T.H.E.R.R. Reborn!

mtntrainman Jul 9, 2012

  1. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

    4,587
    16,153
    90
    Peace of mind is worth volumes! Kill them tracks George!

    Now we all just need to find a very, very rich volunteer to get our 'wish lists' going.
     
  2. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

    9,982
    10,821
    143
    Its all Fifers fault...again !! LOL

    http://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/actrr-major-changes-to-take-place.84048/

    I told my wife I was planning some changes on our layout too. Of course she enquired "Like what?". I tried to explain what I had in mind and when I got to the part about removing bridges...she flinched and said ok. Went to the layout while she napped. Drew up some prelimenary plans. Most wouldnt work. Had a great idea...It involved her excursion train. I could get her excursion train out of the station...but...just couldnt get a plan to work to get it back in there...facing the right direction. FILE 13. Was going to reconfigure for single line running...wont work. FILE 13. Back to removing the bridges and running all the track on the flat. No grades...makes me happy. Wife is having real bad qualms tonight about removing the bridges. I get the old "You can take them out...if you want to." NOW...I know there is a "BUT" in there somewhere...and it aint good. Been married to her for 32 years...I can read her like a book !!!

    Stay tuned....could get interesting ;)
     
  3. Eagle2

    Eagle2 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    5,727
    479
    82
    Those implied "buts" are definately worth paying attention to!
     
  4. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

    9,982
    10,821
    143
    I will be making breakfast tomorrow morning and we will sit down at the dining room table for 'negotiations'. We shall see if I still have some of the charm left like I did when I first met her in 1980 ;)
     
  5. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,560
    22,735
    653
    In less than four weeks, it'll be 43 years for me. It's still an unfinished mystery novel.
     
  6. Eagle2

    Eagle2 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    5,727
    479
    82
    As long as it doesn't become a true crime work, you're slightly ahead of the curve. Or, as in so many of our cases, ending up in the history section.
     
  7. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,560
    22,735
    653
    Things are the same as our PM exchange some months ago. :(
     
  8. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

    9,982
    10,821
    143
    Ours is a 'Romantic Comedy"...so we are good :LOL:

    I made breakfast for her this morning. Its her birthday...is the least I could do ;)

    Discussed the track realignment and removal of all grades and bridges. She seemed ok with it. Took her out to the trains where I had set up some visual aids. Turnouts, curved track, train on the plywood below the 'hill'. She has a real hard time visualizing things. I can see everything clearly in my head...lol. Gutted THE RV and built the danged layout with nary a blueprint of what I was gonna do :p

    I think she trusts me enough to know its gonna look great when I'm done :D

    ALTHOUGH...her last words where... "I'm gonna miss my bridges." :rolleyes:
     
  9. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

    3,032
    8,078
    82
    George, after 52-1/2 years with the same wife, I can truly say that your breakfast and all is on the right track, even if it is her B'day. Keep it up and check out the results.
    Oh BTW, Happy Birthday to Mrs. mtntrainman ! !

    carl
     
  10. OleSmokey

    OleSmokey TrainBoard Member

    931
    2,054
    43
    Look forward to seeing this one done. I thought i was the only one with a rr in the rv.......
     
  11. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

    9,982
    10,821
    143
    3 years and its been working great...seeings as we only have a 2 bedroom house and no room for trains inside ;)

    Happy to see anouther RV Train Guy :cool:

    And a fellow Arizona train guy at that (y)
     
  12. OleSmokey

    OleSmokey TrainBoard Member

    931
    2,054
    43
    Yeah, but not much longer. I am having issues with my lungs. I don't want to use oxygen so i have been coming down in height. I am going to sea level to see how that will help. I lived up in the green peak area and then to Globe, Then San Manuel, Then Tucson, and now in the next four months to Texas to see how that works for me. Mine is small compared to others layouts. 15 Sq. Ft. 3ft. X 5 ft. Takes up the dinette area. We have fulltimed in two rv's for 16 years now. After Texas who knows where i will end up...Maybe in the ground somewhere. Hehe.:LOL: At least i have someone who likes rv train layouts, Dan
     
  13. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,560
    22,735
    653
    You guys have me thinking seriously about this option. With T-Trak, what could I do in an RV, and still live in it without being cramped up like it is a rabbit hutch. Might make an interesting separate topic?
     
