BarstowRick's H&P Layout Restoration

BarstowRick Sep 15, 2020

  1. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    One of the problems I had in the Big Bear Country, Train Shed. My mobile home was built in the 60's and didn't have the circuits required today. One 20 amp for the kitchen and they expected that to run the refrigerator, micro-wave, dishwasher and garbage disposal. At least my breaker box was indoor. For the train shed. I only had one 20 Amp circuit-breaker to work from. I had to share it with the laundry-room lean-to. To keep things on an level playing field I couldn't run my trains when the washing machine was going. Laundry in the morning and trains in the afternoon and then more laundry at night. In the train shed I had to resort to power bars with built-in 15 amp breakers. I seldom had difficulty unless I turned on the frost watch heater or air conditioning unit. What happened to the lights?

    The only way I could power-up the train shed and laundry room is with a minimum 12 gauge drop cord. Both the laundry-room and train-shed had to unplug from the trailer. That was fun to install.

    The good news, that won't happen here. The land-Lord remodeled the house correctly. I'll have plenty of circuits available.

    Now if you can beat that. ;)(y):cool:
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2020
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  2. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Not yet. My son wants us to move in with him. He was supposed to buy a bigger house by this month...but we havent heard a peep. Hmmmmmmmm....
     
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  3. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    George and of course everyone else tuned in here.

    I can assure you moving isn't fun. I'm still unpacking. I have train stuff scattered all over the house. Once the layout is up on it's own feet, I can start moving all the train stuff into the train room.

    Later.
     
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  4. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Lots of things to consider when moving. My thought....sell EVERYTHING that isnt 'personal things'. Sell things like...beds...furniture.....dishes...dining room table...etc. Take the $$$ and buy new stuff when we get to where we are going. Trains....hmmmm....this could get tricky. Will THERR RV make the move without breaking down and costing a mint to get it there ? Dismantle it and rebuild in a 'cargo contaner" ?. I can 'strip' everything train related. The layout wasnt built with 'dismantling' and saving in mind. I can save the cabinets...means buying less when I rebuild.

    I think it will be at least another year before the word "Move" rears its ugly head again. We just today signed another years lease on this place. (n)(n)
    So there is that....LOL
     
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  5. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    Important stuff first. Who needs dishes or clothes the trains need to be unpacked and welcomed into their new home first. The other stuff is optional.
     
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  6. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    I agree. Its his house. Lock the doors. Sit around in your boxers. Eat TV dinners on a corner of the layout...with your fingers. Just get them trains running. (y):D
     
  7. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Rick...

    Are the tracks going to line up ok? Or will you have MAJOR track re-routing to do ?
     
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  8. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    Clothing optional, unless you will be soldering.

    Pizza and trains go well together, within limits. And definitely not if you are painting.

    And don't forget your favorite beverage.

    Wait... maybe not that last part, if you want the trains to run well when you are no longer drinking.
     
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  9. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks for asking.

    I'm going to have major track problems. Most of it occurred during the move itself. Long story and I'm tired of telling it. If only someone had listened to my instructions.

    The weather in Big Bear Country wasn't kind to the layout and I ended up with heat kinks.

    The Mouser's I set loose in the train shed, this mother and daughter team did their job. The mice were gone. After the move here to Idaho, I lost the daughter due to a virus that mice carry that will kill a cat. Not the news I had hoped for.

    Those two girls did some minor track damage but nothing like the two sections that ended up hanging off the interior wall of the u-haul truck. The torquing and bending, popping the rails loose...grrrr!!

    I already know all the felines in my colony love the cork road bed. They like to knead it like we do bread dough. So I will need to take some preventive action to keep the colony off the layout. So far uhh...err so good.

    The damage done is fixable. My first concern. The cost at almost $5.00 a stick of flex track which will have me working hard to save the damaged track, already on the layout. I'll be looking at using N scale spikes to realign some of the rails/track. I'll also be looking at the possibility of using Kato's Unitrack to make some repairs. Bridging from one section of the layout to the other.

    The damage you are going to see in the photo's occurred when the layout wasn't protected, standing on end while everyone walked by it rubbing against it. All while loading the truck and the first time wasn't enough we did it again when we unloaded the same truck. I purchased cardboard boxes to break down and place around the layout to be wrapped in rented mover's blankets. Didn't happen.

    DSCF1822.JPG

    DSCF1821.JPG
    The sections of Kato sectional track once connected to a Kato bridge. Making it easy to install the bridge. More on this when it comes time to set the bridges back in.

