Weekend Update 11/20/22

[up1950s]

https://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/13/t/283262.aspx

https://www.newyorkbyrail.com/itineraries/historic-homes-and-scenic-vistas/

https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/parks/mccormick-stillman-railroad-park

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/02/a-mapped-history-of-taking-a-train-across-the-united-states/266067/

https://worldwiderails.com/altoona-works-worlds-largest-railroad-maintenance-facility/

http://www.trainsarefun.com/

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/indiana/scenic-train-ride-in/

[btrain]

Just picked up a pair of ER Sharks to run coal trains on my doughnut layout. Anyone have suggestions for a DCC decoder and MT coupler conversion?

[bbussey]

Took a forced pause on swing bridge and abutment building, waiting for some components to arrive. In the meantime, I debugged the circuit for the New London Station loud speaker system. I need to build an enclosure for the small speaker, but the sound quality is excellent.

[garethashenden]

I'm actually making progress on a layout! Its been years since that really happened. Doing some city planning at the moment. Here is the intersection of Main & Mill Streets on my Mill Street layout.

[ns737]

btrain  the e&r  sharks  are hard to find a drop in decoder  for as digitrax quit making them in 2008.  you would need to hard wire the smallest one you can find. or do what I did. I put the shells on kato rs2's.

[EL3632]

Just picked up a pair of ER Sharks to run coal trains on my doughnut layout. Anyone have suggestions for a DCC decoder and MT coupler conversion?

Surprisingly, these can take the new Intermountain F Unit decoders (the ones without the tongs), just need to solder the motor leads to the decoder. They also need LEDs if you don't want to swap over the original one.
Micro-Trains recommends the 1134 couplers for the sharks.

[brokemoto]

Anyone have suggestions for a DCC decoder and MT coupler conversion?

Someone used to make a decoder specifically for this power.  It was the easiest DCC conversion in N scale as the construction method did half the work for you.  The MT conversion is the same as all of the old B-manns:  1133.  You use 1131 for sharp curves.  These things were great:  excellent slow speed control/creeping control on DC.  They will run on even poor trackwork and very sharp curves.  They will run on the Kato UniTRAM curves without climbing or de-railing.  The one drawback is that they will show gear cracking problems, but I forget which gears it is that crack.

At one point, I had four NYCS pairs as they came out in the first run in cigar band.   I added lightning stripes to them.  I sold all of my NYCS stuff, except for a few pieces.

[peteski]

The one drawback is that they will show gear cracking problems, but I forget which gears it is that crack.

The black gears on the wheelset's axles can crack.  I guess not surprising, since the chassis was made by Bachmann.  While Shark's gears are different than the infamous white gears in other Bachmann locos, they still crack. I have a set of those Sharks and some gears are cracked.

[davefoxx]

DFF

[PiperguyUMD]

Looking for new photo spots now that Dawson is nearing completion. The lighting sucks, but this has potential. Now that the layout is getting larger, I really should work on the lighting in the garage.

[Caleb Austin]

Looking for new photo spots now that Dawson is nearing completion.

That's an great scene! And Dave, I love that Patched Georgia unit.

I've just been adding some more trees. Also figured out how to focus stack in Photoshop, and add some photo backgrounds until I print some.

[chuck geiger]

Caleb nice. I think I'm going back to 2x4 layouts

[davefoxx]

Caleb nice. I think I'm going back to 2x4 layouts

@Caleb Austin, I love when you fire up your C&O layout, and I agree with Chuck: “Nice!”

@chuck geiger, you don’t have to constrain yourself with the mere 2’ x 4’ layout.  Even just a few extra inches in length and width can provide significant gains in track planning.  And, you know me, I’m still an advocate of HCD layouts, if you don’t mind expanding further.

DFF

[Jbub]

DFF

That's an amazing shot! Try one at track level

[davefoxx]

That's an amazing shot! Try one at track level

Unfortunately, when I do, the background of unfinished basement walls and even ceiling come into play.  Bryan Bussey taught me how to get the camera low, and in a few spots on my layout I can.  See?



But, until I fab up a temporary background to hide the ugliness of the 1:1 space on the other side of the layout (or learn how to use PhotoShop), I’ll have to continue to shoot from less than ideal angles from certain parts of the layout- like that shot of the former Georgia RR Geep.

Thanks,
Dave