Meet The Kansas City & Gulf

Kickstart:

To kick this off, I'm going to repost a link (shared in a previous thread on another OGR forum) that takes you to the textual history of the Kansas City & Gulf. IF you like to read short narratives, hopefully you'll enjoy. However, IF you like "wham, bam, thank you ma'am" type of in-your-face graphic-oriented web pages, this link won't be for you.

ANYWAY pour you up a cup of coffee/whatever, and here 'tis for those that may be interested:

http://www.vscalecreations.com/kcng1.htm

All fer now!

Andre

Been busy with other projects. BUT thought I'd stop by and pitch up a track plan to acquaint you with what I've got going on with my Ozark layout. Hopefully, you'll be able to see these photos (via clicking/enlarging) well enough (forum shrinks pictures) to understand the plan.

The lower level:

The upper level:

The upper right is the same on both plans, so that's where you connect the two plans.

All fer now!

Andre

LAMING,

There is not enough contrast to see your track plan.

SantaFeJim posted:

LAMING,

There is not enough contrast to see your track plan.

Took the plans into Microsoft Office Picture Manager, and hit auto-correct.  Here are the plans. 

This is going to be a fun layout to operate, and given past photos of Andre's work, I'm sure it will be outstanding modeling!

Regards,

Jerry

Andre has done some very careful and detailed planning which will, no doubt, result in a beautiful and functional layout.

Andre did you really make a V-scale version of this?  If not, it might be fun to do in Trainz!

Does the "V" stand for virtual?

Hi All!

Been without internet service for a few days. Just got it back a bit ago. Some replies:

Santa Fe Jim:

I didn't fully realize that the forum software would not allow expanding the photo to the original resolution. When expanded, the details are more apparent. Of course, that doesn't help here. Thanks Jerry for trying to help via contrast/etc.

Tinplate Art:

Thanks for the kind words.  Seems no matter how hard I plan, I still have "Surprise!" moments that CAN be accompanied with "oh sh*t!" moments.

Ted:

Yes, I have a couple/three V scale versions (all incomplete) that run through Digital Elevation Models of the terrain in my proposed region of the Ozarks. I learned from this excercise that prototype could have done it, too!  However, with a huge caveat: The resulting line would have been horrendously expensive to build/operate. By the way, I never completed any of the V scale versions, so they were never released via my "V Scale Creations" endeavor. However, from closely reading your question, I am assuming you're asking if I made a virtual model railroad using my KC&G theme as can be done in such a feature as offered by Trainz? In that case, no. My V scale versions were full length (a scale 100 or so miles!), through accurately rendered digital terrain. Keep in mind that I also use my web space at my VSC domain to host other interests of mine. (Model railroading, trail riding of motorcycles/etc.)

Art:

You've got it!

All:

IF you would like to read some more silliness, I have converted two more essays to html and uploaded them.

* The history of the KC&G's diesel roster:

http://www.vscalecreations.com/kcng2.htm

* A fictional regional (regional to the KC&G's Ozark Sub) rail enthusiasts experience as he chases a KC&G freight in the Autumn of '64:

http://www.vscalecreations.com/kcng3.htm

Later on we'll get into construction photos etc!

Andre

Andre: Hopefully, your "V" layout will become a reality layout sooner than later! ☺

Hi Art!

So you're into V scale, also? I take it your chosen medium is Trainz? 

That so, my routes are all for Microsoft's "Train Simulator" (aka MSTS) with all the upgrades installed. My routes are also compatible with "Open Rails Train Simulator" which is an open-source simulator system that can use legacy MSTS content. But, unfortunately, none of my routes would be compatible with Trainz.

Otherwise, I would send you links to some of my V scale stuff for you to explore and (hopefully) enjoy on your computer.

