Hey everyone!

I today purchased my first HO Athearn RTR loco, its a BNSF Dash 9.

I installed an NCE decoder from another loco so i know it is not a problem, however the motor itself sounds like an electric toothbrush on steroids!!!, even at low speed steps. I have done the first thing i could think of and that is adding a little oil to the areas i think were appropriate.

I've decided to take the plunge and expand my On30 TMMC into the remaining available space in my art studio/train room. I've been doodling some new plans and they all involve evicting my poor, dust-gathering N scale layout from its current spot in the corner. For those not familiar with the TMMC layout, it started out as a 3'x6' caboose chaser a little over three years ago and it just keeps growing. 

This is the blog of the Nelson and Fort Sheppard Railway.  Not the real one from the 1890's in British Columbia's southern interior, but the HO scale one in my basement.  The layout is set in two periods 1985-2001 so I can run some Burlington Northern equipment that I grew up around, and the present day so I can model the CP equipment I see today.

I have to admit, I have too many pliers. I put myself through graduate school working as a musical instrument repairman, which is very pliers intensive work. You need big ones, little ones, flat nose, chain nose, needle nose and so on, both knurled and smooth. As my career moved on to electronics, more pliers appeared, along with cutters of various types. When I retired and began working with trains again, I ruthlessly culled my collection but I still wound up with this:

I have been busy laying track and making the wiring. While the 2nd isn't a pretty sight, the 1st one is more appealing.

So, I am using MicroEngineering code 70 track, and the plan I decided to stick with a version of Palmetto Spur from Lance Mindheim. While Lance makes the fiddle yard not part of the layout (on right), I will make it a part of the layout, just add scenery. I don't know if I will make a bridge, or some warehouses not rail served.

Here are a few unprofessional phone pics in the backyard.  The scenery base is concrete (read plaster of paris) and drying inside.  This is the building built around the animated Tortoise driven door I've been working on. 

I don't really know what purpose the building will serve yet, or what to call it, so no signs yet.  I just wanted something industrial that held two 50' boxcars.  

Suggestions on what it might or could be would be appreciated!

It's been a couple years since I tore my layout down, and it's finally time to start on a new (smaller) one.  With a little extra money and permission from the CFO to spend it, I've been placing orders tonight!

LED lights from hitlights.com - multi-color for the backdrop, and cool white for the main lighting

Tie strips from Central Valley - 8'6" for the main line, 8' for the spurs

code 55 rail, PC ties, and rail joiners from Fast Tracks.

I am going to start a new section on the preparations for an operating session on our model railroad club layout. I will post several entries with the steps I go through to make it happen. For purposes of following along I have posted a copy of the track plan below. That way it should appear on the top of every page.

I'm finishing the back corner of the Southside Industrial District. A spur passes in front of the backdrop and I'm filling some empty space with a background building.

I've mocked up a couple of options, which will follow in responses to this thread. My final selection will be cleaned up with details, etc.

Here is the space. The trackage serves a chemical complex, but this particular building will be a nondescript warehouse kind of thing in the background.