I might be able to help with that one...give me a day or two. 

here ya go...We were good boys this year!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNXKUYnBElY&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg&index=2

Thanks, Hunt for the info, but I already found that out while doing some placements of buildings next to the bachman track. To compensate for this, I'm using Peco code 100 flex track and I have to use code 83 for the transfer table and engine facility. All my yards and industries will have Peco code 100 flex run to them off of the main line. Support won't be a problem. I made my tables able to withstand my 5 year old and my wee lil one that will be coming up in the next few years. I.e. Legs are 4x4's, with  2x6's for the frames, with a 3/4 sheet for the top. You could have a party on these suckers. The only part I'm a little worried about is the Intermodal yard entrance. But I will elevate it without too much trouble. Thanks though for the heads up!
Bal

Had a great time with Jerry this weekend working on the layout. MUCH KUDOS goes to him for helping me. Anywho, here is a vid of what we got done. Enjoy!
Best,
Bal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzaA07t7tLw&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg

Hey DH,
Sorry you had such a bad experience with the train store. I bet it was awesome to get all those boxes of train stuff. Even if it can't be fixed it's yours to have as a keepsake from someone very dear to you. The one's you can get running is just a bonus!
I am glad that you are thinking about getting into the hobby. It's a great one with a multitude of possibilities, especially now with todays technology. You are at the right place. There are plenty of great people on this forum who love to help people out who are new to the hobby. I KNOW because they've helped me when I got back into the hobby just a little over a year ago. Welcome aboard and I can't wait to see what you decide to do!
Best,
Bal

Great work guys. Sorry for the long hiatus just been really busy of late, but here is the latest from what I've been up to. About got it nailed down. I'm sure with everything there will be some minor changes but after some longs thoughts and too many reworks to even count I'm pretty darn happy with this layout. It gives me more switching ops, more use of the real estate and I even got to put in a small intermodal yard to boot! The only thing I really lose is the old valley off the left of the original one, but it's no great loss, I'd rather have something to switch and play with than looking at a bunch of trees and wishing I would have done something different. Attaching a few vids as well. Just some work in progress things. 1 is my yard tower that I've mod'd and chopped up a bit, and the second are some of the plastic plant buildings.
I do hope everyone is gearing up for a nice Christmas!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1JDFDOCY4w&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg&index=3

also, in this second one you can see some new power I've gotten in as well.
http://youtu.be/sAtPpQ-ISYQ

@8, nice one man! Operation fun times ahead!

Well, got a chance to run some trains this evening. Kinda hard to do with the lil one gone and me by myself with no switches hooked up. =) But I managed. Anywho, enjoy the vid if you care to take a watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YddbsoeTuSE&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg

Now, let's see more pics from everyone! Nice steamers, Jonathan!

Here are two babies I picked up for literally a steal. 2 BLI SD40-2's - Paragon 2, Undecorated, yeppers they will be getting the orange and white ICG paint in the very near future. I got these two engine for $85.00 a piece; a steal considering they list for $269.00-$289.00, and Lord of mighty don't even get me started on that !@#$% Walthers transfer table and pit extension. JerryO will be coming over very soon to help me with it. I'm having him there to safe guard the transfer table and pit extension's life expectancy if I do it alone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR0-GrwqVmU&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg

Best,
Bal

This is directed to the 'powers that be' in the upper stories of the Bachmann company.

I was looking through the parts online catalog and of course looking through the SD40-2 section and noticed you have shells for sale. My question is why don't you offer an undecorated shell for the SD40-2? Surely it wouldn't cost as much as having one painted, and I would most definitely so cleverly lose my existing painted shells for some undecorated ones, and probably buy some more SD40-2's just for that reason alone if you offered an undecorated SD40-2 shell. Any who, just curious.

I also just got an old DC Dash 8 Spectrum in HO scale and I want to upgrade it to DCC. I saw the board for DCC, but does it come with instructions on how to wire it up, and also saw the 8 pin decoder I will have to buy as well. Just want to have my bases covered before I drop the cash.

Best,
Bal

Thanks, GG1, and no I'm not going to miss it in the least bit.
and Thanks Raven, it's been a long road to get it to that stage..lots of reworking, etc, but I'm happy with the results thus far.

Thanks guys!

Pretty big update here. Shaleford Rail gets and expansion!
Enjoy!
Bal

http://youtu.be/96DzFhQ6Utc

Great vid, Jonathan. Love the music as well. Just a FYI...MASSIVE layout update coming VERY soon! 
I can appreciated the grades. We have a very small hill that tops right as it's leaving the old yards heading North...and we have a south yard that is 1.5 miles long with 18 sidings on it about a mile south of the main yards, so when the train pulls out to head North it's struggling bad to get going and up the hill...so even though I live about 5 blocks from the tracks it still manages to shake the wooden deck we have on our house. NICE sounds to hear. It's even better when a NEW CN engineer whose never been down this way before comes in from the North heading South to fast and tops the hill...he's got too much going and then you can almost count the seconds before you hear the dynamic brakes getting yanked on and then left on......then the rolling thunder as the stretch slack gets caught up with engine...very nice sounds to hear at night! Rolling Thunder at its finest!
Best,
Bal

just a quick vid with some progress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z7hpWO0CGk&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg

Ken, awesome scenery!

Here are two of my Bachmann engines pulling some fast freight through Shaleford, CO this morning. UP and Norfolk Southern SD40-2's have the duty! Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoBBrUjW3rA&feature=share&list=UUHt0AMIYW5JAFV_Ja1wiVPg