I'm diggin the HO scale BLI Rolling Thunder Locos I have. Just no time to build a layout! 
Maybe when I retire.
I do have the subwoofer kit for Rolling Thunder and it's great! 
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Quoted from PNBLWZD:Yes huge train fan here, thanks to my dad. Have a 4x8 HO train board we built when I was a kid, with dual transformers, powered remote switch tracks and powered roundhouse turntable.
Saw the UP big boy for years at the Pomona fairgrounds on display, and of course recently when it rolled through LA.
Over the years have ridden White Pass RR in Alaska, Durango and Silverton in Colorado, Southern Pacific Daylight in the 1980’s, and the Philmore, CA “Christmas Train”
My dad also has quite a collection of real full side RR vintage equipment, signage, steam locomotive brass builders plates, and dozens of steam whistles and horns plumbed to a 100 gallon air tank for listening!
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Was your dad featured on a TV show? I remember seeing a show or a segment of a house just like that. It was filled with all sorts of signals in the back yard. Los Angeles area but I don't remember where exactly.
Houston, TX
When I was a kid in the 80s this park called Dennis the Menace park in Monterey CA. had a train you could climb all over inside and out, it had levers and tons of knobs u could turn. It was dangerous, most of the playground was but awesome. A little example of what I mean.
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45446DE0-9454-4A01-89B7-BEB9E9283556 (resized).jpegMy buddy and I have been into model railroading since we were kids we have an N layout at his place thats been a non stop work in progress for many years. We started out in HO which we determined stands for "Horribly Oversized" and eventually switched to N (Normal) scale when we realized the lack of basement space we had available.
Quoted from 20eyes:We started out in HO which we determined stands for "Horribly Oversized" and eventually switched to N (Normal) scale when we realized the lack of basement space we had available.
I know!
I caught up in all the advantages of HO scale. Better detail, sound, running and availability. N scale is great though! We need to really model in both scales. HO scale for model display and N scale for layout.
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Quoted from Pinless:We are going to need to hear more of this story.
im an engineer, that's what I do!
I grew up in Plymouth Massachusetts so I was literally next to Edaville Railroad in Carver. It was pure steam engine bliss.
Quoted from SteamVette:I have been into Trains my entire life. I currently play with my live steam trains. The little American is a coal burning engine.[quoted image][quoted image]
That’s beautiful!!
Eventually, I’d love for my husband to have a loop around the back woods for a train like that, but if he ever officially gets into it, he’ll probably just join the local group (Pioneer Valley Steamers) since their track set up is more massive than he could ever do.
Quoted from SteamVette:I have been into Trains my entire life. I currently play with my live steam trains. The little American is a coal burning engine.[quoted image][quoted image]
Is this the same gauge as the one Walt Disney had in his backyard?
Quoted from Methos:Is this the same gauge as the one Walt Disney had in his backyard?
Are you thinking of Disney animator Ward Kimball ? If so, no Ward's was 3 foot gauge. ( Grizzly Flats RR ) A lot bigger.
LTG : )
Quoted from LTG:Are you thinking of Disney animator Ward Kimball ? If so, no Ward's was 3 foot gauge. ( Grizzly Flats RR ) A lot bigger.
LTG : )
Walt had it in his backyard, I think Kimball helped him with it.
I saw two of the original box cars at the Wilderness Lodge at WDW, they have it on display in one of the common areas.
Quoted from Methos:Walt had it in his backyard, I think Kimball helped him with it.
I did some digging. Walt had a 7 1/4 inch gauge one in his back yard. The Carolwood Pacific Railroad.
Ward had one too. Got in trouble with his neighbors in later years when smoke and soot got on their clothes hung out to dry.
LTG : )
You can see some film of Walt Disney on his backyard train in Episode 1 of "The Imagineering Story" on Disney Plus. Evidently he was turned down making a larger layout and park across the street which then led to him pursuing Disney World. We just started the show, but very cool back story.
