AT&SF New Mexico Division 1890s

Hi folks,

After thinking and talking and thinking again, I've started construction on the new layout. It's a family project, so I've got some helpers. Thanks for everyone's input, especially "Cajon" and "Bremner". Links to other discussions on the layout and its theme:

http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine...orieta-District-in-the-19th-Century&highlight=

http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine...SF-New-Mexico-Division-in-the-1890s&highlight=

Here's a couple of pics of the backdrop:

 

Are you still doing the layout in the garage?

Along with the (19)70's ATSF, I'm doing a lot of small N steam (logging) so I'm following your progress. One thing I'd comment on at this point is that if you think N is fussy, N small steam takes it up a notch, particularly with electrical contact, and particularly if you're going DCC. So your whole environment - including dust and humidity control - has to be first rate to support a big layout with that goal.

Looking at the old posts - do you have "Santa Fe, Steel Rails through California' (Duke/Kistler)? There's a lot of early ATSF equipment, history west, etc. in there, a lot more than in many other commonly available ATSF books for the 1890's era. I did a quick check, and found one interesting fact - the original 'main line' to Guyamas, Mexico, was under a charter with the connecting ATSF subsidiary "New Mexico and Arizona Railroad", with the border crossing at Nogales. How's that for a layout name?

 

Hi Randgust,

Thanks for taking an interest in our little project. Yes, it is still going to be in the garage. The photos above are of the backdrop along the short wall, between the garage door and side door: a length of just a few inches short of 16 feet.

I'm considering a sawmill on the layout. I'm not sure if there will be space for a logging camp though. I've experimented with track plans on a couple of programs, but my son would like to play around with the track once the benchwork is finished.

I'll try to find "Santa Fe, Steel Rails through California" perhaps our local library has it.

 

ChileLine,

Where in NM will your layout be set? I'm very excited about your project and can't wait to see the progress. I grew up in Albuquerque and love the Super Chief/El Capitain/Southwest Chief route through the state.

Chris

 

Hi Chris,

My most developed trackplan attempts to represent the Santa Fe mainline between Lamy and Isleta (at the time called A&P Junction) with a branch line to the city of Santa Fe. It's kind of old school and not very state of the art, with a lot of influence from designs by the late John Armstrong (meaning it's kind of busy). The main foci will be a kind of minimalist division point yard for crew changes (Albuquerque) and an interchange yard (Lamy). My family and I mainly want an excuse to run our oldtimer MDC/Roundhouse rolling stock (all lettered for the Santa Fe or Rio Grande). The location was chosen because it has meaning to our little boy who likes to ride the Rail Runner to Abuelita's house up at the state capitol.

The only location I've really thought through is First St. running south from Central (back then called Railroad Avenue). I have kits that are reminiscent of our old wooden station (before the Alvarado was built in 1902) and the European Hotel (across the street) that I think only require only a little kitbashing to give a feel for the originals. Several other storefronts looked like they were right out of the DPM catalogue. Below are a couple of links to compare:

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-coming-of-the-railroad-and-the-birth-of-new-town

http://www.periodminiatures.biz/26.html?frm_data1=9&frm_data1_type=large

 

The poker game that ATSF was playing with SP to get to the Pacific was basically from the middle of New Mexico to the coast; they launched on three fronts. 1) Where they wanted to go (Los Angeles), fighting SP every step of the way - San Diego (via Temecula Canyon, which was an interesting strategy if bad engineering), and 3) down to Guyamas in Mexico for the short haul to the Pacific, which looked great on paper. That three-way attack is what finally forced the deal with SP to get into the state, you could either negotiate a deal or get surrounded. ATSF had just barely had the dust settle from that battle in the 1890's and hadn't fully integrated all the subsidiary railroads in until the Ripley administration, so it was a 'wild an wooly' railroad at that time - only a evolutionary predecessor to what would come later.

I know the history of the A&P side pretty well (modeling Flagstaff, even if not in that era) and it was a pretty wild time. There was by no means any assurance that the entire Santa Fe plan wasn't simply going to go bankrupt and collapse, particularly in the panic of 1893 when ATSF, SLSF were both in receivership and wouldn't straighten the mess out until about 1897. There's any number of 'what if' scenarios that would make for great modeling.

 

Thanks for the info! I'll be watching with great interest!

 

Made some progress on the backdrop. Painted it with primer, then painted it light blue. After reading some how-tos by Dave Frary and Craig Bisgeier, I picked up three shades of light blue latex (eggshell finish) from a Big Box - Nevada Sky/Ice Flower/Lakeside mist. We used the darker blue on top, lighter at the bottom; feathered and blended them so the shaded bands and seams weren't too obvious (I hope). The whole family got involved and we had lots of fun. Next we'll start the benchwork.

 

I took the plunge and started the benchwork. This is a big step from a half sheet of plywood on top of some sawhorses. I'm trying an open grid style made of 1X4s. The layout at our old local hobby shop was built that way. I thought that it looked stable and simple enough for me to try. The table will ultimately be shaped like water wings with three tables bolted together. I'm building the center table first. I spaced the crosspieces 12" apart. Too close together? I've been talking to a friend from work who built a layout for his kids some years ago. Since warping will probably be an issue in an unfinished garage, he's been encouraging me to make it as sturdy as I can. I'm trying to keep it as flat and level as I can.

A problem I'm having is finding straight boards. I've been to several home improvement chain stores, but I am not pleased with their quality. Perhaps next time I'll try an actual lumber yard.

Also I built a kind of soffit into the back to accommodate a tunnel or other hidden track in the rear.

Here's a couple of photos:

 

To help control the warpage, you should consider painting all of the benchwork. I have painted mine black to help make it disappear.

Glenn