The Coffee Shop is now open. Come on in and say hello.

[grande man]

Good Morning Gang!

Man these post-holiday blues - I got 'em BAD!

Then in the following chapter he says if I want to avoid a railroad that is 80% maintenance and 20% operation, I have to spend a fortune building a cleanroom-type area before I even start putting up benchwork. So, what he 'gave' me in the opening chapters, he just 'took back' in the last two! Now I have no desire to even go into the train room or continue reading the Koester book.

Well, after having two basement RR's, you might have to resign yourself to a little track/loco cleaning on a regular basis and forget TK's cleanroom crap. It also helps to run alot of trains! Could I humbly suggest, put TK's book down and just have fun building your RR.

We still need to get a decent track cleaning car. I'm thinking about the unit with the roller on it so it won't grind away at our reed switches.

 

[dthurman]

I am a strong advocate of using Mother's/MAAS chrome polish to clean the tracks. Being N scale it is very prone to even a dust spec and the polish has made a day/night difference. I use one of those eye glass cleaning rags, mines blue, they are very soft and seem to work well at buffing out the top of the rail.

Ken, where in the book does he make a reference to a cleanroom type setup? I must have missed that part, course for me reading a book is like watching a movie, seems the second time I read it, I find something I missed, must be me daydreaming while reading

 

[RexHea]

KenL: Books! They are good to get you thinking and you should consider what the say, but to "do as they say" word for word would not only take all your creativity out of the hobby but in many cases make it cost and time prohibitive and result in overkill. Also, remember that they always write the ideals and not the practicals. Think about it...it is a job for them...they get paid for what they write and do. Just because they have a printed name does not make them correct nor does it make them an expert. The only name you should pay attention to for a final decision is KEN.

My layout is in a shop beside the house. I heat by a gas wall heater and cool with a built-in window unit. I allow smoking, soldering, painting, and what ever else needs to be done in this same environment. I never have dirty track problems on my mainlines where I run all the time and seldom in my yards (if I would clean them once a month ). I use the CMX cleaning machine w/laquer thinner for general maintenance and a Bright Boy for occassional tough spots. The CMX is easy to use and by most opinions, gets the job done. Far from a 'cleanroom' operation.

Staging tracks are fine, if a person has the space and if he wants them, but to say a layout has to have them for a good operation is unreasonable particularly for those with smaller layouts. If land is at a premium, I say use it for what YOU want and not what a book says.

IMHO (Hey, I am getting pretty good with the acronyms )

 

[dthurman]

Right on Rex! I also don't have any "hidden staging" or even a staing track, though I have a long siding on the front of the layout that I use as my staging/fiddle track, pull the train off and put the new run/train back on, so far it works great for me.

On the smoking part, I do smoke, the only vice I have left in my life and I do notice after a long night of operations that I do see the top of the rail yellow just a bit, probably not as much as my lungs or teeth but I am still trying to figure out this whole NASA Cleanroom idea? Does Tony actually strip down and get in one of those paper white suits with a respirator? Sounds like that would be the only way to have a true cleanroom...

 

[IronBeltKen]

Eric/David/Rex - I have awakened and smelled the coffee, no more need for concern!

David - Sorry if I caused you to go on a wild goose chase looking for the word 'cleanroom' in TK's book! That was my own [exxagerated] interpretation of his paragraphs about preparing a good operating environment in advance of building the layout. I work around cleanrooms, so whenever I see somebody advocating a dust-free environment, that is the first word the comes to my mind.

My 'blue funk' wasn't based only on what I've read in Koester's book. In many of the trainrooms I've visited or seen online, there is a polished tile (or epoxy-painted concrete) floor, doors and windows sealed airtight with tape, and elaborate lighting fixtures in place. The floor of my own humble garage is unpainted concrete, wall-mounted shelves overflowing with household clutter, and it is not feasible for me to seal the large doors with tape because I DO need to open at least one (sometimes both) of them occassionally. Numerous well-meaning friends of mine have tried to talk me out of building my layout in a garage, predicting all sorts of problems (chronically dirty track, motor brushes wearing down prematurely, etc.). But it was too late to turn back, I just kept on doggedly building, hoping that just maybe they were being over-cautious; then last night I read something along those same lines of thinking in TK's book and thought "Geez, I never should have bought this property after all!"

