tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5619322225443672522024-03-05T22:02:31.825-08:00Wabash Columbia BranchJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00542816527120188604noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-561932222544367252.post-68372157409044164092016-10-03T18:51:00.000-07:002016-10-03T18:51:37.067-07:00My modeling activities are currently going to my new project. I think I'll come back to the Wabash after a little bit of modern urban modeling.<br />
Until then check out my Detroit Connecting layout.<br />
<a href="http://detroitconnecting.blogspot.com/">http://detroitconnecting.blogspot.com/</a>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00542816527120188604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-561932222544367252.post-20725264507767069682012-07-17T18:25:00.000-07:002012-07-17T18:25:25.096-07:00The Columbia Branch Book<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkwsryd0ejqV-v1uCis2UUUz5esiODSIdmydqFNp9oOcPX8R4CuBCOz8dx8izt7xQjM_qZwNQ4PFVGpaJ3n3xqwIAwtYdKrRiMXVd6BuHBCotLVm_ZY3ZgWRRa9V-LtnauPz3wQzlyS3h/s1600/CBRR-Book-Cover-8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkwsryd0ejqV-v1uCis2UUUz5esiODSIdmydqFNp9oOcPX8R4CuBCOz8dx8izt7xQjM_qZwNQ4PFVGpaJ3n3xqwIAwtYdKrRiMXVd6BuHBCotLVm_ZY3ZgWRRa9V-LtnauPz3wQzlyS3h/s320/CBRR-Book-Cover-8.png" width="247" /></a></div>
Marty Paten has written a book on the Columbia branch. The timing couldn't be more....interesting. Just as I thought I was ready to move on to new theme for the next layout something like this comes along and makes me think about the possibility of Wabash Columbia Branch layout V3.0. I have my copy on order and anxiously wait.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00542816527120188604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-561932222544367252.post-47144223406990743072012-07-02T18:37:00.000-07:002012-07-02T18:37:02.057-07:00Braking the analysis paralysis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the last year or so I have been researching and
thinking about different themes for my next layout. Sketching track plans, collecting
some rolling stock, misc. building kits, reading forums and websites, etc. But
very little actual modeling. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My goal was
to have the next layout come out at least as good as the finished portion of
the last one. The down side is that in the same amount of time I could of built
two or three bad layouts and learned more and at least had a layout while I did
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So with that said, I think it is
time to build something, anything, while I contain to work on the bigger plan.
Something simple, something small, but something that gets built and runs and I
can experiment with different construction techniques. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent Sunday along the Michigan Southern, a
short line in south central Michigan. It seems to be a little line just begging
to be modeled. I think it is time to start building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00542816527120188604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-561932222544367252.post-21826402066695823392012-06-29T18:43:00.001-07:002012-06-29T18:43:24.699-07:00I’m finally getting settled in the new house to the point I can really start thinking about the next layout. I have been exploring a couple different themes and evaluating my potential layout space. I have also been researching different brands and construction methods for track. I think I’m about ready to start on a small test bed layout. Something simple, just a short shelf, Central Valley tie strips and turnout parts, code 70 and 55 rail, and gasp…..maybe modern era industrial park. We’ll see.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00542816527120188604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-561932222544367252.post-76519093892746535312012-02-18T08:56:00.002-08:002012-02-18T09:00:50.054-08:00All good thing come to an end.The decision to dismantle the layout came about for a couple reasons:<br />We are moving to a new home with a finished basement. While the layout was planned and constructed to be moveable, the new space isn’t near the same size or shape. <br />From the very beginning this layout was planned as a chainsaw layout, it probably lasted longer than it should have. The only reason it lasted so long was because the track work ran flawlessly.