Tonight Wayne and I ran the power bus from the DCC main to the Lehigh Valley section.  When Ted Pamperin came over, we braved the cold of night and cut the plywood I need to complete the Lehigh Valley.  Ted, Wayne, Tom, Ralph and I used the table saw outside and we cut the decking plywood for the frame built last session as well as the Homasote for the top and the plywood for the pier section.  We also cut to strips of plywood the build the box frame for the pier.  Craig came down and brought the much needed CAT3 Cab Bus wire down and Ralph and I ran the Cab Bus from the staging panel to the Lehigh Valley.  Craig, Tom, Ted and Wayne constructed the legs for the Lehigh valley and fabricated the plywood skin. The Homasote top was also cut to size and glued down.  We did not get to fabricate the pier bench work tonight but with a little paint ties will be going down very soon. This is the last Wednesday night session until January 9th, 2008.

Tonight I wrapped up work on the bumpers for the car float. I installed them and added a few more spikes to the rails on the float. Next up I will be installing the hatches on the car float that I won from an eBay auction.

Tonight I got home and worked on clean up the bench work for the Lehigh Valley.  I had put the legs up a few nights ago and on the 1st I picked up a 2” x 4” and had cut it into the next set of legs.  I also printed out the latest copy of the Lehigh Valley track plan.  On Wednesday I hope to run power and the Cab bus to Lehigh Valley as well as finish the bench work.

Today I spent the day installing code 70 Micro Engineering rail to my styrene car float. The spikes would not take so I had to use CA to fasten the rail to the deck. Let's hope it holds up under operations.

Tonight Jay stopped by and we finished up the last of the ceiling that had to go up. He also brought by a scale car float that he had built to actual Erie blueprints. Only a few more small sections of sheet rock needed and the horrible task of mudding the joints starts.

Tonight we worked on the bench work for the Lehigh Valley section of the layout. It was a group effort but the "L" girder sub-frame is done. Ted and Tom with Wayne's help built the "L" Girders while I put up another light over St. Johns Park. We finished off the night making the legs for the new section. I also should the guys the new car float's and compared it to the Walthers kit. I need to re-build the trackage on the float bridge and the new car float to match the Walthers float.

Today I out up more sheet rock at the landing of the stairs. I broke a large amount of Drivers bits attaching the 2" x 3" studs and had one left at the end of the night. but I got the sheet rock up!

Today I worked on the Styrene Car float. I cut about 1,000 rail chairs to attached the rail to on the car float. a lot of cutting but the Chopper made it go by relatively fast.

October 24, 2007

Tonight was a long night. The night started off with the moving of six pieces of sheet rock from the garage and into the basement. Then we began the installation of the sheet rock onto the ceiling. We got most of the New York Centrals 30th Street yard area rocked last nigh as well as the a portion of the Lehigh Valley's ceiling done. We are about 80 percent done with the actual rocking and I hope to finish this off this weekend! Then guys put in a big effort tonight. There is a 1/16” clearance to get a four foot by eight foot sheet down the stairs and it is not a fun job. Thanks to everyone.

October 10, 2007

This was an unusual night.  I had a long week at work and I was not as prepared as I should have been.  We still managed to get a lot of work done.  The diamonds have been a sore spot on the layout for months.  The way they where constructed required the installation of a auto-reversing circuit.  After some research I decided to use the OnGuard! OG-AR from Tony's Train Exchange.  Craig and Ted got the unit installed tonight and it tested fine.  With the diamonds now electrically operational the layout now needs a major cleaning and shake down.  Tom was kind enough to work on sheet rock and got a lot done.  Wayne and I worked on finishing the last sophist.  It looks like the next couple of weeks are tied into sheet rock work! 

September 26, 2007

Tonight’s work was centered on putting up the sheet rock over the railroad.  I know I should have done this first but this was a proof of concept and my first hand laid layout.  In fact minus my club experience and working on Craig’s Housatonic Railroad, this is my first layout!  Advice: do the ceiling first!  Tom, Wayne, Ted and I started off hoisting into place the first two sections then the air conditioning had to be turned off and then it got HOT.  Craig came down and started work on installing the new Auto-Reversing circuit that I ordered from Tony’s Train Exchange for the diamonds located on 28th Street.  With very little lighting and no air conditioning work slowed and the guy started to melt. After this section of sheet rock went up I called it a night and I had fly saucer ice cream sandwiches for the guys and cold drinks!  After they went home I put up one of the lights so I could see down there!  Until next time!

September 22, 2007

I got a good chunk of the plywood installed on the west side of the basement.  I need to hookup my chop saw to finish up this job this week.  I also planned out the lighting changes to the room as I get closer to finishing the room.

