A big Halloween "Boo..." to everyone here on TB. Did I scare you? Probably not...grin! Ok, down to business. I recently added some pictures to my RailImages Account. I experimented with the Album section. You should find an album #1 Discussing the new station addition, #2 How the present layout grew. Before I'm finished another on discussion with regard to: #3 Layouts I built for friends and family. On the third one you will actually see scenic'd railroads. Yes, I do know how to scenic although it doesn't look like it yet. I've added comments in the box below the picture. They are meant to explain what is happening in the picture. Have a question...fire away. I'm not into blogs and the such. Seems to me when I read others I loose interest to quickly. So, I've kept my explanations pertinent and humorous... well sort of! Click on my invitation below and you are off and running. Have fun! Your comments or critiques are welcome. Well, maybe not the critiques. Ahh, heck it wouldn't be any fun if you don't say something critical...grin! Here's an assignment: See if you can find the reason why I haven't done much with scenery on the layouts that belonged to my dad, son and I. It's in there somewhere...grin! You too can build a layout. If I can you can!
Gezzzzzzzzz Rick !!! Good thing I like spaghetti too...LOL. How do you follow the trains through that maze? I like it !! Its coming along great. Some day...I am gonna get out your way and check out your maze.. ;-)
Holy frijole, that is a LOT of good work you have done there! How much of this will be hidden vs. visible trackage? Or if you have a link to a track plan you can just send me over to that. Lookin' good! Jamie
Strausburg, Thanks for the kind words. Mtntrainman/George, You like my maze...eh? Now when you come to visit you are required to bring your own meat-a-balls! Chuckle. Ben, Quiet? You are so right. I've been busy working on the layout. Lot's to do and I'm in the last throughs of Indian Summer. After this short window it is going to get cold and my hands tend to get numb. Did you know it took forever to download my pictures here. I kept getting a "Can't acquire file". Wish you could be here to help with the ATSF issues. Me thinks we'd have a great time. CSXDixieLine, There are times I wish I was in the land of Dixie. Closest thing here is a Dixie Cup Manufacturer. That ain't Dixie. Regarding the current layout in the Train Shed: To answer the question what will be hidden? Most of the Helix will be hidden, as well as the staging yard. There is a pop-up in the middle which will allow me to rescue a derailed train car or perform needed track maintenance. A section of the helix will be exposed under the bridges on the front of the upper deck. The lower deck on the front of the layout, will be exposed along with most of the rail on the top deck. The station and mini-city will remain as is but with interior and street lights... lighting up the buildings. Current News: My little Bachmann trolley gave up the ghost and died. The gears cracked...typical...huurrrmph! Scenery: The scenery will resemble the canyons in Verde Valley, Arizona. Reflecting an ATSF theme. I didn't design this to be Cajon Pass. Kind of tired of the pass and there are enough modelers attempting that task...no need to compete. Freelanced: The layout will be freelanced for the most part. Seems the only way to justify having the W.P., S.P., U.P., D&RGW and mother road ATSF all on the same tracks. We will have an occasional private varnish visit from the N&W/N&S guys and gals. Perhaps some run through power from a few eastern roads. Thanks for the interest...you all!
You To Can Build A Layout Wow Rick, nice job I really enjoyed looking in on your Album . The layout is fantastic and I can't wait to see what else is yet to come. The details added within are outstanding. I can spend quite a bit of time looking in on things there and suspect that I will be returning to see and absorb more. Thanks for sharing, and I will be adding this thread to my subscriptions.:thumbs_up:
Ya know Rick - you talk the talk, (in an ever entertaining way), and very clearly you can walk the walk. Impressive! Thanks for - all - of your sharing. I have learned a lot from you.