<br /><br />The good and the bad:<br />Bench work, track work and my DCC system all worked better than expected and where a great learning experience that I can carry on to the next layout. I’d use hardboard for the backdrop next time so I could curve the corners, other than that I’d give all of that a B+ grade.<br /><br />From a design standpoint it was ok but the duck under proved to be a problem. Not so much for me but for older guest operators. The track plan met the goals of representing Columbia, Mo. In the mid ‘60’s but because I uncovered more accurate track charts after I had the track work done it always bothered me. I’d give the overall plan a C.<br /><br />Atlas, Athearn, Proto200, Digitrax, Tsunami, and NCE. All of these companies products I give high marks too. My locomotives from these manufactures ran excellent with little to no tweaking and I was able to install decoders/sound decoders with no problems and once I started using JMRI to program them it was a snap to get them just how I liked them. I’d give the electronics side of the layout an A. The only product I was ever disappointed in was some MRC sound decoders. While MRC was more than happy to keep repairing or sending replacements I grew tired of it. The MRC’s are the only decoders I ever had fail. I can only assume that the newer ones are better.<br /><br />Modeling Columbia, Mo. In the mid 1960’s. This ended up being more of a problem than I had thought it would be. My goal was to make a reasonable accurate representation. The problem with that was to do this right would have taken more scratch building than I really had the time to do. And representing a time period before I was born just didn’t work either. I felt like I was creating more of a caricature than an accurate model. While I was just getting started with the details, it would of ended up more generic mid-west in the 60-70’s than Columbia, Mo. In 1964. I’d give myself a C- on that.<br /><br />Will I model the Wabash again? Not sure of that. Like many I currently have the more modern era bug. I have a pretty substantial investment Wabash motive power and 60’s time period rolling stock so we’ll have to see. I salvaged all the structures, details, and turnout from the layout. We’ll just have to get settled into the new place and see what’s next.<br /><br /><a href="http://s126.photobucket.com/albums/p119/joem5127/?action=view&current=downsized_0204121739.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p119/joem5127/downsized_0204121739.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><a href="http://s126.photobucket.com/albums/p119/joem5127/?action=view&current=rectangle_New-Out99993-DoStack101.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p119/joem5127/rectangle_New-Out99993-DoStack101.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><a href="http://s126.photobucket.com/albums/p119/joem5127/?action=view&current=IMG_1980.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p119/joem5127/IMG_1980.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00542816527120188604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-561932222544367252.post-38874077632663154162011-01-25T13:28:00.000-08:002011-01-25T13:35:48.946-08:00Stored, serviceable.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3D2j5_Du3PFx62G3JFfBH-20MwTCIKn2u9Q6iqFX-JyMrS58VzLWNXnYAh_4Qc4PMGjIZXnoH8ZjNj7-zNaF1KRuWwIYQZ-xcn0WkHkdNou5CsExbtu27yAH3LB8G-Y7UYlkrgD0ZokJU/s1600/IMG_2580.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3D2j5_Du3PFx62G3JFfBH-20MwTCIKn2u9Q6iqFX-JyMrS58VzLWNXnYAh_4Qc4PMGjIZXnoH8ZjNj7-zNaF1KRuWwIYQZ-xcn0WkHkdNou5CsExbtu27yAH3LB8G-Y7UYlkrgD0ZokJU/s320/IMG_2580.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566240174388619394" /></a><br /><br />Like many steam locomotives at the end of steam they went into storage and later the dead lines in serviceable condition, so too has my layout. When some major home renovations started I removed all the rolling stock and details that where not glued down from the layout and covered it to protect it from all the dust best I could. Now with a move to a new home on the horizon the layout will be dismantled soon. It was designed and built to be “moveable” but the new space is a different size and will now be in a more finished space, something I had wished all along. It may simply be time for the chainsaw.