Andre

Andre: SORRY, I missed the simulation aspect! I thought it was some kind of SUPER layout software! MY BAD! A little SLOW on the uptake!  DUH!  😁

I can now understand how a real hoghead such as yourself would be into the simulation software. Probably less of a challenge to you than the rest of us mere mortals! LOL! 😊

I would imagine you have taken this simulation to to a higher and more challenging level?

Andre: Do you employ a dedicated control stand for your simulations as some do?

Hi Art!

I tried the "Raildriver" control stand ( https://raildriver.com/products/ ) that simulates a "desktop" control configuration. I really didn't catch on to it. My interest in diesels is well before the "desktop" era. Besides, I soon migrated almost exclusively to steam in V scale... so the "Raildriver" was placed on a shelf in the closet where it remains to this day.

Yes, I do like the challenge of handling trains over grades that reflect it's prototype. (If the route is based on a prototype and not "free lanced", and I have some of those too.)

The physics model in MSTS and Open Rails can be modified ("tweaked") to do a fair job of replicating the nuances of handling trains over mountainous terrain. I have a route that simulates grades of over 5% (Stampede Pass Switchbacks) and handling trains over that spaghetti bowl of track is quite a challenge!

Here's a view from within the simulator of a light engine at the town location of "Stampede". This is from a "raw", in-process route, so no full-blown scenery at this point, only track, bridges, and cribbing. However, this gives you and idea of the ruggedness of the terrain the Stampede Switchbacks traversed. Grades here go up to 5.6%!

My favorite use of V scale is to use it as a vehicle to indulge in my link n' pin era fascination. I have routes based on the Colorado Midland of the 1890s, Stampede Pass: The Switchbacks late 1880s, Denver South Park & Pacific in the mid-1880s, Silverton RR (late 19th century), and a whopper of a route in-process I call the "New England Lines", circa late 1860s. (And that's only some of them.)

I like both: V scale and tactile model railroading. (HO in my case.)

However, of late I seem to be spending more time with my HO projects... and for SURE spending a TON more loot. (V scale is very cost effective... VERY.)

All fer now!

Andre

Andre: Very informative and interesting! THANKS! My actual train handling were several heavyweights behind a 2-8-0 with minimal grades and with a wye on one end with spring switches.

Backing up on the wye to the tail track involved a rail greaser and a grade so avoiding slipping the drivers and not picking the points was a little tricky! After clearing the switch, I was going slow enough to just apply the engine brake to stop the train. We had a turntable at the other end of the line and a 1000 foot tunnel in between.

Keeping even a light train stretched out required adept brake reductions and a steady hand on the throttle.

I plan to follow along with this thread. Sounds like it will be interesting! I was born in Kansas City (still here) so I'm really enjoying reading the history of the KC&G and KCS railroads on your website. I don't know a lot about the real railroads or their history, but since retiring at the end of 2011 I've developed an interest in learning more about the trackage around the KC area. 

My interest has been in learning about the tracks that remain here.  Such as, who started out with what track, who has it now, what happened causing track to no longer be used, mergers through the years, etc.  With all the railroad history here, there's plenty to learn.

Your website has also given me the thought of trying to trace some of these routes on a map (Google Earth or other). The Train Simulator program and routes/maps/terrain you are creating also sounds interesting. I didn't know train simulator programs could do all that? More to learn about while following along here. 

Definitely NOT your usual OGR forum thread! Unique and interesting!

Morning all!

Our internet is has been down, then on/off/on/off... repeat until frustrated. Anyway, a quick pic or two for now, back later after church for some replies.

No visiting operators this week, been running some trains by my lonesome (I enjoy that, too). Here's a pic of the South Stage when I left it for the evening. Next out will be the short coal extra you see in the foreground:

Also, picked up a neat little wreck train crane n' tender car. I will eventually strip the numbers and likely repaint the flat/etc. Remind me to tell you why I decided to purchase one.

The thingie-ma-bobs in front are: Left four items - Out riggers for the crane car. Right item - crank handle for the boom and hook.

All fer now... gotta' load up the music gear and head off to church!

