A new beginning inspired from my old Central Midland Layout
- Thread starter Ericsauto
- Start date
ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
Not in it for being prototypical. That is why I call it the " Any-Era railroad" I don't do operations, just enjoy people seeing the trains and artwork. Plus I think the crossovers are cool and I do waste a little money but what the hay, I work hard for it[emoji57]
That's what you will get with atlas. Your track you put down will make or break your layout.
Well I don't think I'd make that broad of a statement. Almost every bit of my layout is old Atlas stuff (including remote turnouts) my baby brother sent me. It had been sitting in the basement of a 130 year old mansion for the past 30 years. I refurbished most of it and made it all work. Sure I've had some trouble spots but was able to fix them just fine.
Sure I would have liked to have brand-new better stuff, but that isn't the hand I was dealt so I made with it best I could.
Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones. I remember from my days past what a royal PITA it can be to chase down track issues.
E
"If you can afford it" was the key! I hear nothing but good about Peco and (what's the other one)? Shinohara?
All that stuff they sent me in Dec. of 2014 was some of my old stuff I left behind when I moved circa '77. My baby brother kept it going until he went off to college and got married. The stuff sat in the basement ever since. Then they sold the house and they were about to throw that stuff out when my Uncle and my little Bro both piped up saying they knew exactly who to send it to. Me.
At the time, I just figured I build some little pos thing. Within a week I was back full into model railroading mode!!!
If or when I build another I might just start off with all brand new big name stuff for trackage and turnouts.
I certainly have no inclination of hand laying any. Maybe just a little demo piece just to say I've done it but I certainly won't bother for a full scale project like you are doing. I'm in a 2-story townhouse so I sure don't have the real estate to work with anyhow.
E.
Thank you . Yeah it is nice and it is dry! That is a plus. I have it designed so that if I am in the train room I can also see into the main room. My son in mentally handicapped and I wanted it so that we all can see each other while downstairs. My wife has a craft and sewing room on the opposite side. It will be pretty open too. It will work out well for all of us.
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)
Ericsauto
Well-Known Member
Not in it for being prototypical. That is why I call it the " Any-Era railroad" I don't do operations, just enjoy people seeing the trains and artwork. Plus I think the crossovers are cool and I do waste a little money but what the hay, I work hard for it[emoji57]
gjohnston
Slow Learner
Eric,
Where did you get your track? was it locally or from the Internet? I will be purchasing mine soon and am looking for the best deal I can get. There are no local model train suppliers in my area so I will be picking it up online. Peco is not cheap but from what I have read the quality is very high. The last thing I want are quirky turnouts and derailments.
Thanks,
Greg
Where did you get your track? was it locally or from the Internet? I will be purchasing mine soon and am looking for the best deal I can get. There are no local model train suppliers in my area so I will be picking it up online. Peco is not cheap but from what I have read the quality is very high. The last thing I want are quirky turnouts and derailments.
Thanks,
Greg
Ericsauto
Well-Known Member
That's what you will get with atlas. Your track you put down will make or break your layout.
Ericsauto
Well-Known Member
No I haven't quit.
I didn't want anyone to think I just quit since I haven't posted anything new lately. The railroad is on hold as we finish the rest of the basement , which I hope will be by the end of June. Also trying to finish outside final grading and landscaping to my back yard. That has been a costly project and I don't want to bring that up. I can't wait to get back to normal. I posted some pictures of some of the other part of the basement. There will be close to 2000 square feet of hobby/living space. I have my train room ,as you can see covered right now , my wife will have her craft room and the main room , as you see in the pictures, will be a media room. So you can watch Tv or the trains! So I will keep you posted and hopefully by the Fall I can have trains running. Have a great weekend.
I didn't want anyone to think I just quit since I haven't posted anything new lately. The railroad is on hold as we finish the rest of the basement , which I hope will be by the end of June. Also trying to finish outside final grading and landscaping to my back yard. That has been a costly project and I don't want to bring that up. I can't wait to get back to normal. I posted some pictures of some of the other part of the basement. There will be close to 2000 square feet of hobby/living space. I have my train room ,as you can see covered right now , my wife will have her craft room and the main room , as you see in the pictures, will be a media room. So you can watch Tv or the trains! So I will keep you posted and hopefully by the Fall I can have trains running. Have a great weekend.
BigE
Active Member
Well I don't think I'd make that broad of a statement. Almost every bit of my layout is old Atlas stuff (including remote turnouts) my baby brother sent me. It had been sitting in the basement of a 130 year old mansion for the past 30 years. I refurbished most of it and made it all work. Sure I've had some trouble spots but was able to fix them just fine.
