artfull dodger

At the open house at RLD hobbies, my wife bought some second hand Marklin Maxi items. She got the pair of Union Pacific F7s that I am repainting into Chessie System colors. I also removed the digital board and replaced it with a battery pack and a toggle switch for now. It will get RC control once I remember where I put everything to do that. It was between the Maxi F units and the LGB version. The LGB looks better, but its sooo much larger and would have clearance issues on our small layout. Where as the Maxi fits quite nicely. She also got 2 of the UP passenger coaches, UP Caboose and a Western Pacific box car. All the UP items will get redone into Chessie system. So far the F unit has run nearly 3 hours on the battery that saw several hours of use at the open house running my LGB Stainz, and still has not needed recharging. Maxi to me was a strange 10 year experiment, designed by the gentleman that went on to start up ETS model train in the Czech Republic. They were a mix of prewar tinplate an modern era digital control and can motors. They have a charm unique to them and thier glossy paint makes them really look good under the Christmas tree. Mike and Michele T

So my little raised line is back in it meter gauge Austrian theme for awhile. Pics of the lines new 2120 Stainz #2 out on the line. Engine was miss listed on ebay, so I got it for under $100 shipped to me!!!! Engine was mint in the box. I removed the track pickups and am running with a battery in the high sided wagon behind the engine. Need a container or box to put in the wagon to install the battery inside of. Then I will use a much thinner, black feed line to the rear of the locomotive. Stainz is to small to put my standard battery power in the locomotive itself. So, its best to(gulp), run a trailing battery car. Enjoy! Mike

if I could get Bertie and my Ruby off to new homes, I would have the funds to get a Billy kit. I would go the kit route so I could paint the frames red in color instead of standard Roundhouse black. I would also go with a lighter shade of green than Roundhouse does. Something closer to the bog standard LGB starter set engine cab green. Mike

I wonder if the Billy body work can be fitted to the Lady Anne Chassis, along with the Billy Boiler. If starting from kits, it looks like this could be done. Roundhouse did something similar called Deko for a French hobby shop years ago. Looks like they also use the bigger outside fly cranks from William as well. If I dont get any bites on the Accucraft, its a moot point of trying to buy the kit engines. I think just the Euro style lanterns and valve gear will help. Biggesst issue is that Saddle tank engines were not popular in mainland Europe. Mike

Bertie is obviously UK looking by nature from Roundhouse. I have a buyer for my Sammie, but if nobody wants Bertie or my Ruby #5, I wont be able to afford anything else that is more European looking like a Billy or a William if one could be found second hand. So, could with a few simple mods, Bertie look more the part pulling my LGB rolling stock? Of the top of my head would be removal of the lamp irons and a single lantern from Regner(Similar to the one on a LGB Stainz) installed on a bracket in front of the stack. Removal of the brass chimney top or a different chimney all together. Body modifications are beyond my skills so the saddle tank and round windows would have to stay. Maybe do the Walscheart valve gear and loose the running plate above the cylinders(this would do away with the lamp irons). I would also put one of those lanterns on the back of the cab as well. With 3 or 4 LGB meter gauge wagons, I find the speed is controlable and he isnt trying to bounce off the track when he goes thru a turnout at one side. Running with lighter load he wanted to pick the points and derail if speed was to fast. Not so with a heavier load hooked up, even when the speed got a bit more than I liked. Ideas and suggestions welcome. I will have spending $$ with the sale of Sammie, so I can get all the upgrades to Bertie and more if I should choose to. Mike Silly NT's.....I have Asperger's Syndrome!

