Conrail Joe

Very Impressive!

Sorry, I've been away for awhile finishing up my semester at school! Sorry, I hope my post did not seem as if it were directed towards you, because it truly wasn't! I value your input, and I need to be kept in reality from time to time! Our hobby is funny. I've been into it seriously for over ten years, and have operated hundreds of times on amazing layouts. I want everything depending on how the mood strikes me. Somedays I want a lashup of 3-4 modern diesels hooking up to some intermodals for a 180 mile run from Boston to Albany, Other days I'd like to just run from Nevins yard in Framingham to Westboro yard with a cut of HFCS tank cars and spend an hour switching. I want my layout to be able to support a few of my good friends for a monthly operating session. Yet at the same time, I do not want my layout to be impossible to operate alone. I do believe I have decided on a prototype, The Boston & Albany mainline. (The Boston Line) I'm leaning towards Conrail in the mid 90's, most likely early spring time1996 (Iam DONE attempting to model winter) when the SD80MACS were first being tested. I was 18 years old in 1996, and my high school buddies and I would spend hours down along the B&A Mainline tracks fishing in Brookfield Ma. Well, they were fishing, I was railfanning! The layout will have to be modular, for a move within the next 2-5 years. Within the coming weeks I'll be posting up a new thread with track plans, drawings of the room and so on.

I value your input as always. However,,,,,,(this is not directed towards you) I have to say this though. This is a major pet peeve of mine with our hobby. As long as I am having fun, why does it matter if it is a loop? The hobby means something different to everyone. I operate prototypically every thursday night on my friends fantastic layouts, some of which have been and will be in magazines. I bet I've operated at more prototypical op sessions then 85% of the people on these forums. I enjoy prototypical ops. To unwind in my own house, If I want to see a train run, and it's on a loop of track, who cares??!!! I'm going to continue on my rant. this pet peeve of mine is also about the people who bash 4x8 layouts. why? why? why? It is so easy for a newcomer to get into our hobby, and get them up and running in no time. Our hobby is dying a slow painful death. sorry, but it is true. why not encourage newcomers and get them up and running trains quickly? who cares if its a loop??!!! If they have fun, then it's a win, win. it annoys me to see experienced modelers discouraging newcomers about building a 4 x 8, because something better could be built in the same space. better for who? the newcomer? SAYS WHO?? We need to encourage our hobby even if its not what we prefer to do with our own layouts. Model railroadingis something different to everyone. Once the person is up and running, make some suggestions on how they can operate their layout more proto typically. Rant over. lol!!

It’s been an extremely busy month to say the least. The end of the semester is right around the corner, and I’m feeling the crunch! I haven’t done too much to the layout, except add snow. The snow on the trains themselves was just for the picture. The snow on the ground is permanently secured. I did have some free time to run a few turns on the slate. I’ve kind of had a bit of an epiphany and realized that I was not having fun, that it really seemed like work. I attend weekly operating sessions on my friends layouts, and I get my fulfillment for Proto typical ops. The realization was that I do not enjoy doing it by myself at home. After a long day of school work and homework and the stress of every day life, I think what I need to relax is to watch trains run..... i’m not saying I’m going to build a 4 x 8, LOL but rather a continuous loop of sorts, so I can just sit back relax and watch trains.

I'm pretty sure I've made up my mind, I plan on scrapping phase II. Operational wise, I don't gain that much from it, It's not worth the effort. I gain an extra 8' of mainline that is not really needed. I'll start dismantling it tomorrow. I've made some headway on the Alaska layout. Look for a new thread on that!

I do plan on keeping this layout fully functioning and operating. Having a operating layout while building another one allows you to not rush, because you already have one to operate! I've already started pouring rock molds. there are SOoooooooooo many rocks in the Kenai mountains!

A few update pics. The cement silos and buildings are just temporary mock ups. I’m not making any big decisions yet, as far as phase II goes though. I have to control my impulses. On another note, I finally figured out a track plan for the Alaska Railroad in HO scale, to fit in a 20 x 40 room. And slowly over the spring and summer, I’m going to start building the fully enclosed 2 x 8 modules as shown in the pictures previously posted.

Spot on once again. Thank you, I really value your input.

Not gonna lie, I sort of regret adding on Phase II. I feel like it's taken the "charm" out of my existing layout.

Can’t wait to see what you have planned!!!

If the squealing gets bad, you turn down the sound. Mountain railroading at its finest.

Looks great Mal!! I really like the weathering!

After letting it dry for a day and a half, I painted the rocks. Here’s some advice, I learned something very valuable. In the past I have always used Woodlands Scenics pigments, And followed their method of painting the rocks. I’ve had great success in doing so. This time around I wanted to experiment and follow Mike Confalone’s method of an India ink/isopropyl alcohol wash. Gave me a green gray color which I was happy with. Next step is to use an oil based artist paint for the brown color. I put a little micro dab on the rock, And then used a foam brush soaked in turpentine. It worked excellent, I was amazed With the results. Smell of turpentine has since invaded my house...... not cool!!!!! I’m so glad my wife is not here me for this, she’s in Florida. Yesterday afternoon I received my LED strip lights and install them on the new portion the layout. I am amazed at how Bright they are, so I ordered another set for Phaae I! I then ballasted the track, And made a road on phase I.

I got quite a bit accomplished in the past few days. Following my scenery steps from the first phase I added ground goop, And placed the rocks accordingly. The ground hoop is very messy, so thankfully I covered all the track with blue painters tape

I'm still hooked on Horseshoe curve. I cannot get enough of it!

Looks great so far!!

No reason to apologize! I spent about six hours yesterday redoing the wiring for the layout. I should’ve done it the right way from the beginning, but wasn’t sure if I was going to expand the way out. I first wire the way out with the feeders coming down going towards a terminal strip. This would have been fine I did not add on to the layout. So I ran a 14 gage bus wire, broke out the soldering iron, and did it the right way. (No scotch lock connectors, Soldered the feederS directly to the bus wire) also added quick disconnect clips on each section so want to comes time to move all I have to do is pull the clips out. Today, I painted the track, and then painted the terrain. As soon as that dries, I’ll start ballasting. I have a fan blowing on everything now to expedite the process !!

LOVE IT!!!!!!

Yes I know I could! A friend of mine is an engineer/conductor for the Seaview RR. I gave the Seaview some serious consideration, but I’m not a fan of their locomotive power, or the type of freight traffic (besides the auto racks) I am very happy modeling the Providence n Worcester, and my layout thus far. For some reason there are quite a few railroads that tempt me! Is this normal? LOL

OK my jealousy meter is exploding, you got to see the LVRC?!!! That is my favorite Road, I’ve had several track plans for it, but decided not to model it due to The high cost of having engines custom painted and lettered, as well as my lack of structure building skills.

OUCH!!!!! Lol!

23” of snow!! I dedicate all day tomorrow to my layout!

Well my spring break has been anything but productive so far. I’m laid up on the couch, I have the gout in my left big toe....such a dumb but painful ailment! We also have another nor’easter On the way tonight into tomorrow, dropping 12 to 18 inches of snow. The snow is lighter so hopefully not too many power outages.

As much as I want to jump in Alaska project, I need to focus on this layout first. I do have ADHD, (can you tell?) so sometimes I tend to bounce from thing to thing. you’ve already seen it twice already! I have a research meeting this morning at the lab, then I’ll be doing some shopping for some supplies to keep myself busy this next week on spring break