Free-moNebraska

[dnhouston]

Very cool 

[railnerd]

impressive as hell.  if only MC or Nilmadic were there, you'd be finished tonight 

[Mark W]

OH MAN!  YOU GUYS, OHHHHH MAN!!! 

I knew my dad's mega module was going to be cool, but I had no idea how FUN it is to operate and watch trains roll through the mountains.  Even the 'cotton candy' mountains as they are now*.



Dad really knocked the design for this out of the park.  It's a basic return loop, but so well disguised that it doesn't look like a return loop!  And the viewing opportunities are endless!  Double track, single track, bridges, tunnels, mountains, valleys.  No matter what point you're viewing from, you have an incredible view.  This is what model railroading is all about!  Feeling like a kid again!


We happened to pair it up next to Marsland and at the end of the day discovered a sweet operations game! 

The Burlington Heavyweight passenger had just made the Eastbound mountain run and pulled into Marsland Station for a layover.  A long Westbound reefer freight, pulled by a 2-10-2 took the passing siding at Marsland and entered the mountain grades while the passengers got on/off the Burlington Train.  Just before the passenger was about to depart, the call came down that the freight had stalled on the grade.  Being the only units in the area, the crew cut the O-4 Class Burlington Mikado free of the Heavyweights for quick helper service.  They zig-zagged into the turn-table to turn Westbound, then followed up the grade to the rear of the reefer freight.  Blowing full smoke (I imagine), the Mikado and 2-10-2 moved the freight to the summit.  Down hill from here, the 2-10-2 carried on Westward and the Mikado returned to Marsland, backing down East slopes.

Tomorrow we're bringing out the Burlington California Zephyr and the Southern Pacific Daylight for some high speed action! (well.. American High Speed)


Cheers!


*Please don't eat the cotton candy mountains

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Looks great!
With many kick-a$$ viewing angles, each distinctive!
Very clever way to extend the return loop with great scenery.
Might even fit one of Nils' uber-long trains:



Nice viewers can hang out at one place for a while, too.
Take in the whole panorama.

Just curious: your Free-moN layout looks like all your modules, plus dad's new one.
is this a two-man operation for the weekend?

And do you have a track / benchwork plan drawing how your dad's return loop comes together?
Very groovy.

[basementcalling]

Very a$$ kicking. What's the grade and curve radii?

[Mark W]

"Might even fit one of Nils' uber-long trains"

Hehe... I almost want you to guess how long the turnaround track is. 

Ok I'll tell you.  It's *drumroll* 37 feet!  That will handle about 1.1 scale miles of train!

Yep, it's just the Watson modules so far, but we have 5 operators/helpers that are working the show with us to get a feel for the standards before beginning their own modules.  There was a lot of serious interest from the guests yesterday too, I wish I had an "Intro to Free-moN" pamphlet or something we could give out which outlines standards and all that.  So far I'm just inviting people to the Spring 'Train'ing session we'll be hosting.  But more on that later.  Time to get back and play with trains!

Peter, the max grade is 1.6%.  Kept most of the radii above 23", but there is one 70 degree curve at 22".

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Ok I'll tell you.  It's *drumroll* 37 feet!  That will handle about 1.1 scale miles of train!

Dang!
Of course, now you have to build a comparable return loop for the other end, or else you'll have to saw-by your own train 

Looking forward to more photos and video!

[RBrodzinsky]

The way you guys crank out the modules, you will need a small moving van, soon

[Mark W]

Well, another show is in the books!  I feel like this one went by WAY too fast.  They announced closing time and Kevin and I both blurted out "Already!?".
Once again, I got so caught up in running/watching trains I didn't get as much photos/video as I hoped.  But we did film a helper operation, so hopefully I can get that edited together soon. 

The way you guys crank out the modules, you will need a small moving van, soon

Ha, funny you should mention.  I think "Mark's Modules" was unofficially incorporated today.  We had two separate guests ask if we sell modules frames that they can start off with.  One of them seemed very interested in taking over the "Holland Drive" pair.

I've actually been in the market for a utility trailer for a while now to haul my astrophotography rigs, timelapse gear, and act as a camper on my semiannual week long road trips across Nebraska (MeanwhileInNebraska).  This would of course double as a module hauler... perhaps to Portland....

Dang!
Of course, now you have to build a comparable return loop for the other end, or else you'll have to saw-by your own train 

Looking forward to more photos and video!

That's why I purposely designed the other loops to accept extensions.  So far, even my longest train doesn't fill the smallest loop, so no extensions necessary... yet. 
Although, with how fun it was to run helper service on the mountain loop, I'm sure doing a saw-by would be a fun game too!  Normally I would never suggest designing an overly complicated, or purposely limited track plan because, while these situations do occur in the 'real world', you never want to require excessive/redundant operations EVERY time you operate your layout.  It gets old as oil, fast.  However, I'm learning that with Free-mo, these situations pop up in a very 'real world' manor, and so far it's infrequently enough that it IS a fun challenge to overcome! 

[basementcalling]

"Might even fit one of Nils' uber-long trains"

Hehe... I almost want you to guess how long the turnaround track is. 

Ok I'll tell you.  It's *drumroll* 37 feet!  That will handle about 1.1 scale miles of train!

Yep, it's just the Watson modules so far, but we have 5 operators/helpers that are working the show with us to get a feel for the standards before beginning their own modules.  There was a lot of serious interest from the guests yesterday too, I wish I had an "Intro to Free-moN" pamphlet or something we could give out which outlines standards and all that.  So far I'm just inviting people to the Spring 'Train'ing session we'll be hosting.  But more on that later.  Time to get back and play with trains!

Peter, the max grade is 1.6%.  Kept most of the radii above 23", but there is one 70 degree curve at 22".

Super elevated of course?

[Mark W]

A steam powered freight needs some help on the new Mountain Pass Mega Module.

[eric220]

That is a very cool, very unique way to do a return loop. Well done!

[glakedylan]

just read through the total thread for the nth time
and it does not get any less interesting with each read
great thread, awesome modeling, super work
appreciate your sharing...will keep following and reading
through again and again...

[tappertrainman]

Do you have a rough track plan?  I'm having trouble visualizing how the loop works!

James

[Mark W]