Sunday, we saw a 7-piece Hafner trainset for $165 at an antique store.

I don't know anything about them, but it looked interesting. Not my scale, though.

I have one being pulled by a 1950's SF GP7 in zebra stripes. I also have a brownish one without the logo, and I know that will fit in the 1950's. It doesn't really matter to me if the red one with the logo was used in the 1950's. But if I'll get an opportunity in the future to get a 1950's caboose for the GP7, that will be lovely.

Hi folks

I haven't been around much due to the fact that I have been running around like a chicken with it's thinking cap removed getting things ready for our big project. We are building a house with a separate garage on some land we bought last year. Between the bank, the contractor, the county, the architect, and all the sub contractors, I really feel like I have been trying to eat my own head. But I digress...

As previously stated, we are a matter of weeks away from breaking ground on our project... and as much I didn't want to believe DoctorWayne about how quickly Train Space can become Much Needed Other Space, my precious 28x40 room has dwindled to a "mere" 15x27. Because of door placement and workbenches (benches are a must... I have one that is small right now) the space for the layout is going to be 15x19.

I have zero idea what my layout should be, look like, industries, towns... I am feeling lost. I was in the middle of building a modified version of the Red Rock Northern when we decided we should build a house. As a result, all work on my railroad stopped. I have been running trains round and round an un-scenicked railroad for about 6 months now. What with my limited brain power, I have not been able to spend much thinking time on what I should do with my new space.

So, I am asking some assistance from you all. I had this fun thought that 2 main lines with some side routes would be nice to have friends over to run trains. Call me silly but having folks over is part of the fun. Well, for me, anyway...

I know I need to be able to run at least 2 trains and I like them going round and round, I have a couple of small towns buildings already built, bridges, stockyard, country stores... what I am missing is the layout. My current layout is 9x11. I thought about just extending the sides... but cant decide.

I have searched MR and other sites looking for some inspiration, but I am striking out.

Any thoughts would be great!

George

OK, I'm gonna stick my neck out and join the New Year's Resolution challenge even though I'm not completely sure how I'm going to accomplish the goal!

Thanks to a suggestion by Charlie and my own interest in this unusual locomotive I want to bash an FL9 to head a passenger train on my layout. I've seen numerous photos of FL9s in Penn Central black (which would be easy) but I want to go with the interesting blue Metro Transit scheme.

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As you can see in the photo, the yellow front and PC logo had a tendency to fade to near white. I plan to take advantage of that fact so I can use decals I already own. I plan to make a model of this loco. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1022957">http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1022957</a><!-- m -->

Scale model purists may wish to stop reading at this point. I'm planning to use available components and materials that may create more of an approximation of a model than a precisely accurate one. For example, FL9's are 59 feet in length. I'm going to use an Athearn dummy SD9 frame that I believe is close to that length. I've been annoyed at my inability to find length dimensions for an SD9 but it looks appropriately sized compared to an F unit.

To simulate the two axle front truck and three axle rear trucks characteristic of the FL9 I'll use one of the SD9's trucks and a truck from a dummy F unit for the front.

I'll be taking a razor saw to two F unit shells to create the FL9 body. I have some reference photos but roof details are a little sketchy. I'm encouraged by a recent thread in which Eightyeightfan1 sands and scrapes off roof details from an F unit so I'll do what I can to create a reasonably realistic configuration of vents, etc.

By now you may be wondering about the unit being a dummy. I don't have a motor for the unit or geared trucks. I DO have a powered RDC that I think is about the same length as full sized passenger cars. I'm considering buying two Penn Central passenger cars and replacing the RDC shell with one of those so the train is actually powered by the car behind the locomotive. Some of the undercarriage details of the RDC probably won't look like those of a passenger car though, so I'm also considering simply coupling the RDC behind the locomotive with the story that it has been added to the train for a return trip home.

So, there's my odd resolution challenge! Its about re-using stuff I have to make something new.

Ralph

I noticed this MOW train on the way home from church this morning. I returned with my camera.







Cleanest tank car I ever saw...




Ralph

We just rearranged some main forum topics. The "Dispatcher's office" is now first followed by "The depot" then "Photographer's right of way". Why you ask? Well, the Dispatcher's office is for forum business and belongs at the top. Then we wanted to group the two main forums that contain everyday participation forums such as the "Hobo's camp" and the "Weekly photo fun" threads. We are hoping that by keeping these linked closer together, sort of, we can get more people to participate in these threads. Everyone is invited to post their pictures in either thread and we hope that you do. Right now for instance, in the Photo fun thread, participation is a bit lopsided and we would hope to change that by getting more people to post there. And we enjoy hearing for those folks that post in the daily Hobo's campfire thread, but we'd also like to hear from you too and you can post photos in there as well. So please join in if you would.

Is there a way to make a manual Atlas switch "remote" without getting a remote switch machine? Perhaps by pulling some cables under the layout? My layout is on an 8'x4'. I just thought that since there are a lot of creative hobbyists out there, and they may have thought of an alternative.

Hi Guys,

Can anyone tell me if they have had a loco like this one or one fitted with the same equipment ...... if so how good are they in both running and sound quality ?

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I bought a new Weller 40 watt soldering iron not long. I have built 4 turnouts and the tip is already pitted and the iron isn't working as good. The instructions say not to file the tip. Is this just to get me to buy new tips, or is filing a bad idea? I have filed the tip on other irons and never had a problem.

Loren