Further Update on the Florida Layout - Lower Level

Greetings followers of the Atlantic Pacific Railroad and my blog!

While they say a picture or video is worth a thousand words (or more), I wanted to get the diagram drawn for the lower level and start to identify some of the trackage you may have seen on the video.

Since the layout is going to have many industries, I figure I will have some indicative to both Florida, NJ and elsewhere. The upper level is scheduled to have six industries to be serviced, so adding more industries will make this a lot more fun to operate. 

The coal tracks and pellet tracks (A&B) remain the same, and are serviced by one track coming from the yard. The Lumber track (C) and Asphalt/Cement tracks (D) remain the same as well. No change to the passenger tracks (E). The new track design in areas F, G & H will have smaller buildings to be serviced. I may put a road on the left side of each so trucks can get to the structures. Track I will have one large industry/warehouse, probably for frozen foods (think Tropicana - hint hint). Tracks J is one that I wanted for the layout. This will be a Back shop and RIP track for one or two engines and a couple freight cars. Tracks K will be for oil / ethanol cars. Track area K will go to the turntable. That area, while not yet built, will hold the Atlas turntable and a couple tracks to the left of it for some engines. This track has a very important function for the overall layout, especially the yard. When a train comes into the yard, it will more than likely come in engine first. An engine can come up from the turntable area, pull out the freight cars and sort them on the other tracks. the engine then will back out, head over to the turntable to be turned for its next run. 

Some of the buildings/warehouses I want to add are ones that I will be able to use in my virtual operations with the guys (you know who you are). This way I can participate while I'm in Florida. Some freight cars that currently on the NJ layout may have to be at the ready (or duplicates bought, painted or transported every time I go back and forth). 

I may bring down some of my early era freight cars to put on the layout for some VO sessions. We shall see. 

Thanks for reading. More to follow!

Weekend Update - Florida Layout February 10, 2019

Greetings followers of the Atlantic Pacific Railroad and my blog.

We're heading back north later this week and I wanted to make sure the lower level industries and yard would be designed and if possible, put in place. I've gone back and forth with a number of track plans, track and cork in place, only to rip it up. After sending some pics to some trusted souls, I think I got all of the mishegoss out of my system and the layout! So here we go....

The yard was the biggest challenge as to how to maximize the space to the yard tracks. After taking out a set of crossovers at the entrance to the yard, I tried a WYE switch, made by Atlas. Thing is that once you add the short curve track and some short straight track, you lose space. I don't have a 3 way switch and the one that works with code 100 is one made by Peco and they are not cheap! The next best thing was to use some #4 switches and other than a 3-way switch, it looks more prototypical. Here's the result...

This came out better than I anticipated. For a more detailed look, a video with some additional comments:

If I have some time, I'll start adding drops to the tracks for power. The yard will be on a 'district' with its own circuit breaker, the helix will have its own breakers and the middle of the lower level will have its own breaker as well. 

Thanks for reading!

Weekend Update on the Florida Layout

Greetings followers of the Atlantic Pacific Railroad and my blog! 

Today's update focuses on the work being done on the Florida layout. The last update was in early January Florida Layout Update Early January

I arrived down in Florida the end of January with a duffel bag full of supplies which included switches, freight cars, tools and more! 

The focus of this post evolves around the lower level. My original plan was a single track railroad and I deviated from it. I've told many people that when a recommendation is made regarding the build, and it makes the railroad function better than what I had shown, I'll do it. Over time I've ripped up many feet of cork, and I have the wounds on my fingers and marks & holes on the New Jersey layout to prove it! 

The original plan for the lower level has been changed - TWICE! Below is the original plan:

After a number of emails and videos with some trusted sources, I've finally come up with a plan that will function better and give me the operations I am looking for. 

On January 29th I ripped up the cork and track from the helix that went around to the middle section and changed it from a double track main to a single track main, as I originally intended.

On January 31st, I made additional changes to the middle and east wall. More cork ripped up...

Today I finally have it set to the way I want it to run. The main reason I ripped it up a second time was the fact I wanted to add a back shop and RIP track on the east wall as this was not in the original plans. 

Here's a video on what was done on part of the lower level middle section and east wall leading to the yard. 

The yard itself has not changed. Each side of the yard will have 3 tracks for freight cars and the yard on the right will have one additional track that will lead to the turntable. 

That's all for now (Isn't that enough for one weekend?). More to follow as it happens..........!

Weekend Update - The End Of The Month Operating Session - It's A Bust!