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00542816527120188604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-561932222544367252.post-9980273626292228052010-11-21T06:53:00.000-08:002010-11-24T05:39:38.668-08:00Radio EquippedLike an Erie Lackawanna E unit displaying the “Radio Equipped” lighting bolt under the cab windows the Wabash Columbia Branch is now Duplex Radio equipped. Up until now the layout has been operated using tethered Digitrax UT4 throttles. I recently installed a UR92 panel and added UT4D throttles. The system works flawlessly and has zero delay, unlike the infrared systems I have used. Dose a small layout like mine really need Duplex Radio? No, but if I’m going to spend the money to upgrade to wireless I might as well do it with the most current technology.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00542816527120188604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-561932222544367252.post-7078437687220029692010-10-08T12:28:00.000-07:002010-10-08T12:31:08.475-07:00Summer TimeThis summer has not been kind to model railroading. All of my free time has been taken up with home <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">improvement</span> projects and an above average amount of work. Oh well as summer winds down I should be able to get back to the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">basement</span>.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00542816527120188604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-561932222544367252.post-81125525248222286392010-08-13T18:33:00.000-07:002010-08-13T18:36:25.612-07:00Phase 2 Plan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP-fkCcOn8uo1imtIaJy7JugfTRViXueI6k_BcKLo6PMMzsaO1vZtepfr-fTouaDSlJH-Kr7uK-1Hzc_3fqqPXlVPHTS8BWbQyKq5gjcs5C9AcOazdye8VmqHmzNBGGhAUmO2Lfd4oelS/s1600/stage+two+plan.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 152px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505073324976167714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP-fkCcOn8uo1imtIaJy7JugfTRViXueI6k_BcKLo6PMMzsaO1vZtepfr-fTouaDSlJH-Kr7uK-1Hzc_3fqqPXlVPHTS8BWbQyKq5gjcs5C9AcOazdye8VmqHmzNBGGhAUmO2Lfd4oelS/s320/stage+two+plan.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Still working on how to make best use of my space. I have sort of hit a wall with this so far. Might be time to just walk away from planning for a bit.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00542816527120188604noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-561932222544367252.post-173155111746430512010-08-09T16:19:00.000-07:002010-08-09T16:23:16.126-07:00Photoshop<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJowZ320YQxW94zniKotXZt9thE7iLeh9C7DpQQ3fgRSGviDP_TKCERrpNgd27yT4tUYwXfUuh8YuU0omM04xbVIiwWWPaHJpP3EilfFD1XR24XkFT64wduaL9scFNU3O8k2n9tV0ikEM/s1600/stacked1+with+sky.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 190px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503554507466750642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJowZ320YQxW94zniKotXZt9thE7iLeh9C7DpQQ3fgRSGviDP_TKCERrpNgd27yT4tUYwXfUuh8YuU0omM04xbVIiwWWPaHJpP3EilfFD1XR24XkFT64wduaL9scFNU3O8k2n9tV0ikEM/s320/stacked1+with+sky.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I recived a copy of Photoshop Elements recently. I have always wanted to replace my backdrop with a photo of real sky. I still have a lot to learn but I don't think this is too bad for my first try.</div><br /><div></div>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00542816527120188604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-561932222544367252.post-17927899187360222802010-08-07T19:15:00.000-07:002010-08-07T19:19:20.633-07:00Some Times I Like a Good Black & White<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3INDbSgiIvotZt4LaMWtgSUTSFtdAOwXStNHJAIgi5nMR_eU-epU5upngT1FIftAOewPsZjSV1lM6t8k68YOatcbVT_kXMOnKRYSwaz6YvHVNx723qEuBvD5aJsMjWZSpHjWUxRFIl-i/s1600/IMG_1167BW.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502857857741758818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3INDbSgiIvotZt4LaMWtgSUTSFtdAOwXStNHJAIgi5nMR_eU-epU5upngT1FIftAOewPsZjSV1lM6t8k68YOatcbVT_kXMOnKRYSwaz6YvHVNx723qEuBvD5aJsMjWZSpHjWUxRFIl-i/s320/IMG_1167BW.JPG" /></a><br /><div>I sometimes like to play around with black and white photography.