The Lakeshore Central and other Free-moN fun

[btrain]

One layout itch I've wanted to scratch for a long time is to build several Free-moN modules that reflected rural railroading in the farming country of Ohio and Indiana in the 1980s. Unlike the Nickel Plate or New York Central, I vividly remember Chessie System and Conrail, along with the local tourist railroad chugging on dilapidated track with an ALCO RS2. So I've fallen into the classic modeling trap of trying to recapture my youth, but hey as far as escapism goes, listening to John Mellencamp or Bruce Springsteen and recreating beat-up grain mills is a pretty productive way of passing the time in my book.

So here's the free lance plan that comprises three modules which are 4' x 18", with one a bit wider on one end to accommodate the 22" minimum radius to keep in Free-moN standards. There are also two more 2' x 18" modules that have scenes that add to the layout story, such as a runaround for the flour mill and a bridge over a creek with a general store and canoe launch. These aren't necessary for operations when the layout is at home, but it would be fun to add them at Free-moN events.

As for scenery and theme, I'm not going to lie and say that Tom Johnson's Logansport & Indiana Northern wasn't a major inspiration. Seeing his layout brought back memories of riding in the back of my parent's beat-up chevy. Driving from antique store to little amish groceries, going over the abandoned roadbed of the Erie Lackawanna, or still seeing faded stations and towers along the B&O Chicago main just came back to me after seeing photos of his creation in modeling magazines.

Instead of a fall harvest theme on his layout, the warm rays of summer will fill the lush vegetation as dirty old ALCOs wrestle PS covered hoppers through the little town on the branch. The line that is perpendicular to it and goes up and down is the ex-EL main, so I'll have one line in service while the second track is torn up. A standard boarded-up Erie tower still guards the tracks that either Conrail or Chessie System uses (In this freelance world, the Chessie did buy several parts of the EL, so I'll have an excuse to have yellow hoppers and geeps.) to interchange with the line.

I'm in the last parts right now of the design process. Track, structures, cars, and locomotives have been acquired, but I've stumbled when it comes to bench work design. Being a Free-moN layout and knowing that there are some prolific module builders here, I was wondering if any of you had tips on how to build it. What framing has worked for you, and what do you use for legs? Also, how do you wire your module? Any tips or suggestions are greatly welcomed, and I look forward to bringing these to future train shows.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Sploosh!

I thought everything on Freemo-N was code 55.

What about using Code 40 fo the highlighted stuff?

Don't forget to remove half the ties: https://conrail1285.com/improving-atlas-code-55-track-by-making-it-look-worse/

Have you thought about adding to the "local tourist road" aspect? A future expansion module that has a pole barn with a very "pre-Gettysburg" steamer holed up in it? Some mismatched coaches?

Believe it or not, I'm a big believer in recapturing our youth through modeling. It's why I built all my Philly TTRAK modules.

[dem34]

I've been told in the past code 40 is ok provided the track is laid right. (TBH, even pizza cutters run on Hand laid code 40.) But that's also probably going to be a thing that would need to be cleared with other participants if you go to a show.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I've been told in the past code 40 is ok provided the track is laid right. (TBH, even pizza cutters run on Hand laid code 40.) But that's also probably going to be a thing that would need to be cleared with other participants if you go to a show.

Good call, but I THINK it'll be ok no matter what since those are industry tracks. I think. I honestly don't have any hands on experience with this stuff, lol.

[btrain]

Sploosh!

I thought everything on Freemo-N was code 55.

What about using Code 40 fo the highlighted stuff?

D’oh that was an oversight when drawing up the plan. I was able to scrounge up some Code 40 ME flex track, so that will be used for spurs and siding as highlighted in the drawing. I’m looking forward to chewing up those ties and spacing, it sure does tell the story of the time. I’m even looking forward to experimenting with static grass on the right of way in even in the gauge.

I like the idea of an additional module with a side track or runaround as a base for a little tourist train. Maybe it could be one where the track stops halfway on it with the rest of the roadbed continues on with weeds and an out of service bridge on the other end of it?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

D’oh that was an oversight when drawing up the plan. I was able to scrounge up some Code 40 ME flex track, so that will be used for spurs and siding as highlighted in the drawing. I’m looking forward to chewing up those ties and spacing, it sure does tell the story of the time. I’m even looking forward to experimenting with static grass on the right of way in even in the gauge.

I like the idea of an additional module with a side track or runaround as a base for a little tourist train. Maybe it could be one where the track stops halfway on it with the rest of the roadbed continues on with weeds and an out of service bridge on the other end of it?

Oh yeah, love the idea of the "end of row". I feel like a small washout (like a culvert) would be a cruel joke for a small operation like that.

[wm3798]

That snug geometry makes me think that could be adapted into a set of TTrak modules without a lot of head scratching.

It would be fun to retain the single track bit, too, to force a bit of thinking into the roundy round dispatching ethos.

Lee

[John]

That snug geometry makes me think that could be adapted into a set of TTrak modules without a lot of head scratching.

It would be fun to retain the single track bit, too, to force a bit of thinking into the roundy round dispatching ethos.

Lee

IMO , TTRAK would have been better off with a single track mainline .. unless you just want to watch stuff run around in circles .. which is ok ..

[dem34]

I mean, that is the point of T-Trak to be fair. Its for people that don't care how the track looks and want to slap a scenic-ed layout on a table in 5 minutes run some trains for a bit, then pop it apart and have it away in another 5. Which is why I like it in a club setting, I can have T-Trak set up and running completely in the span of time it takes to get one N-Trak module prepped and ready. Though I am making permutations, notably a couple some Japanese style "Min-Module" Curves with 15" minimum radius.

[MK]

^ Bingo!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I mean, that is the point of T-Trak to be fair. Its for people that don't care how the track looks and want to slap a scenic-ed layout on a table in 5 minutes run some trains for a bit, then pop it apart and have it away in another 5. Which is why I like it in a club setting, I can have T-Trak set up and running completely in the span of time it takes to get one N-Trak module prepped and ready. Though I am making permutations, notably a couple some Japanese style "Min-Module" Curves with 15" minimum radius.

True, but... something else I really like about TTRAK: it's a format that's ripe] for ******** with. Like @randgust @wm3798 and I have done.

[Dave V]

I love those modules.

If I were still modeling something mainline-flavored, I'd be tinkering in T-Trak too.

The N scale Colorado Midland is all one piece, meaning that setup and tear-down at shows is particularly easy. But, getting it out of its basement bedroom, up the stairs (around the 180-degree landing), and out to the Honda is not as easy. Modules would be far easier in that respect.

[crrcoal]

Ed whats the scoop on that Track Geometry car?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ed whats the scoop on that Track Geometry car?

It was an N Scale Enthusiast special run from a few years ago. I've done a little work to it but really like it. It's far from a perfect exact model, but it's a lot of fun when traveling.

[btrain]

I like the idea of T-Trak for this layout. The only thing that’s going against that notion is that at 8-feet long at its most condensed version, it’s longer than my dining room table. Ideally this will be used as a small switching layout in my apartment’s spare bedroom with the other layouts stored under it when I’m not using those. I could combine the best of both worlds by making the vertical line be a double track main for T-Track, and the horizontal follow Free-moN standards, but I’m a real sucker for the look of Code 55 and 40 track. That and I really want to model a torn up second mainline 

I’d really like to have these modules ready for Ohio N Scale Weekend in three months, but life is a bit crazy now with my free time at the moment, so I may just create a T-Trak module of the interlocking tower/grain mill scene at Nova, Ohio on the B&O main to get some modeling done this winter, and bring the Hiles doughnut layout again for display.