Greetings followers of the Atlantic Pacific Railroad!

Today was supposed to be the monthly operating session which was scheduled to take place at my layout. However, mother nature had other plans. The weather, which as supposed to give us anywhere from an inch to a foot of snow left us with maybe 1-2 inches by midnight and a lot of rain today. At 7AM today, the rain had stopped, the trusty shovel and I went out and cleared a wide path for the guys to walk or drive up to the house. However, it was not to be...

I arrived at the diner at 8:20AM as the roads were empty, all clear and very foggy. Only two other guys showed up, so we sat down for breakfast, talked about trains and more, then called it a wrap at 10:00AM heading out our separate ways...

One of the fellow gatherers, Norman,  had called to see what was going on. After giving him the disappointing news, he asked if I was up for running some trains as he just picked up 2 Bachmann GG-1 engines on a deal from Trainworld. Norman is the Official Photographer of the A.P.R.R. and one of the guys who knows my railroad very well. He's been part of my layout tour team and has qualified as Yardmaster and should be qualified as dispatcher this year. 

A little background on the Pennsylvania GG-1 engines: 

Beginning in the early 1910s, the Pennsylvania received the FF-1 but decided it was too slow for passenger trains and was relegated to heavy freight service. In the mid 1920s, they received the L5 electric which had third rail power supply at the time. When the Pennsylvania built the O1 and the P5, they chose the P5 over the O1 for its ability and power on the rails. After a grade crossing accident with the P5, the cab was moved to the center and was designated P5a. Pennsylvania still searched for the ultimate electric since the P5 did not track well at high speeds and were wondering if the P5a could be improved even further. Soon enough, the Pennsylvania was in luck and found two contacts as early as 1932. The mechanical design of the GG1 was based largely on the New Haven EP3, which had been borrowed earlier from the New Haven Railroad by the PRR to compare it to its current standard electric locomotive, the P5a. In 1933, the PRR decided to replace its P5a locomotives and told General Electric and Westinghouse to design prototype locomotives with the following specifications: a lighter axle load and more power than the P5a, a top speed of at least 100 miles per hour (160 km/h), a streamlined body design and a single (central) control cab.

Both companies delivered their prototypes to PRR in August 1934. General Electric submitted the GG1 and Westinghouse submitted the R1. The R1 was essentially "little more than an elongated and more powerful version of the P5a" with an AAR wheel arrangement of 2-D-2. Both locomotives were tested for ten weeks in regular service between New York and Philadelphia and on a test track in Claymont, Delaware. Because the R1's rigid wheelbase prevented it from negotiating sharp curves and some railroad switches, PRR chose the GG1 and ordered 57 additional locomotives on November 10, 1934. Of the 57, 14 were to be built by General Electric in Erie and 18 at the Altoona Works. The remaining 20 locomotives were to be assembled in Altoona with electrical components from Westinghouse in East Pittsburgh and chassis from the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Eddystone. An additional 81 locomotives were then built at Altoona between 1937 and 1943.


On January 28, 1935, to mark the completion of the electric line from Washington, D.C. to New York City, PRR ran a special train pulled by PRR 4800 before it opened the line for revenue service on February 10. It made a round trip from D.C. to Philadelphia and, on its return trip, set a speed record by arriving back in D.C. 1 hour and 50 minutes after its departure from Philadelphia.

In the mid-1950s, with declining demand for passenger train service, GG1s 4801–4857 were re-geared for a maximum speed of 90 miles per hour (140 km/h) and placed in freight service. They initially retained their train heating steam generator, and were recalled to passenger service for holiday season mail trains, and 'Passenger Extras' such as those run for the annual Army–Navy football game in Philadelphia.

Timetable speed limit for the GG1 was 75-80 mph until October 1967 when some were allowed 100 mph for a couple of years; when Metroliner cars were being overhauled in the late 1970s, GG1s were again allowed 100 mph for a short time when pulling Amfleet cars on trains scheduled to run 224.6 miles from New York to Washington in 3 hours, 20–25 minutes.

The Bachmann GG-1 engines are equipped with both DCC and Sound. For the money they are well worth what he paid for them. Norman grabbed one in Tuscan Red and one in Brunswick Green. 

Here's the Bachmann 4913...

And the Real PRR 4913...

Next is the Bachmann 4935

 And the Real PRR 4935

First video is the PRR train at the Amtrak Union Station. I broke out 10 PRR P85b Coaches with the Keystone Livery made by Centralia Car Shops, part of Intermountain Railway Trains. Also added to the end of the train was a Kato Amtrak business car 

Next up is a run thru heading west thru the Amtrak Station...