</div><br /><div></div>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00542816527120188604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-561932222544367252.post-9088615744020212642010-07-31T18:00:00.000-07:002010-08-24T17:05:33.705-07:00Required Reading<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNs6NjPIg9GVcHBSvgkyWpCI3Mf_ChuY4Qnx9KvRspsiDxHdEen4Y544YThQzEE6HQUitAmCsuO9WyRSt2boVjSCKOgsMeZfnA0Br9oc2QV5LhVGd5lrV8fN7CD7OmfuMQjQcUTnIVZ5JQ/s1600/IMG_3712.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500248845855582722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNs6NjPIg9GVcHBSvgkyWpCI3Mf_ChuY4Qnx9KvRspsiDxHdEen4Y544YThQzEE6HQUitAmCsuO9WyRSt2boVjSCKOgsMeZfnA0Br9oc2QV5LhVGd5lrV8fN7CD7OmfuMQjQcUTnIVZ5JQ/s320/IMG_3712.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><div><div></div><br /><div>I like track planning books, I like to see other peoples thoughts and ideas on paper. I have a lot in my collection and just like everything else, some are better than others. A I work on the plan for phase 2 construction I have come to realize I keep coming back to these books. While they all are not track planning books the do all have valuable information. </div><br /><div>John Armstrong's books might be a bit dated but I think some of his ideas border on sheer genius. When you consider that his Canidagua Southern plan is over 50 years old and is still better than at least 70% of the plans we see presented on the Internet forums I have to give the man some respect and mine his work for some good ideas.</div><br /><div>Tony Koester's Lessons learned book is interesting considering he lived with the layout for 25 years and tells what did and didn't work out. I normally only learn from my own mistakes but I'll listen to experience and try to avoid a few.<br /></div><div></div><div> </div><div>Lance Mindheim's are my newest additions and I think they are among the best. His plans are nice and open, not too much track, or too many elements crammed into the space. I also like that he has drawn the plans in CAD so we know they could be built as drawn. Some of the plans use some often over looked prototypes for inspiration. The fact that they are self published is very interesting to me. I wonder if this was done to better control content, or as some sort of cost control. </div><br /><div>The others just have good useful information in them.</div><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00542816527120188604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-561932222544367252.post-60343053540714369302010-07-28T18:33:00.000-07:002010-07-29T03:52:17.655-07:00The Current Track Plan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAcBBB2kBoumnqec7scIvd8QxvB_v6QukKX74kzhGFK85JYt_KmqBbr9YdGmgkeYwuxdAwJ0pzIX5uAO4eHxeBwMU_CbfMTbM4CRExNmNvar-u-E4QxFf9wtD9_GUyCpJ6wVaIOh8oGCn/s1600/as+is+plan.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 152px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499137680262187490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAcBBB2kBoumnqec7scIvd8QxvB_v6QukKX74kzhGFK85JYt_KmqBbr9YdGmgkeYwuxdAwJ0pzIX5uAO4eHxeBwMU_CbfMTbM4CRExNmNvar-u-E4QxFf9wtD9_GUyCpJ6wVaIOh8oGCn/s320/as+is+plan.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Here is my track plan as the layout is currently. It has a lot of short comings, most of wich I plan to correct during phase two construction.<br />I built this as a test bed for testing my bench work and track laying skills. When I started this project a few years ago I was concerned that I would have expansion and contraction issues because my layout is in an unfinished basement. So far I haven’t had any bench work or track work issues, derailments are very rare. My original plan was heavily influenced by the HOG layout plan.<br />More on it can be found here: http://hogrr.blogspot.com/<br />The layout as built faithfully represents the track in the city of Columbia as it was in the time I’m modeling, 1963-64. The plan for phase two is to model the rest of the branch to its main line connection at Centralia.<br /></div><div></div><br /><div></div>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00542816527120188604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-561932222544367252.post-16147843240577200862010-07-17T17:52:00.000-07:002010-07-17T18:02:15.830-07:00LCL FreightFrom the information I have dug up LCL freight was big business on the Wabash Columbia<br />Branch. I have tried to include this trafic on my model of the branch. Here we see the local Sears truck picking up some boxes of new products for the stores stock. Representing this interaction of customer and railroad was a design goal of the layout.