Sure I would have liked to have brand-new better stuff, but that isn't the hand I was dealt so I made with it best I could.
Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones. I remember from my days past what a royal PITA it can be to chase down track issues.
E
BigE
Active Member
"If you can afford it" was the key! I hear nothing but good about Peco and (what's the other one)? Shinohara?
All that stuff they sent me in Dec. of 2014 was some of my old stuff I left behind when I moved circa '77. My baby brother kept it going until he went off to college and got married. The stuff sat in the basement ever since. Then they sold the house and they were about to throw that stuff out when my Uncle and my little Bro both piped up saying they knew exactly who to send it to. Me.
At the time, I just figured I build some little pos thing. Within a week I was back full into model railroading mode!!!
If or when I build another I might just start off with all brand new big name stuff for trackage and turnouts.
I certainly have no inclination of hand laying any. Maybe just a little demo piece just to say I've done it but I certainly won't bother for a full scale project like you are doing. I'm in a 2-story townhouse so I sure don't have the real estate to work with anyhow.
E.
Ericsauto
Well-Known Member
Man if I hand laid track it would have problems[emoji16]. I don't like paying the PECO price but this will be the last one I build ( for myself) and I wanted it to be nice. Atlas got me through all these years and it was a shame I had to toss most of it from my old layout. What I have left I will give to someone that needs it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Ericsauto
Well-Known Member
Thank you . Yeah it is nice and it is dry! That is a plus. I have it designed so that if I am in the train room I can also see into the main room. My son in mentally handicapped and I wanted it so that we all can see each other while downstairs. My wife has a craft and sewing room on the opposite side. It will be pretty open too. It will work out well for all of us.
MichaelGood
New Member
Very nice beginning, It's going to be lots of fun following this thread!
Ericsauto
Well-Known Member
Almost ready to Start Again!
Finally after a long and quite bigger project than I expected the rest of my basement will be done!
I spent all weekend cleaning and dusting everything including the train room. This Wednesday will end the basement project and all the junk is out of my train room. I cleaned the train room Sunday in preparation to start working on it again.
Here are some pictures of the new basement before the carpet is installed. Yes it is a large basement and I am fortunate to be able to afford to do this. It will make a great place for all of us to be together during those cold winter days.
In the first picture in the background you can see the third room for our office and my wife's craft room. That is where the 1/2 bath is located too. The train room is 600 square feet and the rest of the basement is about 1400 square feet.
I will post some finished pictures later this week. ( Notice the poor train room all lonely in the background on picture 2)
Finally after a long and quite bigger project than I expected the rest of my basement will be done!
I spent all weekend cleaning and dusting everything including the train room. This Wednesday will end the basement project and all the junk is out of my train room. I cleaned the train room Sunday in preparation to start working on it again.
Here are some pictures of the new basement before the carpet is installed. Yes it is a large basement and I am fortunate to be able to afford to do this. It will make a great place for all of us to be together during those cold winter days.
In the first picture in the background you can see the third room for our office and my wife's craft room. That is where the 1/2 bath is located too. The train room is 600 square feet and the rest of the basement is about 1400 square feet.
I will post some finished pictures later this week. ( Notice the poor train room all lonely in the background on picture 2)
Ericsauto
Well-Known Member
Don't mean to make anyone jealous just want to show off some hard work rewards.
Tony ( aka wobat457) that was funny and thank you.
Thanks Wayne!
They are installing carpet as I type this and strangly enough I am more excited about getting back to working on the trains more than the rest of the basement.
More pictures maybe tomorrow night when they get done.
Tony ( aka wobat457) that was funny and thank you.
Thanks Wayne!
They are installing carpet as I type this and strangly enough I am more excited about getting back to working on the trains more than the rest of the basement.
More pictures maybe tomorrow night when they get done.
Last edited by a moderator:
Ericsauto
Well-Known Member
Finished Basement pictures
Ok I am finally done!
I cannot wait to get back to the trains. A lot of pressure on me to make it really nice as you will see in the pictures. I need to keep the room tidy. I know it will be tough but it will keep me motivated. Not to make any one jealous just wanted to maybe influence anyone remodeling that yes you can include a train room into a general area. Enjoy
Eric
Ok I am finally done!
I cannot wait to get back to the trains. A lot of pressure on me to make it really nice as you will see in the pictures. I need to keep the room tidy. I know it will be tough but it will keep me motivated. Not to make any one jealous just wanted to maybe influence anyone remodeling that yes you can include a train room into a general area. Enjoy
Eric
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)