View of the 12' GN ore dock with 120 car capacity. Plans from article in GNRHS. View of control panel. When I first installed the PFM sound systems, there were 'leading edge' stuff, along with using 2-channel RC transmitters to remotely control the trains. Now, it's 'stone age' but it works for me. I have towns, with sidings for industry, along the main line but I'm partial to running main line trains 35-45 cars long and watching them snake along the mountains so I'll stick with my PFM sound system (plus, it would be a lot of work to rewire the layout and install modules (also expensive) in all my steam engines. From what I've read, I don't think the present wiring could reliably handle the DCC electrical load.
A couple more videos of the S-2 4-8-4 passenger train. East of Tye: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Xcx2BMUaqyo On trestle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwz7kr30eas&feature=youtu.be
WOW! that is one impressive layout and the Great Northern to boot The GN is my personal favorite road prior to the BN merger. I got intersted in trains in the 1970's in Minnesota, like many, I am attracted to what I grew up with. Now I model BNSF with allot of BN power still around and liberal usage of modeler licensing to run BN F7 locos on a layout with BNSF SD70Ace locos. But I am also running several GN trains as heritage trains. So as far as you cheating the time scale of 1938 on your layout....you are being more faithful than I How many decades do you have invested into this layout? Did you transfer items from other layouts to be used on this one? Also, I am pretty impressed at the consists your steam locos are pulling....pretty hefty. I am assuming brass?
Thanks Matt, I've been modeling for a lot of decades. When I was five, I got my first Lionel trains. At age thirteen, I switched over to HO. Some of the equipment, ie the trestles, were made back in the 60's at my parents house and my first large layout in the basement (around the wall). The present layout was started in 1979 but, again, a lot of equipment was made from earlier days. All the engines are, indeed, brass with as much lead added to get max traction. Back, before they made good quality plastic steam engine, the only way to have good scale steam was 'brass'. All the engines were re-worked with can motors and high gear ratio gear sets installed. The bulk of them were custom painted by me; lots of work when you have to mask off for multi-color engines with as many as 100 pieces after a dis-assembly. Here's a thread on my Lionel/MTH stuff: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?146400-Lionel-postwar-and-contemporary-Lionel-MTH ps: I got errors trying to access your first web site. Looks like you've got lots to keep you busy!
Boxcab, When I used to have operating sessions, several people could be busy at one time, operating each large yard, the ore dock, locals running plus main line running, in addition to the logging rail road; although one is enough, just me, when I do each thing, one at a time.
Not exactly HO but rather 12" to the foot scale. Last week end, I went to Lebanon, Ohio and rode their one hour trip with a Nickle Plate diesel and three old Lackawanna cars. On the return trip, the engineer controls the diesel from the rear passenger car.
Lebanon trip (continued from previous post) They have two diesels and several cars. They don't have a lot of equipment but it's only about 8 miles from my house. Lebanon has a lot of historic buildings (many on the NHRP).
wow! that is an amazing layout you got there! The amount of craftsmanship that is show there just blows me away. love the old steam engines too!.
