Author Topic: My N scale layout travels 1200 miles unscathed  (Read 4381 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Dave V

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 11250
  • Gender: Male
  • Foothills Farm Studios -- Dave's Model Railroading
  • Respect: +9358
My N scale layout travels 1200 miles unscathed
« on: August 09, 2008, 02:06:24 PM »
0
Last Monday we received our household goods here in Bellevue, Nebraska after moving from Apex, NC (by order of the USAF).  We've been working hard on unpacking 14,000 pounds' worth of stuff, so it was only today (my 34th birthday, incidentally) that I was able to open and set up my layout.  Last weekend, before the stuff came, I painted up the basement walls a nice bright white.  Previously it had been used as a girl's bedroom and was painted alternating stripes of pink, purple, and a very loud red.  Much primer was needed.

True to expectations (and the last move) it emerged from its plywood crate completely unscathed!  I built the crate out of 5/8" plywood and framed it with 1x and 2x stock.

I haven't yet connected the electronics, but that's the next step.  I've photo-documented the entire process from tear-down to crating to loading to unloading to setup.  I plan to submit it as an article to the N scale press.

Denver Road Doug

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 2120
  • Respect: +28
    • Mockingbird Industrial
Re: My N scale layout travels 1200 miles unscathed
« Reply #1 on: August 09, 2008, 02:13:40 PM »
0
Dave, good to hear everything made it OK.

Just moved mine, too...but a MUCH shorter haul.  About 85 miles or so.  And, not scenicked or anything so very little to go wrong.  I didn't crate it, but I was hauling it in my Tahoe so I had control of the situation, unlike with movers.

Anyway, going through it with much fewer variables was still challenging, and I think your article will be well received....something a little different.
NOTE: I'm no longer active on this forum.   If you need to contact me, use the e-mail address (or visit the website link) attached to this username.  Thanks.

Ed Kapuscinski

  • Global Moderator
  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 24753
  • Head Kino
  • Respect: +9278
    • Conrail 1285
Re: My N scale layout travels 1200 miles unscathed
« Reply #2 on: August 09, 2008, 04:01:53 PM »
0
Wow Dave, that's awesome news!!!

Now it's time to make it 1980!

3rdrail

  • Guest
Re: My N scale layout travels 1200 miles unscathed
« Reply #3 on: August 09, 2008, 04:37:24 PM »
0
Wow Dave, that's awesome news!!!

Now it's time to make it 1980!

The Hell with 1980, time to make it 1953, when PRR ran both steam and Diesel, or 1941, with war just over the horizon and the Depression finally over.

Railroading in 1980 was fascinating as a business - lots of changes with the Staggers Act, but booooooooooooooring for modeling purposes, IMHO.

bicknell

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 238
  • Respect: +2
Re: My N scale layout travels 1200 miles unscathed
« Reply #4 on: August 09, 2008, 10:08:28 PM »
0

Even if you don't like NTrak, I encourage everyone to read the NTrak book on construction because building "modules" that will fit out your door is always handy if you move.  I've seen a few people have to cut up fully built in layouts because there was no way to remove it in sections, and that's just sad.

I'm glad your layout made it ok.


up1950s

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 9753
  • Gender: Male
  • Respect: +2321
Re: My N scale layout travels 1200 miles unscathed
« Reply #5 on: August 09, 2008, 10:35:06 PM »
0
Now that you are in UP territory ................


Richie Dost

SecretWeapon

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 437
  • Respect: +41
Re: My N scale layout travels 1200 miles unscathed
« Reply #6 on: August 09, 2008, 11:07:42 PM »
0
Happy Birthday Dave.
Mike

Dave V

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 11250
  • Gender: Male
  • Foothills Farm Studios -- Dave's Model Railroading
  • Respect: +9358
Re: My N scale layout travels 1200 miles unscathed
« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2008, 11:15:13 AM »
0
First train to operate over the relocated Juniata Division was a 1980s-era mixed freight led by Conrail GP38-2 #8097.  It was followed shortly thereafter by PRR H10sb-class 2-8-0 #8756 with a 1950's-era local.

Experts warn that such "temporal disturbances" may continue over this 3' x 6' 8" slice of Central Pennsylvania for the indefinite future.

The next task is reconnecting all of the signal controllers and the sound system.

I can't find my Bright Boy, yet trains are running perfectly smopoth in DCC without a track cleaning in over 3 months; this makes me a firm believer in "the more feeders the better."  I think I have a total of 13 feeder pairs on this tiny layout.

davefoxx

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 11693
  • Gender: Male
  • TRW Plaid Member
  • Respect: +6828
Re: My N scale layout travels 1200 miles unscathed
« Reply #8 on: August 10, 2008, 11:22:36 AM »
0
Sounds to me as if the layout is caught in some form of temporal flux.  Off the record, and between you and me, it's more interesting that way sometimes.  Glad to hear that the layout survived and is now (for the most part) up and running.  I'm sure that you have dying to run some trains and continue on with the Conrailification of the layout, which will make Ed ecstatic.

Dave Foxx
« Last Edit: August 10, 2008, 11:24:35 AM by davefoxx »

Member: ACL/SAL Historical Society
Member: Wilmington & Western RR
A Proud HOer
BUY ALL THE TRAINS!

Ed Kapuscinski

  • Global Moderator
  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 24753
  • Head Kino
  • Respect: +9278
    • Conrail 1285
Re: My N scale layout travels 1200 miles unscathed
« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2008, 11:57:20 AM »
0
Big Blue FTW!!

Pics?

Dave V

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 11250
  • Gender: Male
  • Foothills Farm Studios -- Dave's Model Railroading
  • Respect: +9358
Re: My N scale layout travels 1200 miles unscathed
« Reply #10 on: August 10, 2008, 12:21:28 PM »
0
Yeah, I owe pics.  I'll hook you guys up sometime this week.

Ed Kapuscinski

  • Global Moderator
  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 24753
  • Head Kino
  • Respect: +9278
    • Conrail 1285
Re: My N scale layout travels 1200 miles unscathed
« Reply #11 on: August 10, 2008, 12:44:47 PM »
0
I've got a pic for you Dave, http://thecrhs.org/?q=node/1230

Check out the Amshack. It may be just what you're looking for.

DKS

  • The Pitt
  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 13424
  • Respect: +7026
Re: My N scale layout travels 1200 miles unscathed
« Reply #12 on: August 10, 2008, 01:23:03 PM »
0
...trains are running perfectly smopoth...

Hmmm...

Bob Bufkin

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 6397
  • Gender: Male
  • Respect: +44
Re: My N scale layout travels 1200 miles unscathed
« Reply #13 on: August 10, 2008, 01:42:51 PM »
0
Time to reletter all your equipment "Twilight Zone"!!

Dave V

  • Crew
  • *
  • Posts: 11250
  • Gender: Male
  • Foothills Farm Studios -- Dave's Model Railroading
  • Respect: +9358
Re: My N scale layout travels 1200 miles unscathed
« Reply #14 on: August 10, 2008, 01:54:06 PM »
0
...trains are running perfectly smopoth...

Hmmm...

Edna Krabappel: "Smopoth?  I never heard that word before I moved to
      Springfield."
Ms.Hoover: "I don't know why.  It's a perfectly cromulent word."