September 20, 2007

Ralph stopped by and we made a Home Depot run to pick up a couple of sheets of ¾” plywood.  We got back and managed to cut up most of the plywood into the 2-1/2” strips for the west side of the basement.  It was a hot night and we stopped early.

September 16, 2007

Tonight Neil stopped by and we actually put up a few sheets of sheet rock.  We started off by bringing down a few sheets and putting them up. The ceiling is starting to come together on the east side of the basement.  We brought down a three more sheets but they will go up another day.

September 12, 2007

Well tonight I started work on the sophists that cover the steam heating pipes. The night started off slow then Neil and Tom arrived and we started cooking.  Craig stopped by later in the evening and we managed to get most of the sophist built.  Next project is the Sheet rock on the East side of the basement.

August 21, 2007

Slight setback tonight. I had a small flood in the basement tonight. It seems the washing machine output hose got knock off the slop sink. Two plus hours later, with help from my wife, most of the water is gone now I hope it dries for tomorrows work session!

August 20, 2007

Ray stopped by tonight and with the nose to the grind stone, our electrical guru fixed the double crossover entering Terminal Stores! Great wok Ray!

August 12, 2007

I started off the night putting up more of the ceiling grid. Jay came over and we got work done on the construction of the Lehigh Valley section. Jay and I also got a lot of cleaning done as I'm shoot for an Operation Session in late September.

August 1, 2007

Tonight started off with a black out. My block lost power when a squirrel decided to bridge a gap on the PSE&G power lines in front of my house. Wayne and Ted attack building the new wall that hugs the concrete foundation. This wall will be the decorative and the main support for the High Line as it wraps around the walls. Everyone pitched a hand in cutting up sheet of ¾” plywood into 2 ½” strips. Craig and Ralph began work on the new Lehigh Valley yard. Tom and Neil worked on installing the styrene back drop while I worked on the back drop at the Post Office. A great nights work thanks guys!

July 31, 2007

I finished up the demolition of the wall tonight. I also removed all of the nails and screws from the 2" x 3"studs. I also spray painted the lolly column black from the green color it was.

July 27, 2007

Tonight Wayne and Craig came by and we started moving stuff into the garage and the demolition of the wall be began tonight!

July 19, 2007

Tonight I started working on sheathing the 300’ car float with styrene and finishing you installing the ball grips on the pier. I started off the night with putting the ball grips on the actuators. I put in a little glue and a 1 5/8” sheet rock screw. I replace the actuators in the slots and they are done. I then moved onto to sheathing the wooden car float blank that Craig made for me with styrene. I got as far as attaching the top and bottom sections when I noticed that I had red welts all over my arms and when I removed the respirator I started having trouble breathing. After washing my arms and leaving the well ventilated room, I felt a lot better. Well until next week

July 06, 2007

Today started with a Home depot run to pickup Masonite for the valance construction.  Wayne and I picked up some adhesive to attach the 1/8” thick styrene backdrop to the concrete walls.  We cut the valance to the required 15” width and work started in the basement.  I began assembly of the truck side of the 28th Street Freight House. Ted Pamperin and Wayne applied the styrene with some help from me. Neal took the hump out of the Terminal Stores area and Ted DiIorio and I attached the “L” girders to the bottom of St. John’s Park.  Mike dropped by and helped around on the on going projects.  Ted DiIorio and Neil constructed and attached the legs for St. John’s Park.  I put up some fascia and doled out supplies and help where needed.  We got a lot done!

June 25, 2007

I worked this weekend on constructing a 250 foot car float out of 1/8" styrene. The construction is straight forward with two 1/8" glued together with MEK and the sides and noses applied. I had to do a lot of sanding and I will have to sketch the tie plates and scribing the steel deck plates on to the deck. This will be a three track car float when finished.

June 22, 2007

I started off tonight by staining the fender and beginning to blend the new in with the old. Wayne stopped by to night so that we can finish installing the support for the valance. I had the wood all cut and ready to go for our nights work. Wayne made short work of it and the next step is installing the rest of the "Ralph Heiss" valance storage system. Jay came over and began assembly of the 28th street freight house rail side walls! Things are moving along!

June 18, 2007

Ray came over to help fix an electrical issue with the double crossovers. After many hours we may have a solution. Check back soon! Wayne dropped by and started installing the framing for the valance storage system, similar to the one that Ralph Heiss uses on his Lehigh Valley Railroad he is currently building. The plywood attach will have another section attached coming out into the room the same distance as the High Line. That in turn will be tied into the ceiling grid I put up a few weeks ago. The whole thing will be skinned and then florescent light installed underneath. Drawings to follow soon. I did manage to finish planking the fender. All that is left to do is stain the decking and touch up the planks. A good nights work all around!