Rick, I was wondering where you've been. I haven't seen many of your posts, recently. I checked out your stuff. There's some great work in there! I have a hard time remembering to photograph things and put them on my blog. Otherwise, I have no problem with the concept, except that I don't care for the term "blog" because it sounds like how I feel after having accidentally eaten some onions in something (to which I am, unfortunately, incompatible). I take it that this is not in your shed... Adam
Subwayaz, Thanks for your encouragement. Glean what you can and feel free to use it on your layout. Stay tuned there is more to come. God willing and the creek don't dry up. Grey One, I thought I was learning from you...chuckle. Learning is mutual. We can all learn from each other. Adam, The Layout That Grew, and each addition that took place occurred at my dad's home in Hollister, CA. Here's an explanation as to the history of the layout and tossed in for free a little insight about my dad. It wasn't until his health began to deteriorate that he found it difficult to continue operating and enjoy the railroad. When he couldn't take care of himself and it was clear he was suffering, we kids insisted he move in with one of us. He choose to move in with my sister in Santa Maria, CA and the layout was moved to her home and stored in a garage. Not a great climate for storage, if you know anything about the Pacific Coast. At another juncture, My dad then decided to move in with me and the layout made yet another move. It was obvious my Brother In Law did everything he could to protect it. He rented a truck just to move it... which surprised me. Dad and the layout both arrived here in sad shape. I wasn't sure which one was worse. Giving full attention to my dad I tried everything I could think of, to get him back on his feet. Proving to be futile I soon realized his medical care would be a 24 hour a day thing and moved him into a nursing care facility. He did well and enjoyed the attention he got from the nurses and aides. Lucky stiff! He passed, in the presence of loving care givers but not before we had a chance to talk about the layout and say our goodbyes. Your a good son he said and I asked him what medications he was on...LOL Oh, that did hit a soft spot somewhere near the heart. Prompting my response, "Oh, you aren't so bad yourself, the best father a son could ask for". Recognizing, "No doubt in my mind, you are a honest to God Railroad Man". "Oh yeah, you think so?" he responded "What took you so long?". He wanted me to continue and build this new layout, as we had planned. To feel free to cut the old one down so it would fit in the Train Shed. As you can see it resides in the Train Shed today. Occasionally, I can look out my back window toward the door of the shed and I can sware I see a light on...I don't know how many times I've checked and nothing. I don't know for sure what goes on after we pass. To many claims on what the good book says. My native culture has it's own myth. Other times I can hear him say "Rick, we got one". I know he's talking about a derailment and sure enough... I think you get my drift. He loved that turntable and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he shows up somewhere in Arizona to move engines around in preparation for the next days run. Look out George! Sorry, I didn't mean to memorialize. He wouldn't want us to let this bit of news stop the fun and excitement of railroading. And, he really wants you so called model railroaders to start getting it right...but that's another thread...grin! I can't help but think he is watching, with a grin on his face and once again waiting a bit impatiently for me to get out of the way so he can run a train. My health isn't the best and the time I get to spend working on the layout is limited. I had hoped to get it past the scenery stage, this summer....but not so. Tomorrow will come and with each day a little more gets done. It's what we do today that matters. The lonesome whistle can be heard, once again, as the train pulls out and over the pass. Have fun!
Rick... Everytime I go out to the trailer...the first thing my eyes turn to...is THE Turntable. I already swear your dad is here...in that trailer...kickin my butt to get busy and get it working... He had to be a good man...you didnt turn out to bad...IMHO..LOL :thumbs_up::tb-cool:
Thanks Pete, There's so much I could share. George, I laughed and I cried all at the same time....at your response. I was afraid of that... I can hear him taunting you as he did me. Kicking your but and mine at the same time. Now there's a real trick. Still chuckling. Gosh almighty! I better get my new turntable installed and see if I can get him back here and off your back. George, that was good. Funny just to funny! He's probably standing back and shaking his head at the two of us with a disapproving look on his face and a twinkle in his eye that eventually turns into a big grin on his face. That would be typical of him. LOL!
Rick, That's a great story about your dad. I am glad you got to spend that time with him and you now have something by which to memorialize him. We should all be so lucky to have that kind of quality time together before Catching the Westbound.
SteamDonkey74, I appreciate your thoughts. It's true we had some unique and good times together. I could only wish that every father...daughter and son should be so lucky. He was my friend, mentor, teacher and fellow rail fan. He knew the railroads well and shared all he knew...with me. Perfect? Not quite...but close enough! The layout will be a memorial to all the memories I have and the fun we've shared, operating trains over the various layouts we've owned in his and my life time. Still there are new memories to make. Mike, I'm a GO-ing. Nothing but plans to get this finished and then relax and run trains...grin! It's not over yet! Not till the fat lady sings. I heard that... so who out there is singing?
