After a long wait the construction of a 40sq. metre extension for the Loewy division begun in April 2013. While most of the original layout was not directly affected (except for being covered in plastic like a Christo sculpture) the part that allowed for a continuous run and staging was enthusiastically demolished. It was constructed under the house and although it represented almost half the run of the layout it was out of sight, a temporary measure that lasted almost 20 years years. The extension means that most of the track is now visible with scenery and the staging yard is easily accessible behind the backdrop. It also means that cleaning the track will be so much easier! In keeping with the original layout the extension track plan retains my requirement of 48" radius curves.
After 3 years the layout is complete but not finished. It is a three peninsular design with a six track staging yard;
the main line is double tracked and a lengthy branch line accounts for most of the switching.
It now has an NCE radio system installed and all brass locos. are retro. fitted with Tsunami sound decoders and current keepers.
the main line is double tracked and a lengthy branch line accounts for most of the switching.
It now has an NCE radio system installed and all brass locos. are retro. fitted with Tsunami sound decoders and current keepers.
The Layout
The slide show below displays the layout in its entirety, however even though it was recently photographed some areas have had more structures, details etc. installed. It is interesting to compare these 'finished' scenes to the destruction and construction images following it.
The slide show below displays the layout in its entirety, however even though it was recently photographed some areas have had more structures, details etc. installed. It is interesting to compare these 'finished' scenes to the destruction and construction images following it.
Destruction
Prior to a wall of the layout room being removed in 2013, I began dismantling the sections of the layout that would allow the track plan to transition into the new space. This included a large enclosed loop and staging yard under the house, a horrible arrangement but at the time the only way to achieve a continuous run. At least all of the track and timber was used on the new extension.
Prior to a wall of the layout room being removed in 2013, I began dismantling the sections of the layout that would allow the track plan to transition into the new space. This included a large enclosed loop and staging yard under the house, a horrible arrangement but at the time the only way to achieve a continuous run. At least all of the track and timber was used on the new extension.
Construction
The new extension effectively doubled the size of the layout. Construction of the room took six months. This period also gave me the opportunity to remove a lot of unnecessary wiring left over from the DC system. I also removed the ugly vinyl flooring, after much deliberation about what to do with the floor, I finally used commercial paving paint after seeing it used in a high traffic area at a restaurant. It turned out to be an excellent decision.
The new extension effectively doubled the size of the layout. Construction of the room took six months. This period also gave me the opportunity to remove a lot of unnecessary wiring left over from the DC system. I also removed the ugly vinyl flooring, after much deliberation about what to do with the floor, I finally used commercial paving paint after seeing it used in a high traffic area at a restaurant. It turned out to be an excellent decision.
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The West end of Atterbury yard (left hand image) dates from the initial construction of the layout. I was never totally happy with the the scenery and over the years made subtle changes to try and make it 'fit' with the rest of the layout , also I hadn't made provision to access the track in the tunnel, hence in 2017 I decided to change it. I re-built the scene into a waterfront theme including the lighthouse which I had begun building over 40 years ago.
There is an account of this transformation and the saga of the '40 year lighthouse' in the NMRA articles section that can be opened using the link at the top of this page.
There is an account of this transformation and the saga of the '40 year lighthouse' in the NMRA articles section that can be opened using the link at the top of this page.
Locomotive no. 19.
In the real world this Akane 2-6-0 was a birthday gift from my parents when I was 15, the next level up from my Tri-ang train set.
In the modelling world it was used by the contractors when building the West Ely branch, the only record of this is an old glass plate image taken by a company photographer. No. 19 now rests in front of the Mount Loewy station.
In the real world this Akane 2-6-0 was a birthday gift from my parents when I was 15, the next level up from my Tri-ang train set.
In the modelling world it was used by the contractors when building the West Ely branch, the only record of this is an old glass plate image taken by a company photographer. No. 19 now rests in front of the Mount Loewy station.
