Free-moNebraska

[RBrodzinsky]

You going to add the construction equipment between the tracks and overpass?

[Mark W]

Unlikely.  That's the same 'other side' of the bike-path coin.  The far side of the tracks doesn't have much room to play with. 

[Mark W]

Adding "J Street" to the north side of the tracks is turning out quite nice.

Before:

https://i.imgur.com/1Q1sEFM.jpg

After:

https://i.imgur.com/nJL6blR.jpg

[Mark W]

More scenery work at Emerald, and onto the detail phase of the overpass.


https://i.imgur.com/njYP1KQ.jpg



https://i.imgur.com/f7Ccr0K.jpg


Guard rails!  You can't see them yet, but there are bolt heads holding the guard rails to the posts.  Some dull silver paint should help (and make them fully opaque).  The overpass is just about ready for road stripes. 


https://i.imgur.com/NopVN4Q.jpg

[Mark W]

Wishing everyone a great Summer! (or a wonderful Winter for the folks below).


https://i.imgur.com/W1QRCIT.jpg

[edge8300]

This Grass Looks Stellar.  Great job.

Wishing everyone a great Summer! (or a wonderful Winter for the folks below).


https://i.imgur.com/W1QRCIT.jpg

[Mark W]

Ok, let's see some photos from the National Train Show!

200 modules, built by 50 people, from 10 individual groups, representing 8 states came together and assembled the worlds largest Free-moN layout yet! 


Lee Calkins did an amazing job planning and organizing the layout!

https://i.imgur.com/pebuim5.jpg

At this point, trailers are almost empty, so we took a minute to review further setup. 

https://i.imgur.com/rUUWKQQ.jpg

Things moved very quickly from there. 

https://i.imgur.com/ZsxB22k.jpg

And before we knew it, trains were running!
(Click photos for hi-res)

https://i.imgur.com/0dh2JTH.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/WOgsxpE.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/wUMCyLk.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/6NJCfEb.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/iTqwFU6.jpg


Lots more to come!

[w neal]

Got any vids/pics of 80+ car trains running?

[MK]

Very impressive!  Must have been fun to run!

[Mark W]

Got any vids/pics of 80+ car trains running?

@delphiz302 has put together a few great videos already. 
This one is more train focused:

This one is more layout focused:

Very impressive!  Must have been fun to run!

Yes, it was an incredible layout, and we finished the show with 100% uptime!  There was one incident of grid-lock at the major junction, but that was about 10 minutes after becoming operational, so it doesn't count.   


https://i.imgur.com/ph6xm8l.jpg

[pdx1955]

That was a extremely impressive layout - it went on and one and on!. Felt like you walked miles around it trying to see everything.

[Mark W]

Ok, time to explore the 2019 NTS layout! 

The first train we chased is the Circus Train, starting off on familiar ground passing through the Nebraska National Forrest at Crawford, a cleverly disguised return loop designed and built by Paul Watson.


https://i.imgur.com/BbdiDqd.jpg


From there, using the technology of Free-moN, we space/time warp to the Sierras, an exceptional set of modules built by @ryan_wilkerson .


https://i.imgur.com/zUbV6ae.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/84OOHsZ.jpg


Heading south to NLandPacific Territory, we first cross the Santa Anna River at Colton; an elegantly simple bridge full of hidden detail, built by Ray D.


https://i.imgur.com/8vvD9eA.jpg


Turning in land, we last catch the circus train cross the Santa Anna once more via the old Salt Lake Railroad Viaduct Bridge, masterfully cast in resin by Steve Beals.


https://i.imgur.com/8CnbfOr.jpg


I just over heard some crowd chatter; sounds like a military train is heading north!  Let's see if we can catch it next!...

[Mark W]

More from the 2019 NTS layout!  Chasing the military train!


In the back is UP East Mission Yard near Ontario, California. Built by Steve Beals.


https://i.imgur.com/YHYlfns.jpg


BNSF mainline passes under California 138 in Cajon Pass, built by Jerry and Matt Welter.
Note the UP mainline represented along the back of the module!


https://i.imgur.com/6x5h0Kv.jpg


Binney Junction at Marysville, CA. Built by Robert Tobys and Ryan Wilkerson.


https://i.imgur.com/SxjS603.jpg



https://i.imgur.com/Mk4a7oe.jpg


Love the sweeping curves of this lap siding! Representing Mott-Azalea in California, built by Ryan Wilkerson.


https://i.imgur.com/JW2YaJn.jpg


Rolling into the Nebraska sandhills at Marsland, NE. Built by Paul and Mark Watson.


https://i.imgur.com/xcI53k5.jpg


Crossing over West O Street, heading into Hobson Yard at Lincoln, Nebraska. Built by Mark Watson.


https://i.imgur.com/WQuqGdi.jpg


Continuing eastbound through the wye on the east end of Hobson Yard. Rosa Parks Way overpass in the background. Built by Mark Watson.


https://i.imgur.com/Gt0u81l.jpg


This leaves us right at home in Lincoln, but the tour ain't over yet!  This is a great place to catch a boeing fuselage or 3!  Let's check the railfanning 'heads-up' groups to see if any are heading this way!

[Mark W]

The seasonal bug has taken a hard bite and I've printed out some fun Halloween characters.


https://i.imgur.com/4pd7JLo.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/6oilNOC.jpg


I decided to give them a semi-permanent home on a module and began scratch building an old abandoned stone house to set in the middle of the woods somewhere.

 
https://i.imgur.com/K1HFSoL.jpg

[Mark W]

We'll be running trains at the Beatrice, NE Model Railroad Show this weekend!  This will be the first time using the ProtoThrottle too!
I've spent the last few weeks tuning several power sets for realistic sound operation. 

I'll be happy to give a demo to anyone interested; just gotta make your way to Beatrice and ask nicely.