Andre

Replies...

Art:

Yes, I enjoy the challenges that train simulation software can offer. It's not perfect by a far stretch, but it's a fun aspect to the hobby of trains that model railroading doesn't adequately convey. (i.e. Train handling.)

RTR12:

I was born and raised in KC until the tender age of 16 when my parents relocated to the land of their nativity: Arkansas. Took me all of two weeks to fall "life long" in love with country living! Love mountains from all over, Rockies, Alleghenies, New England... mountains! Here in my region, it's the mountains that I live nearby: The Ozarks as well as the Ouachita Range. (We're on the northern most edge of the Ouachita Mountains.)

SO: I have a wonderful collection of memories (lots of train memories) from my childhood/youthful years in KC, and wonderful memories (including train memories) and ongoing experiences among the mountains of AR/OK.

As for KC:

KC has a very rich railroading history. At one time there were SO many lines there. Off the cuff, from my childhood/youth years in KC I can remember: ATSF; SLSF; UP; CRIP; CGW; GM&O; KCT; Wabash; CB&Q; KCS; MILW; Mop; and MKT.

Check out these 1855 era renditions of KC!

I think the rails first arrived at KC in the 1860s. Here's KC in 1867:

KC trains 'n me:

In fact, once I get a good handle on my Ozark layout, I intend to have a small L-shaped shelf layout here in my computer room that will have a KC "urban industrial" theme to it. This will be a place that I can model scenes that reflect my memories and experiences in/around KC. I already have a "start here" track plan! Here's a rough copy:

Model railroading truly can be a "way of life" for those of us that hopelessly hooked on trains!

Andre

Your personal connections to and memories of the geography make your endeavors extra meaningful!

Yes it certainly does, and your interest and knowledge too! Thanks for that added KC info and the pictures too. I knew there were once a lot of railroads coming to KC and I think at least 5 of the Class 1's still serve KC in some capacity today. Lots of history though.

I was born here in 1952 and still here. It's really changed a lot here in that time. We've kind of gone from more of a small town to a big city in the time since I was a kid. Not sure how much the population has increased here, but it sure seems like a LOT more people here now. 

I have been to Fort Smith Arkansas and a few other places, Beaver Lake (Rogers area) and many places just south of the Missouri border through there. Not sure what mountains are on the way to Fort Smith? It's quite an impressive and scenic drive from like Rogers or so on down to Ft. Smith though. Very nice part of the country!  

A few years ago they converted 71 highway to an Interstate, now I-49. Haven't been there since the change but it didn't change the neat drive through there very much. That was already 4 lane divided highway through the mountainous areas. 

Looking forward to following along here.

Great history lesson and super planning! ☺

November 16, 1964...

KC&G GP7 #412 idles beside the engine house while the crew's shootin' the bull with the engine house Foreman: Ol' Jess. Braggin' rights are at stake, for they're right in the midst of seeing who bagged the most squirrels on yesterday's opening day of squirrel season. Meanwhile, a KC&G ALCo (RS-3 #269) slumbers silently in the engine house for Ol' Jess to renew going over it for the mandated service inspection.

This is the calm before the storm, for it won't be long and the northbound coal train will hit town, which is precisely what #412's crew is waiting on. When it does, they'll tack on to the caboose, and once the highball comes from the head end, with a cacophonous uproar the entire entourage will gather up what run they can muster, and another battle up The Mountain will begin.

Life moves at a different pace on the KC&G up in the mountains of the Arkansas Ozarks.

All fer now.

Andre

P.S. Thought I'd better see what the new software was like to work with. Had to go through pages of forum postings to find this old thread. Sure lots of "backdrops" being offered.

"Ozark Autumn, 1964...

What's left of the former flagship train #11, the "Gulf Coast Flyer", actually had a station stop at Mountain Springs, Ark today. After little more than a short pause in #11's southward trek, hogger "Hotshot" Chadwick whistled off... and left town with a vengeance. For now, there's still a pair of passenger trains running on the KC&G, but there's more mail than riders. However, it's the mail that's keeping the trains moving... for now."

