been wrestling with for some time now. Meaning 3 or more years. N-trak and HO modules use 24" as a standard and I still have the 24" x 48" board from my old module so I've had that up behind WCC Mine No. 4 for some time and it seemed just right. But lighting is a real issue in this corner of the basement. In the overview photos, there are only 2 direct lights on the layout, right over Irwin Yard, while East McKeesport and both staging yards are ... dim, shadowy, obscure, twilight ... you get the idea.

I need to keep the lighting pretty low wattage because all the train components, plus two work table lights, need to plug into 3 outlets. They are probably on the same circuit as the rest of the basement but I'll play ignorant for a while. I am not too worried about incandescent vs. florescent. I have some problems getting used to the compact florescent for reading but I've read other model railroaders use the GE Kitchen & Bath florescent bulbs with pretty good results. So I am going to place 4-foot, 2-bulb lights spaced 2 feet apart around the layout with a small fascia in front - painted sky blue of course - to provide the lighting.

I mention this because now 24" was too low. The lighting valence would be almost at eye level. So I mocked up a 30" skyboard (made Joey stand behind it and hold the 4' light strip!) Well, that was too high, you would see the bulbs under the valence. Aaaarrrrgggggggh. Five sheets of masonite sitting in the garage and me sitting on my hands. I decided today that I would rips 28" strips, give me a 4" area to fasten to the layout framwork and approximately 24" above the layout "ground". With a lighting valance about 4" tall ... more or less ... I think this will look about right.

Now the fascia in front of the layout ... 8" or 10". Aaaaaarggggggghhhhhh,

Irwin Mockup

Jack was over this week and more creative ideas were flowing. First, we finally got some resolution around Herminie Hill, the only real hill on the layout. No pictures yet because I want to get more of the base scenery done but the rough shape is taking form and I was really pleased.

I think Jack would agree that the operating session was a disaster ... or at least we had more problems than ever before. I think this was largely because I had too many trains the the west (Pittsburgh) and east (Greensburg) staging yards and not enough cars in the Irwin yard to keep me busy while Jack ran the trains back and forth. A couple times we had to stop and figure out how to get one train out of the way from another.

On the plus side, we started talking about downtown Irwin. Originally I had envisioned a passenger station and a freight station. Well I am not really much of a passenger car fan and I was not really excited about putting trains with 80' cars together. Three cars and the trains would look huge on my layout and still not look like a true Pennsy passenger train.

In the photo above, the passenger siding has a couple of 1890s Overton passenger cars - the right length, wrong era. I was telling Jack my ideas for how I wanted downtown Irwin to look busy, not crammed with a couple of streets but still need to reach back to the switchthrow to the siding. We tossed around several ideas. I kept mulling over it the next day and decided I just had to mock up downtown Irwin.

The first photo shows the new industry on the left that will replace the passenger and freight station. I may still have a freight station tucked behind the siding for some less-that-carload (LCL) traffic, we'll see. Notice the cut building in front? I think I will detail the inside and make it look like the scene is cut right through. I moved a new building I got for Christmas to place the second road of downtown. I think opposite the factory I will have The Lamp movie theater with a moving light sign.

The original road, on the right and in the foreground below, has been there for a couple of years and the building on the far right will be Isaly's, a definite Irwin marking. In the view below, you are looking at Kay's Bookstore (after my mom) which will also have A. Saunders Financial Services (after Angie, studying Finance/Accounting in school) and Joe's Music next to it.

I really like how this is looking!

Staying Focused

One of the challenges I've always had is sticking with the current task. Take yesterday, for example. My original plan was to finish - and I mean FINISH - the wiring. This would entail soldering two rails to reconnect them and add the wiring for the programming track. About 30 minutes worth of work.

Ah, but first, I noticed that I forgot to clean the ballast when I worked on the Herminie mine. A few minutes with an old toothbrush and a vacuum cleaner and fixed. And while I was there, I fixed some of the scenery from when I shortened Track 3 and flipped the mine. And since I had the can of brown (earth) paint open, I painted the last strip of ground between Track 4 and the passing siding in the Irwin Yard. Yup, finishes that up nicely. Was bothering me that the pink insulin was still there in that tiny strip. Oh, and I should paint the north embankment for the Rt 30 bridge but first, I needed to cement the pylons that support the bridge, then I could paint the hillside. Nice, I feel better.

OK, now for that electrical. Lisa calls downstairs that it's dinner time. What? Where did the time go? And more important, I still haven't finished the electrical work!!!!

More Electrical Work

I realized this week that I am not done with the electrical work  but I am close. I need to solder two solder two gaps in the rails that lead to the LAS Fabrics spur but I also have to wire the Digitrax progamming track. Always something.

Power Routing Turnouts

I solved the problem with the 2 power routing turnouts that I reused from a previous, non-DCC layout I had built in the 90s. These turnouts, Shinohara (now Walthers) as I recall, were designed to help traditionally wired DC tracks to route the power to the selected track - either straight or diverging if the turnout was thrown.

Walthers has a good article on the web that shows you need to cut the rails just past the frog to isolate the rails and prevent a short circuit. Two quick cuts with my handy Dremel tool and electrical problem solved!
Unfortunately, I had cut the spur to the LAS Fabrics building so now that short section of track (from the frog to the new cut) is dead but a little work with a soldering should fix that up and then I can put away the electrical tools for some time to come.

One item that really paid off for me, was being extra careful with my wiring. Everything under the layout is red for the north rail (or furthest away from the front of the bench) and black for the south rail. I used 14 gauge bus wiring from one end of the layout to the other and I have several terminal blocks tap into the bus and route the power to tracks in that area using 24 gauge wire - again red and black. Even though I had completed the wiring in January 2007, I was able to quickly and easily add the new feeder wires with no shorts and little hassle.

WCC Mine No. 4

The latest working session involved reorienting the mine in Hermanie. I carefully cut the 3rd track (closest to the backdrop) rails and then the underlying cork roadbed. I used a large putty knife to separate the cord roadbed from the pink insulation but the track was decided stubborn. I only used white glue so I was surprised how well it held. Finally, with a snap, it came up and I discovered I was trying to cut through 24 gauge wire with a putty knife! I forgot that I soldered feeder wires each track at the end. Of course, had I looked under the layout first ....

Anyway, the quick cut-the-track and flip-the-mine took a little longer since I had to resolder the feeder wires but overall, it was a pretty smooth project and the additional openness is worth sacrificing one car length on the last track.

Next project is to fix the 2 electrical shorts with the power routing turnouts I reused!