GEOEng03

Thanks all for the most useful references and knowledge. I have plumped for a sound fitted Amtrak LRC with a number of coaches for what i think was a reasonable price. I may switch to a VIA LRC if one ever appears at a reasonable price. I think it will add a bit of operational interest to the layout i am building, although the LRC, +1 coach will be all that it can show moving...! I am really intrigued by North American trains from the 60's through 80's, more so than similar UK stock and while the modern stuff interests me, it is all very similar and adds some interesting variety. Cheers

I have had a delivery from ScaleModelScenery for some consumables to allow scenic progression on the layout. These are predominantly to allow me to get on and add concrete hard standing to the low relief depot area on the top left of the layout and start to lay ground for the diesel maintenance area on the right lower side of the layout. I have a collection of LX096 for the rail area and then extension kit LX103 to create the larger laydown areas. 20201126_203243 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr So I have laid the track and extension concrete for the small low relief area and I have yet to decide whether to paint or use the relief sheets that come with the kit. The sheets are pretty good to be honest, but I feel painting will give a much better depth of realism - depending on how I fair at painting! The blocks for the extension area are 4mm MDF and break into the sections as you see them. I really do like the way the track and concrete area have joined together and certainly gives this area an industrial feel. 20201127_122032 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr With building in place 20201127_122057 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr With a loco and trailers in place 20201127_122251 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr There will be a boundary wall/fence separating the two tracks to the bottom of the layout and the industrial yard area. I appreciate it is small progress, but i was quite pleased with what i got done over the course of an evening. I just need to work out how to end the concrete at the approach to teh point area - the plan is to assume that access to this area by Vehicles, is from the left (end) of the layout. I have decided that I will scratch build the diesel workshop, so will concentrate on laying the track in this area first and then go from there.

Hi all, Resurrecting an old topic and thought I'd post here to get more notice (apologies for that!). I appreciate that the Amtrak LRC's were limited in timeframe for operating and they ultimately did so along the NE corridor, but what presence did the Amtrak livery have in Canada - i am aware that they were not interchangeable with the VIA stock, but i am interested if there is a prototypical case of it being there or being used. I quite fancy getting on in the Amtrak livery, but aside from 3 ET44's in BNSF/NS/CSX, a Amtrak P42 and NS SD60E everything else is Canadian from the the 70's through to the 20's - yes, aware that Rule 1 always applies, but i do like to know if there was an instance :-) Cheers all

Hi all, resurrecting an old topic. I appreciate that the Amtrak LRC's were limited in timeframe for operating and they ultimately did so along the NE corridor, but what presence did the Amtrak livery have in Canada - i am aware that they were not interchangeable with the VIA stock, but i am interested if there is a prototypical case of it being there or being used. I quite fancy getting on in the Amtrak livery, but aside from 3 ET44's in BNSF/NS/CSX, a Amtrak P42 and NS SD60E everything else is Canadian from the the 70's through to the 20's - yes, aware that Rule 1 always applies, but i do like to know if there was an instance :-) Cheers all

Thanks for that. Love the scene that you have set up there. It is quite realistic from a relief perspective. Will have to check these guys out, they certainly show the buildings as being old, grimy and what you'd expect in a area such as that. I always get frustrated with card kits, hence I always fall back to plastic, but i know how much £££ or $$$ they can save Cheers

Hi Keith, Yes there is plenty of support under there and each section is held together with 5mm bolts. I will upload some pictures when i get chance later this weekend. I need to just see if I can brace the ends a bit, and may do that with some 9mm ply underneath that I have (for it to sit on). Worthwhile doing and I had about 30mins of fun the other night with the simple area I have, moving stock back and forth...! I don't have the time and space for a large layout at the moment, but love playing with trains, so this is a happy compromise. I highly recommend these guy's and the prices are quite good for what you are getting - I just wanted a quick easy layout that I could build, so accepted the uplift for that - I had sold some UK rolling stock from the FGW region and made a reasonable profit, so was quite happy. https://railwaylaserlines.co.uk/ Cheers Bryn

Hi Keith It is a Walthers Cornerstone Kit. They have quite a few low relief buildings if you keep an eye on eBay, though a few have just gone for double the dollar price, so you just have to be patient. I have slightly kitbashed it to sit how I want it on my layout, but that is the beauty of Walther Cornerstone and many other US kits, they are modular in quite a few instances. https://www.walthers.com/bud-s-trucking-company-background-building-kit-19-x-1-1-8-x-4-quot-48-2-x-2-8-x-10-1cm Cheers Bryn

Agreed, I do like to have some factual consistency, where possible, but that is the beauty of American railroads, there is a prototype for a lot of things!

