N Scale Chillicothe Sub

New Blog

2012-01-08T15:21:00.000-08:00

Hey there everyone. Since I'm now modeling the Marceline Sub, updating to this blog under the Chillicothe Sub is misleading and incorrect. So please check out further progress at my Heartland Iron Rails of the Santa Fe blog. Hope to update it pretty often due to major benchwork progress recently.
See you there!

Roadtrip

2011-05-29T15:48:00.000-07:00

On June the 4th and 5th, me and a friend will be traveling to Mendon, Ethel, and Medill Missouri
to take more photos of the locations to be modeled. The quality of satellite images of the areas are terrible and most photos from rail fans are of the signals and crossovers and no pictures of the industries at these locations.

Progress on the layout cannot go any further until after this trip and even a week after most likely. I still need to order a few more ME switches, a discontinued track cleaning car, and maybe even more supplies for more modules. There are always things to buy for the layout.

After the trip and if I can get a few more switches, I can really turn and burn. Once track is laid through Medill (well most of it, can't lay all of it until I get another right hand switch) I can order another piece of plexiglas for the Medill to Ethel control panel (probably need more rotary switches for that though) and run a local out for the first time and switch the fertilizer place there.

Progress

2011-05-23T09:31:00.000-07:00

This is the last, absolutely final version of the trackplan.
Next weekend I will add another layer of roadbed for the mains, then track can be laid all the way to east Mendon.

New Modules

2011-04-17T17:17:00.001-07:00

Here are the two new modules finished and installed.

More Progress, Finally. Now the Marceline Sub

2011-04-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

Well I've been neglecting this due to life events. I got my dream job on a railroad, but after half a year I quit due to extreme stress and the people/area I worked with/at. But I'm financially recovered enough to start up on the layout.

I've changed the track plan, AGAIN, and the layout will now be The Marceline Sub. The three areas I will model will be Gibbs, MO, Ethel, MO, and Sugar Creek, MO (Chevron Plant/Racks). It will still be in the 1992-1993 time frame. I will be buying benchwork supplies this weekend, and through the next few weekends my dad and I will be completing the benchwork to the Ethel, MO scene.

I've found that Atlas C55 switches aren't practical in my application, so I'm redesigning the west staging yard ladder with ME C55 switches with the snap points. I'm also going to add another pair of crossover switches there too. (see track plan) I'm also needing to add another layer of roadbed for the mainlines through the Gibbs area.

I've also been buying new motive power about every weekend. New additions include a GP20 and two GP38-2's. Detailing them will have to wait a while though.

Please check back over the next few weekends.

Revised Final Track Plan

2010-08-16T17:33:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates. I'm trying to find a source for 20 gauge wire so progress has halted. However, I have finalized and revised my track plan. Check it out.

Staging Completed and Ready for Wiring

2010-06-27T20:12:00.001-07:00

Here's the east end all done. Magnetic bridges will be installed to run across the aisle.

These are the ends of the locomotive staging tracks. Since I run DC, I split each track into four blocks. The caulking hasn't dried yet on the track to the right. You can see the couple height gauge on the track. A great place to put it.

The two mainlines are on the left, and the track at the far right is the runaround track.

Even though none of the tracks are wired yet, I couldn't resist lining up a couple trains.

Now I gotta order the wire and plexiglas for the control panel. Then it'll be on to Toluca.

Eastbound Staging Complete

2010-06-14T10:49:00.000-07:00

Finally got some GP30's for local service. They need a lot of modifying to represent their 90's versions. Can't wait to wire up the yard and do some switching with these.

The entire yard. The locomotives at the upper left is where the other ladder is, and the lower right shows the switch for eastbound staging.

6 of the 9 tracks laid to next curves.

Here's the completed eastbound staging.

Should be able to complete the westbound staging and mains (if I don't run out of track) next weekend.

4 of 9 Tracks Laid to Next Corner

2010-05-31T16:52:00.000-07:00

Here's an overhead shot showing the two yard ladders for eastbound and westbound staging.

The picture above shows the completed runaround track.

This shot shows the locomotive staging spur and four of the staging tracks started.

Well, I got the runaround track done all the way to the east end ladder. I also added the start of the locomotive staging spur. Four of the nine tracks have been laid to the next corner before the second curve, so I got a little over half of the Eastbound staging tracks done.

Finally Laying Track

2010-05-25T10:22:00.000-07:00

Finally started laying track for the staging yard. I've started on the west end ladder and crossover. One track has been glued down up to the edge of the next module. The glue is a latex caulking that dries clear. The next step this weekend will be to secure the yard ladder. After that, the innermost yard track will be laid all the way the east yard ladders. However, I need to get all the curves formed and roughly laid out to check clearances.

Staging Yard Progress and Track Plan

2010-05-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! After numerous false starts on my layout, I've finally made a clear decision of what to model. Inspired by Joe McMillan's High Green to Marceline, I will be going with Santa Fe's first subdivision: The Chillicothe Sub! Given the space, I'll only be modeling Toluca, IL, Edelstein Hill/ Edelstein, and Carrollton, MO. The staging yard is laid out, and after my latest order arrives I will be able to lay the track. Pictures of that soon hopefully.