(You'll have to use your imagination to "see" the beautiful scenery I haven't built yet!!   )

All fer now!

Andre

WOW! Long time since I've updated this thread!

Lots going on. I now have over 20 DCC/Sound equipped engines in service on the Ozark Subdivision of the KC&G and a pipeline of engines waiting their turn to get DCC/Sound installed.

The last couple of months I've been working on getting my backlog of undec units modified (as I desire) and detailed. I've learned to ship them off to my Sound Guy with all details removed, and preferably un-painted. Less for the Sound Guy to have to deal with and the less prone to have details detach themselves from the model/etc.

Anyway, I hope to get you all caught up to speed on my doin's since my last update back in March of '20. For starters, here's a pic of my F unit fleet I've modified and detailed. These are waiting their turn to make the trek to the Sound Guy.

All fer now! More later!

Andre

The KC&G's CMO is really PO'd. Seems of late there's been a few switching mishaps. None serious... but still indicative of "less than safe" operation by some within Train Service.

Case in point is GP7 #418. Seems the hogger ended up slightly cornering a car in the small yard at the helper town of Ozarka, resulting in a bit of bruising and scraping. Nothing too serious, but enough of an incident for concern, nonetheless. Most serious casualty was a battery box cover that was ripped off and crunched past repair. Also taking some damage was the front corner step guard and a deep scrape on the side of the cab. Most concerning damage was the handrail that tried to turn into a pretzel. That resulted in a safety appliance violation that had to be fixed before the unit could be returned to service.

Fortunately the chaps at the small Ozarka engine house were able to apply some heat with the acetylene torch and with the help of a sledge and a track bar, they were able to straighten the handrail enough to comply with the safety appliance codes and thus get the unit back into service. However, ol' #418 will carry it's battle scars for how long now? Below are some pics illustrating the results of the incident.

The side damage...

A closer look at the bungled handrail...

However, a struggling line has to do what they've gotta' do... so once patched up good 'enuf... back into service it went. Here's #418 once again ready to do what it's been doing for the Casey for right at 14 years...

Modeling info:

The above is one of the pair of P2K GP7's I've received back from the Sound Guy. I got the idea of the side damage from pictures I have, or results I've seen/etc. I enjoy reflecting such wear and tear on engines and such. It's definitely a part of the railroading scene, especially given my era and theme choices. My current goal is to get enough engines on hand with DCC/Sound installed to cover my operating sessions. Once I have enough on hand so that a pair of them won't inconvenience me, then I will take two undec's off the layout and start the painting and final details process. Those two finished and back in service, I'll pull two more and rinse and repeat.

Oh, and I need to tell you about the malady that sister unit #427 was involved in, too. I tell 'ya, railroading the Ozark Mountains ain't fer sissies!

Andre

Now you'll have to put a new battery in that battery box.

MELGAR

Melgar:

Frankly, I can't remember if there were batteries on that side, too, or if it was an air valving. The picture I have of a Frisco unit missing the very same door appears dark inside and I can't see what's in there. Further, it's been so long since I've run/been around GP7's that I can't remember either. I know on GP38's, 40's, etc, there were air valves were under the floor on engineer's side, and I think over under the Fireman's side, too. (I've had to change them out doing an FRA required scheduled replacement)

Anyway... I've thought about using a modified triple valve casting with some brass wire for piping inside that empty styrene box that I created, but I need to see if that's what's really inside on the prototype first. Once painted, the styrene box I built inside the open door will be painted black so you won't be able to see much in there anyway.

Joe! (Toth, right?)

How 'ya doing?

I gave up on S scale several years ago. I simply missed the huge variety available in HO. S is a great size crippled by a tiny (compared to HO) offering of product. From the looks of it (the demise of SHS, and now MTH/etc), I know I made the right decision in view of where I wanted to go with my model railroading.