<br /><a href="http://s126.photobucket.com/albums/p119/joem5127/?action=view&current=rectangle_New-Out99993-DoStack101.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="WIDTH: 500px; HEIGHT: 238px" border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p119/joem5127/rectangle_New-Out99993-DoStack101.jpg" width="502" height="313" /></a>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00542816527120188604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-561932222544367252.post-41773150524134157892010-07-17T17:36:00.000-07:002010-07-17T17:49:14.749-07:00Just Some New Paint<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCEOPE5H1cmH37lzyDYl2G9Kw8v9FnNNbrUYqfjvf-3V0f4QNyVSpRA_ZJc1YX8D9vwBT2DHe98eMlvw1F3AljhjxCANeD_LySlWqyMH9xpzM0Ekm7oZLcS0pyYVgn_JEq8qSQjwmO3D8/s1600/IMG_1983.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCEOPE5H1cmH37lzyDYl2G9Kw8v9FnNNbrUYqfjvf-3V0f4QNyVSpRA_ZJc1YX8D9vwBT2DHe98eMlvw1F3AljhjxCANeD_LySlWqyMH9xpzM0Ekm7oZLcS0pyYVgn_JEq8qSQjwmO3D8/s320/IMG_1983.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495041903357762114" /></a><br />It is amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to improve a space. Now that my workshop is all repainted and cleaned up it's time to continue around the rest of the basement.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00542816527120188604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-561932222544367252.post-60051497383994955502010-07-04T17:47:00.000-07:002010-07-04T18:39:34.436-07:00My Number One HobbyWhen people ask if I have a hobby, before I mention trains, cars, or photography I tell them my wife and I own a 110 year old home. The project list is never ending, we are starting to get to the want to do list and not major repairs or required updates. My layout is in our unfinished basement. As I plan phase 2 of construction controlling dust and making the basement a more comfortable place to be is high on the list of things to do. Part of this is dust control. I don't have plans to "finish" the basement but I do plan to drylock the walls and floors. I'd like to install a drop ceiling but it is already low so I will be exploring other options. So today I started Painting the walls of my workshop. Not exciting layout progress but important infrastructure improvements.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JP2K-wELHfXEZaHi9fX37x5OB6texYsIEkWD69DhIp2tY5DjXDGGYGywLn7iC9kHOPQMZz4WP4N_xrZtnBrqLVaZNwKmokHBUv-7tke98RiLmRuwB8ExCzkXMAMPMIhm4sall_pOs3WS/s1600/IMG_3711.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JP2K-wELHfXEZaHi9fX37x5OB6texYsIEkWD69DhIp2tY5DjXDGGYGywLn7iC9kHOPQMZz4WP4N_xrZtnBrqLVaZNwKmokHBUv-7tke98RiLmRuwB8ExCzkXMAMPMIhm4sall_pOs3WS/s400/IMG_3711.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490229213641612498" /></a>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00542816527120188604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-561932222544367252.post-27469579447175367502010-07-02T04:22:00.000-07:002010-07-02T04:39:53.372-07:00How It All StartedI grew up around trains, both prototype and model. My father was, and still is, an avid rail fan and accomplished photographer and model railroader. His main interest has always been in junctions and the associated interlockings. I on the other hand have always been more attracted to the out of the way weed covered branches and short lines. He had the Kalmbach book Railroads You Can Model in his collection, it had a chapter on the Wabash Columbia Branch, I think I wore thru the pages.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBs5JMWEeS6kG9CFevO9VW7e2rUzkkvJCdmNWhmBuUpmKmQuA_gLuvrPek21j4KCzdKKw8iyKiyRIP8iAoaFTMyo2oLe738z7yIbVNoYke16KFk8k9vdEBTRbrQ_6MDLToDaUNb6IUlQz/s1600/rrmodels.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBs5JMWEeS6kG9CFevO9VW7e2rUzkkvJCdmNWhmBuUpmKmQuA_gLuvrPek21j4KCzdKKw8iyKiyRIP8iAoaFTMyo2oLe738z7yIbVNoYke16KFk8k9vdEBTRbrQ_6MDLToDaUNb6IUlQz/s400/rrmodels.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489271751530646786" /></a><br /><br /> I was hooked and thought about building a layout based on it for many years before I actually started on my current layout depicting the branch in the late summer of 1963. This blog will cover the construction and operation of this layout.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00542816527120188604noreply@blogger.com0