Stay tuned. More pictures to come. I will be adding an album of pictures to show off...ahh...I mean share, the model railroads I've built for friends and family. Some with scenery, if you can believe it. And yes, I can build a simple roundy rounder although, I really don't care much for those types. It may take all day to get them downloaded...so we shall see what happens next. Have fun! .
Obviously “Bendejo” doesn’t mean what I think it means. Liked the aerial view of the “Mini-City”. I just posted a bunch of photos of the roofs of my “Mini-mini-City”.
sd90ns, "Bendejo", actually I can't repeat what my Spanish speaking neighbor said, then she quickly revised it taming it down to "Smart Ass". As I said, "Among other things". If you have a need to know this will get you todays definition. Urban Dictionary: bendejohttp://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bendejo On the left is a grouping of words including Bendejo, click on it and you have your answer. This has been cleaned up considerably as well...no big deal really. Just a interesting commentary. I still am not sure why Greg named the station Rio Bendejo. Just his sense of humor at work... I presume. It's 12:30 a.m. Yawn...and I'm getting silly. While I'm waiting for my downloads to process I came up with the following: Tonights News: News Flash...Breaking News. Tommorrow's Headlines! I'm running for President....haw, haw, haw, haw, hee, hee, hee. I have a PLAN. A vote for me is a vote for CHANGE. To CHANGE your Medicare Plan every year. To CHANGE your pharmacy plan twice a year. To CHANGE how much you spend on your train layouts. I will promise you that you won't have to CHANGE your bed sheets every other week or month which ever comes first. To CHANGE your underwear once a week. To CHANGE from taking a shower or bath every day to once on Saturday. And to save water we will CHANGE water closets back into outdoor one hole'rs. My plan to balance the budget will be to require you to turn over all your CHANGE and send it to me. LOL Do you think it will work? I'm running for President of my own Model Railroad. Seems there is only one qualified voter. Perhaps I need to contact my own local Acres of Corn organization....we need to get out the Plasticville vote. Seriously now...I can get serious? Sometimes. I just finished posting pictures of "Layouts I built for friends". It's early in the morning and I'm getting punchy. Can you tell? A brief explain-o: The small roundy, round layouts were built during the time I lived in Dayton, OH. I had the privilege of working for one of the LHS's in Kettering, OH. One of my favorite jobs bar none. I enjoyed the guys and gals I worked with and hated it when we closed the store. Just one of those viral type things that haunts hobby shops to this day. This is where I met the contact to build the Dayton Central Railroad. Click on my invite below, go to "My Albums" and check out, "Layouts built for friends". That's enough pictures for now. I need to get back to working on my layout. Ever notice how downloading here is difficult at best. I can't believe how many times, "Cannot down load file" popped up. I must be on ignore. I could only get three pictures at a time downloaded and most took three attempts. I kept falling asleep between each attempt. Thanks for taking a look see and allowing me to reflect on the past. I hope you've enjoyed the fun. No disrespect intended toward any participants and good to hear from all of you. If by chance, tuning in here has stimulated some ideas or gets you pumped up to build your own layout...well then...it worked. For me it's the construction that gives me the greatest satisfaction and fun. Rule #1 Have fun! .
Rick, There are a bunch of easy schmeazy ways to get a layout started. First, you should decide upon the size, and if it is your first, start small, and grow. We are all of different skillsets and skill levels so the first layout the goal is to lay some track, and wire a loop or so, and get trains running. Then just place some structures and draw in some roads, and you will grow and evolve from that point. If you have a mentor such as I did, I went from my elementary grade layout to a large garage layout but had help, and even then it was more food that I could chew at one time, so I suggest to Build to your skill level and desire Build to what your space allows you to build Build to what money you have to spend Build to what your family and home will allow Ignore others, except the ones who want to help instead of dictate to you. The others are building to their agenda, not yours, and you and you alone are in your particular situation. I am building for the first time in a long time on my own, as I live completely alone, and although it sometimes gets a little too quiet at times, I enjoy complete freedom to build the trackplan, and the approach and techniques I have learned from over the years. There is really no substitute for experience, both successful or failures, and I have had my failures. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