Hi, hope you are all well. Overview of layout to date. Have made a start on track laying… I am trying to keep this as simple as possible, and will just have stock out to suit my mood. At the moment, the idea is that the left of the layout will house a simple single track warehouse, with two diesel storage and laydown areas to the front of the layout. These tracks are large enough to fit three full sized ES44’s in, so will hopefully provide a useful storage and area of interest for when the locomotives are moving back and forth. The intention is to have the building shown on the right as part of the central area, where further movement can occur, adding a bit more operational interest. The area to the right where the locos are stored, will be some kind of two to three bay diesel workshop area. I have one of the rather excellent Walthers diesel shop kits, but alas its way too big, so I will have to scratch building something for this area. There will be a number of hidden tracks to the rear, where the building currently is. 20201118_122213 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr These two pictures show the area in a bit more detail. To make this work, I have had to use a Peco double slip. A substantial investment to say the least, but it makes this area work really well, by condensing the track plan somewhat and allowing operation to different directions via such a small place. 20201118_122159 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr 20201118_122204 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr All track is Peco Code 83 and is ElectroFrog, and is being wired as such. I have a number of Tam Valley Frog Juicers that I will trial and play around with and thing off PM4 point motors for powering the switches. The layout will be controlled by a NCE Powercab and I will look to build a board for controlling the switches. I am working on less being more with this, limiting to 3 buildings max, but also have a Walthers double track girder bridge that I may use as a scenic break and to provide some vertical relief. I would like to install some track crossings as well, but need to see how that pans out when the layout starts to fall together! Rolling stock is a mixture of Canadian from the 1970’s through to the modern day, with some special appearances by BNSF, CSX and Norfolk Southern Stock. The area is not specific to East or West at the moment, I just want to run the diverse collection of trains that I have been building for this area. Cheers

Hi, it has been a while since I have made any real attempt at a layout. Things are a bit up in the air with numerous things conspiring to make me more of an observer, but I have recently brought a number of baseboards from Railway Laser Lines in Taunton and will be doing a small end to end layout (2.1m x 0.375m) for showcasing my US rolling stock. We’re going through some changes at home, most recently, starting a new job for me, but also the relocation that comes with such moves. So, rather than be in limbo, I decided that a lightweight layout of manageable size, such as this, would be a way of stopping me watching rubbish on TV in the evenings and allow me to break away from my job for small breaks during the day. I have sold all of my UK stock and decided to concentrate on US, but more specifically HO Canadian, given I have a love for this part of the world and the rolling stock fascinates me. The aim of this layout will be to run locos in a small switching area, and allow me to enjoy the hobby. There will be some US visitors to the layout as well. The new box of boards as they arrived. IMG-20201021-WA0000 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr And the flatpack contents IMG-20201021-WA0004 by Bryn Jones, on Flickr After an evening, the baseboards are glued together. Baseboards built by Bryn Jones, on Flickr These boards were very easy to build, taking me a few hours one Sunday evening. They are 3mm MDF and, while there are no instructions, these are not really needed. The guys at RLL helpfully numbering the four sets of boards that I had ordered. I had ordered 4 x 575mm x 375mm and one 400mm x 375mm, which gives me around 2.1m, or 7ft of running length and takes up a small part of the room that has become the working office for me. They took around 5 days to be made and delivered when ordered and were the cheapest I could find such boards, so plumped for them. I highly recommend them, having no issues, with great communications and fast delivery for a made to order product. The aim of the layout will be to represent a small shunt to a warehouse, with two diesel stabling lines to the front of the board. This will feed to the other side for a diesel workshop and some kind of hidden siding for one of two locos. The working area is quite small, but I feel after absorbing plenty of layouts, it can be done and provide me with fun to move stock around and also with the scenery. Cheers

Agreed, Ordered 8 points last Tuesday and they duly arrived on the Wednesday, which was not expected! They will be my go to place now for North American stock. Although it is still sometimes cheaper with fees/tax to import some of the higher ticket items such as locomotives... Cheers

