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Here is my switching layout.

The 2' x 8' platform is one of the panels I use around the Christmas Tree.? The end of one track extends about an inch past the platform.? If i pulled the steel pins out of two tracks with bumpers it fits within the boundary.

My 6' x 10' three loop AF layout is in the basement which is unheated and averages around 42°F so it does not get run that often during the winter here in Maine.? So instead of storing all of the panels in the garage this year I kept one in the house and set this up.? I may take the other identical panel and connect it end to end..

I don't use any Lionel Flyer rolling stock that have the new style KC with the spring and plastic weight.? The mold for the KC was changed and the opening between the thumb and knuckle is so small only if they are absolutely perfectly aligned will they couple even when using the electric coupler of a Flyer Chief GP-7 or Baldwin S-8.? They don't always like to uncouple either? unless you hold the car. It is even tough to couple and uncouple with that Lionel Rolling Stock using Gilbert GP-7's and Baldwin.? So for me these new couplers are only good for railfanning on a continuous loop.? Only when I get around to swapping out these couplers for the original Gilbert style reproduction couplers with the hole will they get used for switching operations.? I have swapped two of the new couplers to Gilbert Reproduction on a square window caboose and on a candy cane Christmas gondola which each had a broken coupler.

I use only A.C. Gilbert, Early Lionel AF with the early couplers like the Gilbert ones, MTH, AM and SHS rolling stock on this layout.

Everything is done manually until I get some rigid foam insulation on top and add legs and can then wire everything up.? My grandkids have a blast especially when the light bulb goes off in their head and they figure out how to use the run around to push cars.? My wife enjoys running it as well.? In the future I plan on using this to connect to the layout in the basement, but be portable to take it upstairs during the cold winters here in Western Maine.

I did not have to custom cut any track to make this.

Black Road bed (original and Johnson reproduction)

693 track clips (wire style) Designed to work with rubber road bed.

10" straight

5" straight

Standard Curve

1/2 Standard Curve

2 Pair of 720A switches

1 Pair of 26760

5 730 Track Bumpers

19B Transformer

752 Coal Loader

919 Coal Dump Car

23796 Sawmill

914 Log Dump Car (for log loader and sawmill)

787 Log Loader

779 Oil Drum Loader

23830 Piggy Back Unloader

Two Plasticville Freight Houses round out the industries

All bulbs in the bumpers are 1447R LED's and 1445 Clear LED's in the transformer.

Mike Cronin