V scale as a hobby outlet for me is safe and sound. I still indulge every now and then, but I've come to prefer to invest my time into my model railroading instead.

Good to see yer still kickin'! I love being retired. Had I known it would be this much fun, I would have retired when I was in my 20s. 

All fer now.

Hm... perhaps I need to post the story of #427 later today?

All fer now.

Andre

Andre,

I'm interested to see what you're doing.

MELGAR

Melgar:

I cut the first stick of lumber for the bench work on February 19th, 2019. By the end of July the same year, I had the railroad 100% functional. The line contains about 135' of mainline, two 7 track stage areas, 55' of mountain grade that ranges between 2.75 to 2.9%, along with track at five small  towns, with two having small yards. Since that time, I, and several of my friends, have been enjoying the fruits of my labor. (I love operating a layout in a prototypical fashion.)

In the meantime, I have been building my roster of engines and getting engines and rolling stock into service in order to more fully exploit my theme that I originally envisioned. I'm currently up to about 21 DCC/Sound equipped road units in service, but only about 10 of those are in paint. (The rest are still undecorated.)

As you can see above, I posted the basic trackplan as best I could. I reckon I need to post up some construction pics as well as current pics of the way things be on my Ozark Sub of the Kansas City & Gulf. (Unfortunately it's still pretty much a barren "Plywood Pacific"! I'm hoping to tackle backdrop boards, priming of same, and lighting/valance when the weather gets warmer.)

All fer now!

Andre

Railroadin' in the Ozarks can make for some pretty excitin' moments at times. Some of those moments can even be "stain yer Hanes" moments. Case in point:

Things were goin' pretty smooth (for railroading on the Casey's Ozark Sub) in the middle of a cold autumn night as Extra 427 South rumbled past the small dept at Piney and started dropping down the bane of the entire KC&G: Buck Mountain Grade. Buck Mountain Grade is several miles of 2.5%, with stretches at or near 2.9%. (Some swear it hits 3%, but the MOW Big Heads vehemently deny that.) All the Old Heads know this grade well and have a deep respect for Buck Mountain Grade, and the newcomers learn to respect it in a hurry. Things can go bad in a hurry on Buck Mountain, especially if it's self-inflicted and you've pi**ed away your air. You get experience in a hurry taking trains down Buck Mountain.

The lights pierced a hole in the darkness as the hogger, an old head by the name of "Tater" Smith, dropped off the face of the earth onto the side of Buck Mountain and into the blackness of a cold moonless night. Things were going pretty smooth. GP7 #427 had a great set of cab heaters and the cab was toasty warm, Tater had his air set "just so" and was only having to use throttle to ease them through short let ups in the grade as he glided his train down Buck Mountain. Warm cab. Good handling train. Can't get much better than this.

Rounding the curve that plunges the train into Buck Hollow... Tater's heart jumped into his throat.

"HIT THE DECK!" Tater hollered to his nodding Fireman and Head End Brakeman.

Of what Tater could see among the eerie and grotesque shadows, a large tree looked to be laying on the rails! Avoiding big holing... Tater pulled off a deep set of air and ducked below the window for cover, as did the Fireman and the Head End Brakeman. If they went off the rails, it would be better to be crouched and braced, and if they stayed on the rails, at the least, they'd need to stop and check out the damage that this one WAS going to inflict upon the consist that was under Tater's charge.

With a loud "ka-WHUMPH"... followed by a the sound of rustling... Extra 427 plowed right through the tree. The trio of mountain railroaders crouched in the cab of that Geep breathed a huge sigh of relief that the engines stayed on the rails and the air hadn't busted into Emergency. Still rolling, Tater got up, and sat back into the "Hot Seat" of the slowing train only to face darkness: The impact had taken out the head lights. Eventually Extra 427 South ground to a halt near Jack Fork crossing.