Train nerd here, have had N scale layouts for 40 years, currently building one in the basement with my kids, the layout is more or less set still discussing landscaping and buildings. Using my 3D printer a lot here, funny how the kits have not evolved too much over the years. Now we can make exactly what we want. The track is all Kato unitrack, which is great and works extremely reliably. I have about 10 active switches now, and 3 separate power loops. I picked up a few larger lots over the years which brought the cost down dramatically. I then have a small N scale oval (~13"x18") using the Kato CV1 set which I bring into work for Christmas. It is amazing how many people come by to check it out and talk. There is something relaxing about having a train run constantly in the back ground.
At home we also run both HO and O around the Christmas Tree each year. The bigger scales are easier with the kids and less prone to issues. The last few years we take some cheap cars and I let them decorate to add to the set. Last year we added a santa and sleigh on a flat car, and a gondola car with trees. The year before we made festive caboose covered in wreaths. Whatever they want we figure out how to do.
I want to get more into rail fanning. I walk a loop at lunch and occasionally catch a Norfolk Southern train running through. That makes my day. I have a decent camera, I just need to find time and scout out some active spots with public rights of way. I used to walk a Conrail line with my grandfather when I was a kid. I liked picking up old spikes and then spending the afternoon train to clean them up.
Been a train enthusiast my whole life. Here is what I got to drive for my birthday thanks to my wife.
It was really cool to get to drive and I was surprised how easy it was. After we went to Bob's Train for dinner.
He has 3 dining cars including Jomar which was John and Mable Ringling's private dining car. One is completely restored and he runs a restaurant in it. He is a true character and loves what he does and has some great stories. When he isn't cooking he works on the other two cars.
I have a ton of HO stuff from the 70s in storage but have no place to set them up. I did get into N last year so I could have at least something going.
My Pinside handle it's actually a reference to model railroading. My buddies called me a loop runner because I didn't have enough switches on my layout.
Still have my old HO stuff tucked away from when i was 10. Would love to do something with it, but just dont have the space.
Ive been trying to score a cheap non working lionel set to run around my boy's room, but everyone around here thinks their rusted, not working stuff is worth gold.
Quoted from dsuperbee:everyone around here thinks their rusted, not working stuff is worth gold.
Not unlike many folks and their barn find pins ?
Too much American Pickers making everyone think the whole world pays for patina!
Quoted from Atari_Daze:Not unlike many folks and their barn find pins ?
Too much American Pickers making everyone think the whole world pays for patina!
At one point model trains did bring a premium price. As the conventional train generation started to pass the demand went way down.
Great shots of the Galloping Geese! So cool they have those running...
Quoted from epjohn68:This is my favorite train ride.]
I've lived within 2 miles of train yards most of my life. As teens we used to hop on them and ride them.
One night after a mix of beer and other enjoyables, my buddies and I were running across the tops of freight cars, jumping from one to the next. When we went to get off, I stepped down and totally missed the rungs on the ladder. Fell backwards about 12 feet onto the gravel side road. Unfortunately I instinctively put my arms out behind me to break my fall. Broke both arms and my pelvis instead.
Good times!
20191108_160605 (resized).jpgI love trains. Lucky to live in New England and have access to the NEC. Goal is to take the Amtrak from Boston to Chicago to tour the stern factory some day.
My O-scale assortment for Christmas. After a hiatus over the past couple years, my 12yo daughter made sure it was set up this year and has overseen its operation all season.
Tomorrow morning, it will be loaded with freshly-delivered candy 
VideoCapture_20191224-201811 (resized).jpgVideoCapture_20191224-201647 (resized).jpgTrain fest in Milwaukee always has some really cool set ups there Been going for a while but missed this year .
