Update As Of Today Thursday May 23

In the several days some progress has been made.  I had some of the electronics repaired by Don Wood.  Also found some problems on the layout and corrected them.  Finally was able to move the CTC from the bottom of the stairs over to the right or North end of the basement.  Today ran the data cable to it and it works properly.  When the repaired parts and some new detectors and a SMINI board arrive in a couple of days I will continue testing block and OS detection to be sure everything is working as it should.

Then we have to work on the swing gate for the South end of the basement.  After that is completed we will have the railroad running up to the trestle.  Hopefully the trestle can be completed and installed and then the whole layout will be operational as soon as all track is cleaned again.

Then I plan to start at Gary, IN and start building scenery moving West towards Chicago.  I plan to finish scenery and structures one section at a time and move Westward.  As soon as each section's scenery and structures are in place we can ballast the track and hang the overhead.

Warren will continue with the WM end of the layout moving to the right with plaster and hard shell first and then groundcover and painting.  Once the basic hard shell is in place we will start ballasting and adding structures and details.

In the meantime I will finish wiring the CTC and get it ready to control the 100+ three color signals we have to build.  I have the heads and the LEDs so now the mask, ladder, and wiring has to be done, then build more signal control circuit boards and start wiring.

Sure could use more help, so if anyone is interested just let me know.  This is a big railroad and there are hundreds of projects and things that need to be done.  So there is plenty of opportunity if anyone is interested.  Down the road we will be able to finally hold operating sessions for both the Western Maryland Railway and the Chicago, South Shore, and South Bend Railroad.

East Penn Traction Meet - Philadelphia 2013

Here are some photos I took at the East Penn Traction Meet.  Some HO layouts but mostly O Scale. Some of the photos have captions.

THE FIRST FEW PHOTOS ARE HO SCALE

THIS IS THE FIRST O SCALE PHOTO

NOTICE THE GREEN SIGNAL JUST BEYOND THE SILVER CAR

THE TROLLEY HAS JUST PASSED AND THE SIGNAL IS RED

NOW THE TROLLEY HAS CLEARED THE BLOCK THE SIGNAL IS BACK TO GREEN

AN EXAMPLE OF CATENARY

A NICE SCENE WITH THE ELEVATED AT THE BACK

SAME SCENE WITH CLOSE UP OF ELEVATED

THE OTHER END OF THE ELEVATED

THE END FOR 2013 EAST PENN MEET

Updated Track Plan

This drawing represents the current changes being made to the layout.  On the left side which is the South end of the basement, a swing gate is being installed to allow access to certain utilities.  For more information check Bob's article in the February Issue of the eMagazine, the Model Railroad Hobbyist.  This drawing was modified on April 18th.  The Swing Gate has been reversed to allow more access to the utility area.

WM Modules at the SMD Mini Convention April 13, 2013

Below are some photos of the Western Maryland Modular Group which was setup at the South Mountain Division's Mini Convention.  No captions but major scene mostly on the Eastern portion of the layout.

Little Joe Kit Parts

Below are over lapping photos of the parts that make up the Little Joe kit.  I think I am missing a couple of little items.  This is called a kit, but it looks more like scratch building to me.

Little Joe

My Little Joe kit arrived yesterday.  So I am checking it out and getting ready start building again.   Lots of little and big parts and almost no instructions so it will be interesting for sure.  Did find there photos on the internet today that show this great little engine at work.  Enjoy.

City street running in Michigan City, IN.  Just single track in the streets.

 

 Leaving the street running to private ROW.

The Joes also carried long trains and some unit coal trains.

Updated Track Plan