More progress pics, covered the peat with cyprus mulch and salvaged ballest from the old ground level line. The outer loop is almost fully ballested. I am going to add two potted dwarf alberta spruce trees around the rock waterfall fountain in the middle, then backfill that area with just mulch. This will allow easy removal of the fountain for winter storage as temps here can get 20-50 below 0'F with the wind chill, with actual air temp at 0'F or even below that a few degrees. Line is taking on an Austrian feel over UK at the moment, would be a good home for a RH Billy that I can paint similar to a LGB Stainz with red frames and green cab. Bertie looks ok with my fieldbahn cars, but not with the standard meter gauge cars, looks a bit dwarfed by them. Mike

Here is a short video of my Ruby #5 steamer running last night. She is decorated for Autism Awareness and is up for trade. I am looking for one of Roundhouses battery powered diesels or one of thier classic series chassis kits. Mike

I have 3 different engines to pull the train, a live steam Accucraft Ruby#5, an LGB 2-4-0 starter set engine and the original engine, a Kalamazoo 4-4-0. The train is made up of 3 redecorated Kalamazoo passenger coaches and a caboose. Here are some pics of the trains. Mike First up is the first car I did up for Autism Awareness, which is an LGB 2 axle Euro coach Here is the LGB 2-4-0 autism engine Here is the Kalamazoo coaches Here is the live steam locomotive Here is my pair of Lionel diesels Here is my custom 1968 Wheelhorse garden tractor And finally my Team Associated RC10

Here is Bertie running last week. Mike

Here are some progress pictures, no live steam today, just running my LGB 2073d on battery power. Off to an early mothers day gathering at my parents place! Mike

Here is a link to a short video of the lights flashing as they should. Mike

After I got that done, I ran my new to me Bertie on my railway. Haven't really ran trains since the steam up where I got the "level crossing" lights. Between burnout and really really damp weather, no trains got ran till today. Mike

The rainy weather finally moved out and allowed me to set up my railroad grade crossing lights I got a few weeks ago. I poured the concrete foundation pad with bolts imbeded in the concrete just before the multi day rainy spell arrived(we got nearly 6 inches of rain in less than a weeks time). Took most of the day to take things apart so that I could put them back on the bare mast after I bolted it in place. Still need to put the bell on the top of the mast, my ladder isnt tall enough to safely put that heavy thing back on the top. Mike

I think with proper work and using the "planters box" style bench work, the garden theme can be maintainted. I do plan to plant hedges around the bottom of the table, and put my stone fountain there as well. This will help intergrate the whole set up into the garden. And I will say that running manualy control live steam is much more relaxing when one can just sit on the deck and control the throttle with ease. One of the not so good conditions I get with my autism is poor body/space judgement, so I spent a few times on my hind end or falling onto my knees while trying to squat, or tying to reach over to slow down a model, I would get my whole hand run into by the engine as I misjudged the distance when I reached for it. So the raised set up, while smaller, is much more relaxing and stress free for me to operate. And the dog cannot get to it!. That being said, does anybody know of a weather proof, small, castle that I could use on the railway. I would like to put it on top of the mountain/tunnel I am thinking of. Mike

I know the feeling of getting to old for ground level operation! Even at 44, I feel it in my ankles, knees and lower back if I spend to much time squatting down on my old railway. Hopefully later this summer or next year we will start on the fence mounted W&L based line. Then the little deck railway will be the domain of my Sammie and Bertie only. That coach turned out nice! Reminds me of the ex Zillertalbahn coaches being done up in brown. Just packed up my Countess and Pickering coaches for the steam up tomorrow at local train museum. Looks like we may be set up indoors in the baggage room due to weather. But will have to wait till we get there to find out. I am ok steaming up outdoors in the cool weather and rain threat since we have canopies and the cool temps will enhance steam plumes! Mike

No new progress on the layout today, getting ready for a steam up this Saturday. Weather is going to be very British like, upper 40's to 50'F and showers off and on all day. Hopefully it doesn't get canceled. I will be picking up my new to me Bertie there. So first up is Countess pulling my short coaches around the loop. Ran light engine first, very skittish and touchy on the tight curves. But once I coupled the train on, I could find a nice speed and let her run for awhile. I am now sorting out the timing on my friends Earl and will do the same run with him. Here is a pic of Countess. Mike