I'm into trains. I have a small 3ft X 6ft N scale layout that models the mid to late 90's
20190129_183318 (resized).jpg20190129_183630 (resized).jpg20190129_183646 (resized).jpg20190129_183803 (resized).jpg20190129_183820 (resized).jpg20190129_183859 (resized).jpg20190129_183921 (resized).jpg20190129_183951 (resized).jpg20190216_140759 (resized).jpg20190223_204112 (resized).jpg20190223_204529 (resized).jpg20190311_214549 (resized).jpg20190311_214600 (resized).jpg20190311_214617 (resized).jpg20190311_214631 (resized).jpgQuoted from Methos:Is this the same gauge as the one Walt Disney had in his backyard?
Yes, This is the same size as Walt Disneys back yard RR. My gauge is just a 1/4" bigger at 7.5 gauge.
Quoted from sohchx:I'm into trains. I have a small 3ft X 6ft N scale layout that models the mid to late 90's[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
Your scenery looks fantastic! I have an O-Scale layout but I have not done a lot with the scenery. I wanted a large layout but needed to set it up so it could be torn down quickly.
I went a little bit crazy at first and recently removed a larger section of the layout. LOL. It took up too much room. I moved my amusement park from that section to the main section of a layout. My former amusement park had walkways and trees. My winter project is to add them to the new park.
Here is a link to my amuseme park:
IMG_20191226_104448 (resized).jpgQuoted from Looprunner:Your scenery looks fantastic! I have an O-Scale layout but I have not done a lot with the scenery. I wanted a large layout but needed to set it up so it could be torn down quickly.
I went a little bit crazy at first and recently removed a larger section of the layout. LOL. It took up too much room. I moved my amusement park from that section to the main section of a layout. My former amusement park had walkways and trees. My winter project is to add them to the new park.
Here is a link to my amuseme park:
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Woooooooooooow!!! Amazing layout!! I love how alive everything is. I wish that I had more room to do something like that. I was going to go HO at first, but it was either that and risk losing room for more pins, or go N scale and have room for more pins. Of course I made the obvious choice Lol
Here are some of my cars that I have weathered going off of photos that I have taken locally. I try to make them as prototypical as possible. I have been a scale modeler for close to 34 years, but this is the first try at doing train cars. Scale cars, trucks, and bikes are more my thing.
20190323_222536 (resized).jpg20190323_222613 (resized).jpg20190323_222654 (resized).jpg20190323_223024 (resized).jpg20190430_200606 (resized).jpg20190430_200828 (resized).jpg20190507_220959 (resized).jpg20190507_221151 (resized).jpg20190518_201648 (resized).jpg20190606_224654 (resized).jpg20190606_224806 (resized).jpg20190724_204245 (resized).jpg20190724_204313 (resized).jpg20190803_142652 (resized).jpg20190803_143025 (resized).jpgI once had a small bedroom HO layout and also belonged to a local club. My home layout had all hand laid track and switches. I actually sold my trains off to fund pinball, haha.
Pic4 (resized).jpg2016-05-08_06-51-54 (resized).jpg20150101_141246 (resized).jpg2016-05-08_06-52-11 (resized).jpgPic1 (resized).jpgPic2 (resized).jpgPic3 (resized).jpg20141213_145519 (resized).jpg20150826_171346 (resized).jpg20150101_135355 (resized).jpg20150125_144113 (resized).jpgQuoted from sohchx:but this is the first try at doing train cars.
Could NOT tell, those things look fantastic. I'd swear if I did not know, those WERE the pictures of actual cars!!
You are quite the artist. 
Quoted from JodyG:. My home layout had all hand laid track and switches.
That is some badass shit. I so want to try that.
Quoted from Atari_Daze:Could NOT tell, those things look fantastic. I'd swear if I did not know, those WERE the pictures of actual cars!!
You are quite the artist.
Many thanks!!
Quoted from sohchx:Woooooooooooow!!! Amazing layout!! I love how alive everything is. I wish that I had more room to do something like that. I was going to go HO at first, but it was either that and risk losing room for more pins, or go N scale and have room for more pins. Of course I made the obvious choice Lol
At one point I ended up taking down some of my layout for my pinball machines! The cars look fantastic.
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