This is the thread to share your HO train layout!!

47868 Views 1340 Replies 91 Participants Last post by rman, 10 d ago

Tacky

Discussion Starter · May 12, 2020

So after a positive reaction and interest from other forum members i decided to add a dedicated thread for my layout. Irs a continuing work in progress that i am still working on. So from time to time will add photos of the layout, trains, and related. I based this layout on my hometown and neighboring towns. The buildings i used are very similiar to what i see locally, and painted as such. I run Norfolk Southern, CSX, Norfolk Western , Southern, and Union Pacific, all which have traveled my area. So without further chatter here is a few pics of my hobby. Some i have posted before, but sone i have not. I have this based on present day era.

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rman

· #1,321 · 21 d ago

A little train nostalgia. (Not the greatest video)

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Maddmax

· #1,322 · 21 d ago

Still good though. Black & white filming back the wasn't all that great anyway.

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #1,323 · 21 d ago

rman said:
A little train nostalgia. (Not the greatest video)

A simpler time, sure would love to take a time machine. back to see these marvelous machines.

Here is a newer one, but man it moves. NKP @ 70MPH

Here is one of my favorites...Norfolk Western..

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rman

· #1,324 · 21 d ago

Those are great. I have always liked trains, but the steam locomotives were (are) really special. I worked for 2 railroads over the years. One was the C&S in the Denver yards and the other was the BNSF in the Topeka office. I like trains a lot better than working for railroads. Both are long stories and not particulary interesting.

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Electric Miner

· #1,325 · 13 d ago

My main g-scale layout is apart right now due to landscaping, so I set up three loops on the back deck so I can run trains. I tested it today with an 0-4-0, a rail bus and a trolley.

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #1,326 · 13 d ago

Electric Miner said:
My main g-scale layout is apart right now due to landscaping, so I set up three loops on the back deck so I can run trains. I tested it today with an 0-4-0, a rail bus and a trolley.

Awesome, maybe one day I will go down that path.

Reactions: 1

Tacky

Discussion Starter · #1,327 · 13 d ago (Edited)

2

Well I finished installing the loksound 58410 v5 in my first gp50 # 7083, a little soldering, then 39 minutes of programming, it sounds just like the real McCoy. Here is it paired with its siblings 7081, and 7085. 7085 is a dummy unit, 7081 is dcc but is gonna get a loksound 58410 decoder as well. Thinking about adding snowplows, and mu hoses as well, since these are Bachmann's, they didn't come on the units from the factory.

Train Plant Rolling stock Wood Vehicle

Train Plant Rolling stock Vehicle freight car

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Electric Miner

· #1,328 · 13 d ago

I have a Bachmann Anniversary 2-6-0 that's getting a TCS Wow Sound card soon.

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #1,329 · 13 d ago

Electric Miner said:
I have a Bachmann Anniversary 2-6-0 that's getting a TCS Wow Sound card soon.

Never used the wow sound decoders, although have looked at them. I bought the lokprogrammer for my PC, then started using V4 and later V5 loksound decoders. The programming is easy, the ability to switch things around, to your desires is unlimited. So I stuck with esu, I have no complaints. Steam, or diesel, they do an unbelieveable job. Biggest problem hiding the decoder, and speakers under the body. It's easy on steamers with tenders, or say a dash 9-44 but on a GP15 or smaller unit like a switcher it can be hard.

I have done a few loksound decoders under the boiler body on locomotives, with a second function only nce decoder for rear tender lighting , and put the speakers in the tender, with electrical pick ups on both, did my mth 4-6-6-4 that the decoder quit on, sounds alot better, just like the original. Did that on the bachmann GS4 to allow me to have the gyro light and headlight, cab lighting like the original.

Have a couple 2-8-0's but no 2-6-0's.....yet. 😁
My steamers..
UP #3975 4-6-6-4 MTH proto 3
UP #4014 4-8-8-4 BLI paragon 4
UP # 844 4-8-4 BLI paragon 4
NW #604 4-8-4 MTH proto 3
NW #607 4-8-4 MTH proto 3
NW #609 4-8-4 BLI Paragon 3
NW #1218 2-6-6-4 paragon 3
NW # 718 2-8-0 Bachmann
ATSF # 2526 2-8-0 Bachmann
SP #4436 4-8-4 GS-4 Bachmann

Always looking to add a few more. Waiting on BLI to re release the NW #611 4-8-4, and #2156 2-8-8-2 in paragon 4. They just released the paragon 4 SP #4449

Love the GS4, dont condone those idiots crossing the tracks though.

