ATSF Los Angeles Division, circa 1949

[Cajonpassfan]

Thank you Ron, kind words.
We have an attached oversize two-car garage and I built an addition behind it, adjacent to the family room, just for the trains, many years ago. I wanted to make sure the new train room would be attractive, both for my enjoyment, and also a practical space for the inevitable time someday when we have to move out and sell our home, a time I dread. And yes, dust control is a must; one of the staging yards (Barstow) is in the adjacent garage and I built hinged Masonite lids to cover it up when not in use. Works like a charm.
Thanks for your interest.
Fun stuff,
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

I've been testing some of the finer aftermarket wheelsets on a couple of "test trains", before committing to a particular brand. I do love the FVM "semi scale" or "fine" wheels, but need to overcome some challenges on steep downhill grades. Will test the ESM wheels as well, to see if the increased thread width and flange depth makes a substantial difference. I don't much care for the Rapido's deeper flanges (and lack if an appreciable fillet) and don't know about future availability of the fine BLMA's. Pic below, left to right, FVM/ST, ESM, BLMA, and Rapido. More on a comparison thread in "Product Discussion".
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

So tonight I played with my two custom painted, partial zebra (thank you, Wolf) LA First Street Yard, Atlas S-2 switchers. Set the top speed to 28 smph, corresponding to the 28 step display on my NCE cab...plenty fast for a switcher (CV5=62 if anyone is interested). Acc/Dec momentum CV 3 and 4 at 20 each. Like it.
With the new FVM/ST and ESM metal wheelsets on the cars, each switcher can handle 15 cars competently, in the flat yard. That's over half a full train length on my layout, more than adequate. Fun stuff.
I do get the occasional stutter, and I'm looking at putting the "run-n-smooth" power keepers in them. If anyone here's done that, I'd love to hear all about it...
Regards, Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

Oh, I forgot to mention, these S-2's are the Atlas "gold" version, with factory ESU sound. They are good runners, but I think the power keeper would help with the occasional stutter...
O.

[Scottl]

Otto, I'm very interested to hear more about the power keepers, I'll be watching from the sidelines!

[MVW]

Otto, I'm very interested to hear more about the power keepers, I'll be watching from the sidelines!
[/quote

Seconded. 

Jim

[Cajonpassfan]

Otto, I'm very interested to hear more about the power keepers, I'll be watching from the sidelines!
[/quote

Seconded. 

Jim

Not fair, guys, I was sort of planning to sit on the sidelines, hoping someone else would chime in and show me how they did it. No luck so far...
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, no news on my layout, but  we had a fun run  session Sunday on my "other layout", my friend's HO scale PCL. Got to run my ATSF 3800 on a local, and a friend's funky but beautiful GN 2-6-8-0, pulling an equally funky but beautiful steam era train. He's an amazing modeler and I wish I could go on a relaxing ride in one of his cars, like that guy, see below. Or maybe in real life, it wasn't so much fun...
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

Most of my recent modeling energy was/is spent on my friend's HO layout, so not a lot of visible progress here. But I am getting ready for another run session, so I've been debugging the layout and equipment and getting the staging yards set up and ready for reliable ops. Amazing how much time and effort that takes on a layout this size, but it's all worth it.
First Street (L.A.) staging below.
Fun stuff,
Otto

[Scottl]

@Cajonpassfan Otto, always great to see different views of your layout.

[Cajonpassfan]

Thank you Scott. A work in progress. Appreciate your kind comments.
Btw, I do intend to ballast the track here eventually... this started out as an unscenicked "hidden" L.A. staging yard. Next the backdrop "happened" to give it a sense of place, then some local structures, and it went on from there.
It does need to operate impeccably first, ballasting can wait...
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

Can't believe it's been this long since I posted an update. I have been working on engines and cars, just not much layout progress, other than work on my friend's HO layout. Tonite I managed to fix (I hope) an electrical issue in one of my BLI F3's, so I got to run the Super around with a full ABBA set or F'3's around the layout. The queen of the railroad, pics below...
Fun stuff, Otto