LOS ANGELES JUNCTION RAILWAY LAYOUT

[lajmdlr]

Hi All
Just got on The Railwire forum today. My scale is HO & currently building a layout based on the Vernon side of the LAJ. I'm also interested in knowing any other LAJ &/or switching RR modelers. It's in a 10' x 14' room & will be very compressed. It will have the B Yard, 7 Leads (switching areas) plus the ATSF Malabar Yard (for staging) & their Vernon Team. Four of the leads will be "stacked" to get more switching in the same space. Here's a link to some info on my layout in Google:
http://tinyurl.com/qdrhaut
Have the LAJ Switching Maps by Charlie Slater ex LAJ/ATSF/BNSF conductor & modeler. Also have been collecting alot of pix of their locos (steam thru MK1200G), maps, etc. that I'm willing to share. Don't know how to post images here but will if someone lets me know how. If anyone has any questions about any of this please ask away. Don't know everything so that's why I'm on these forums to learn more!   

[johnhale]

Hey LA Junction,
    Welcome aboard. I think you will get quite a bit out of the Railwire. The regulars tend to push the envelope as far as modeling ability and truth to the prototype.

John

[lajmdlr]

Thanks John. Saw one other guy doing LAJ. You being NH, do you know about Bill Shanaman aka nhguy of Sugar City CO. He has a pretty big NH layout & models transition era. He posts alot on Railroad line Forums & is involved w/ Rocky Ops out of Pueblo CO:
http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=36719&SearchTerms=operations
Sent you a PM about Bill.
How do I do my Signature?

Andy Jackson
Bellflower CA

[C855B]

Welcome, Andy. LAJ? For the 27 years I lived in SoCal, I never really familiarized myself with the LAJ. It always seemed like "that weird little switching railroad Santa Fe has." Anyway...

Do you frequent http://www.westcoastrailforums.com? They have a whole section on the LAJ, with several members familiar with its current and former incarnations.

[lajmdlr]

Yes Mike know WCRF quite well. Open mine w/ the LAJ then go to the other posts. And know the 2 LAJ trainmen (both modelers) who contribute there alot. Have started LAJ section on another forum.  First & only time we railfanned there was in mid '80s. Then in mid 90s lived 1 block south of S&W Fine Foods so ran up there 2-3 times a week to watch them switch it. Have been there in '11 & '12 w/ some other friends including one from Germany! But alas not much switching in Vernon these days, mostly in Commerce. And they only run 2 shifts per day M-F.

[packers#1]

LAJ? Sweet, I have the issue of Trains with the LAJ article; it looks like a Lance Mindheim deal only in the west  looking forward to seeing the progress

[lajmdlr]

Sawyer
My layout plan is mostly based on the Charlie Slater's Switching Maps & my 40+ of learning how to design layouts. Given my space limitations have tried to at least capture the essence of the LAJ. If my plan looks like something Lance would design it must be because RRs are built the same ways no matter where they're located.
Which issue of Trains was that LAJ article in? Having searched for LAJ info the past 3 years, somehow missed that one  The best article to date on the LAJ is by Charlie in the Warbonnet 3rd quarter 2003.

[lajmdlr]

For those who can't see the plan on Google/Picasa here's a link to it in Dropbox:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rt1dss4b0qwbir4/1-LAJ%20PLAN%209-2-13.jpg
Here's a Dropbox link to an aerial map of the LAJ in Vernon CA. The Leads to be modeled have * next to them. It also shows the ATSF & UP tracks but not the PE/SP tracks just off the south edge of the map:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/v7j7tbdvi8ftrvv/5-LAJ%20AERIAL%20VERNON%20LEADS-%20KEN%20JOHNSON-001.jpg
Ken Johnson of Trak Works put all the RRs on the aerial w/ the wording, etc. being mine.

[packers#1]

Sawyer
My layout plan is mostly based on the Charlie Slater's Switching Maps & my 40+ of learning how to design layouts. Given my space limitations have tried to at least capture the essence of the LAJ. If my plan looks like something Lance would design it must be because RRs are built the same ways no matter where they're located.
Which issue of Trains was that LAJ article in? Having searched for LAJ info the past 3 years, somehow missed that one  The best article to date on the LAJ is by Charlie in the Warbonnet 3rd quarter 2003.

http://trn.trains.com/Magazine%20Issues/2008/June%202008.aspx
Really a great issue because of the LAJ and Reading and Northern articles

[lajmdlr]

Thanks Sawyer. Will see if my friend has a copy. Also was able to order it so hope snail mail isn't tooooooooooooooo slooooooooooooooooow.

[PEIR]

The LAJ looks like an interesting railroad to operate. Have you made any progress on the construction phase? What era are you going to be modelling?

[lajmdlr]

Except for working on cars & locos actual layout work, there has not been much. And being retired has been no help at all! Seems like somebody or something always has dibs on any free time. Want to get the track for the A Yard & Produce Terminal down first & add on from there. Have enough cars & locos that can model from '50s thru the '80s. But do need to get some of the ALCOs painted LAJ blue w/ white zebra stripes. Found out that HO Santa Fe zebras are too big so will have to use Micro scale N gauge (60--1161. If anyone needs some white HO Santa Fe zebra stripes have one Microscale & 10 Champs to sell!)

[lajmdlr]

OK it's been 4 1/2 years since my last post. Have moved to a downstairs apartment to save my back. Now going to build a 2' by 10' module that will have most of the switching spots that will be on my "real" layout. Will also have a 16" by 72" module for a staging yard. The spots included in this version will allow me to practice switch moves with a variety of different freight cars. You can say it's too crowded but that's the way the real LAJ is having 64 miles of track "crammed" into about 2600 ac (4 sq. miles). 

[lajmdlr]

Here's the latest version of my plan as an overview. Have ordered the layout materials from Home Depot which will be here 12/12/18! There are sidings on both sides of the bridge which will be plate girder not like the one shown.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[lajmdlr]

Here's a very crude drawing of 1/2 of my LAJ modules. The staging yard will be built the same way but will be 74" long. There will be 1/4" plywood & 2" Styrofoam on top of the crossbeams. Most everything is old pieces from other projects. The only new "lumber" will be the sides & ends made from 1/2" by 6" MDF.