New Guy Saying Hello - The Whistle Post

abutt1 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 10:58 AM

Hi all,,,Just wanted to introduce myself. 76 years old. Been in model railroading for 50 years. Presently starting my fourth layout...a HO gauge logging railroad, as yet un-named, located in Maine in the 60s. Will be running a three truck shay and a S3 diesel. Live in an over 55 community. Neighbor just delivered benchwork per my drawings, and now I'm ready to go. Will be code 83 Walthers track and turnouts mounted on 1/4" ply and Homasote on open framework. Will be running conventional DC since there's only me running. 2-cab control. Looks like I've found the right forum to ask and answer the many questions that flow around our hobby

TallDude · #2 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 12:16 PM

aboard!!! The layout sounds great!! I've always loved the Climax and the Heislers. Please post some pics if you can, I'd love to see them!

Boss Boomer · #3 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 01:07 PM

Howdy, New guy!

Welcome to the crowd. Gotta love them great ol' Shays! Got my one and only Shay a year or so back--Bachman Spectrum. Looks grand running slow around the test track! Bachman did it right and geared the thing to run slowly and NOT run like a Banshee at super speeds! Yee gawds!

Thought about doing a logging road, but I need more for my interests--gotta have passenger and freight service and some switching action when I git tired of watching them go 'round and 'round! Got enough stuff to fill a basement empire when, in truth, all's I have is a smallish 9 X 12 spare room!

Don't it always seem to go--yer ideas are bigger than yer space!

Anyways...have fun, jump in, ask questions, give answers, just don't sit there-- post sumthin'! Pictures, anything!

abutt1 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 01:47 PM

My shay is a Spectrum also. Funny how things change. Years ago all anyone wanted was brass. They sure were beautiful, but as most of us who owned brass found out they were terrible runners without a lot of work. (except for my 2-6-6-2 Sierra). Today's engines, mostly cast plastic, are not only great to look at, but run beautifully. I'll photo the progress. I'm going to try those new push-pull, under the layout turnout controls this time. I've been able to avoid electrifying turnouts in the last two layouts. That was always where my operation went wrong.

CPRailer · #5 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 08:42 PM

Hi! I'm new here too. 43 myself. Been at trains since I was about 5. I love logging layouts. I'd love to do an On3O one some day. If you want some logging inspiration, check out Charlie Comstocks Bear Creek & Jackson layouts. He did a beatiful 4x8 logging layout a while ago.
My Layouts

CPRailer · #6 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 08:44 PM

I don't know why that link came out saying "My Layouts" ? That's NOT my work. Those are Charlie Comstocks. I wish I could do work like that!

TallDude · #7 (**permalink**) 01-22-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CPRailer

I don't know why that link came out saying "My Layouts" ? That's NOT my work. Those are Charlie Comstocks. I wish I could do work like that!

It automatically makes the link the same as the title of the page its referring to (in this case, My Layouts). You are right, that is some awesome work!