June 16, 2007

There was a big rain storm this afternoon so it was down to the layout for some work! I started off by decking the fender that Jay had covered with plywood last night. While waiting for the glue to dry I cut the Blue Point actuators off ( I almost broke one off and so cutting them down was a better idea). After the glue dried I use a power palm sander to even out the decking and even out the over hang of the decking with the plywood. Still raining! I started cutting up strip wood on my North West Shortline Chopper II to just a little over the deck as in the photo I found in a Tom Flagg / Vince Lee article in the ELHS publication "The Diamond". I started installing the planks on to the fender and wound up finishing the inner section and getting about a third of the way on the outer section. I hope to finish the fender and give it a wash of stain and weathering this week!

June 15, 2007

Jay and Neil stopped by tonight and we worked on the Freight House castings as well as the Fender. I worked on sanding the pontoon and getting it ready for painting. Jay cut out a 1/8" plywood sheet to cap the fender. Neil and I tried (in vein) to fix a electrical issue on the Terminal Stores switch as well as a gauge issue. It turned out that I was one section short of the "rail side" casting so Neil was able to pull one for me. A good night was had by all and a lot of work was done. I'm hoping to have a partial shake down of what is built on June 23rd. Next formal session is Friday July 6th at 7:30 PM.

June 14, 2007

I started off cleaning tonight and ended up working! I added a few detail parts to the pontoon that will hold the float bridge in place with out gluing it down. I also installed the Blue Point for the float bridge and the Actuators for it and the Terminal Stores / Erie Switch. I also finished blocking the front of the 28th Street freight house building and started gluing it down to a sheet of styrene. I hope to have this molded and cast next week!

June 13, 2007

Casting call part II! Craig and Ray cast more car kits for Craig as well as a few walls for me. Tom finished up installing and wiring up Terminal Stores. Problem popped up at Terminal Stores. There seems to be shorting issue and it looks like gaps will have to be cut. Wayne cleaned the flash off of the castings from last week as well as helping me start blocking the front and rear of the 28th Street Freight house. It looks like we could be making molds next week!

June 6, 2007

Casting call! Craig stopped by to drop off the molds but he was unable to stay. Neil started off the night by making the “L” beams for St. John’s Park. Later, Neil and Ray finished casting all the wall sections for the 28th Street Freight House as well as some castings for Craig. Tom added more trackage to Terminal stores and I finished up the temporary float bridge. Ted started blocking the next section to cast, the 11th Avenue section of the 28th Street Freight House. We got a lot work done and next week there will be another Casting Call.

May 23, 2007

Tonight's session started outside with the crew helping me store a pallet of 44" x 46" x 1/8" styrene sheets that Craig and I bought off Craigslist. Jay started on finishing up the north siding of the Terminal Stores building. Wayne terminated the the sub-bus for the High Line at the current end to a terminal block. Wayne finished up the night making tie strips for St. John's Park. Craig started working on a fender that a new photo shows existed during 1947. Neil worked on soldering up the power drops foe the track work put in this weekend. Neil also worked on the new float bridge points. I worked on fixing some of the track work on the High Line. We are moving closer to operating!

May 22, 2007

Tonight I put in the power drops but they still need to be soldered in to both the rail and the main sub-bus. I also got all of the rails spiked down and installed the Blue Point switch machines. I started a general clean up since I will have a work session with crew tomorrow!

May 20, 2007

Today we got a lot of work done. Tom came over and drilled out the power drops for Terminal Stores and the Erie New York Central Interchange. I finished making the last tie strips needed for the 28th Street / Terminal Stores Phase of the layout Construction. I then fitted and installed the Track work for the Interchange. Jay dropped by and painted the bench work for St. John's Park and then Stained the ties for Terminal Stores. Tom and I fitted the turnout that is located on the pier, We got a lot done in a short span of time.

May 18, 2007

Tonight I started work after Ted Pamperin dropped off the Terminal Stores switch, I began construction of the Erie / New York Central switch and the switch coming off the south car float lead.

May 2, 2007

A busy night at The New York Harbor Railroad!  Ted Pamperin came over and completed work on the Terminal Stores switch.  He took the switch home to doe some finishing work on it (cutting gaps).  Neil and Wayne built the bench work for the High Line’s St. John’s Park.  They where able to get it ready for painting as soon as the glue on the Homasote dries.  Craig came over and installed the final connections to wire up the High Line.  Yes the first train ran on the High Line tonight.  I worked on filling gaps at 30th Street and Craig began working on filling the gaps on the High Line.  Next work Session is on Wednesday, May 23rd at 7:30 PM.