While Norman was running his train, I broke out the updated TTX train and gave it a run around the railroad...

The last video was a nice one as I caught both the PRR passenger train and APRR TTX train in the same area with lots of action...

While the operating session was a bust, a day of trains was not to be denied. There is always one person up for running trains, and Norman was up for the challenge.....

P.C.C.M. 56: A Tribute to the New Haven RR on the A.P.R.R.

Greetings followers of the Atlantic Pacific Railroad!

We've had a number of unique op sessions and tributes on our railroads. The group decided to do a tribute to the New Haven Railroad, and everyone will honor the New Haven in their own way, as we should!

My fleet of New Haven equipment is mostly diesel engines and passenger cars, with a small smattering of freight cars. The engine roster has a Walthers Proto Alco PA-1, Athearn SDP40, Bachmann Spectrum E-33, and two Atlas GP38 engines that encompass my fleet. 

I have a number of McGinnis passenger cars to support these engines. Branchline came out with a set of Heavyweight cars in kit form, and they're still waiting to be built (as are other kits). Walthers did some passenger cars in the NH streamline paint scheme, and so did Rapido on their line of Osgood-Bradley passenger cars. Back in the day, IHC as well as Rivarossi produced them in 8 car sets. I'm sure these were not prototypical of the New Haven, however, they looked good and I found 6 of them. These are the cars I will highlight on the layout as my tribute to the New Haven.

This is one of two Atlas GP38 engines on the roster. The other engine is #253

The passenger cars are from IHC with the exception of the heavyweight sleeper, which is from Rivarossi. There are six cars on the train. One car, the baggage was camera shy...

NH Extra OCS-1 arriving at Baskerville Jct. outside of Rock Ridge. Looks like the crossing gates got excited and decided to play some games...

Some fan awaiting for their usual local passenger train received a nice surprise. 

And now, just like the real railroad, we head out into the sunset......

Preparing For An Operating Session on the A.P.R.R.

Greetings followers of the Atlantic Pacific Railroad!

As many of the followers know, I am involved with a great group of model railroaders as well as former and current railroad workers and some rail historians. All of the guys in this non-group group (as I like to call it) will go to visit all 3 layouts at various times of the year as those folks will host what we call operating sessions. There are 2 types of operating sessions. The end of the month session is normally held on the last Sunday of the month. It's a morning session which starts at 8:30AM at the diner closest to the host and after the 'food' we head to the hosts home to run trains. The hosts always offer some drinks (non-alcoholic) and snacks for everyone. The Mid-month session is a combination of a 'work session' if the layout needs some work like scenery, wiring, electronics, etc. as well as running trains on the layout. You can also bring an engine to run on that persons layout, provided it's DCC. 

I have the nice fortune to host both mind-month and end of the month sessions for January. This is due to one guy who is not available on Wednesdays to host due to afternoon commitments and the other guy who was in the middle of making some needed track repairs to his layout. In addition, the end of the month for January is always one week early due to the train show the end of the month in W. Springfield, MA. Add to it the fact they are predicting some snow and the one layout owner has a narrow road that gets buried with a snow storm. That leaves me....

Friday night I went into the train room to restage the session that I had this past Wednesday. Two of the guys were adding ties to my track work where I removed some due to the installation of flex track. Once completed, ballast will be added by some of the guys who have offered to help me. This is one area that I am still trying to grasp. I will get there sooner or later. 

The railroad needs a dispatcher and a yardmaster for a reasonable operating session. There are at least 3 guys who know the yard. One guy, when he is there, always runs the yard. There are two other guys who know the yard if he's not there. A dispatcher is always needed to route the trains. The last couple sessions I've had the 2 guys who know my railroad dispatch, which gave me some time to show some other people the railroad who are new to the layout or haven't been around and I give them a refresher course. 

There are only two pieces of paperwork needed to get the railroad running. First one is a train listing of the trains in staging. That includes both passenger and freight. This list will be updated later tonight as I finalize the trainsets for the Sunday session. Some of the trains have been moved since this image was taken. Track #1 in both North and South Staging are the ones closest to the center of the staging tracks. The empty tracks in the middle of both yards are the thru tracks. North staging is always entered from the east and departs to the west. South staging is entered from the west and departs to the east.

