Aloha!

EricMueller

EricMueller

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A warm "Mahalo (Thank you!)" from the crew of the Oahu Railway & Land Co. inspired Oberammergau, Ogden & Olomana Railroad, the "Triple O."
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This family project began in 2014 as excuse for me to keep and run my vintage LGB trains. It has become and excuse to cobble cans, foam cast-off trains, and what-nots into a 1:24-ish PLAYMOBIL scale endeavor (or endeavour, if you prefer) that has one rule: "It cannot be just YOUR (meaning "my") hobby!" which I operationalize as "All may, but none must, participate."

A "pen pal" recommended this site as place to learn how to maintain my ancient fleet of Euro-styled LGB trains. In return, I hope to share how we've had fun with trains in the gardens despite our location on the back end of the global supply network.

Aloha,

Eric
 
Welcome to the forum Eric....
 
Welcome to the forum Eric, I expect it is a bit warmer where you are than it is here just now. Not sure how you are managing to keep your line powered. Track, Battery (dead rail) clearly not live steam by the looks of your pictures thus far. Be interested to hear how you get on with track cleaning?
 
Welcome!
Send sun, keep sand.. :D

From a chilly and damp, back-end of the year, here in the UK.

PhilP.
 
Thanks to everyone for the warm (or perhaps "chilly and damp") welcome! In answer to a few questions:

1. The Triple O uses track power, @dunnyrail. Battery is prohibitively expensive. We run trains at least weekly, so we can usually use what I call a "greenie weenie" (a 3M glass safe scrubbing pad) to touch up rough spots. For continuous running, trains need to go pretty fast to get over some of our older switches. If the trains are inactive for much longer than a week, getting the rails clean can be a chore, but a Piko "Clean Machine," our sole battery loco, has proven a fun way to get things back in shape.
2. The ecology, is, indeed, interesting @playmofire. Though we are on a wet side of the island, a coastal rise imposes an alpine effect that leaves us in a dry spot. It is always warm, but water ranges from parched to flood. It took a few years to find plants that would survive. Rosemary and native pohinahina serve as trees, with another indigenous plant, ulei, also serving as a tree. Weeds and grass serve as ground cover. The humidity and sun also dictate what materials we use. Plastic breaks down fast (though our LGB ties are doing OK). Untreated Wood has about 2-3 years. Mertal corrodes. This makes fine detail parts on structures ephemeral to the point of not worth the effort, and we are slowly restoring buildings such that we can bring them inside.

For all of you that suffer through this thing called "winter," be well!

Eric
 
Welcome to the Forum Eric, and thank you for brightening up a gloomy day. Palm trees are a bit of a rarity in the UK, but they can be found in the south west (i.e. Devon and Cornwall) and the Isle of Man. There's nothing quite like seeing a steam loco with a palm tree behind it!
 
Welcome Eric
The clan should enjoy being on this site as well.
We will have to watch out for Kid-zilla he is an up and coming modeler and all around train person and learns fast.
Again Welcome aboard
 
Hello from a tiny nation in Europe well off the beaten track. It looks like a great setup you have already but there is the setting. We are going to need photos, nay, albums of photos showing where you live and preferably in the next three months whilst we shiver - ignore the aussies and kiwis as they can't get the calendar straight. :giggle:
For advice and knowledge along with a huge amount of friendliness you have come to the right place. By the way who sent you here, are they a member too?
I dare say someone will mention our sense of humour soon, be advised that it is perfectly normal and above board and that we are all mature, sensible people here. :wasntme:
Above all have fun here!
 
Eric,

the only real difference between here and other known fora is that they don’t have model Railroads here - but model Railways.
once you get the point, that switches are points (if they are not switches...),
and that many of the handmade models look a little Harry-Potterish,
that sleepers and ties are the same, but no textiles,
you will soon feel at home here.

ah, i forgot: behind every second "o" there belongs a "u"...

ps: the first full thread, that should be a "must read" for you is "Playmobil interlude"

pps: and don't forget: like you, they are all islanders.
 
Northsider said:
Never mind 'ou', or 'i before e, except after c', the most important thing is that at three p.m. we all stop for a pot of properly brewed tea with cake or, on a bad day, merely biscuits.
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Or for those of lesser years, a spot of Tiffin!
:blush:

PhilP.
 
pugwash said:
I dare say someone will mention our sense of humour soon, be advised that it is perfectly normal and above board and that we are all mature, sensible people here.
Click to expand...
It is a good thing for Cap'n Pugwash that he is not a wooden puppet from Geppetto's workshop.
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Is it safe to mention the cricket?
 
EricMueller said:
A warm "Mahalo (Thank you!)" from the crew of the Oahu Railway & Land Co. inspired Oberammergau, Ogden & Olomana Railroad, the "Triple O."
View attachment 350301View attachment 350300View attachment 350303View attachment 350302

View attachment 350304View attachment 350305View attachment 350306
This family project began in 2014 as excuse for me to keep and run my vintage LGB trains. It has become and excuse to cobble cans, foam cast-off trains, and what-nots into a 1:24-ish PLAYMOBIL scale endeavor (or endeavour, if you prefer) that has one rule: "It cannot be just YOUR (meaning "my") hobby!" which I operationalize as "All may, but none must, participate."

A "pen pal" recommended this site as place to learn how to maintain my ancient fleet of Euro-styled LGB trains. In return, I hope to share how we've had fun with trains in the gardens despite our location on the back end of the global supply network.

Aloha,

Eric
Click to expand...
EricMueller said:
A warm "Mahalo (Thank you!)" from the crew of the Oahu Railway & Land Co. inspired Oberammergau, Ogden & Olomana Railroad, the "Triple O."
View attachment 350301View attachment 350300View attachment 350303View attachment 350302

View attachment 350304View attachment 350305View attachment 350306
This family project began in 2014 as excuse for me to keep and run my vintage LGB trains. It has become and excuse to cobble cans, foam cast-off trains, and what-nots into a 1:24-ish PLAYMOBIL scale endeavor (or endeavour, if you prefer) that has one rule: "It cannot be just YOUR (meaning "my") hobby!" which I operationalize as "All may, but none must, participate."

A "pen pal" recommended this site as place to learn how to maintain my ancient fleet of Euro-styled LGB trains. In return, I hope to share how we've had fun with trains in the gardens despite our location on the back end of the global supply network.

Aloha,

Eric
Click to expand...
Good to see you here. I recall when you first appeared on a US garden rail site. Very pleased to see the garden layout has continued to run and give family pleasure over all these years. I join other correspondents in welcoming you here. Enjoy the company, and seasons greetings. I have enjoyed the members’ of this site comments and advice since its “Mad” origin.
 
Chris Vernell said:
It is a good thing for Cap'n Pugwash that he is not a wooden puppet from Geppetto's workshop.
View attachment 350412
Is it safe to mention the cricket?
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I did think of putting in a Pinocchio reference but thought it to be plainly obvious (like the nose on your face) and by Jiminy yes, mention the cricket.

Still no photos from @EricMueller yet of vast sandy beaches with warm waves breaking the peace and not a cloud in sight (insert vision of chilled cocktail here) - you can keep the ukelele though. :(
 
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