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Post by Country Joe on Oct 10, 2024 3:33:57 GMT
Ah OK ! Thanks @country Joe... I have some issues with US abreviations, my apologies !  Does it mean that it is for a standard High-End model ? Or a custom High-End model ? Asking this, I have the comparison with the guitar custom shop of Fender, Gretsch and the like in mind : they built instrument to custom orders, and they also issue small series of instruments... OACE It is for standard high end models.
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Post by chipset35 on Oct 10, 2024 8:58:33 GMT
Last part now is the last power lock-ons for power to the Grand Central train yard.
Also went back and connected the 2nd loop to the main loop, even though its not a loop anymore but another train yard.
I had forgot to connect them.
Next up is getting all the buildings in place.
Me aching back!
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oace
Full Member
Posts: 241
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Post by oace on Oct 11, 2024 11:09:39 GMT
Last part now is the last power lock-ons for power to the Grand Central train yard. Also went back and connected the 2nd loop to the main loop, even though its not a loop anymore but another train yard. I had forgot to connect them. Next up is getting all the buildings in place. Me aching back! Post pictures : I am interested to see how you managed all right !  OACE
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Post by chipset35 on Oct 13, 2024 16:45:30 GMT
Last part now is the last power lock-ons for power to the Grand Central train yard. Also went back and connected the 2nd loop to the main loop, even though its not a loop anymore but another train yard. I had forgot to connect them. Next up is getting all the buildings in place. Me aching back! Post pictures : I am interested to see how you managed all right ! OACE Sure will, in fact I am using an old CTT article to set my DSR camera up to do so today. Remember, its still under constuction. So no scenery yet except for Grand Cenral without the surrounding streets and buildings. Had a mishap today, when my Lionel TMCC Southern F3 in Conventional mode became a runaway train from a siding, when I forgot to turn off one of the 2 blocks. Was quite exciting even though it derailed against the track bumper sending the B Unit into what will be a maintenance area. Sparks were flying off the pick up roller as it set a new land speed record!
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Post by chipset35 on Oct 14, 2024 18:44:46 GMT
Here you go! Please excuse the construction mess: 1st photo Grand Central Trains and Platforms, 2nd photo view over what will be elevated trains, in the distance is a commuter station, 3rd photo view towards Diesel yard.
In the first photo of grand central notice the elevated line under construction to the right of it, going towards the camera you can see black elevated supports that will curve right just after the green building on right closest to camera and extend along the foam blocks in the next photo where the Chrysler Building is temporarily standing. The passenger cars in Grand Central are from left to right: MTH Southern, Williams PRR Congerssional, Lionel Union Pacific, 1967 vintage Lionel Sante Fe passenger cars from ready to run set my parents bought me 57 years ago, RMT B&), RMT Texas Special. You can see the diesel yard in the distance which contains a Green Lionel PWC TMCC F3 Southern, Red Lionel PWC TMCC F3 Texas Special, Blue and White Williams B&O F3, Brown PRR Williams E7.
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Post by Mopacman on Oct 15, 2024 1:35:24 GMT
Glad to see there are other model railroaders that enjoy running conventional systems. I too enjoy running older Williams engines. Their reliability makes running trains really enjoyable. Another advantage in running older Williams trains is spending less money for engines. I would never consider repainting my pricier MTH engines, but I have enjoyed repainting older Williams engines into road names not frequently seen, or, making up paint schemes into road names that never existed. My airbrushing skills aren’t great, but teaching myself to airbrush was something I taught myself how to do when I struggled to find someone to do custom painting.
So, here is my challenge to anyone going back to conventional train operations. If you need something to do on these evenings when it gets dark so early, consider investing in a good quality airbrush, and take a chance on learning how to use it. Every engine (or rolling stock) that you paint will be better than the last one you painted,
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Post by chipset35 on Oct 15, 2024 10:09:56 GMT
Glad to see there are other model railroaders that enjoy running conventional systems. I too enjoy running older Williams engines. Their reliability makes running trains really enjoyable. Another advantage in running older Williams trains is spending less money for engines. I would never consider repainting my pricier MTH engines, but I have enjoyed repainting older Williams engines into road names not frequently seen, or, making up paint schemes into road names that never existed. My airbrushing skills aren’t great, but teaching myself to airbrush was something I taught myself how to do when I struggled to find someone to do custom painting. So, here is my challenge to anyone going back to conventional train operations. If you need something to do on these evenings when it gets dark so early, consider investing in a good quality airbrush, and take a chance on learning how to use it. Every engine (or rolling stock) that you paint will be better than the last one you painted, No pun intended, but I consider the Williams Golden Memories train sets pure gold. I wish I had bought them! Only one I had was an unopened mint Texas Special set from Williams that I sold when I was out of work.
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Post by chipset35 on Nov 3, 2024 12:22:04 GMT
Here are the latest construction photos. You can see the New York Skyline and surrounding building are taking shape as well as the new EL Line.
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Post by ron045 on Nov 3, 2024 13:16:33 GMT
If I ran conventional, I would miss 3/4 of my operations. I have so many switches and sidings, I would be running around all over the place flipping switches and pulling handles.