OK, you guys have set me straight [as I expected you would] - I'll get back to work on the 'Belt after I get home tonight. And remember that Tony Koester is not the Great Infallible...or even the Martha Stewart of MRR for that matter!

 

[csxmu]

Ken, I know where you are coming from! Although I have a basement layout it seems I must clean track for about an hour before I run trains ! For one I work away, so running trains in the summer is almost never. The track gets oxidated, a couple of spiders make their way across town, and dust........ Now in the winter time I operate once a week, and there isnt much cleaning involved.

 

[Steve B]

Evening all, I think Koester would have a fit if he saw my garage at the moment on the subject of clean rooms, what a heck of a mess it's in, can't wait for the building work to end.
Oh well,,,back to work, it's like groundhog day,,, or if you want an acronym SSDD

 

[Fergmiester]

Here's one for you Nautical Types, Not well known, yet... but coined by one of our Commanding Officers, while engaged in a "pack" of Rabid day sailors.

W.A.F.I.

Enjoy

Fergie

 

[dthurman]

Hello guys

Anyone else get the latest release of MR's Dream•Plan•Build video series? I got mine today, actually not to bad, it actually has a part about roads, also detailing track and some info on the Union Tank Car Company.

 

[RexHea]

Hi gang, Flo, Sabrina! How about a warming cup of hot chocolate.

KenL: Man, don't scare me like that. You have a great layout planned and being developed. I am envious of your well planned track drawing. I hope to see an orange glow coming from the hearth this summer.

Fellows, talking about garages, let me tell you about mine (24x40'). The only smart thing I did was paint the concrete with that epoxy paint kit that I think Rust-Oleum makes and insulate the outer walls. Then it was off to the races and the benchwork began.

I thought my shop/garage would be cool enough without putting in a ceiling or any insulation...wrong. Oh Boy! What do I do now that the benchwork is every where...a thought hits me...bang...I used insulation hangers between the ceiling joists to hold the insulation up. I buy a 23k BTU window air conditioner and install it in a wall. Everything works great! WINTER TIME...brrrrr! Seems like I had better figure out something for heat. Ah hah! A previous owner had a gas line installed to the shop. I buy a 5 brick wall gas heater. Now Everything is Great! Well...except for Alagasco raising the gas prices.

Looking back, I could have spent several thousand dollars putting drywall in, fancy lights, and full insulation...maybe even a forced air unit, but it is comfortable in the Depot and all that fixing-up money was used on trains. I don't care what the rest of the room looks like as long as it is cleaned up and things put away (sometimes). Hey, its basically a garage. I don't plan on being in a magazine.

Now another problem. My story was about 1 shop. I have another joining it that is 18'x40'. That is where my grades to the upper levels are. I am thinking about building a room into this area of about 12'x22' and then it all starts again, but at least I won't have to insulate the whole thing.

 

[RexHea]

Hello guys

Anyone else get the latest release of MR's Dream•Plan•Build video series? I got mine today, actually not to bad, it actually has a part about roads, also detailing track and some info on the Union Tank Car Company.

Naw! Man, I can't wait. I really liked the first one. What kind of a price did they end up with?

 

[dthurman]

Sorry Rex, went to bed early last night. THe new DVD seems pretty good, lot's of stuff from some decent layout tours, camera work is incredible, to weathering track, DCC, 3 prototours. $24.95 including shipping, still a good deal.

 

[dgwinup]

I got mine yesterday, but haven't had the time to view it yet. The table of contents on the back of the case sounds interesting, but it will have to wait until I have time to look at it.

Darrell, busy, busy, busy, and quiet...for now

 

[NZRMac]

I am thinking about building a room into this area of about 12'x22' and then it all starts again, but at least I won't have to insulate the whole thing.

Hey hang on a minute!! You've got way too much real estate!! That extension is about the same as my whole room.

TTFN, Ken.

 

[Steve B]

evening all,
Hey Rex pull up a chair, fancy a drink
I didn't even get the dream-plan-build freeby DVD, even got an e-mail saying i was getting one, but it never came, oh well.
Sold my old car today after two days on Ebay, glad to get it off the drive as i got a dumpster for the next part of the house extension, so i have got to dig a few more tons of clay out tommorow for the single story section, should be easy as the grounds pretty dry i have just got to watch out for the electric, gas and water mains. And when thats done there is a great model railway show at Preston to go to in the afternoon, think i'll go to bed and get some sleep,
later guys

 

[RexHea]

Thanks Steve, I believe I will. Cup of Joe, please.
Wow Steve, you sure are adding space. You're not expecting the in-laws to move in are you?

