Model Train Journal

Finally got the tinplate telegraph poles/wires strung:



The poles are repro MTH, acquired some two decades ago (two sets). They go for stupid money now, if you can find them. I've seen original Lionel for cheaper (albeit in a bit rougher shape). Used the Stretch Magic cord as wires in the long-shot hope that it survives (I'll likely be the first to snap the cord).

I used a homemade utility box as the terminal at one end (top), a simple loop device glued to the inside of the top of the tunnel portal at the opposite (bottom).



Simples, but a major achievement for me

I was pondering running actual electric wires over them to power some of the lights and accessories, but that just begged catastrophe.

Cool Healey, especially the utility box idea.

Here's another pic of that box taken some years ago (a good indicator of how long this whole thing was contemplated):



Just a couple bits of wood, some cardboard from a cereal box, and a couple of wire brads. The insulators were a pair of repros I bought from George Tebolt (a guy I really miss).

From some previous pictures you have posted you have an open center section to your layout where the transformers are at across from the hellgate bridge. How do you get to that open section. Maybe you have some more pictures you have taken that you can post.

12 days till York week. Are you ready to go.....

The 305 is a duck-under to get to the center. Sarge promised this would be a problem with aging, and he's right. I listen to my knees crackle every time I go under there. He eliminated his in his reconstruction; I have not. Once I clean up a bit more, I'll take a few better pics. Right now the center is half-filled with photo albums of WWII armor.

As for York, don't you owe me a list? Otherwise, I'm ready.

healey36 wrote:As for York, don't you owe me a list? Otherwise, I'm ready.

My list would be like a Santa wish list from an 8 year old kid looking through a 1940 Lionel of Flyer catalog.
With the same results from Santa..... Sorry kid you will shoot your eye out ....

I remember the late forty's drooling through the late 40s catalog's and making out my Christmas list.
Never received any train items for Christmas. I already had all the trains I was going to get as my dad bought several prewar tinplate trans from someone he worked with and set up a board in the basement. I still have all of them.

It was my wife wanting me to set some up around the Christmas tree that got me into collecting them when I joined TCA in 1977 on the west coast. She said she always wanted some toy trains when she was a little girl but her dad would not get her any, he said they were boy's toys.....

My quest for more stuff has diminished as the storage space has filled. I have jettisoned a few pieces, but a serious cull needs to be executed. My attachment to some of the collection is in decline

Finished off the glittered station, pending some minor touch-ups:



I think I'll try a couple of non-flickering LED tea lights for interior lighting. Hopefully they'll be bright enough. Otherwise, something more traditional.

Here's a pic taken prior to the snow-job and window install:



Maybe I should build another one.

Very interesting, Healey.
I need a closer look.


Yeah! I like it.

Healey,
That came out very nice!

healey36 wrote:My quest for more stuff has diminished as the storage space has filled. I have jettisoned a few pieces, but a serious cull needs to be executed. My attachment to some of the collection is in decline

Finished off the glittered station, pending some minor touch-ups:



I think I'll try a couple of non-flickering LED tea lights for interior lighting. Hopefully they'll be bright enough. Otherwise, something more traditional.

Here's a pic taken prior to the snow-job and window install:



Maybe I should build another one.

Do you know anyone that has a table at York. Maybe you could sell some there. These glitter item would look great for an under the Christmas tree layout. You might even develop a small business building and selling them.

Murph used to sell his builds at York. Something to think about...

I'm too old and too many irons in the fire to take this up commercially, but I appreciate the thought and favorable comments. They are fun to build.

There was an older gentleman that used to sell things like this at our local November train meet. His were nearly architectural models, very realistic in their intricate design and proportions. I haven't seen him the last few years, so maybe he's moved on. I wish I would have bought a couple so I could have learned a few of his techniques.

One thing about glitter - it gets freakin' everywhere. I worked on this at the dining room table; the wife is not pleased

healey36 wrote:One thing about glitter - it gets freakin' everywhere. I worked on this at the dining room table; the wife is not pleased

I can't believe she even let you use the dining room table.

I know. It's especially great when I say, "Wait, you've got glitter on your face."

Alright, here's a new tinplate project. This one's been cooking since that castle build back in the dark times. I don't know if it'll work, but here's the first bit of the basic structure:



Running out of scraps in the shop; might have to cut up the ping-pong table soon.

Are you doing this on the dinning room table.

It looks like some kind of a tunnel. But I can;t figure out what it might be.....