VIDEO

April 22, 2007

I started putting in the gap fillers today.  I got a few turnouts done.  I had to repair a throw tie after I found the ACC attached it to the bench work.  I snapped the old tie and made a new one to replace it.  I also installed trucks on the Lackawanna and a Pennsylvania RPO. 

April 20, 2007

Tonight Started with Tom, Ray and myself cutting up a sheet of ¾” plywood to build the support system for the valance and lighting as well as the structure for St. John’s Park and the Lehigh Valley.  Once we got the beams cut and stored in the basement Ray started on wiring up the Diamonds.  Tom, Neil and I went through my collection and sorted out the equipment into keeper and sell.  Sad to say but from ten cases I am keeping less than two.  The rest will be sold off to fund the layout.  It was a light session and a good time was had by all!  Next session is May 2nd at 7:30 PM.

VIDEO

April 19, 2007

Tonight started when Neil and I made a Home Depot run and we picked up Homasote and 2 - ¾” plywood.  We cut the Homasote and one of the plywood sheets for the Lehigh Valley and St. John’s Park.  After Neil left I mounted the layout room TV set and my Verizon FiOS TV box up.  I also attached the power supply for the Tortoises and supplied a separate surge strip for the DCC system.  I also spiked down the section of rail that Tom had fixed last week.  I replaced the feeder wire for the DCC Programming track so that it now reaches the System.  I’m having an open session tomorrow to try and wire up the High Line.  I also picked up angle iron to bolt 28th Street to the basement floor to try and keep the layout from moving.

April 15, 2007

Well with the Nor-Easter blowing through the area I spent the day building cars. Neil stop by for a few minutes and we discussed future construction projects. I'm hoping for a clear day or two to pick up Homasote and Plywood from Home Depot or Lowe's. I need these supplies to begin work on the Lehigh Valley and St. John's Park. I have a lot of work to do for my May 2nd work session. I also need to make a supply run to MRPO for rail.

April 6, 2007

Tonight we got a bunch of work done.  Ted Pamperin continued to work on the crossover from Terminal Stores.  Tom and Jay put 30th Street and 28th Street through testing.  We found some problems at 30th Street and we preformed some repairs.  28th Street is still having cleaning issues.  After everyone left for the evening I ran the centerline cleaning car with some goof off.  I also found an issue with the north diamond.  Wayne came over and worked on the DES-3.  He milled an Atlas S-2 to be the new power chassis for it.  Craig worked on connecting the 30th Street Branch (the High Line) to a cutoff switch and the DCC system.  Neil tied the High Line sub-bus to the Post Office and the Staging lead.  I work on the temporary float bridge and linking it to the north diamond.  The next session should be the first week in May although I will be working on my own.

April 5, 2007

Tonight I worked on the frame and deck of the temporary float bridge. I need to sand and stain the sections constructed and attach rail and float bridge.

April 4, 2007

Tonight was a strange night!  It was an unscheduled session.  I fixed the broken turnout at 30th Street and wired up the power to the Tortoise switches. Wayne stopped by and he brought over the temporary float bridge and bright boys to clean off the painted rails.  Ted DiIorio dropped by and we worked on the new approach rails to the float bridge.

March 28 , 2007

Tonight was a slow but productive night at the railroad.  I started of the night by finishing up the snap on clips for the Tortoise switch machines.  I then moved over to work on the actuators for the Tortoise.  Crag had cast sliding switch machined for his Housatonic Railroad and abandoned them for a different design. Craig came down and started work on mounting the Tortoise actuators. Later, Craig and I discussed the need for more casting work for the 28th Street Freight House.  Jim Schweitzer dropped by and brought over a friend from the West Island Club, Galen Gouzoulis.  Galen wired up the switch for the Tortoise and the last Blue Point at 30th Street.  Galen also to a crack at tuning up the DES3 and found the cause of the problem that I had been having with it.  It turns out the issues is a power pick up problem and he started working on a fix for it.  Jim started work on the daunting task of setting up waybill for 28th Street.    I have a Friday Session set for this week.  I hope to get some track work done to finish off the Erie section.  See you on Friday!

March 23 , 2007

We started tonight the weathering of the rails on the layout.  Tom and Neil got all of 30th Street and Jay painted 28th Street.  I was able to put together some tie strips for Terminal Stores and 12 Avenue.  Neil and Tom both took home a few car kits to help build the fleet up. We also mapped out the next step to get New York Harbor Railroad closer to operations!