NZKen: Darn Ken, you have a 20 car garage and a mansion that you can use . I have to do something for that area because of the hot/cold temps and that is really the only thing I know to do and be able to use the existing heat/cooling. To fix up the entire lower garage would be cost prohibitive and by building a room in half of it will give me the other half for dirty work, lawnmower, etc. The big negative about the room is that I know I will want to add more and more track. $$$$

David/Darrell: I had an empty mail box today. Normally, that would be good this time of the month, but I sure would like to get the new DVD. Maybe tomorrow...or Monday...or...

This is the outside of my Depot:

 

[dthurman]

Rex

So you have enough space to get 3 layouts built, and you seem to have a train car in your back yard

 

[IronBeltKen]

Good morning guys [and Claudia],

Rex, good luck with that expansion. I think I know where NZKen is coming from: While his 20-vehicle garage looks like a MRR's dream at first glance, if it is not divided into separate rooms it can be a nightmare for temp/humidity control. I had to shell out extra $$ to buy a heat pump twice as large as what I might otherwise have needed, because of all the extra cubic footage of the wall-mounted storage shelves. [Hmmmmm...maybe I could run spurs and put extra staging track on a few of the shelves to make the expense worthwhile... ]

I haven't purchased the DVD and even if I did I wouldn't ever find time to watch it; I've been sneaking into the garage during every free moment, to finish up the ore-unloding area of my steel mill peninsula. Maybe not contest-winning quality scenery, but good-enough-for-now type stuff. I want to be able to snap a few pics of the area and snail-mail these to Dean Freytag [who, at age 85, doesn't have a computer and never intends to get one] so he can claim to be the first to see all the large structures in their native habitat . I'm not sure I want to post them online until I've put all the trains on the layout, I don't want them to become "old news".

Fergie - I never heard that acronym [WAFI] during my brief days as a sailor, could you enlighten this enquiring mind?

Steve - That's sure a lot of construction you have going on at your property, hope this gains you some additional real estate for your new & improved Yarrow Valley sub! I don't envy you having to stay clear of those gas and power lines though.

 

[enjineerbill]

Thanks Steve, I believe I will. Cup of Joe, please.
Wow Steve, you sure are adding space. You're not expecting the in-laws to move in are you?

NZKen: Darn Ken, you have a 20 car garage and a mansion that you can use . I have to do something for that area because of the hot/cold temps and that is really the only thing I know to do and be able to use the existing heat/cooling. To fix up the entire lower garage would be cost prohibitive and by building a room in half of it will give me the other half for dirty work, lawnmower, etc. The big negative about the room is that I know I will want to add more and more track. $$$$

David/Darrell: I had an empty mail box today. Normally, that would be good this time of the month, but I sure would like to get the new DVD. Maybe tomorrow...or Monday...or...

This is the outside of my Depot:

Morning everyone,

Flo some ice water please, semi-boneless.

Rex, why not sell your truck on e-bay , lay some rail where it sits , get yourself a fairmont speeder , and you'd have a neat way of getting the mail LOL

Johnny

 

[Fergmiester]

Good morning guys [and Claudia],


Fergie - I never heard that acronym [WAFI] during my brief days as a sailor, could you enlighten this enquiring mind?

Oh Look I got a nibble... Zing! Got'm

WAFI: Wind Assisted Fool Idiot!

Of course some words can be supplemented with, how shall I say, stronger language Almost took out a WAFI last summer in Halifax Hbr while placing a whistle buoy. Silly little XXX thought he had right of way in a confined waterway because he was in a race

Of course this isn't the first time I bagged you Ken. Wasn't it you who took the bait with

"Watch Out for the Henways"


Anyway I degress, I have to say I'm very disapointed with the two Soundtraxx DSX (Sound Only decoders) as the sound is lame to say the least. Believe it or not the sound of my two Soundtraxx LC decoders is far superior.

Well I'd better get going

Later Everyone

Fergie