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Just arrived (Sept. 2017)
Rapido's Alco FA2. This loco. sets the benchmark for diesel models. Rapido took a digital scan of the front of a full size FA2 to achieve a perfect contour of the nose. They also recorded the sound from an Alco 244 'in good condition' in Australia. The attention to detail is extraordinary, it runs and sounds as good as it looks. Just arrived (Sept. 2017) K2s 1525 with a local train of Con - Cor's latest release of their MP54 coaches. |
Miscellaneous/Historical
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In December 1979 this image was published in Model Railroader magazine. It was taken on the layout I had before my current one; the L1 is still in service but is now DCC and sound equiped. The tunnel portal was salvaged and is installed on the outskirts of Wallistown on the West Ely branch.
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A model that I've always wanted is the Q1 duplex, the one off experimental loco. that led to the very successful Q2. The second set of cylinders are under the firebox and are reversed and face forward, it also had 77" drivers, rather large for a PRR freight loco. The streamlined version (there is an unfrocked version) is a rather rare model (only 200 made) that has always been out of my price range. However this model with its odd unpainted cylinder ends wasn't of interest to collectors, so I won it at a surprisingly cheap price.
The Q1 was listed at Dan's with a' drive train' fault, I'd hoped that it was only a problem with the universals, alas no. The front gearbox was jamming each couple of revolutions so it wasn't going to be an easy fix. Probably why the model wasn't showing any signs of wear. Fellow NMRA member Bob agreed to take a look at it and finished up rebuilding both gearboxes, he also insulated the brass brake rigging so that it wouldn't cause problems in DCC. So here it is running beautifully on DC (I haven't hooked up the DCC yet). It's still sporting those brass cylinder fronts that the previous owner created, I'll repaint those when I install the sound decoder.
This loco. is now DCC equiped and in service, sans brass cylinders.
This loco. is now DCC equiped and in service, sans brass cylinders.
Subsequently the model didn't stay running 'beautifully' for
very long, the piston rod dropped out of the crosshead guide and
jammed the mechanism, so it went back to Bob's and he spent a
lot of time taking the sloppiness out of the rods and tightening
up the crosshead guide, he also modified the springing on the
drivers.
Now it again runs beautifully. I've never liked the silver smoke
box and could not find evidence that the Q1 ever had one, so I
mixed Brunswick green and Yellow until I had a satisfactory
match and painted it. It now looks like a Q1.
very long, the piston rod dropped out of the crosshead guide and
jammed the mechanism, so it went back to Bob's and he spent a
lot of time taking the sloppiness out of the rods and tightening
up the crosshead guide, he also modified the springing on the
drivers.
Now it again runs beautifully. I've never liked the silver smoke
box and could not find evidence that the Q1 ever had one, so I
mixed Brunswick green and Yellow until I had a satisfactory
match and painted it. It now looks like a Q1.
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An early photograph of Mt Loewy depot taken by a visitor. It shows the original turntable bridge which used a bicycle axle as its pivot, it had no automatic indexing so track alignment was by eye: there were often derailments caused by misaligning the bridge. The bridge was turned by a hand crank using a gearbox from a navy rocket launcher.The whole depot area was rebuilt, the kit bashed roundhouse was refurbished and a Walthers 130' turntable installed with all tracks replaced with code 87 track.
An historical image of Atterbury (taken by a visitor) showing the original scratch built hand operated turntable and the coal mine. The loco depot has been completely rebuilt with a Walthers turntable and roundhouse.
The loco. depot was relocated to the end of the West Ely branch in 2015, this area has been radically changed The Model power Sharks were retired when I moved to DCC. Broadway Limited imports released the freight sharks in 2015, an AB set are now in service on the layout. |
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Lake Meredith replaces an earlier water feature at this location.
I used the technique of pouring a very diluted plaster mix to form the base and then painting it to represent clouds reflecting in the water. I then poured the clear resin. |
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The tug boat INTREPID is now moored in Cassett Bay. There is also a new interlocking tower in the background.
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