It's summer, and it is just about the time for my modeling to go on hiatus. As some of you know, I live in Central Arizona, and I have difficulty staying in my garage with this heat. Even as I write this at 8:15 at night, it is still 105°F. This time of year, I switch my free time to something that I can do in the cool, air conditioning. Last month, my wife said that I could go out and buy a new loco for my birthday, and I knew that I wanted something that was tiger striped. I quickly found three candidates, an old brass Baldwin S12 like Wolf's, a BLI NW2, and an Atlas VO-1000. After mulling it over for a week, asking friends for advice, I came to the decision that the VO-1000 was the best option for me. Friday I placed an order for a new, 2003 run of an Atlas VO-1000 in SP tiger stripes. Talked to another friend and we are working on designing trolley pole stands, I still have Pacific Electric freight locomotive decals, and I am feeling like a kid waiting for Christmas. I had the USPS text me all of the tracking of the package from the East Coast, and I got the text that my locomotive was sitting in the mailbox. As soon as I get home, I ran joyfully to the mailbox, came into the house, and started to open it up. At this point the antici....pation is killing me. Then my heart sunk, it was black and white, did the store send me the last run? Nope, it was a New York Central loco. My wife asked if I accidentally ordered the wrong loco, nope, the invoice clearly says Southern Pacific. So, I called the store, and they are sending me a call tag and they will be sending me the correct loco as soon as the NYC unit is returned. I waited this long, what's 2 more weeks?
I am starting to learn how much flexibility that the new yard truly is, and I still need to add the staging track and replace a switch that will not hold gauge. It really has even more potential that I haven’t fully discovered. The crossover in the yard and the one leading into the yard has proven a huge benefit for building up an outbound train. It also allows for additional storage during an ops session. I have also learned that it is also easier to switch out Playa Desnuda Shell separately from the other four companies. Doing so made the ops run so much smoother. After I swap out the switch and wire the rest of it, the yard will really come alive.
Love your layout, the colors and buildings make it very realistic. It is an inspiration to the rest of us. Which area of the switch is not holding gauge? - Tonkphilip
thank you very much. the issue is with the furthest north switch in the yard, the one that leads into the engine house. The little tabs that hold the gauge are straightening out causing it to derail every single thing.
Hi John, The video is fine, you were having fun making it and we all got to see how you operate your branch. So in my humble opinion, two thumbs up on the video.
Rich, it actually was ticking me off...I was making stupid mistakes, fowling switches, knocking over palm trees...switching with one hand is not that easy.
As realistic as you can get with a model railroad. You wouldnt wanna see some of my BIG handed...half blind...maneuvers on my layout...LOL
If you want to be more realistic, you're now locked out of the train room for 30 days because you ran a switch and derailed a car. Hobby's are meant to be fun and when you make a mistake we can all laugh and joke around about it. At work when I have an accident, I get to spend time on the street without pay. Relax and have fun, that is what the hobby is all about. You have a nice looking switching layout and the new fiddle yard really adds to the operation.