VIDEO

March 14 , 2007

Tonight is the first Wednesday night work session of the new year. Great work session. Wayne Started off by working on the temporary float bridge. This one is going in while the permanent one is under construction by Jay Held. Tom worked on the wiring harness for the Tortoise and then with Neil on the Car float dock. This is where the car floats will sit when not in use. Neil also finished up the wiring of the Blue Points at 28th Street. Ted Pamperin started work on the crossover that is the main switch into Terminal Stores. Ted DiIorio installed with me a kill switch for the drop bridge. This will cutoff power to about a foot of track on either side of the draw bridge. We had some issues with the track work entering 12 Ave from 30th Street but Neil was able to fix it.

VIDEO

March 9 , 2007

Jay came over tonight and we got some work done. Just before Jay arrived I finished putting the grips on the actuators at 28th Street. I then had to fix the flex track going through the mechanical room (it was all twisted up). Jay soldered up all of the remaining Blue Points at 28th Street with the feeders and drops. All that remains at 28th Street is the float bridge and Terminal Stores turnouts and of course Terminal Stores itself. I started room clean up since this coming Wednesday is a full work session!

March 4 , 2007

Today was a busy day!  I started off working on wiring in the Blue Points that where put in on last Sunday and during the week.  I got all of the Blue Point adjusted and wired in.  I stepped out for a few hours to help out Jay Held with his Erie Railroad that should start construction soon.  Neil called me and offered to help me out tonight so it was a railroad night.  All of the turnouts at 28th Street have Blue Points and all have actuators.  About half have are completely wired up!  Once Jay delivers the float bridge 28th Street is done.  I finished 30th Street except for the two Tortoise switches that have to be wired up.  I could be operating soon!

VIDEO

February 27 , 2007

With some hard work and a little blood (ouch!) 30th Street is done.  All the actuators are in and the fascia is up!  I was also able to find the short circuit that had shut 30th street down for the LDSIG layout tour. Now on to 28th Street.

February 27 , 2007

Tonight I finished up wiring in the installed Blue Points at 30th Street.  I also started putting in the actuating system.  This consists of a 5/16” wooden dowel ($0.52 for a 36” rod), a 7/8” brass cup hook (100 for $3.79), a 1-1/4” wooden ball (12 for $1.97) and a 1-1/4” sheet rock screw.  I got two turnouts completed tonight.

VIDEO

February 25 , 2007

Today Craig, Tom and Ralph came down to help out installing the Blue Points at 28th Street and putting in two Tortoise switch machines.  Craig got both Tortoises put in on the approach track to 30th Street as well as the lead ladder turnout switch.  With this all of the machines are all in at 30th Street.  The next project is the throw mechanisms!  Ralph and Tom stripped 28th Street of all the older Hump Yard Purveyance machines and began installation of the Blue Points.  Tom and Ralph got in about a third of the Blue Points in.  Craig started wiring in the Blue Points and he got a half a dozen done.  We got a lot of work done today.

February 23 , 2007

Tonight I got the rest of the Blue Points put in at 30th Street. They still have to wired up. These thing are tough to put in by yourself. I recommend a small pair of vise grips to hold the Blue Point in place while you put the screws in. I am working on the throw arms that will attach to the Blue Points. I hope to have a solution soon. In the mean time I have enough to finish off 28th Street. I could start that very soon.

February 21 , 2007

The LDSIG layout tour went well. I had many visitors. Jay came over tonight since I had to stay home and watch the kids. We pulled all the Hump Yard Purveyance's controllers on 30th Street and began replacing them with my newly arrived Blue Points! We got five installed tonight and unlike the Humps they all work. I'm hoping that in the next few weeks to get them wired up to the DCC system for power routing the frogs.

February 16 , 2007

Tonight was the last night to clean up the layout room for the LDSIG layout tour.  Jay came over and we built the Car float Bridge support.  The Car float Bridge will support the car floats when they are docked and fold away when not in use.

February 9 , 2007

It’s been a long time since I worked on the layout.  I need to take some time off to build car kits and ponder my turnout control system.  The Hump Yard Purveyances are not reliable with the turnouts I built.  The detent was just NOT strong enough to keep the rail from pulling back.  Also the power routing was just not what I wanted.  The Hump Yard Purveyances are a great system; they just did not work for me.  Enter the New Rail Models, Blue Point manual turnout controllers.  I installed the first one tonight in 30th Street Yard.  The next hurdle is running a control wire and supporting it so that it does not bend when pushed.  I have some ideas that I will explore this week.  I also have to get ready for the LDSIG Open house that I will be participating in on the 17th.  If you are interested in attending please visit http://www.nyhrr.com/2007ldsig.htm.  I hope to see you on the 17th!