"What's wrong Tater?" crackled the radio. It was the hind end as the Brains wanted to know what had happened.

"We got through a tree. Looked to be a big 'un. Got no headlights. I'm fixin' to go out and check the motor's over."

"Gotcha. We'll start walkin' up checking the train. Tell Henpeck (Head End Brakeman) to git out an' start poundin' the chat back to us lookin' things over."

"He's already on his way", came Tater's reply. Tater continued: "I'll be tryin' to raise the 'Spatcher on the horn to let 'em know what's goin' on before I git out an' start seein' what I can do 'bout the head lights."

Henpeck had already grabbed his Star lantern, cinched up against chill of the night air, and had started back into the cold night air to check the train, eventually meet up with Fat Dog and Midge. (The Conductor and Rear Brakeman.)

Fortunately, the headlight housing was intact, not so the beams. Using the small batch of tools Tater carried in his grip, Tater was able to pull the beams out of the rear light, and get the front light up and going again. That would be a huge help, for trying to ease your way the rest of the way off the grade to Ozarka (where the units could be safely swapped around to get a functioning headlight on the point) using nothing but a Star lantern hung on the front handrail would be a mite discomfiting, to say nothing of complicating a crossing. Amazingly, the damage was limited to the headlight, and what looked to be the steam generator stack, which now had a new crease in it, courtesy of the limb that whacked the tar out of it. That must have only been a limb hanging low and the rest of what appeared to be a huge tree trunk across the rails was a result of the strange shadows from the headlight that the branch was playing upon the rails. It happens.

Henpeck returned to the cab, and Fat Dog and Midge made it back to the shack. The train was fine. It would be A-okay to continue.

Tater put the set of power in reverse, and eased out the throttle to about 3 notch. The amp gauge needle went up the dial to about the 12 o'clock position. The units were loading fine. Seeing that all things were good, Tater knocked off the train air, and using the engines to lean against the the train (holding it in place), he recharged his airline. (No way the engine brakes would have held back the tonnage.) It would have been fool hardy indeed to just kick the air off after a deep set and start merrily down the Mountain. You'd regret that decision in hurry just as soon as you started pulling off what's left of your air for the set that was surely coming.

Air up, it was slack off the throttle, into Forward, and start what hoped to be an uneventful trip the rest of the way to Clarskville.

Railroading the mountains can make for some mighty unusual experiences. Pitch in the fact that yer railroading mountains on the Casey... and that makes it even more unpredictable. However, that's the way it is on the KC&G's Ozark Sub.

The Model...

I modeled P2K GP7 #427 as a steam generator equipped Geep. It's the last unit in the KC&G's GP7 roster. The last three GP7's were ordered with steam generators to cover some of the lesser passenger trains that were still operating in the early 1950s when the Geeps were purchased. The dented steam generator stack idea was gleaned from Frisco GP7 #618, which had such a steam generator stack that obviously had received a thump somewhere along it's travel through life. Here's a composite pic showing the lasting reminder of that fateful night coming down Buck Mountain:

(Also note the handle on the sand hatch took a thump, too.)

I concocted the above scenario to explain the damaged stack on #427 which reflects what I see in my pics of Frisco #618, but also draws from several experiences I had while railroading the Ozark Mountains myself.

I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed creating it! (What can I say? I was in a story-telling mood!)

All fer now.

Andre

Quite a thump to knock off all your paint and forward grabirons, too !?!? 

@Rob Leese posted:

Quite a thump to knock off all your paint and forward grabirons, too !?!?

LOL!

Smart azz!

You ought to really like my hand-written Post-It numbers on the cab sides! (Barely discernible in the above pic, Engineer's side.)

However, I'll bet the crews are going to miss that old scheme once the painting starts.

Grab Irons 'n Paint:

I will not be using the plastic grab irons that P2K supplies. I will be putting on DA's wire grabs. That won't happen until the unit gets pulled from service for painting. Right now I need serviceable (i.e. DCC/Sound) units. Niceties like paint and the rest of the details can wait until the tipping point is reached where I can numerically afford to start rotating two units at a time out of service for a trip through the paint shop and final details.