    While some areas on the lower deck are just fine.
    DSCF1824.JPG
    Well that last picture didn't turn out so well.

    Here's a feline shot. Tabitha, a survivor of the mouse virus. An obvious Siamese/Tabby mix.
    DSCF1776.JPG

    She staked out her claim on the layout. Sweet cat which makes it hard to say no to. The look on her face is, "How dare you tell me to get off the layout"
    :whistle::confused::eek::rolleyes:

    More to come later.
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2020
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  10. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thats all just too sad ! :sick:

    I only have dogs so I only get dog fur that works its way up into mechanisms...:censored::censored::censored::censored:

    Not sure I could handle a pet getting ON the layout...dog or cat ! :whistle:
     
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  11. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks George.

    I don't like the felines on the layout at any time. Their little claws can do serious damage to the rails. I will get into this more when I finally arrive at how I'm going to make the repairs. You won't believe what's coming next.:sick::coffee::coffee::confused::confused::eek:
     
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  12. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    George and Big Jake: Funny and I like it!! :D:p:LOL:

    Backing up. I missed this first time out, sorry about that.

    You might want to know every packed box was given a number and inventory logged indicating what's in it. Easy to find this way...or so I thought.

    When I moved in the first thing was to get my kitchen stocked and everything in it's place. Next was getting boxes out of the front room and into a back bedroom. I need a place to crash.

    The bedroom was already set-up thanks to my daughter. Appreciated, the first night in here. You should of seen my colony of cat's the next morning. Those beady little eyes all asking..."What the hell did you do to us". Didn't take long for them to call the place theirs.

    The dining room, now train room ended up being the place where everything they didn't know what to do with ended up in. The layout went into a shed. Insult to injury. Two years later I managed to get help too move the layout onto the veranda and move the shed next to the veranda. I got a cheap awning put up. Thank-you neighbor. Land lord took out the carpet and put a linoleum floor in. Now, now, it's time to move the layout in. You know the rest of that story.

    Your right about not drinking and I only drink Diet Dr. Pepper, if I can find it a reasonable price. No alcoholic beverages...at anytime. No smoking...period. Not allowed. My self imposed rule on self. And, anyone else that walks in the door. Not going to happen.

    Soldering only when I have my worst pair of thick jeans on. No way I'm going to solder over my head without protection, of a different kind on myself.

    I did leave a TV and my favorite easy boy chair, bed, dressers and other items as George suggested he might do. Once here I went to the thrift stores and found replacements for most everything. Better prices then what I thought they might be.

    Okay, not feeling well today. So, I figured we could spar and brow beat each other. Tomorrow is supposed to be better weather and I need to get outside and make up some legs and L-girders to reinforce the second section.

    It's been fun while while the day lasted.

    Later.
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2020
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  13. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    I got my friend the electrician on the phone and he said.

    You were both right and I was wrong.:eek::confused:

    So I asked him what is a drop cord? His answer, providing I heard him correctly. It's used for purposes I indicated but it's hooked directly to the main construction meter to be used during construction of a home, building, football stadium and etc.

    I hate eating humble pie. If you don't mind I'll eat my humble pie, alamode style. I probably misspeeled dat. Spell check wants me to use marmalade. I don't think so.

    I've run into this in the past. I'm a mortician not an electrician and when you have the opportunity to work with the construction professionals. Quite often they let you think and verbalize... making obvious mistakes. They get to laugh about it, thinking it's funny. I'm sure you got a laugh out of it. Haw haw haw!! :D:ROFLMAO::LOL: I get stung by it. :sick: Good thing I'm not allergic to bees.

    With that said now back to the layout.

    As for the layout the bench-work is open grid style with a box like construction. Partially because of the trip here and oversight on my part when I built the second section. For the purpose of Rigidity, I will need to add some L-girders and then it will be able to stand alone.

    I cleaned the carpet, dishes are done and I've not so willingly pointed out I was wrong. Just don't expect an apology, I don't do that. Well, most of the time. I'm sorry what were we talking about.

    So I should be off to a good day...don't you think.:rolleyes::whistle::coffee::coffee:
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2020
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  14. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Not a problem. Wasnt giving you grief about it. But I do enjoy the occasional 'twisting of the knife'..:LOL:

    NOW...If we can just get you to admit they are 'Turnouts' the world will be at peace. :whistle:
     
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  15. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    I felt you twist that knife. Shoulder hurt like..well...bad. How about you get rid of that Voodoo doll...grrrr!

