Weekend Update 1/15/17

[up1950s]

[ryan_wilkerson]

Spent last weekend setting up a FreeMo-N layout at the California Exposition in Sacramento. The layout was primarily the Silicon Valley group plus a few Sacramento FreeMo-N modules. My sons ran trains both days for 6 hours, we all had a great time. Lots of visitors and interest in the standard and what is possible.
Big thanks to JDG for turning a Kato CSX SD70M into EMDX Leaser #7023 and getting it delivered just in time to lead a Swift RoadRailer train.
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Rick's Silicon Valley Station modules were a big attraction.
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My oldest son running a BNSF train with his new Christmas gift, the STEEL autorack set from Micro-Trains. He's wanted this for 5 years since he first saw it.
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His younger brother running his extra long UP 844 excursion consist through Effett Yard.
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[Mike Madonna]

Ryan, thanks for sharing!

[tehachapifan]

I hate to say it, but I would be a nervous wreck with kids that close to the layout and rolling stock. Not kids who obviously know what's up, I mean the little (read tactile) visitors.

[johnb]

I hate to say it, but I would be a nervous wreck with kids that close to the layout and rolling stock. Not kids who obviously know what's up, I mean the little (read tactile) visitors.

those are his kids and they are good modelers. As for kids and my layout, I handed the 4 year old next door my powercab last night.

[up1950s]

Kids are like 2 legged cats . Look how close that adult elbow in a coat are to the street lamp .

[ryan_wilkerson]

those are his kids and they are good modelers. As for kids and my layout, I handed the 4 year old next door my powercab last night.

I'd be nervous if they were unknown kids
My youngest is 10 and that's his UP 844 (the passenger cars are mine). Half of what they are are their cars and they rarely run any of my locomotives. They've been asking for locomotives as birthday and Christmas gifts since Kindergarten. They are really good at handling them. Three years ago (at 9 years old), my older son helped an older modeler put a never run brass cab forward on the tracks. THAT made me nervous! He did a great job though. I've been training them to be N scalers since they were born They first operated on the FreeMo-N layout at the 2011 NTS show in Sacramento at the ripe ages of 5 and 6....ran the place for 3 hours with only a single baloon track, a wye and two legs....3 trains!
You might recognize them from

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[tehachapifan]

those are his kids and they are good modelers. As for kids and my layout, I handed the 4 year old next door my powercab last night.

Did you not read my post?

Not saying I don't like kids, but at a certain age they sometimes don't know any better than to grab for stuff. Hence nervous me.

....I should clarify that it's not just a kid thing. I've had adult visitors pluck running locos right off the layout for a closer look, with an overhand palm grab as if they were picking squash.

[James Costello]

Big thanks to JDG for turning a Kato CSX SD70M into EMDX Leaser #7023 and getting it delivered just in time to lead a Swift RoadRailer train.

EMD Leaser looking great in operation Ryan!

[johnb]

Did you not read my post?

Not saying I don't like kids, but at a certain age they sometimes don't know any better than to grab for stuff. Hence nervous me.

....I should clarify that it's not just a kid thing. I've had adult visitors pluck running locos right off the layout for a closer look, with an overhand palm grab as if they were picking squash.

I personally have found that if you welcome kids to your layout, give them rules and limitations, they will respect your rules and be less grabby. That being said, I did use old Atlas cars....

[Cajonpassfan]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ] Weathered some cars tonight, including these wonderful Intermountain stock cars 
The trucks and couplers have yet to get their treatment...
The yellow doors denote a double deck car.
Otto K.

[draskouasshat]

I worked on the layout a bit tonight. Trying to finish up the last bit of roadbed for the section of hidden westboud downhill main. On another note, ive made code 55 unitrack!
No, you can ruin pizza cutters on it but all of my other stuff seems to roll smoothly on it!
Adam Draskovich [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[nscaler711]

I worked on the layout a bit tonight. Trying to finish up the last bit of roadbed for the section of hidden westboud downhill main. On another note, ive made code 55 unitrack!
No, you can ruin pizza cutters on it but all of my other stuff seems to roll smoothly on it!
Adam Draskovich (Attachment Link)

This.
I must know how you put C55 in unitrack please!

[draskouasshat]

This.
I must know how you put C55 in unitrack please!

Slide the code 80 out and the 55 in. Im not using any turnouts on this so you're on your own there. Otherwise, it's pretty easy.

Adam Draskovich

[nkalanaga]

Richie:  Did you notice the error on the header picture in-picture caption? 

"Trackwomen at the B&O Railroad, 1934", but the next sentence says 1943.  Rosie The Riveter didn't just work in factories!