Model Trains

[Sailingeric]

On the random picture thread there seems to be plenty of folks who enjoy playing with model trains. If you enjoy trains and have a layout please share some pics and tell a little about your layout. I like model CSX trains but I do have a few other engines from UP and FEC. I also enjoy taking pics when I can. My current layout is under construction I will post some pics soon.

Here is a pic from my old layout at my old home.

 

[DaWhip]

We play with bigger models down here on the Comanche & Indian Gap Railroad

That is a pic of my grandfather on his decapod that he built himself. He built a massive 7.5" gauge, point to point railroad on the ranch starting in 1972 pretty much all by himself. By the early 80s he was hosting meets for live steamers and railroad enthusiasts from around the world. His main goal was to have a complex railroad capable of conducting full operations, unlike a lot of other large scale railroads that are essentially a big circle. The HO guys love to come out for a week in the spring and they are serious about their operations. The C&IG is still going strong and even growing thanks to help from a great railroad community. I got to grow up on this railroad, and while I don't have "the bug" like most of these guys do, I do really enjoy it. The video is obviously a bit dated, but it was a really well done video at the time and I like it. I like how much live steam is in it; it is getting more and more rare even in the model railroad community and that is my favorite part. There are more current videos on youtube if you feel like digging around. I also included a pic of the current track layout. We have added probably another mile or so of main line since that video was taken.

 

[orionol73]

Awesome start on a new thread!
Growing up my father and I had an HO layout on a 12' x 9' table in the basement. Lots of fun and work went into that but then I began to grow up and got busy with academics, sports and eventually moved away. Had to go home recently to clean it all up and tear it all down because the parentals were moving. Now it is sadly all packed away in boxes in storage, with the hope of one day resurrecting it!
My favorite line was always the Chessie (Chesapeake & Ohio) as my grandfather and his brother both worked their entire careers following the war for what was originally the Grand Trunk Railroad and eventually merged in with C&O
:cheers:

 

[passedpawn]

Awesome start on a new thread!
Growing up my father and I had an HO layout on a 12' x 9' table in the basement. Lots of fun and work went into that but then I began to grow up and got busy with academics, sports and eventually moved away. Had to go home recently to clean it all up and tear it all down because the parentals were moving. Now it is sadly all packed away in boxes in storage, with the hope of one day resurrecting it!
My favorite line was always the Chessie (Chesapeake & Ohio) as my grandfather and his brother both worked their entire careers following the war for what was originally the Grand Trunk Railroad and eventually merged in with C&O
:cheers:

I was sad to tear mine down many years ago. Trains/track/controls are all in the attic (wonder what shape those things are in). I'm waiting for the grandkiddies to come along some day and I'll get it set up again.

 

[Sailingeric]

We play with bigger models down here on the Comanche & Indian Gap Railroad

That is a pic of my grandfather on his decapod that he built himself. He built a massive 7.5" gauge, point to point railroad on the ranch starting in 1972 pretty much all by himself. By the early 80s he was hosting meets for live steamers and railroad enthusiasts from around the world. His main goal was to have a complex railroad capable of conducting full operations, unlike a lot of other large scale railroads that are essentially a big circle. The HO guys love to come out for a week in the spring and they are serious about their operations. The C&IG is still going strong and even growing thanks to help from a great railroad community. I got to grow up on this railroad, and while I don't have "the bug" like most of these guys do, I do really enjoy it. The video is obviously a bit dated, but it was a really well done video at the time and I like it. I like how much live steam is in it; it is getting more and more rare even in the model railroad community and that is my favorite part. There are more current videos on youtube if you feel like digging around. I also included a pic of the current track layout. We have added probably another mile or so of main line since that video was taken.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQZWcLmvGec&t=3m49s

That is cool. I would love to the space to have a small train to ride around on. Around here they do a summer tour of garden trains, i might have to look into those, might be able to do a small switching laying on the side of the yard.

 

[Sailingeric]

Here is a quick video of a trip around my layout. I have done some more group cover, moved a few buildings aroudn and smoothed out a few of the track spots but the basic layout is still the same. The sound I dubbed in, I wish my trains had that good of a horn sound.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB0e9buEcJw[/ame]

 

[DaWhip]

i might have to look into those, might be able to do a small switching laying on the side of the yard.

Before he bought the ranch my grandfather just had about a 150ft semi circle in his backyard. He would fire up the steam engine and just go forward and reverse, haha. It would be cool to have a track going from a brew shed to a kegerator on the back porch or something. Have a little switch engine with gondolas full of your brewing gear. Haul gear out to brew, haul kegs back to the house, etc. Maybe some tank car fermenters...alright, maybe that is overboard.

 

[orionol73]

Here is a quick video of a trip around my layout. I have done some more group cover, moved a few buildings aroudn and smoothed out a few of the track spots but the basic layout is still the same. The sound I dubbed in, I wish my trains had that good of a horn sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB0e9buEcJw

Dang! That is a ton of rolling stock! How much space does your layout cover?

 

[Sailingeric]

Dang! That is a ton of rolling stock! How much space does your layout cover?

It takes up my garage, about 25x18 or so

 

[passedpawn]

^^ that is some serious track Eric. I loved the river. How did you do that water like that?

Never forgot this scene of Gomez Addams explaining why grown men would play with trains. Haha.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMxJtMoTnx8[/ame]

 

[Sailingeric]

I put down some plaster, and shaped it with some wadded up paper to get the waves I wanted, then let it dry and then painted and then used some clear satin sheen polyurethane stain over it. I think I am going to redo once I get back on building the layout. I put my bridge on after it was dry and cannot get it stay level. I will need to pure the plaster and put in the piling before it drys and then put the water down. But that is part of the fun, building and rebuilding