Toy Train Layout Update  [See the latest monthly update - page bottom]

I will try to update this page monthly with the work (play) in progress on my train layout.

Updates by year:  2007      2006      2005      2004      2003      2002      2001      2000

January 2008 -- Received the remaining parts I needed to finish up repairs on the Lionel postwar Canadian Pacific passenger set. Hope to have them installed in time for next month's update. Shot a photo of the Williams Space Shuttle Transporter set and posted a link to it on my Kusan Layout page, since this set was made from the old Kusan molds. I also shot a video of the Kusan Satellite Train, which shows the action of this set. The link to the video may also be found on the Kusan Layout page. I staffed the Lionel Operating Train Society (LOTS) booth for a couple of hours at The World's Greatest Hobby on Tour show. The show was geared toward families, so there was a steady stream of children who stopped by the booth to operate Thomas the Tank and other train accessories. Needless to say, it was a fast and busy couple of hours. It was gratifying to see so many children interested in the trains.

February 2008 -- This month's update is dedicated to my Mom, who passed away this month. Besides being the greatest Mom in the world, she made the buildings and scenery for my first toy train layout when I was just three years old. I still use the hand-decorated box board buildings she created for that layout on my present day pike. In later years when Mom came for a visit, she would look at the layout when she first arrived and then again right before leaving. She felt the layout needed two viewings in case she missed something the first time. She would usually make a helpful suggestion or two on how to improve the scenery. Thanks Mom, for always being there for me.

March 2008 -- Purchased some things for my Lionel and Kusan layouts while at a local toy train show and also from eBay. The list of items included a postwar # 6413 Lionel Mercury Project Cape Canaveral flatcar with two original capsules; two postwar Lionel HO gauge Cooper-Jarrett trailers that were originally a flatcar load; KMT Frank's Roundhouse Pennsylvania flatcar with trailer; Kris Wickes boxcar with different style doors than the one I purchased last year; Kusan Rock Island "Route of the Rockets" boxcar; Kusan hopper car kit that had never been assembled and; a 1950's era Kusan toy train catalog. Repair-wise, I replaced two damaged containers on a postwar Lionel # 6805 Atomic Disposal flatcar with two unbroken originals. The repair process entailed removing the two broken containers from the rails of the flatcar. The lamp assemblies were removed from the damaged containers and placed into the unbroken ones. Then the good original equipment containers were placed back onto the flatcar rails. I always try to use original repair parts wherever possible.

April 2008 -- Finally, I finished up the Lionel postwar Canadian Pacific passenger set repairs. I added Banff Park nameplates and a pickup roller assembly to the observation car. The set looks really sharp when all the passenger cars are fully lit as the train moves around the layout. I also installed an original door on a postwar # 6434 Poultry Dispatch boxcar. Using a small jeweler's screwdriver, I carefully pried up one of the pins holding the bottom door guide in place and then loosened the remaining pin. I was then able to swing the door guide down enough to remove the incorrect door that had been installed at some point in the past. The correct door was slipped into the place, the door guide put into its original position and the door guide pins pushed back into place. I spent the last part of the month in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Hawaiian Railway offers train rides every Sunday, so I decided that would be something fun and different to do while there. I arrived early, so I would have time to look at the old railway equipment they have on site. There was an eclectic mix of old sugar mill and military railroad locomotives and rolling stock. Due to construction, the train ride was only forty-five minutes instead of the usual ninety minutes, but still very enjoyable in the open air coaches. After the ride, I was talking to the train ride volunteers for a few minutes when one of them asked if I would like to ride in the locomotive. Of course, I said yes! The locomotive was an old military diesel switcher. The engineer fired the engine up and we proceeded down the track past a yard switch. A volunteer in the rear of the train hopped down and changed the switch so the train could be backed into the yard and parked until the following Sunday. After the train was parked, I thanked the engineer for the ride invitation as I hopped down from the locomotive. The locomotive ride capped a memorable visit to Hawaii for me.

May 2008 -- Cleared a couple more repair projects from the workbench. I recently obtained a nice-looking Lionel postwar # 2363 Illinois Central F-3 dual-motored locomotive that had no power going to the motors when track power was applied. Upon removing the engine's shell, I discovered the three-wire cable going from one motor to the other had come loose. It looked like it had been replaced at some point in the past with a cable that was too short in length. The cable eventually pulled loose as the motors swiveled and took up the cable slack while the engine went around layout track curves. If there is not enough slack in the cable, the stress from the motor swiveling would eventually cause the cable to fail. So I removed the too short cable and replaced it with one of the correct length and soldered the wire connections into place. I placed a drop of oil on each motor armature wick and then put the engine on the track. The engine hesitated as I applied power, but eventually smoothed out. It had probably been several years since it was last run. After satisfying myself that the locomotive was running properly, I reinstalled the engine shell and tested the engine once again pulling a string of freight cars. The locomotive pulled them like a champ. Another repair project this month was a two-rail Kusan Dynamic Injection Compressortron flatcar. This interesting car keeps a polystyrene foam "satellite" suspended in the air as it travels around the layout. Upon testing, the compressortron motor did not run when DC power was applied. Upon disassembly, I found the motor commutator in need of a good cleaning. I saturated a cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol and applied it to the motor commutator while manually spinning it with my finger. Eventually, the commutator changed color from black to copper. I applied one drop of oil to each end of the motor armature shaft. I also replaced the wires that connect the compressortron motor to the locomotive, as they were in bad shape. After this maintenance, the compressortron motor ran strong and quiet when tested. The car was reassembled and will be tested behind a locomotive after I obtain a replacement electrical connector for a wire that was missing one.

June 2008 -- Obtained and installed a replacement female "flag" electrical connector on one wire of the Kusan two-rail Dynamic Injection Compressortron flatcar mentioned in last month's update. On my two-rail layout, I coupled the flatcar behind a Kusan U.S. 135 satellite train Alco and electrically connected the Compressortron's two wires to the engine. I placed a foam satellite on top of the Compressortron and applied current to the track via a DC power pack. The satellite went aloft and then the train started moving. The satellite stayed aloft above the flatcar as the train traveled around the track loop. It was gratifying to see this car once again in action after years of disuse. On my Lionel three-rail layout, I had a great operating session using the following as motive power on three track loops: postwar # 773 Hudson scale steam engine, postwar # 2363 Illinois Central F-3 AB diesel units and a modern era RailScope locomotive with built-in video camera. In addition, I ran a postwar # 60 trolley on the trolley line and a modern battery-powered Walt Disney World monorail on an elevated monorail track. It took a bit of juggling to keep all five of these pieces operating at the same time. During the session, I detected a squeaking noise emanating from the Hudson steam engine. I stopped the layout action and placed the Hudson on my repair bench. I applied two drops of oil to the motor armature wick inside the engine cab. I also removed the three small bolts underneath the engine which are access points for adding grease to the gears. I added some white lithium grease into all three openings and replaced the bolts. I placed the Hudson back on the track, put a smoke pellet down the stack and started it up. The squeak was gone and the engine ran and smoked flawlessly the rest of the operating session.

Page top    Home    Lionel Layout    Video    Track Plan    Accessory List    Past Layouts
Site Map    Kusan Layout    Awards    Banners    Links    For Sale    Contact and Privacy
Copyright © Robert's Lionel Trains Layout...All Rights Reserved.