Milwaukee Road - Portage to LaCrosse - early 1950's - N Scale

[altohorn25]

Layout update from 7/28/2022:
-Both mainlines are fully tracked
-starting to install Blue Point turnout controls
-Track is complete in Camp Douglas
-Sidings on Eastbound mainline in New Lisbon are complete

[altohorn25]

I installed about 15 Blue Point turnout controllers today.  Not hard, but it takes a while to do.

I now have almost every turnout that comes off the mains controlled with a Blue Point.

Since my facia is not installed yet, I haven't run to control cables yet; I'm just operating them by sticking my hand under the layout and throwing the controller manually.  Not perfect, but it works for now.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

So I have a trick for switch machines like the Bluepoints. I have a similar issue with my K mounts.

Stick a little square of double sided foam tape on the top. Get it lined up then stick it in place. That should hold it in place long enough to make screwing it in easy. It works great with my little K mounts but I'm not sure if the additional weight of the Bluepoint will cause issues.

[Cajonpassfan]

I also use double sided foam on Tortoises. It has the added benefit of diminishing the grinding sound.
Otto

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I also use double sided foam on Tortoises. It has the added benefit of diminishing the grinding sound.
Otto

Huh. Yeah, I bet it does!

[altohorn25]

Just for something a little different, I got some of my "modern" power out (1970's) and shot a video of my Sprint train running around the layout.

[kc9jts]

Hopefully these come through.  Here are some old interlocking diagrams from Grand Crossing and Camp Douglas.

[haasmarc]

I also use double sided foam on Tortoises. It has the added benefit of diminishing the grinding sound.
Otto

Try running your Tortoises at 5 volts instead of 12.  They will be slow and barely make a sound.

[altohorn25]

I finished the trackwork at Camp McCoy today.  The turnouts are not powered yet as I'm waiting for more Blue Points to arrive in the mail.

The long track close to the backdrop is the CNW mainline.  The two spurs the go into the backdrop are the two legs of the wye that went into the army base at Fort McCoy.

It will be a neat little interchange to work during an ops session.

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[altohorn25]

A couple more photos from today.

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[amato1969]

Awesome progress!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Yeahhhhh boy!!!

[altohorn25]

I finished putting in the track at Mauston this morning.  I still have the staging yard and New Lisbon left to install track in.

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[altohorn25]

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[altohorn25]

I finished up the roadbed in New Lisbon this afternoon.  Plan on getting the track down before the end of the day tomorrow.

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