    T word. LOL I don't think so.:rolleyes:

    Not a chance in #ell. :mad: I said, dead pan serious. And I do know... how to do that.

    The only Rail Employees who use the T word are the engineering and drafting departments but that's to refer to the whole of the switching mechanism. As in installation of such. Back to family of Rails and the lingo they used, I consider to be correct. I'll stick with Switches.:cool:

    I watched my dad and granddad reading my model railroad wig wags (magazines) and they would throw them down saying these guys just don't know Railroading. It's true most Rail-fan editors and Model Railroad authors don't know railroading. Funny, thing but railroading is date, time and era specific. One of the things I was exposed to was the linguistics, thinking of the Rails during the era of the late 50's, 60's and some into the 70's. What a God-send when I could sit down and talk with family friends now retired Rails of the Santa Fe and Union Pacific. So much to learn.

    One name you might remember is Chard Walker a Santa Fe Agent who worked the Summit of Cajon Pass for years. What a gift to have his ear and hear his stories.

    "Switch" the Rails have always called it a "Switch." That may change in the future but for now it's a Switch.

    Well, I borrowed a saw from my neighbor and I need to make some cuts in order to add the L-girder to the bottom of the bench-work. The wood is warped and I'm wondering if the layout will now have a hump in the middle. Hey, a Hump Yard. Think of the possibilities.

    See below:
    DSCF1825.JPG

    DSCF1826.JPG
    I will now have a place to anchor my Control Panel. Liking the way this is turning out.

    DSCF1827.JPG

    I still have some work to do. I need to get the big guns out. My craftsman drill motor. Plug it into a drop cord, hooked up to the wall outlet and see if I can take the hump out. For now it's in place well enough to know it's going to work.

    I need to sit my furniture back up and shut off the fan that's drying the carpet. Drew Barrymore and Kelly Clarkson should be on shortly. Sigh!

    Nap time!

    Later.
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2020
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  16. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well, the L girder is in place and I was able to counter the warp. We are now at Warp Speed. Say what? What? Aiiyiiyii !!!

    I may still end up with a Hump yard. I still need to add some screws but I'm saving that for tomorrow.

    I've been thinking and before I run everyone off.

    I grew up close to the Rails not only in my family but others. Where? Where else. Barstow, Ca.

    For the most part I learned that you and I are viewed as Foamers or Wanna Be Railroaders. When we stand track-side with Smiles that go from one ear to the other. On our faces showing we love the Rails and the Trains as they run/go by. Our waves appreciated and the questions always welcome. Proving to the Rails we don't know what we are looking at. The questions that is. Foamer, an interesting descriptive word that can often be used as a noun. A what? It isn't a bad thing contrary to other websites banning such bad, shameful and indignant language. I was called a Foamer, by my family of Rails. You know as per the definition up there somewhere. Wanna Be's!! I wear it with pride as it's an apt description. :sick:

    We play trains on our layouts. Run trains around in circles. I don't mean for this to sound as a bad thing. It's what we do.

    It isn't very often I run into a model railroad where the owner has switch moves, train schedules, crews to take out the locals, turns, run through freights, crack passenger trains that have to meet a time table schedule. Take the trains out and bring them back in. Passenger Train stops, industries to serve and an occasional shout down with the DS. Did I miss anything?

    Most of us are Toy Train Operators, and Model Railroaders are actually hard to come by. We all think we are Model Railroaders but are we? I know, I saw George's poll right here on TB. Seems to me a Model Railroader, would know more about the Railroad he or she is modeling.

    Okay, this isn't meant to be a put down. And before it turns in that direction I need to switch the subject. See I can play that game too. :sneaky:

    Just enlarging on observations I made about the Hobby Wig Wags (magazines) supporting our hobby. I think I said certain of my magazines got tossed down, with the observation, "They don't know Railroads," ringing in my ears. So get out and vote. Oh sorry, I mean do vote but we aren't doing that here. There are some things I won't chat about here. Not going to touch that.

    More pictures coming but I'm guessing by now you are tired of looking at the bottom side of my layout. I'm tired of it. Not very pretty.

    I'll get the legs on it tomorrow and hopefully my neighbors will help me flip it over. Two more sections to go but I will be concentrating on these two for now. Time to get some tracks hooked up and back together, never mind the wires.

