NTSS&B MTH Rail King Lighted Billboard 30-90478

I finally had a little free time to work on the layout, and have been hitting it hard.  Another friend was moving into a small apartment, so he gave me a MTH RailKing Long Island RR Billboard (30-90478).  It really looked nice, but the Long Island RR did not fit in with my layout scheme. Since I had just came back from the Lionel Operating Train Society (LOTS) convention in Buffalo NY, I decided o replace the billboard with one from the convention.  Then all I had to do was to find a place for it on the layout (there aren't to many spaces left).

This was the easiest installation of the group of 3.  Since I already had a floodlight for yard, all I had to do was connect the billboard wires to the floodlight.

Original piece

My Modification

NTS&B Lionel #394 Rotary Beacon

My YMCA Friend's train also include a Lionel #394 Rotary Beacon. Since I have many planes above, I had to find a place for it.  The beacon is operated by a finned top over a dimpled bulb. If and when the bulb gets hot enough, the heat rises through the fins, which causes the beacon to rotate.  Since this seldom works, I decided to put it near the wall in the winter area by the Helix, and use a lower voltage to power it so it would not light up the wall.

This was another fun project.  It's at the back of the layout, so to drill holes for the wires, and position the tower, I had to climb on the layout and stretch to the max.  Then I had to crawl under the layout, and run the wires using an access hole that was almost large enough for my head and 1 arm.  After I got the wires pushed through the plywood, I had to climb back over the layout and stretch to connect the wires to the tower.  Then back underneath to determine which voltage to connect the power to, and add another ground wire to the power strip.  For this one, I did not add a switch, which simplified it a little. Another piece of cake.

NTS&B Lionel #252 Operating Crossing

A Friend at the MCA sold his childhood trains to me.  This included a Lionel #252 lighted Operating Crossing Gate.  I had never seen one before, so waned to use it.  It took some thinking, but I finally found a place to install it. Then I had to move a couple side panel switches around, but was able to add another button switch for guests to control the gate.

I had forgotten how much fun it is to add an accessory.  You have to crawl under the layout to feed the wires, and connect them to the correct terminal block, which entails stretching yourself to the limit in awkward positions.  I have forgotten how far down the floor is now.  Then you have to crawl back out, and drill a couple holes through the side of the layout, connect the wires to the switch, and fasten it to the layout.  Now you can drill holes for the wire to get to the accessory.  Then its another trip back under to feed the wire to the accessory back through the plywood.  And finally, up top again to connect the wires to the crossing gate.  Put a label on the switch, and its all done. Piece of cake.

NTS&B A 4 Ft x 7 Ft 17 shelf addition

I cleaned off the wall facing the shop.  I moved the large painting and the lighted Lionel sign to the basement den. I raised the speaker up as high as possible, and removed the corner ceiling shelf which I gave to Carolyn.  I then built a 4 foot x 7 foot unit with 17 shelves.  Currently my father's work tool box is in front of the lower 5 shelves, but will be moved or given away in the future when more train storage is needed, which may be sooner than anticipated. 

Tool box and out door chair cushions

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