So I have been wanting to build a roundy-round set in the early 1950’s so I can run my Bachmann 2-8-0. My fiend Joe D’Amato really planted the seed when he gave me a Micro-Trains engine house. This engine house has many components that look and feel like John Allan’s Gorre and Dephetid engine house, except that it is open on one side and is a single stall. Joe and I have agreed to build a pair of 2×4ish layouts using the same basic track plan, but with different eras and locations. I have decided to model the Pacific Coast railway as if it survived WWII, was standard gauged and was purchased by the Southern Pacific. I plan to use Atlas Code 80 track with Customline #4’s, and all wood kits for the buildings. I am also thinking about scratch building an SP SC-73-1 whaleback tender and modify the 2-8-0 to look and feel more like an SP loco. Well the shift back to the 1950’s is starting to pick up steam. As loyal readers of my blog know, I finished the engine house. Today, I dug out an old Dimi Trains water tower that I built back in the 1990’s when I never thought about modeling diesel locos of the 80’s. I also got something in the mail that I ordered, a Micro-Trains weathered runner pack of Southern Pacific boxcars and a 50″ SP boxcar. and yes, I did let the factory air out:teeth:
I attempt to model the steam era, so my "time warp" operates in the forward direction, chronologically by allowing more modern equipment on the layout (when I had one.) I added an hidden yard to store the modern stuff on track, but out of view of the main part of the layout.
Yeah, I do the forward direction too. 1951 is where I start but slip in more modern things as my fancy allows. I added a whale back tender to an old Rivarossi 2-8-2 once but a friend of mine wanted it so bad, he bought it from me.
My time warp stops in 1953, the year I graduated from high school. I have no idea why except that we had an outdoor graduation ceremony and the sun was shining. Hey, we're model railroad nuts, so we can dream up any scenario we want. Besides there's nothing nicer than a warm June day in northern New England.
You are about 4 years more seasoned than I am, but I suspect you saw steam locomotives operating in service during your youth as I did in central Illinois. I was fortunate that the B&O branch line tracks ran just across the street from my family's general store, so I had a "50 yard line seat" for the railroad happenings.
In the summer of 1951, I was very fortunate to ride in an open vestibule coach behind a Mogul out of Boston's North Station. Then in the fall of 1952, I was even more fortunate to ride in the Minute Man, B&M's equivalent of the Q's Pioneer Zephyr. I guess that's why my time warp cuts off in 1953, I didn't want to leave those wonderful memories behind.
Yikes. If talking about what I think you mean, that goes back, what, fifty plus years ago? I vaguely remember hearing the name, but nothing else. Too many different dance names in the sixties. Swim, mashed potato, the stroll, twist, frug, (variants), wasn't there even one named the "funky monkey?"
My warp starts in 1980. It was a time when I met my beautiful wife and the hectic part of my life started to slow down and I could relate to seeing and enjoying trains in Phoenix the most. Growing up in the suburbs of Cleveland we didnt see trains a lot. We did take the train from Cleveland to Pensylvania to visit family there many times. As a 6 year old...I dont remember much of it though. There are things from the 80's that are still on the rails today. It's not hard to run 1980's trains on my layout and with the flip of a switch be running stuff I see on the BNSF line through Holbrook today. Even the buldings and other scenery looks the same between then and now My warp ends at the present...even as days tick off the calendar.
It's just a jump to the left............ circa 1985 Santa Fe Texas lines. However my Morrison-Knudsen maintained SD40-2s do move me forward to 1994 from time to time.
The new roundy-round is starting to take form. I have a 30″ door that has some damage. I am going to cover it with extruded foam that will also become the base of the scenery. I went through my hoard and found tunnel portals, a large amount of Woodland Scenics ground foam, trees and cinders. Add in an old Dimi Trains water tower, a Heljin sand house (need a tower) and a Peco turntable, I can wip up a decent layout quickly. Some people have been vocal about my choice of using Atlas Code 80 track, but the main reason for this layout is for my daughter to have a place to run trains with minimal supervision. Using code 80 track will hold up to a 9 year old girl, and hopefully in 2 years, my son (with a lot of help from me). I drew this up with a minimum radius of 12.5″ and Atlas #6 Customlines. I used RTS10 and will be using flex track. The attached track plan shows an Atlas turntable, but will be the peco one that I have.