    Now where's my work trains, heavy duty dozers, bull-dozers, cranes, ballast cars, track gangs, switch-men, switch-crews and track gangs. I'm tired so I deliberately left out...well you'll figure it out.;)

    I'm cool if you're cool! :confused::cool:
     
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2020
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  17. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Rick my friend... That was all 50+ years ago :confused:o_O

    50 years ago was the past. TODAY Is the Future. :whistle:

    I wasnt even a teen in the 50's
    In the 60's I was in high school and then the military.
    In the 70's I was out of the military...married...bought my first house...and had 2 kids !!

    We are getting way past old my friend. As my kids keep telling me..."Adapt or get left behind dad!"


    Just my point of view. :D
     
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2020
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  18. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    George, you know how to trip my triggers. Here it comes.

    In this thread I'm focused on modeling my incantation of a railroad. Did I miss use a word there?

    The 50's to the 70's happens to be the era I'm modeling in. So my vernacular when operating my railroad will reflect that. The trains that operate on my railroad will resemble the trains my family of Rails operated. A sort of re-capture the time and moment. It has nothing to do with the future. No Deloreans on my layout.

    Here's the thing. I don't like the direction alleged model railroaders are going. It took a wrong turn back in the 30's and it's been with us ever since. The author of the T article actually used Turnout correctly. It's the fall out afterwards that's at fault. Now, I ask you who needs to adapt?

    It's a Freelance world. As found in most wig wags are stories and illustrations of prototypical train equipment but little if any talk on prototype operations. It's in essence a Toy Train World. Nothing wrong with that. After all that's how I got started.

    Todays! Alleged model railroad enthusiast are establishing their own little world of, "I call it." The I call it Syndrome. We've all done it including me. Usually it's because of the lack of the proper word or terminology. MR Clubs are deciding what lingo they will use and most often it's not in keeping with the 1X1 foot scale of Railroading. That alone has me scratching my head in wonderment. What? What? What are we doing? Or should I ask thinking?

    Out in the world of politics, they left me behind along time ago. Don't think I'm happy about the direction our nation is headed. Should I live long enough I will have to Adapt. Just don't expect me to like it or agree with it. But, enough about that.

    Adapt, you want me to adapt!! After Cataract eye surgery and two new lens implants. Dental surgery and my teeth removed. Cancer removed from my left shoulder. Tomorrow, I will need to go in and get a shot in the same shoulder because a kid hit me with my own baseball bat and damaged it. Adapt? What the...well... do you think I've been doing. My diet has changed, my gut doesn't like it. And before all of that Diabetes raised it's ugly dragon head and everything changed. The medications I need are expensive. A rich man's disease, diabetes. You already know about the heart attack and that doesn't seem to get better and has me slowed down to the crawl of a tortoise. Adapt? That's all I do is adapt. Do you think I like it. Last I heard I don't have to. And I don't. Always something new medically... going wrong that will cost me 20% of the overall cost, a deductible and a co-pay. That can be expensive enough for me to cancel the procedure. Adapt? How about "Put Up and Shut UP?" Oh and while I'm on the subject BamBam care didn't help me one bit. Nada!

    Oh, lest I forget. Then there's the broken back I ended up with as a kid, that still hurts to this day. I can't just move around freely. I have to plan how I'm going to add those needed legs, put the L-Girder in place. I can't just jump in and do it anymore. Thank goodness for the kind neighbors and son-in-law that will stop by during his busy day to help me lift something. I get along with a little help from my friends.

    Tell me to Adapt?! :confused::eek::rolleyes::censored:

    I don't like the changes I see occurring in the MR Wig Wags (magazines) or verbiage they are suggesting (one of the reasons I quit subscribing) and I refuse to allow anyone to suggest I need to change and Adapt... to present day Toy Train terminology. It's not wrong for toy trains but it's wrong in the prototype department.

    Oh, in case you were wondering. It's your railroad, you make the rules, you set the standard and you operate it anyway you want to. Now go have some fun with your layout and enjoy the things that you like about two rails (or three) and stuff that runs around on them.

    Do I dare say, "Get off my back!" Darn thing hurts and you are to heavy.:D

    Adapt my @$$

    Later
     
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2020
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  19. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    I can relate ! Have almost all the same problems. Are we twins ? :cautious:
     
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  20. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    While I still subscribe to MR I have found in the last few years that there is little in the way of creativity in the product reviews. It feels like I am reading the exact same thing over and over again with the name of the model changed. I remember when they used to talk about the model in a less robotic way and actually told you what they thought about the model. The layout spreads are still good, but I think they need to get some fresh creative writers in there too.
     
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