AC&Y - Litchfield to Spencer OH

[SAH]

No overpass will be installed Rich.  There wasn't one at this location on the prototype so I'll live without one as well. 
Remember this section is more-or-less a temporary connection to staging.  Or at least I keep telling myself that.
I can live with the holes in the sky.

[Rich_S]

Steve, I understand as both Hunter and Firestone Roads cross the line at grade, as do all of the other roads between Spencer and New London. I guess there is not an easy solution for hiding the holes in the backdrop when you are dealing with North Central Ohio   How many cars were interchanged between the AC&Y and NKP / W&LE in Spencer, was it a very active interchange?

   


 

[SAH]

Spencer was a VERY active interchange in the W&LE and NKP years.  Every train in each direction worked Spencer.  100 cars a day in good times.  Lots of movements one might not think make sense too.  Recollections form employees say coal off the C&O at Carey was handed to the NKP at Spencer, probably bound for Cleveland.  Not an intuitive routing but lots of things factored into freight car routing as I'm sure you know.

I transcribed interchange reports for BA-2 (Bellevue - Akron) circa J-M 1979 and saw 50 - 75 cars per day.  So even in the N&W days there was a lot of business headed to Akron via Spencer.

Steve

[SAH]

So, it has been awhile.  Naturally changes are afoot.  The temporary west end of Spencer did not age well.  A serious lean to the AC&Y and NKP tracks developed (think super-elevation but in the wrong direction) that was only getting worse over time.  After three successful ops sessions I staged a coup and took back the basement.   

Here's the plan.  I tend to use CAD programs as a proof of concept tool and don't worry about track detail much.  The long view is three levels.  Spencer/Litchfield will still be the top level.  We'll see how close I come to even getting a second level in.  History says I wouldn't bet the house on it.



Photos to prove execution is underway.  The first looking from the spot marked "Passage Way to Upstairs"  The second shows Spencer reinstalled and lit.




If nothings else I've become pretty fearless about tearing it down to make it better.  Sure am glad I built the layout in sections.

Thanks for your interest.

Steve

[Rich_S]

Figures, I go on vacation and miss all the good stuff. Steve, looking forward to more progress update photos.

[SAH]

A few grab photos to prove I am making progress, however slowly.  Nothing like the speed at which my home boy Chris moves.  Love the Mahoning Division layout.

A view west toward staging.  NKP on the right.  Spencer Forge on the left.  The entry into the plant is now correctly oriented FWIW.


Continuing east to the west end of the Spencer team track.


The join up with the Spencer depot section.


There will now be 5+ ft between the east end of the Spencer siding and Black River.  Visually better and the train crew working the interchange will no longer have to back out onto the bridge.


Around the corner and on to Litchfield, and then staging.


So far so good.  Thanks for looking.

Steve

[Baronjutter]

It's certainly coming along!  Thanks for the update.

[Chris333]

Reminds me of an old layout in my bedroom at my parents house. Based off the Carbondale Central, it was an HO layout that sat in a corner and was held in place with expanders from the floor to ceiling. It worked out great till a friend of mine leaned hard against it 

[wazzou]

Steve -
Thank you for the update.  So it's a staging point to staging point configuration now, correct?
It looks fun and manageable.

[SAH]

I've used some form of an expander that held the stud wall in place with vertical pressure for previous experiments but this time I've pinned the wall to the ceiling after shimming the floor plate to get a tight fit.  It's pretty solid. 

Yes it's a staging to staging design but I'm still thinking only a three train ops session:  EB & WB AC&Y and a NKP transfer.  I need to update the track plan to get my current plan for staging on paper.  Of course, there's always that super secret plan for adding a lower and middle deck.   

[SAH]

Pretty much the same shots as earlier post but with terrain, drainage ditches and the like roughed in and ready for paint.




I think I'll try my hand at a swampy area in the foreground here.


The east end of Spencer siding to the left, the Black River section to the right.


Making progress, slow but steady.

[packers#1]

Looks good, looking forward to seeing more; I really do dig this layout, it has the feel I want my future layout to have

[Chris333]

Should be up and running in no time 

[Rich_S]

Steve,
   Is your roadbed a commercial product or home made? Is it Homasote? Also are you going to add some type of divider below the layout? Looking forward to more progress photo's, the layout is looking good. Now all we need are some FM H20-44's 





 

[SAH]

The roadbed is homasote made by California Roadbed some years ago.  I think it's still available as Homabed.  I hope so 'cause my stash is just about gone.  I like it.
The space beneath the layout will hopefully be filled with more layout someday.  I probably won't bother with a divider before then though.
Thanks for looking guys.