That looks nice! Can't wait to see it all back together! Mike

Here are todays progress. I got two of my 3 buildings placed, the engine shed will need fine tuning once I get the rest of the track I need. I also wired up the lights in the depot, engine shed and switch lanterns that are intact. Powering them with a small transformer for path lights that has a photo cell, comes on at dusk and runs for 8 hours. The log cabin has solar powered lighting. Once the track is in, I will build up a small hill side to act a scenery break, it will go behind the station, right in the middle of the table. Nice I need to decide how to do the embankment along the track, then I can add pea gravel in the bottom, followed by top soil and plants. Atleast trains are running now! Mike

Another progress picture, I am going to go one more coarse higher with the bricks(if I have enough). I do not have enough track to finish the inside track plan just yet, not till next week when I have to take my wife back to Indianapolis for another checkup. I can stop at the G scale shop on my way home. Mike

The game is afoot Watson! New bench work is rising from the ashes of the former ground level line. Now I really need to get the 2 other steamers and those long cars sold so I can get my UK style 4 coupled engine. That way I can flip between USA logging with my Sammie and UK mining/slate with a Katie. Already have all the wagons, just need the other engine I want. Mike

It was time to elevate it anyways, turned 44 this past month and it doesn't get any easier from here on out to work on and enjoy a ground level line. Doesn't help being easily frustrated and overwhelmed thanks to my disablity. Will be exploring what it would take to build a small but expandable and portable layout this week. Thanks Mike

Decided against putting the line back in the front garden. I like the privacy and solitude of my fenced back yard to escape into my 16mm world(important therapy for me per my therapist). And I am also done with squatting to work on the railway, I can still do it, but I pay for it for several days. So I talked to my friend about ideas that would allow me to run Countess and her coaches(which need LGB R3 curves to run). We have been talking about building a portable layout to take to shows, so we are exploring being able to do that and leave it set up out in the weather during the summer months(most shows in the USA are during the cold/snowy winter months). I would take the layout down from the back yard before the cold and snow settle in. Going to go look at PVC materials they sell in sizes similar to wood, that would give me weather proof and light weight. Just have to see at what cost. Probably just built 4 corner modules(2 per half circle of track), and 2 straight modules to start. Just not sure I can give up Countess again(this is my second time owning one). I could live without the Merlin, cannot go ride behind him in real life. But I could, someday, go ride behind or even drive Countess. Hope everybody had a happy easter!! Mike

And you can add on all the optional extras as your budget permits. And they are all excellent. Gives the engine more features that some of the popular classic range models such as the water sight glass(part of the water top up add on). My Sammie has every option and then some! Mike

I did some tests with my 4 pieces of LGB R2 track that I own, I could make the ground level front line with R2 track or R1 track. The table top set up, would be R1 only and in the hot sun till early evening. Mike

The backyard line above nolonger exhists, I lifted the track on Saturday. Every day, more damage was being done by the dog from digging up track to finding my telephone poles in the yard all chewed up. I am looking at 2 options, one is to copy the small elevated line I posted in another thread, which would sit directly above the old railway site, just 36" above ground level were no dogs can mess up stuff. Option 2, is to relay the ground level line that used to exhist in my front garden. The up side is no major wood building projects and the whole are is shady all day long. Down side is that its still ground level and getting the line completely level will be difficult. The line was L shaped, R1 curves and one end was much lower than the other end. So some embankment would be needed to try to ease some of those. The old front yard line was the realm of a Regner Willi(sadly nolonger available). He handled the grades ok. I am posting some pics of the old railway below for opinions. The one end of the line was expandable further along the side of the front yard once I had more track. The white stone is gone now, but that end of the railway was much lower, dropping off fast after crossing the bridge at the front, and after the curve at the rear. The ground cover has completely filled in the front area and would need lots of thinning to reveal the old right of way. I do have a supply of common red bricks to build up and enbankment. The split rail fence is gone, neighbor put up a 4 foot tall wood privacy fence. We do live at the end of a very quiet Cul De Sac, so little foot traffic or danger of vandlism. Not sure which way to go. Either way really isnt suitable to Countess and her long coaches, The Merlin would be ok, but a 4 coupled engine would be the best. Looking for others thoughts. I will say the front yard is more conductive to a UK style railway with moss and such due to the all day shade from my big trees. Mike