Sharing My N scale Layout about 25 years in the making

[crrcoal]

Well this has piqued my curiosity! Do tell do tell!! Pics too would go a long way! 

What happened to the switching layout you brought to Columbus?

[nkalanaga]

"Instead of lining up the roof, I lined up the frame at the bottom.
Looked good at the bottom edge, and the coupler was at the right height."

Good mechanical reasoning.  I was thinking more of the prototype, where the F cab would likely be sitting on the former SD frame, but for a model, the structure is entirely different.  Either way, it really isn't a bad looking railroad shop kitbash.  I think you should build one.

[u18b]

What happened to the switching layout you brought to Columbus?

You have a good memory Paul.
I bet you're thinking of Louisville convention in 90 or 91.  I think I had it there.

Yes. Actually, that is the only decorated operating layout I ever had.

It was a 4 foot by 10 in module.  Track plan was the famous/infamous johnAllen timesaver plan. 

Actually, I just got rid of it about a year ago. 

Hey Chessie system fan.  Did I give it to you?

[cjm413]

Your question actually fits the thread.

I have a passion for building what no one else has... or what you can't readily buy.
Thus kitbashing.

This is a U30C backdated a bit to a phase 2.

It has the small grill in the high position indicating an oil bath filter, and the a3erodynamic flaring at the roof line just past the exhaust stack.

I published this in an article.

Fell on tight times and had to sell off much of my early collection to pay hospital bills.

Big Soo Line guy who bought it had an article published in N-Scale Mag.  And it was pictured there.

He eventually got out of N scale and Bryan Bussey acquired all or part of his collection.

Bryan offered it back to me.
And I was glad to get it back.

Very different from what I commonly build for CSX.

C&O also had Phase 2 U30C's with oil bath filters, but all of  were off the roster prior to the 1986 merger. Off the top of my head, I recall they were "sold" to SBD and traded-in for new power.

Atlas made a nice Phase 2 U30C in HO, too bad it has never been released in N....

http://www.atlasrr.com/HOLoco/hou30cloco1.htm

[randgust]

Somehow I was always imagining a Cornerstone locomotive shop on your layout with "BEARDON BEARING BLOCK REMOVAL SERVICES' across it, with scrap BBRX mill gondolas piled high with them outbound....

[atsf_arizona]

Of course there's a bit of a story behind it.
Here is my layout.  It is currently 6' x 6'.   



I know, I know.  My real love is kitbashing, tuning locos, and writing articles.

I drew up lettering diagrams for future use when I would make my own decals and create a custom fleet.

The Plywood Plains is a cut-throat operation that.... well, you'll see.

Ron,

I love your layout.  I love your graphics design.

Sort of a maximum minimalist.   

Absolute clarity due to lack of distractions.

Count me in as a fan.

[up1950s]

Well what a bucketful of hoots Ron . If you put dead plastic fish under 2 legs at one end you would have a grade test layout .

[u18b]

Actually.  I used to have a 6ft yard module.
One year I posted a pic with a little snake on it. 
It was pretty funny.

[chessie system fan]

I had the 1x4 layout for maybe a year but gave it back when I moved and had to downsize. 

The track plan was like this.  There were five industries located by the (*)s.  The switcher beginning position and location for cars set out from mainline trains is the top left siding.  It was a fun switching puzzle.

___________                 __________*
                      \              /
------------------------------------------------------- Main Line
                            /_______
   *__________ / ________ \__________*
                                 /    *
                               /
                           */
                           /

That bottom track should be more angled but you get the idea.

[jdcolombo]

Ron's posts point out what I think is the greatest thing about model railroading: there are many different ways to participate in the hobby, and you don't have to be an expert in all of them, or even participate in all of them, to enjoy it.  Folks don't have to have a highly detailed layout, or any layout at all, to get satisfaction from the hobby; you don't have to be a "master modeler" if that doesn't float your boat.  There aren't many hobbies with the range of choices that model railroading offers, and that's a great thing IMHO.  Sure beats golf . . . at least for me!

John C.

[Nato]

                Ron your layout and the paint schemes for cars and the various locomotives are wonderful. You ask how some of can work on locomotives and cars and also on a layout. My answer is "With the help of talented friends." Keep up the excellent work. Nate Goodman (Nato). Salt Lake, Utah. 

[Phantom]

I needed a diversion from work, and you have given me the opportunity.  Other suggested slogans:

We wedge out our competition...all the way to the finish.

If you saw how we saw...you'd see a lot more than bark in our bite.

We build our product...from the ground up.

How far wood you go...

We've grown a lot...

Our products:  even new, they're older than most.

Our products: stand up to the test of time

[u18b]

I like them.

[robert3985]

Ron,

I apologize in advance for this, but I have the perfect slogan for your railroad...

"The PP RAILROAD...It Doesn't Have to be BIG to Get the Job DONE!"

Just sayin'   

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[bbussey]

I was happy to be able to get the Soo U30C back to Ron, as I know how attached he was to the model when he originally kitbashed it.

I personally acquired his Oro Dam U25C, which surprisingly he wasn't as attached to, and with his permission/blessing I kitbashed it further and repainted it as a Conrail unit. I didn't modify the stretched RS1 mechanism and it still works flawlessly. I need to add a decoder at some point.