Andre

Andre, This is exciting. I'm on board for the "ride." Looking forward to all the updates.

Tom

I'm on board too Andre, but I guess this means you can no longer smell the ozone.

No matter, I love your stories and seeing your work in any scale.

Joe:

HO has a lot to commend it. You will gain 30% more layout compared to S scale. Leaving N, you will surrender about 30%. HO also has the ability to determine your time investment: Minimize time investment by purchasing RTR: Engines with or without DCC/Sound as well as rolling stock, even prebuilt and lightly weathered structures, etc! I just purchased an old Chevy log truck w/logs (Woodland Scenics) that is already weathered and ready for the layout! OR... maximize your time investment (if a small layout) and assemble kits and/or roll your own schemes via paint/decals. Many different ways to skin the cat in HO scale.

Tom:

Welcome to the Ozarks! Glad yer hoppin' on!

Jerry:

Same to you, too... welcome to the land of Hillbilly's!

Fret thou not: I still smell the ozone! All of my 3 rail saw service on the Christmas village loop, and I suspect they will continue to make laps on my kitchen table as the mood hits. I'm always open to picking up more 3 rail pieces. too. My priority at this point is about what it was at my start of the "Scent Of Ozone" thread, that is, I'm not going to fully switch over to 3-rail  just yet, if ever. I hope my eyesight and dexterity will continue to hold up so I can further my KC&G Ozark Sub layout/theme. If not, then 3 rail to the rescue! In the meantime, I will continue to pick up pieces now and then as well as enjoy my 3-rail when I need to take a break from the more exacting efforts required to further my KC&G/Ozark Sub layout and theme.

Andre

Foreman J.L. "Hardnose" Hensen listens to one of his hands exclaiming how bad the track shot off toward the ditch once they started pulling spikes while another hand looks at all the work ahead of them to get this one straightened back up. However, when they're done, the last of the Slow Order that's been plaguing the KC&G of late will be annulled and the maximum allowable track speed from MP 248.4 Mountain Springs to MP 265.0 Ozarka will once again be the order of the day.

( Mom always said I had an over active imagination!  )

EDIT: Forgot to mention that Hardnose Hensen is in the brown jacket. Duh.

Wow... I've really neglected this thread for a long time. Much has been accomplished in regards to the layout and equipment/etc. I've even uploaded a couple more essays. I'll link those right now for any of you that may have an interest in them.

First up is a essay/narrative about the advent of dieselization on the KC&G:

http://www.vscalecreations.com/kcng2.htm

And here's an essay describing a ride on the KC&G's Ozark Subdivision:

http://www.vscalecreations.com/kcng3.htm

And I haven't forgot the construction pics... all in good time.

Andre

Andre, I did not see your topic for the KC&G when you started it a year ago.  I will have to read up on what you have posted here and in the links you provided.  However, from the photographs it looks like you are well on your way!  Congratulations!!

Hi Mark!

Gonna get caught up on this thread? Boy... you've gotta a lot of readin' to do!

As for progress: The layout is 100% functional and has been since July of 2019. I've been having a ball operating it off/on over the past year or more with my railroad buddies. Love it.

However, the time is nearing that I need to pull the equipment off the layout for storage, and apply myself to getting the back drop boards, valance, and lighting strips installed.

Andre

Joe said:

"Andre, your account of the advent of the Diesels that did it on the KC&G is so realistic I was sure I would find the railroad listed in the Official Guide."

Like I shared above: Mom always said I had an over-active imagination!

I think there's been some minor refinement of the roster, but 99% of what you read is still the straight poop in regards to the KC&G roster.

I thoroughly enjoy the research that one can expend on their concocted theme. From the git-go, my goal for the KC&G  was for the theme to be as plausible as possible (that is, plausible to my demented mind). I've managed to do that to my satisfaction. Whether others find it plausible is up to them to decide. The most important one needed to be satisfied (me), is indeed.