There is another list that is kept at the dispatchers panel and that is the consist list. In DCC, if you want to run more than one engine together, they need to be consisted. This is my list and it comes in handy, especially if someone wants to add an engine to an existing consist or wants to make one. 

The last thing I use during an operating session is this Harbor Freight Monitor with 2 cameras. Each camera is situated at the end of each yard. This way I can view the traffic below and also see who is not paying attention when moving trains. 

There are 2 sets of main staging tracks - 5 for North staging and 4 for South Staging. This is North staging....

This is South staging. There is always on track open on either staging area so we don't have any bottlenecks when trains are being moved. 

As you can see in North Staging I keep the nose of each train visible with the engine number so the guy running the train knows which one to grab. 

There is a track under the main part of the layout which I will use to hold a trainset or two. That is called 'Inside Loop Lower Level' Right now it has one TTX train which I always let the new person run. It's a dedicated train, no stops to switch industries or drop off cars. It runs the entire railroad, including the freight yard. This gives the new guy a view of the entire railroad while running the train. Besides, I like the look of a string of nothing but TTX box cars!! The other track for storage is around the bottom of the helix, and that holds the Amtrak Passenger train. 

Today I was in the train room and I reviewed the industries to make sure they were set for the session. One thing I noticed was a trainset missing that could be used to serve a major industry. There was a need for a train dedicated to Shapeless Steel. Normally, its a local job out of the yard. Engineer grabs an engine, picks up cars at the steel plant to drill or the yardmaster will build the train and send the engineer on his way. Now I have a train which has gondola cars, coil cars, flat cars that will service the industry. It will head to Rock Ridge freight yard, get dropped off, pick up what was brought over, and then head back to staging. This makes the run longer and more enjoyable. It also makes this job a two engineer assignment! 

I've assigned A.P.R.R. GP50 #500 for this assignment, and running long hood forward. There are, at present 9 cars on the train. More can be added if need be. I'm working on finding more gondola cars with loads at the next train show. 

This train will go down below on one of the main staging tracks and I will move one other train behind AP #361 TTX train. The second TTX train has been merged into one. 

We will debut the steel train at tomorrows session. I know it will be an eye opener as I've never had one and, I never run high hood engines! Should be an interesting time, weather permitting...

Mid-Week update at the New Jersey Layout

Greetings followers of the Atlantic Pacific Railroad!

Now that I'm back in New Jersey for a while getting used to this wonderful weather we're having, it was time for a layout update.

This month is a short month for gatherings due to one of the largest model train shows in the Northeast happening the end of the month. It's the Railroad Hobby Show that's held every year in W. Springfield, MA. This show gets about 20,000+ visitors every year. I'll be there the entire weekend at the East Coast Circuits Tables.

Since the show draws many of the guys who gather, we change the dates to meet. I was asked to host the mid-month since Steve, our ringleader has part of his railroad out of service. The mid-month sessions usually have some of the guys work on the layout doing some type of scenery, wiring or whatever may need to be repaired or tweaked. Others can bring their own trains to run. Today two of the guys were working on some of my tracks installing ties where needed. They were taken out when flex track was installed, and now that we're into the ballast phase, they need to be put back into place. While that was going on, a couple of guys wanted to run some trains. I had my #1 Yardmaster available, Rich T. and 3 guys ran trains. My friend NJ John wanted to test his new Amtrak train on the layout to see how it ran. As a fan of Amtrak, and NJ John being my right hand man during operating sessions or layout tours, who am I to say no to him!

Here's the train on its inaugural run on the layout.

He did have an issue with one car. Walthers passenger cars, no matter how nice they look, always have problems. His was no exception as you may have heard or seen in the video.

After everyone left, I had a package arrive from the Dedham, MA paint shops. In the package were 2 more cabooses, which will go on the layout after they receive some upgrades, and 4 tanker trailers which he offered to paint. They are made by Promotex (Herpa) and I had two in white and two in silver. Here's how they came out:

The first two silver trailers were placed by the power plant.

The second two were placed near Three Amigos Warehouse and the propane area. While these are oil tankers, they will eventually be moved to the engine terminal on the lower level. I placed them on top for a photo op for all to see.

The end of the month gathering, as of this posting is scheduled to be held at my place, and that is due to the potential snow storm we're supposed to get this weekend. Steve lives on a rural road, and they don't plow the area until last and it's a narrow road for his town to clear. The road can't handle cars due to the snow.  I will break out the snow blower Saturday night, do my best and get out early Sunday for a final clearing. Hopefully we shall gather. 

Keep checking back for more updates!