I told Robbie all about you at York cuz and he wants/needs to sell you more stuff!
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Thanks Dan!
lmao…Yep, that sounds like Robbie. He likes to see if he can empty my wallet when I’m up there. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-money-mouth.gif)Which reminds me, I need to get a hold of him. I need to place an order before my new chessie hoppers show up. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
Matt, I just killed a couple of hours reading the whole build log and wow I am worn out! love your videos, here and on fb. I was real interested on the building since it is elevated above ground level, but it really is not much higher than 2 blocks most of the way around. do you think it makes a big difference on how you view the layout and the trains? right now with my kind of narrow back yard and the natural ledge it has I was looking at building about half at ground level and then a raised section across the back, so I can have trains run on an upper and a lower track as it works it way around the layout. Thanks for all the pictures it has helped me a lot on the planning of my RR. I cannot believe you are going to move in a few years,and still built this, but like you said it is a learning experience. Keep up the good work!
The layout looks great. I wouldn’t worry about the tree growth. I have over 60 of the spruce trees on my layout, I trim them every year to thin them out. This keep them from overcrowding.
Shawn Viggiano said:
The layout looks great. I wouldn’t worry about the tree growth. I have over 60 of the spruce trees on my layout, I trim them every year to thin them out. This keep them from overcrowding.
You’ll worry about it when you get a wee bit older. Ask me how I know this. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-yell.gif)(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)
Pete Lassen said:
Matt, I just killed a couple of hours reading the whole build log and wow I am worn out! love your videos, here and on fb. I was real interested on the building since it is elevated above ground level, but it really is not much higher than 2 blocks most of the way around. do you think it makes a big difference on how you view the layout and the trains? right now with my kind of narrow back yard and the natural ledge it has I was looking at building about half at ground level and then a raised section across the back, so I can have trains run on an upper and a lower track as it works it way around the layout. Thanks for all the pictures it has helped me a lot on the planning of my RR. I cannot believe you are going to move in a few years,and still built this, but like you said it is a learning experience. Keep up the good work!
Lol. Yeah, the thread has gotten long. Thanks for the compliments Pete!
Originally I wanted to just have the trains on the ground. It was going to be a simple, small loop. I was needing a boarder so I purchased some blocks. After laying them down for a boarder, I didn’t like how it looked. My OCD said I needed to level them. Next thing I know i’ve bought more blocks than I can count. lol. Then I needed to figure out how to get everything up to block level. After calling Mike Dorsch he told me about his method. So, that’s how it sorta all happened. I’ve changed a few things recently to better view the trains and made it easier to get to the switches. Up by the house it’s one block, because that is where you step into the layout. The fence side is higher because of the grade. The yard drops off quite a bit there. It’s been a lot of trial and error, but this is my first ever attempt at G Scale.
In the beginning we thought we would be here about 10 years or so. But, things change. I’ve come to far to give up on it and plus I need the experience. I hopefully will have it finished this year and then have the next two years to enjoy it.
My next layout will probably be similar, just bigger. It will depend on the house and yard. I like it up off the ground a little, just for drainage. Last year we had one of those 20 year rains. My yard flooded. The layout did not. 
I hopefully will have it finished this year
Ha ha ha ha, very funny!
You do know that they are never “finished”.
David Maynard said:
I hopefully will have it finished this year
Ha ha ha ha, very funny!
You do know that they are never “finished”.
lol… True, very true. It will be finished good enough to enjoy. Also, good enough for the people that stop by to see it. When I started this I had no idea people would want to come by and see it. lol.
Matt, oh yes they will. Just be careful who you invite. I spent a number of years playing unpaid babysitter to the neighbor kid.
David Maynard said:
Matt, oh yes they will. Just be careful who you invite. I spent a number of years playing unpaid babysitter to the neighbor kid.
No way, no how, I’m not babysitting. lol. So, far everybody that’s stopped me has been an adult. I’m still floored people know about it, but I do live in an extremely rural town. We don’t even have a stop light.
The local Fed Ex driver asked if he could stop by the house if he was in town and I wasn’t home. The day my bridge showed up, we both opened the box. lol. He was just as excited.
So far, no kids besides the family kids. My neighbor behind me has kids, but I don’t like them…and they know it. Not the kids, the adults and their whole situation. It takes one house to bring a whole neighborhood down…and that is it. ugh.
Matt?? Is it done yet??? (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-sealed.gif)
Andy Clarke said:
Matt?? Is it done yet??? (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-sealed.gif)
You beat Rooster to it. lol. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)
I didn’t ask to be a babysitter, but the kid was fascinated by my having a railroad, and pond, in my yard. And he was an “expert” on what I should and shouldn’t do, at the ripe old age of what? 13? After a few years he discovered girls. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)They are more fascinating then my trains any day. And they are harder to acquire, and take more maintenance too.
Matt , I am visiting my daughter in Chicago this June, can I drop by un announced??? I will bring a 6pack or maybe a 12pack. Just kidding! Yeah I looked on the map, you’re way far too south to be able to drag anynon train lovers with me, so I guess I will have to look online only. Good luck and keep posting progress reports. As soon as my checkbook quits getting these un expected hits I will start on my RR
Lol, David, that is true. So, very true.
Pete, come on by if you are in the area, your are more than welcome too. If you do come this way, wait for Andy’s op’s. That’s a railroad to see!
Anybody is welcome to stop by. It is not much of a layout to look at right now, nor is it that big of a layout, but we can watch some trains and have some beverages. Or is it watch the beverages and hey there went a train!
Made some progress. The mainline is almost completely ballasted. I ran out last sunday and was so close to having enought. lol. Oh well. I was going to get some more, but I need to take my truck to the mechanic. So, maybe this coming weekend I’ll have some time.
Finally have ballast on the track around where my downtown is going to be.
…and here is where I ran out of ballast. lol.
This isn’t this houses final spot. I used it for a size reference. I ordered a church and some railroad cross bucks of RLD. As soon as my chessie hoppers arrive, I will go pick it all up. I’m going to build a country road grade crossing for the cars. The grass behind the house is going to be the cemetary. I have the tombstones and I’m just waiting for the moss to spread. I need to pick up some more detail pieces still to finish this off.
Looking good, Matt… Perfect the procedure a lil more, and you can come here and practice some more… (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)
Thanks Andy! Lol, you sure you have enough track down to require help for ballasting. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
Did a little work this past weekend. More or less clean up from the flood. I still need to clean up the parking lot where the church will be. I planted some trees on the hillside too. I picked up some more ballast. I think I have enough to finish.
Here’s where the church is still going to be. If my chessie cars ever show up I’ll go up to rld and get it. The grass is filling in nice and the tombstones will go in shortly.
I picked up a couple oil pumps. I’m going to put one just in front of the elevator for some foreground scenery. I hope to get around to putting it outside this saturday.
Put a couple trees on the hillside. I want to put a cabin up on the right side.
Looking south towards the bridge
Still need to prune these up.
This little bush ended up not looking like I thought it would. Not sure if I’ll leave it or not.
Looks good, Matt… Be careful where you put the mulch, as it has a tendency to travel when it rains… (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)