Mopac layout

Jim, great work as always. Love following your thread. Michael

 

Thanks Michael. I've had a lot of fun over the years building this layout.

 

Jim-it just continues to get better n' better! When you retire, you will be able to live in the layout room all the time, Dee and Comet can visit you. Finished? I hope not, that's what keeps you motivated and young. I should know, I am only 27 now.
Woodie

 

I hope you keep going.. This is a nice layout!

 

wow, great layout. very inspiring

 

Thanks for the comments. Woodie, you know I'm only 26 if your 27 and my goal is to take early retirement in the next 4 years (fat chance in this economy).

 

With the weather (snow and ice) I have been off work, so I did get a little accomplished this week. Then I had to shut things down due to rolling blackouts in the area caused by the cold weather. But before that I was able to paint the plaster in the Spadra area and run a few trains.

Here Extra 616 west (grain empties) pulls into Spadra for a meet


A while later KL (Kansas City - North Little Rock) arrives at the west switch.


Here is a view from Clarksville Jct. looking east toward Spadra


It appears that cabin fever has set in...the giants are drinking adult beverages.

 

Great progress.

When there's scenery you need another spot for the beverage.
Or you will get a spot! :angel:

Wolfgang

 

I do have shelves for drinks and car cards and more are planned for this area when the scenery gets a little further along.

 

Just a quick update. I added more cardboard webbing along the embankment for the branch line. Soon I will be adding plaster and paint in this area. Until then I can still run trains. Below Extra 601 east holds the main as LK (North Little Rock - Kansas City) rolls into the siding.



More to come.

 

I took a break from scenery to finish a loco project I've been working on for a while. I just finished decaling a Proto GP-9. This unit represents the ex T&P units aquired by the MOP after merger.




This unit still needs a fair amount of westhering and window glass to complete the project.

Here is a shot of 1843 just west of Ozark pulling the CJ (Clarksville Jct.) turn.


I hope everyone had a great Easter.

 

GP9 or GP18? Just wondering. I also see the four stacks that must have been a shop modification.

 

The units were Texas & Pacific GP9's (with 48" fans). After the MOP took over the T&P, the exhaust were modified to MOP standards for non-turbo units and later reclassified as GP18m's after the era I model. Here they are still GP9's. Also having dynamic brakes make them somewhat of an oddity for the MOP.

 

Great photos of a great layout. While others are sitting at their computers drawing CAD designs and thinking about what they will build....someday, here is a layout that is up and running and being sceniced almost daily. Mopman has built his dream layout NOW, not some time in the distant future. Far too many planners make the mistake of not getting started and their widows have to deal with getting rid of all the "stuff" that was intended to be part of the "future". Way to go Mopman!
Woodie-mayor of Mogollon

 

Woodie, your check is in the mail...lol

 

"Check's in the mail"
"I will love you in the morning"
"I won't .......................!"
yep

 

Happy 2012 to all. Goodness, I can't believe it's been almost a year since I last posted to this thread. But then again, I haven't posted to many threads over the past year. Also work on the railroad slowed considerably although I did operate the railroad a lot.

Retirement became an option last April when the school district offered a 15% of annual salary incentive to retire effective August 31, so I took the incentive money and ran since staying on would hurt my monthly average and lessen my monthly retirement. Most of the period between April and August was spent getting all the paperwork completed and submitted before the official date of retirement. The wife and I were then able to pay off all credit card debt. Now the only "real" expenses are a mortgage, utilities and food. That financial freedom sure feels great.

This fall I did build and plant about 100 trees just to get something going before the Plano train show this month. I hope to add a couple of dozen more in the next couple of weeks if the weather cooperates. Here is a shot of KL (Kansas City-North Little Rock) along the narrow section of bench work between Van Buren and Alma. I added a few trees along the front edge but will have to wait until I finish the backdrop painting before I plant any along the backdrop.



I also added more trees east of Alma to cover the seam for the lift-out section that allows access to staging turnouts below.



Right now I am just trying to get everything cleaned up and running for the layout tour in two weeks. Hopefully I will be able to get more done after the show since I don't have to punch a clock anymore.

 

Love the weathering on diesels!

 

Welcome back!

 

Thanks guys. It's good to be making a little progress. Nothing like being on the layout tour in a couple of weeks to motivate action.