Hi, I agree, I have two SD40-2 in Norfolk Southern livery and I think they're a fantastic model. I do feel the black of the NS livery does the detailing no favours and your picture really does show that. I really noticed how good the ET44's were when I finally got hold of a BNSF Heritage III livery and just how much the detail shines compared to my NS version of the same engine. Mine don't suffer from the tinny sounds you have suggested, but they lack bass, which would make them even better - but haven't been brave enough to swap out as of yet and if you're suggesting milling... then no chance ...! Cheers

Hi all, Thanks for the interesting discussion. I have secured a source of Code 83 points #6 and a double slip (which is much bigger than I thought it would be!!! as Nick_Burman states), plus 11 pieces of wooden track. This should be enough to keep me going for the start of the layout. I agree, I wanted Code 83, because of its accuracy (or better) to US railroads and the differences are night and day when I have stuck Code 75 and Code 83 next to each and was definitely the right thing to do! For me, it was getting hold of the track that was the issue, which prompted the post and if others had used Code 75/100 successfully, which I was very impressed to she had been achieved. Baseboards (shelf layout) are built and I have acquired some modern NS and CN/CP/VIA rolling stock, so I am now looking forward to cracking on with the build. Cheers Bryn

Thanks all for replies, sorry I hadn't replied sooner, lost the week. It's very hard to track down Code 83 track and points that aren't stupidly priced. I've found some track at TMC and points and points at Model junction, but seems easier to source Code 75/100, though that's in short supply as well. Tough one really, but at least I don't need lots for a 2.1m x 0.4m shelf layout I'm planning. Some great inspiration from the pictures though, really good to see everyone's work

Looks fab to me and I can't tell from the level the picture has been taken from. Thanks

Thanks for that. TBH, looking at the picture, you can't really tell from the sighting level being looked from. Looks fantastic by the way and it's so prototypical of US track to not be laid perfectly. Assume the trains operated over it with little issue.

Hi, Hope everyone is well. I just wondered if anyone uses Code 75/100 instead of Code 83 for North American Layouts. If so, how do you get on with it. I have some points and track spare that is Code 75 and wondered hwo it would suit N.American locomotives - newer stuff such as SD70, SD40 etc... Cheers

Agreed. The descriptions have been overzealous with regards to the issues. And certainly a shrewd move to shift returned stock by them. To be fair, the nameplates have been a bigger issue that what was listed as a fault, with the Freightliner one I brought being quite wonky, but still happy for the price. The postage offered by them is up there with the smaller dealers (Derails etc...) as everything I've ordered has arrived next day with the normal £4 option... I do agree with the earlier post mind, regarding the consistency in pricing for the 'listed' faults. But there have been some cheap ones appear. Cheers

Hi Al The assumption is that they are returned for issues described in the listing such as, axle boxes, scratches, paint work marks, glue on certain parts including roof mesh and bogies. So used, but like tested and returned - so use of varying levels. The 5 I have, have all been over described with issues and look barely tested. Also, ordered another digital fitted 66 from Hatton's at 16.30 on Thursday (23/10) and it will be delivered today (24/10). Fantastic service from them and Royal Mail, when you consider where it goes and how far it is travelling to the SW...! Cheers

Hi Martin Thanks for sharing that. Wow. That was some proper modification needed on your own model. I would probably live with the missing lighting tbh, my finger are far to big and cumbersome. Cheers

Hi, Probably the context of what I wrote, but prior to the past two days. But yes, I agree and have been one of those that have commented as such as well and it's been good to see the change in flow. Cheers

Well both mine have arrived today and have none of the marks suggested on them, which is a undersell on the part of Hatton's for sure. They do have the slightest of wobbles (which cane be fixed as well all know and the cost saved, will buy another, but for reduced prices I paid, I'll buy more if suitable ones arrive on the used part of the site. I think i say, if on the fence, go for it, if they come up at those prices again... It'll get expensive sound fitting these, so at least one has come chipped already :-) Cheers all Bryn

To be honest, the other thread has drifted into what's not right with the model, that this has been most useful for understanding how to get the most from this model. Nice to see positivity and helpfulness to the OP from the forum members and certainly a useful read. Cheers All

They've been hit and miss with the time, but has been morning past two days. Cheers

I've just brought two of the returns. Both FL examples. DCC Ready @£100 and DCC Fitted @£115. I'll report back on condition for others. Looks like a daily occurrence of uploaded models, with a small handful of them around £100. Will see how this goes. Cheers Bryn