Model railways

[Swordsman]

Ok so don't know how I missed this ... but found it now ... Me I like model railroading for the realism, you've never seen rivet counters like the model railroaders. Like ya'll I messed with model railroading since my Dad bought my brother one, then I got mine ... found out they were both Marx sets ... my Dad was poor with four growing boys. I lost my interest in it when I discovered Girls. Model Railroading was always on the back burner, Until I discovered DCC (Digital Command Control) at first, I thought that will never catch on, but then when you realize that the track is the wiring for the layout, you realize the spaghetti jungle is gone. Then you realize that you drive the train not the track, the light bulb comes on. Add the sound modules & DCC motor control ... I'm talking creep speed of 3 -5 seconds tie to tie ... It's a brave new world. The best thing I like and so does Randy is the On30 Narrow gauge ... Second class anything goes equipment. Never cleaned always covered in stuff ... a picture is worth a 1,000 words ... you can buy this engine but the modeler has to make it look like this ...

So add the trains there's a interest ... everyone loves trains :train

 

[moon puppy]

Ok so don't know how I missed this ...

Yeah kinda wonderin' about that myself.

 

[Swordsman]

Ok so don't know how I missed this ...

Yeah kinda wonderin' about that myself.

Car trouble, customer troubles, wife had a accident, not hurt, very good friend passed you name it. Add on top of that 10 - 15 people pulling me in opposite directions ... I guess I haven't any excuse ...

 

[moon puppy]

You forgot Locus....

 

[SA Dave]

Ok so don't know how I missed this ...

Yeah kinda wonderin' about that myself.

Car trouble, customer troubles, wife had a accident, not hurt, very good friend passed you name it. Add on top of that 10 - 15 people pulling me in opposite directions ... I guess I haven't any excuse ...

Sometimes life is a bitc.........

 

[Swordsman]

You forgot Locus....

Locus ??? rain maybe at least I'm on High ground here ... Most are saying that a train layout isn't portable, and that it is a big Dio, I agree with that, I joined a club called the Texas Outlaws On30 group, No rules, No layout, Just fun.

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/TexasOutLawsOn30/info

We meet at about 3 Or four Train shows a year ... next is in Oct 1, 2016 in Plano, Texas, I hope to have my alligator pit done by then ... I worked very hard on Max's corner last year and it was a hit of the show, my gator pit is in beginning stages. At Plano We will have 27 2' X 4' modules for our railroad. Our group has 427 members, all over the country, but We are based in the Metro-Plex. The 27 Dio's will make a 28' X 18' Layout. Some of our group have 2 or 3 modules, some have a 2' X 2' Some have none. There isn't a theme except for each Members modules. Visit the Crazy world of the Texas Outlaws and see. Now A Dio once it is finished it is finished, But a model railroad module evolves and changes, that what the people at the shows tell Us. You Texas Outlaws always bring something different to the show, We love what you do. Me, I love the look in the eyes of a child, as he watches the trains move around the Layout.

Humor in modules ... You can get it all at Bubbas

Then the levels go deeper than the building & track ... above the hungry dawg café is a model Railroad club ...

Then We have a snake oil factory ...

We had lots of fun at the Jefferson, Texas show, it was a very busy weekend ... glad it's over must get to the Gator pit ... and I see by the Oct 1, Plan I have to have another module, that will give us a twelve foot passing siding, Now let's see protocols trains stay right at passing's ... Wait no rules ... Cornfield meet ... Yes

 

[moon puppy]

That's fun stuff. Snake oil refinery...

I need a BBQ fix, where's Bubbas?

 

[Swordsman]

That's fun stuff. Snake oil refinery...

I need a BBQ fix, where's Bubbas?

I think it's around Athens, Texas, not sure I believe this was modeled after a real place, So now the old adage ... Do you prefer Tennessee Or Texas style Bar - B - Que ... there is a difference You know ...

 

[Old Dog]

In answer to Terry's question as to whether or not I would post in a train forum the answer is probably not. I belong to a forum that caters to the larger scale trains and if I was to post it would more likely be there as I would have a larger more understanding audience, meaning I wouldn't need to spend as much time explaining things.

Outdoor railroading is a lot different than indoor, small details quickly get lost, stolen by critters or destroyed by the elements. Many detail items available are not UV protected and will quickly disintegrate when constantly exposed to the sun so while cars and engines that don't live outside can be detailed structures and scenes not as much. Rolling stock detailing can be subject to abuse as well say when the wind picks up enough to blow cars off the track. Since they don't live outside handling them constantly tends to be rough on fine details as well.

There is a great amount of diversity in outdoor railroading, some folks are basically gardeners who have a train running through the tulips to add some animation. In my case I'm more interested in building a miniature railway that can be operated much like real railroads with industries that require or produce products that need to be shipped by rail and the idea of just watching a train chase its tail does not appeal to me although I do have the ability to do so for times when visitors are here or I just want to kick back with an adult beverage and watch the train run.

 

[Swordsman]

Well Gary I'm a rubber gauger ... I do all run to the garden size ... and I'm kicking around the 7/8" size ... My outdoor pike is in the weeds right now ... seems the railroad didn't sell enough stock. Funny you should mention operations ... every RR needs to have a purpose. My friend Here has a 1 1/2" 8 acre railroad ... His R/C Battery powered Engine ...

Some rolling stock for size comparison ...

Add some of the Railroad .... they can ride on the trains but they actually do run operating sessions ...

I'm kicking around building one of these ...

Except I'd like to up scale the plans to a 2 1/2" scale Narrow gauge engine still runs on 7 1/2" track ... it doesn't matter where you model ... but outside is the best by far as when you throw giant train killing critters in plus weather factors it become more like a real pike because the conditions aren't set like indoor climate controlled railroading. What I'm trying to say is it does matter what scale, Model railroading is America's number 1 hobby.

 

[Old Dog]

And for those curious here is some of what I do...

Locomotive projects, early stages, these will be operational models when complete

The drivers and drive components are commercial items the frame and cylinders are machined from brass and aluminum. Here is what hopefully the completed engine will look like...

Another locomotive in progress...

And the prototype...

A recently completed but not yet painted scratch built structure...

And some scenes from along the right of way. First photo is the the main yard, note the track and switches are all hand made, individual wood ties, aluminum rail and four spikes per cross tie...

The trestle in the next photo was built in 1998 using pressure treated wood and has been outside ever since...

Another section of the line, the structures are all scratch built...

I have some photos of trains operating on the line but don't have them loaded a this time if anyone is interested.

 

[moon puppy]

Very cool Gary. For me, it's all modeling and I dig it.

 

[Swordsman]

Very Nice pike Gary ... I still need a milling Machine thought I had one bought but didn't have the money ... My friend at the Able springs Railway has a shop full of machines but too big for g-Scale ... where do you get the aluminum rail ??? I'm using Brass ...

Oh and excellent trestle you did a great job on the bents ...

 

[helios]

Very cool. Love the trestle.