Building the South Lewistown

StickyMonk Mar 4, 2013

  1. StickyMonk

    StickyMonk TrainBoard Member

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    I finally made a start on the construction of my new Montana Central layout, South Lewistown.

    Only a couple of baseboards up so far, the layout is in an outside shed, it has been lined out and will have a heater to control the temperature. The layout will go round the walls of the shed in a continuous run with an upper level with a couple of large industries on, a lower level will also be added for off layout storage and access to the rest of the world (well the Burlington Northern).

    It will be set in the mid 70's as I love the variaty of power available to us BN modellers in that period.

    IMAG1339.jpg IMAG1340.jpg

    in the below photos I have placed some rough locations of the rear most buildings on the main switching area, until I get the rest of the baseboard up and some track laid it will be difficult to work out where exactly they will go.

    IMAG1346.jpg IMAG1347.jpg

    The buildings are in a bad way, they all need rebuilding as have been transported about in boxes for the last 4 years.

    Will give me plenty to do!
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Matt- Do you have a track plan sketched up?
     
  3. StickyMonk

    StickyMonk TrainBoard Member

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    Only in my head, I don't like to have anything set in stone and see what fits, but I will base it on my old layout.

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  4. Kenneth L. Anthony

    Kenneth L. Anthony TrainBoard Member

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    Aha. Gives you a chance to weather, modify, detail them. Make them a smidgen more interesting and less "seen em before."
    Happy railroading.
     
  5. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nice choice! Any chance of a MILW interchange and some MILW power? I know Boxcab E50's thinking it... :)
     
  6. StickyMonk

    StickyMonk TrainBoard Member

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    Who knows! Some modelers liscence will be used as I will have CN power visiting.

    uploadfromtaptalk1362421222622.jpg

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  7. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    He was quite excited to have actually done some model railroad work this afternoon. At least modern communications allowed him to show me the progress instantly (as seen here).
    Good to see it underway Matt :)

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  8. StickyMonk

    StickyMonk TrainBoard Member

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    Regarding buildings, I found this one that I started to put interiors in, it needs back dating but reminded me this layout will be operatable in the dark.

    uploadfromtaptalk1362438767461.jpg uploadfromtaptalk1362438794496.jpg uploadfromtaptalk1362438832717.jpg

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    Attached Files:

  9. Suidae

    Suidae TrainBoard Member

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    I like it. Looking forward to seeing more.:thumbup:

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  10. traingeekboy

    traingeekboy TrainBoard Member

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    I'm curious as well. New layouts hold so much possibility.
     
  11. JNXT 7707

    JNXT 7707 TrainBoard Member

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    Matthew, sounds like the kind of layout I want to do next - around the walls. Will be watching your progress with interest!
     
  12. StickyMonk

    StickyMonk TrainBoard Member

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    The layout will only be 8' x 6' but in my experience this has worked out ok for operation.

    Power will be smallish 4 axle locos RS3/11, C424/425, GP7/9/18/20/30/35 and some F units, can't have an early BN layout without F's!

    There will be a few 6 axle power appearances from SD7's and 9's (and a C636 or 2).

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  13. Colonel

    Colonel Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    looking forward to seeing your progress, do you have a track plan yet?
     
  14. StickyMonk

    StickyMonk TrainBoard Member

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    A little more baseboard down.

    uploadfromtaptalk1362495831893.jpg uploadfromtaptalk1362495886637.jpg

    The gap down the back near the Windows is where the lower level staging will disappear, it will be steep but the trains will be short and out of view.

    uploadfromtaptalk1362496084835.jpg uploadfromtaptalk1362496148803.jpg

    The mainline will run through the main street, I love street trackage.

    I will try to knock up a basic idea of what the track plan will look like.
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  15. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Same here! Look forward seeing it in action!
     
  16. StickyMonk

    StickyMonk TrainBoard Member

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    A bit more progress on the baseboards, this shows the upper and lower grades, yes they are steep but the trains will be short.

    uploadfromtaptalk1363025687359.jpg

    This will be a bridge.
    uploadfromtaptalk1363025727925.jpg

    Upper level, this will be one large industry.
    uploadfromtaptalk1363025872617.jpg

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  17. montanan

    montanan TrainBoard Member

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    Being a fan of the Milwaukee Road, I an somewhat familiar with this area. A couple of years ago we were in Lewistown for a bowling tournament, and found out there was a dinner train trip available on the "Charlie Russell Choo Chew". It boarded just west of Lewistown, and ran up to Denton, MT and back on the old Milwaukee Road Northern Division rails, now operated by the Montana Central Railroad. The train consisted of demotorer RDCs that had been remodeled for dining and was pulled by a Montana Central geep. The meal was great, and during the trip, the crew of waiters and waitresses performed a murder mystery involving the passengers. A great way to spend the evening. Here's a picture of the train.
    smugmug-200606231000966-L[1].jpg
     
  18. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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  19. montanan

    montanan TrainBoard Member

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    Not many people even know that this railroad exists. It serves many small communities alomg the old Milwaukee Road Northern Route and is alive and well. It' s been in service since 1985, headquartered out of Denton, MT and operates six ex Great Northern GP9s. It has interchanges with the BNSF at both Laurel, MT at one end and Great Falls at the other.
     
  20. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yes. The present operation is Central Montana Rail. However, there was a real Montana Central RR. It was a predecessor to the GN transcontinental completion, which reached Butte, Montana during the 1890's.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 12, 2013

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