DCS issues was one of my prime reasons for departing MTH DCS and track power for Dead Rail. With Dead Rail there are no more electronic issues, no more track issues. Just turn it on and run trains.
I use Blunami and RailPro. Blunami is my favorite. I will most likely change over everything to Blunami and sell off the RailPro.
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Post by chipset35 on Nov 3, 2024 18:06:18 GMT
If I ran conventional, I would miss 3/4 of my operations. I have so many switches and sidings, I would be running around all over the place flipping switches and pulling handles. DCS issues was one of my prime reasons for departing MTH DCS and track power for Dead Rail. With Dead Rail there are no more electronic issues, no more track issues. Just turn it on and run trains. I use Blunami and RailPro. Blunami is my favorite. I will most likely change over everything to Blunami and sell off the RailPro. I just looked up "Deadrail" and like the fact its Radio Control? Not sure how I would approach it or if I have the technical ability to do so,
Way back when I first got into DCS, I used the AIU to allow me to activate my turnouts and avoid having to manually run around throwing switches. Sadly, my AIU stopped working several years and my layout never got to the point where it would be prudent to try to fix or replace. By the time I made the decision to go back to Conventional, both my TIUs were acting up with delays between giving a command and the train reacting to it. It was all trivial until I got to the point a few months back where I could not run DCS due to signal loss and other quirks. I blame my old MTH RealTrax; but not because I think its inferior, but because it has gone thru so many layout constructions to the 75% point only to be turn down and restarted to one degree or another since 2003. The fact that I only threw out about 10% of my RealTrax as being un-fixable since 2003 I think is a testimony to its durabilty. Would have tried Gargraves and Ross, but my investment was so large in MTH from the start I could not fathom changing to something else. The dual elevated line in my photos has one line as Lionel TMCC/Legacy and the other MTH DCS. I still need to test the lines and hopefully will have no issues. Also, if this layout keeps working good, I might try to incorporate MTH DCS and Lionel Legacy/TMCC back into it, but I still need to get it fully tested and fool proof before I do so. In may be that my MTH DCS equipment is just too old AIU, TIU, handheld and just needs to be replaced with newer versions.
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Post by curtis on Nov 4, 2024 14:37:59 GMT
Been using DCS AND Legacy together since 2014. My problems - once in a great while a track connector will become loose on my Atlas 21st century track. NOTE: very hard to find as without an engine on that spot it would show voltage. Simple fix is solder or squeeze with bull nose pliers. My personal take on the two systems (I run both mostly through the MTH Remote), I prefer the MTH DCS System over the Legacy for several reasons with one being I just like the app's I need to look at the remote too much with Legacy.
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Post by atsda on Nov 6, 2024 15:01:42 GMT
Vince, good to hear about your progress and plans. Alfred
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Post by rtraincollector on Nov 6, 2024 15:17:43 GMT
Well I have been basically in Conventional mode for about 3 years now. As only complete loops I have are in Standard Gauge. I do have a test track of O gauge about 6' as I'm trying to sell some of my O, yes it has legacy L hooked to it, but even so I still can run everything in conventional if I wish. When I test an engine that has TMCC in it I also test it in conventional, just to be sure.
I kinda like conventional better, I guess because that is what we had when I was a child.
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Post by chipset35 on Nov 10, 2024 17:37:39 GMT
Here is an update, after a month of building the dual short EL lines, Structure and running Lionel Legacy Red Birds on it wonderfully, then trying to get my MTH DCS LIRR MU's working in auto-mode, I gave up.
The MTH DCS MU feature that allows out and back auto operation with pre-programmed station stops and announcements worked, but kept experiencing "creep", where the train kept stopping a second too late, with an addition second added every time until it was spinning its traction tires against the bumper. I even extended the line to accommodate any creep, but then the engine no longer moved and just made a loud buzz.
As a result, I removed the entire DCS system and its MTH MU's.
The Lionel Legacy Red Birds will stay as they work fine.
So right now my layout is 98% conventional and 2% Lionel Legacy.
Since Lionel Legacy and TMCC always worked well for me, I am thinking of extending that elevated line so I can add my beautiful scale Lionel TMCC Hudson and its beautiful passenger cars.
Only issue is, with the exception of a 3 foot long beautiful atlas bridge, I have no way to elevate further as all elevated supports are in use and I do not plan on buying any.
Thus, I might try allow my conventional outer loop to run Legacy as well, and changing the curves from O-42, to O-54 or O-72 to accommodate that train.
I believe the MTH DCS issues are a combination of almost 20 year old MTH DCS TIU and RealTrax. The elevated structure was using the last of my good RealTrax with some repaired RealTrax as well since I have no RealTrax left except for a bunch of O-31, O-36, O-54 and O-72, all the remaining are on their last leg.
I could just replace the Elevated Lines MTH RealTrax with Lionel Fast Track, but I have had strength issues and carpal/corpral tunnel issues with my arm and wrist trying to connect/disconnect them in the past. No plans to buy anymore RealTrax either.
Stay tuned.
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Post by Adam on Nov 10, 2024 19:37:45 GMT
I’m in the process of going back to conventional as well. I really am excited about it!
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