N Scale Hi Rail - Retro Hollow Core Door Layout

[DKS]

This is beginning to feel like possibly a separate thread...?

[wm3798]

Not any time soon, I assure you!

Although, we are starting to thumb through the real estate ads again...
Lee

[Point353]

You should have a pair of Con-Cor PA's to give that I1 a boost.

[pjm20]

@Point353 Is that on the Buffalo Line near Dauphin?

[Point353]

@Point353 Is that on the Buffalo Line near Dauphin?

It's on the PRR Elmira branch, so someplace between Williamsport PA and Sodus Point NY
.

[wm3798]

I've just secured my second ConCor E-8...  I had gotten a PA in one of my estate hauls, but it was a bit of a dud, so I sold it.

In other news, I've made arrangements to purchase an N Track corner module that's set up to house a turntable and roundhouse...  When she sees it, I may need to move in with one of you guys.  Maybe.

I better go out and buy some wine and chocolate.

Anyway, my theory is that if I can build a semi permanent installation of the roundhouse in a semi portable format, I'd only have to construct a proper "coffin" for it so I can store it more securely until such time as I have a basement to put it in.  That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!!

Lee

[mu26aeh]

I've just secured my second ConCor E-8...  I had gotten a PA in one of my estate hauls, but it was a bit of a dud, so I sold it.

In other news, I've made arrangements to purchase an N Track corner module that's set up to house a turntable and roundhouse...  When she sees it, I may need to move in with one of you guys.  Maybe.

I better go out and buy some wine and chocolate.

Anyway, my theory is that if I can build a semi permanent installation of the roundhouse in a semi portable format, I'd only have to construct a proper "coffin" for it so I can store it more securely until such time as I have a basement to put it in.  That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!!

Lee

Maybe I'll have them dig out the crawl space under the new bedroom when they show up ??

[Point353]

I've just secured my second ConCor E-8...  I had gotten a PA in one of my estate hauls, but it was a bit of a dud, so I sold it.

That's curious. The Con-Cor/Kato PA should be a good running loco.

In other news, I've made arrangements to purchase an N Track corner module that's set up to house a turntable and roundhouse... 

It's been fascinating to observe your gradual acceptance of layout modules, considering the apparent regard in which you held them just two years ago.
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=33399.msg586031#msg586031
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=33399.msg586049#msg586049

When she sees it, I may need to move in with one of you guys.  Maybe.

You are truly fortunate to have found a significant other with whom you can share your enthusiasm for model railroading. 

I better go out and buy some wine and chocolate.

Plus, some cheese to pair with the wine and flowers to accompany the chocolates.

[wm3798]

Fortunately @Point353 , like so many things in life, Model Railroading can be an evolutionary process.

The comments you dredged up from the murky depths of the past came from my earlier pursuit of a smallish, yet more prototypical, operations-based layout.  Those thoughts still haunt me periodically, but not surprisingly, the absence of obsession about where a car is spotted, or which scheduled train should pick it up, or whether I've imagined an appropriate off line destination for its car card frees up a lot of time to JFRTM.

Having rekindled my youthful delight in simply watching my vintage trains chase their tails on my small layout has opened my eyes to the possibility of modular construction.  Plus, the outstanding work that @Ed Kapuscinski has done on his TTrak modules demonstrates that in a home setting, operations can be entirely possible using modules as a base construction method.  And finally, it's becoming abundantly clear that my real estate situation is likely to change in the next year or so, so building modules that can be easily and safely stored and ultimately adapted to a new habitat is not only desirable, it's probably pretty wise!

As for my domestic arrangement, I mostly jest.  Rho has a number of interests of her own (soap making, raising chickens, making jewelry... among others) and we share quite a few interests as well.  There are times when we sit at the kitchen table and pursue our separate interests together.  So a little wine and chocolate (two of our shared interests) is salve enough.  Flowers are not recommended, though, as they recall a story involving her ex husband, a dozen roses and a garbage disposal....  I will always strive to tread a clearer path!

But just the same, thanks for keeping track of my posts over the years.  It's always good to know that The Railwire can provide research opportunities and amusement to its participants.

Lee

[nkalanaga]

"Making jewelry", depending on the type of jewelry, could very well overlap with model railroading, in tools, techniques, and materials.  That could be interesting.

[wm3798]

Yup.  And I can tell you, she's as fascinated by @DKS animation adventures as any one of us.

One of the things we had fun doing together was building sets for the musicals at her daughter's school.  Our specialty was things that had moving parts and special effects.  These included a two story house set that spun on an axis, a bus that had a working door and rolled across the stage, and of course, a human cannonball cannon that launched a dummy across the stage.

It's fun to have a partner in all sorts of interesting crimes!  (incidentally, 19 Crimes is her favorite red wine!)

Lee

[wm3798]

Negotiations underway for the procurement of the roundhouse module...  Stand by for updates!
Lee

[pdx1955]

That's curious. The Con-Cor/Kato PA should be a good running loco.

Some issues that I've had with C-C locos (including the PA) of that vintage is that the drive train mounts can get loose so the worm gear doesn't engage the truck gears properly, so it won't run smoothly or at all. Had both locomotives that had to be factory repaired and ones that were bad out of the box during the store test-run. That eventually soured me on Con-Cor so went to Minitrix as my go-to's.

[wm3798]

It's those damn cup gears.  Whomever came up with that designed should be beaten with sticks.
Lee

[nkalanaga]

Peter:  I had the same experience in the early 70s, when the PAs were new.  Mine never did run well, so I settled on Minitrix Fs.  Probably would have anyway, as, while the Kato/CC PAs looked beautiful in GN paint, the GN never had any.  Instead, their trains, and the NPs, as well as Amtrak's, were generally pulled by Fs, and both of them, as well as the BN, used Fs in freight service through the 70s.

So, the Minitrix Fs fit my BN perfectly, and I never returned to the PAs.  My last CC locos were the F3s that came with their Northern Pacific passenger set, and those neither ran well nor looked good.  I painted some Minitrix to pull the train!