My favorite is the NW J Class, a beautiful machine.

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Electric Miner

· #1,330 · 13 d ago

This is my 2-6-0, with custom paint,

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #1,331 · 12 d ago

That is purdy. 😉

Oldrifle

· #1,332 · 12 d ago

Tacky, that's awesome.
I'm delighted you told the people here as well.

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #1,333 · 12 d ago

I never thought the railroading hobby was that fun, until I got into it again as an adult. Now it's a great stress reliever, and I thoroughly enjoy it. I'm also glad I'm fortunate to share it with all of you.

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #1,334 · 12 d ago

3

Train Rolling stock Track Vehicle Railway

Train Rolling stock Window Plant Track

Plant Building Wood Train Track

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #1,335 · 11 d ago

2

I got another addition, caught this earlier today, rare find, a bnsf engine with the norfolk southern, on NS line, hauling locomotives bound for the port for export. That's why they are wrapped up. Some country spent millions of dollars. $$$$$

Sky Plant Ecoregion Natural environment Asphalt

Sky Plant Ecoregion Natural landscape Asphalt

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #1,336 · 10 d ago

Today the NS GP50, NW GP35, AND NS GP50 hauling coal. Then 2 NW SD40'S waiting at the siding.

Train Plant Vehicle Rolling stock Motor vehicle

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Woodtroll

· #1,337 · 10 d ago

Tacky said:
I got another addition, caught this earlier today, rare find, a bnsf engine with the norfolk southern, on NS line, hauling locomotives bound for the port for export. That's why they are wrapped up. Some country spent millions of dollars. $$$$$

View attachment 197937

View attachment 197938

Here in SW VA, the orange and black BNSFs are becoming a common sight, mixed in with the usual black NS locomotives. I have no idea why, but it's a fairly recent development.

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #1,338 · 10 d ago

Woodtroll said:
Here in SW VA, the orange and black BNSFs are becoming a common sight, mixed in with the usual black NS locomotives. I have no idea why, but it's a fairly recent development.

Here too. I read sometimes it's easier if let's say the load starts in an area served by another railroad, but then crosses to a different system the other company just adds locomotives to it and continues on. They keep track of usage, and its charged by the first railroad. It's called loaned or borrowed power. So you will see several different roads at times.
I havent seen BNSF until recently. Have seen union pacific mixed in down here as well, but rarely other names. Personally I have never seen CSX and NS on the same train, but seen plenty of them seperately both here since we have NS, and CSX as the biggest railroads where I'm at.

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rman

· #1,339 · 10 d ago

I never see any locomotives around here except UP and BNSF. UP has been around forever and BNSF used to be Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe until they merged with Burlington Northern. Rock Island also used to run through Topeka, but no longer. I don't know if they even exist anymore.

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Tacky

Discussion Starter · #1,340 · 10 d ago

rman said:
I never see any locomotives around here except UP and BNSF. UP has been around forever and BNSF used to be Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe until they merged with Burlington Northern. Rock Island also used to run through Topeka, but no longer. I don't know if they even exist anymore.

Nope they are gone. Most railroads in the US are Norfolk Southern, CSX. BNSF, and Union Pacific, which is the largest. Most of the older ones were merged Into one or more of those main four. For instance Conrail, was split between NS and CSX. UP got western, Missouri, and southern pacific through mergers. Their are short line railroads through out the US that handle local traffic, short line, for instance Carolina, Aberdeen, and Western, and many like them performing similar services.

Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway Company: "The Carolina Route" - ACW Railway Company

The Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway is the largest privately held shortline or regional freight railroad in North Carolina that connects with both CSX and Norfolk Southern national rail networks. Our lines run from Charlotte towards Raleigh, and extends south towards Pinehurst...

www.acwr.com

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