  14. Eagle2

    Eagle2 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    5,727
    479
    82
    Especially since, being modular, it would be easy to rearrange and/or move out of the way. The ability to have a "new" railroad for a whole lot less work!
     
  15. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

    13,396
    12,182
    183
    Well it will be interesting to follow the changes to the track plan as they occur. But I have to agree with your Missus about keeping some bridges, after all there isn't any 1 to 1 lines anywhere that don't have a bridge or two somewhere on the main although I did remember reading about a short line, maybe West Va.,that actually crossed a stream running through the water. And your layout in an RV does have my old mind working some. Might simplify my retirement house hunting a little more by eliminating the need to have the extra room or basement for layout space. Although my thoughts would lean more to a trailer than an self propelled RV. And since my layout designs now are all based on a small room size of 10X10 foot modifying the plan to fit in a small trailer would not be an issue. Cheaper than building an addition and about the only extra expense would be a power drop and a window AC unit for the hot times. And with my mobility being somewhat limited due to Arthur and his brother Ittis, no basement stairs or trudging upstairs to the train room plus a smaller house to maintain. Ya got me thinking George.
     
  16. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

    9,982
    10,821
    143
    I believe...

    If people sat down with pen and paper and made a list....they would be surprised at the number of reasons a trailer or RV makes perfect sense for n scale trains ! JMO ;):D
     
  17. OleSmokey

    OleSmokey TrainBoard Member

    931
    2,054
    43
    I have a 3X5 foot layout in N scale on the dining room bench. We have never used it for anything but someplace for junk of one or another kind. I plan to put cabinets below the layout for more storage with one drawer for the electronics. I could go out another foot but need that and some more for Debs desk. I have a raised area where the tires are behind my desk. I am thinking i could have a small yard there. It would be behind the desk and the printer and computer. Three track and maybe 36 inches. You would be surprised how much layout you can fit into one of these units.We live in ours full time and do some travel. All i have to remember is to take all the cars off the layout. Making a trip this fall to Texas. May stop travel there but will continue living there. I had pictures of my layout but the logging group is not on the new site yet. And am getting used to this new site yet to try. Mtntrainman has the right idea for sure. Down here in southern Arizona, You can find all kinds of rv's for little or sometimes no money. I have a old 75 fifth wheel trailer that is gutted out. we are getting rid of it. Someone could just take it for free. It has a couple of leaks that would be easy to fix. Its one of those aluminum models that Holiday rambler made back then. one shot of mine so you can get an idea as to how much you can do with one of these. Dan
     

    Attached Files:

  18. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

    5,685
    2,780
    98
    I would just need a place to park an RV then!
     
  19. OleSmokey

    OleSmokey TrainBoard Member

    931
    2,054
    43
    There are courts all over the country! Just pick a area that you would like to live and take it there. That is what i am doing this fall.
     
  20. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

    9,982
    10,821
    143
    Took THE Wife and I two days to wire the 12 ready tracks off the turntable. Had to drill twenty four 1/16" holes thru the track beds for the wires. I put in a 3/4" piece of PVC from the first cabinet to the left of the turntable area (an open area where my mechanics chair is stored when not in use) to the second cabinet . I didnt want those 12 sets of wires going over to the switch panel (the open panel at the top of the 2nd cabinet) to be dangling inside the first cabinet. Also...that first cabinet has a tool drawer...I didnt want the drawer snagging wires when I pull it open or close it. The PVC pipe made a nice clean wire conduit to the 2nd cabinet. This 66 year old disabled guy was flat on his back in that small opening under the turntable...fishing wires up through all those tiny holes and THE Wife clamped them off till I could get my old a$$ back out and up there to solder them to each track. I think my back has taken all the twisting and turning it can handle for awhile :(:cry:

    [​IMG]

    Now all I have to do is wire 12 of the black wires to 12 switches on the panel...and wire a short pigtail from the switch panel to the black wire on the buss. The other 12 red wires will be wired together and run to the red wire of the buss with a short pigtail. :cool:(y)

    After thinking I was finally done running wires under the layout...I realized I have 3 more to run !!! One set from the East Yard tracks and one set from the West Yard tracks. I also need one set from the Entrance track to the service area. I want to be able to shut down the 2 yards and the service area when I am not using those areas. (y)(y)(y)
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2015

Share This Page