I also thoroughly enjoy creative writing about railroading. I enjoy incorporating experiences I've had personally, or railroading friends experienced, or I've read and/or viewed in railroad media, and such as that. Helps to give my theme a life of its own, as well as builds "depth" to my theme. Shucks... even the characters I concoct help to bring it alive in my mind! (And I've known some characters in railroading!)

Your M&G:

There you go. Use that God-given imagination to come up with a theme that is first and foremost fun to you, and that is plausible to you. Accomplish those two goals and what others think won't be a priority. Sure, it always adds to the fun if others get on board with what you're doing... but the basic core of the theme must trip your trigger. No one else's.

Parting shots:

My region is in the midst of a winter storm that is quite different from what we're used to: Blowing snow with temps down toward zero Ferenheit with wind chills well below zero.  Seems to me for a perfect day to be piddling with my trains in some form!

All fer now!

Andre

"Covid-19 scare"... what are you talking about? Is that something you've seen on TV or heard on the radio? Here in the Ozarks we don't get out much, so we ain't heard nothing about it. What we have heard, is that there is some kind of beetle that is invading the USA. Hope they can put a stop to 'em. We've got enough varmints and critters to deal with down here as it is. But speaking of heard-tell: How 'bout them Hogs? Word is the football Razorbacks just might win the '64 Championship this year! Now wouldn't that be the berries?

Permit for a cab ride? No need. Come on down an' you can ride the Helper job with hogger "Biscuit" McHollister all day if'n you want.

Oh sure... some of the high-falootin' in the towns of Ozarka and Mountain Springs have a TV... but stuck deep in the Ozarks there ain't much to watch an' what is there to watch is awful grainy looking. It's said 'ya need to be closer to one of the larger cities so's they can pick up a better signal on the "rabbit ears". Lots of folk do have radios though. Shucks... some of the folk that come to the little country church we go to still have to draw water from their well!

Note: If I'm spinning a yarn "in character" about the Ozarks concerning the state of towns, common folk (and they were essentially all "common folk" in 1964, very few transplants from other states and for sure other countries back then), then I try to hold true to history in view of life in the Ozarks in the early-mid 1960s as I know of it through yearly sojourns to the Ozark region as well as history books. My parents were at least third generation Ozark. I am the only one in my immediate family (mom, dad, older sis) that wasn't born in (mom/dad) or near (sis) the Ozark region. My folks moved to KC in the late 1940s, I believe. I was born in KCKS in '52. Though I was born and reared in KCKS/MO until 16 years of age, after moving to Arkansas in Jan of '69, it merely confirmed I'm Ozark to the core. (To wit: While in KC, long before I was driving, I used to hunt squirrels and rabbits with my pellet rifle in a nearby wooded city park when I lived in North KC! Done right, fried squirrel/rabbit is mighty good eatin'! I'd skin 'em and prep 'em, and mom would fry them up for us for supper!)

Real world:

M&A: Love the North Arkansas Line. If there was ever a 300+ mile line that had little reason to exist, it was the North Arkansas! Yet, it survived in some form for over 50 years!

Midland Valley: I've lived in near the MV's territory for the better part of the past 42 years. (Save 2 years in western OK '84-86 and 3 1/2 years in Huntsville, AR late '86 to May 1990.) Every time I drive to Fort Smith, I cross the old roadbed of the mainline of the MV into/from the "coal belt" region I'm among.

Layout:

Now that I've had it up and running for the past 1 1/2, have hosted several multi-operator operating sessions, I'm getting ready to make some changes to the layout, some of the changes will be signficant. I'm giving up on the dual era concept. Instead, I will be focusing on its primary era and I'll figure something out for my "other" era of interest.

All fer now!

Andre

Thanks for the kind words. I enjoy creative railroad-oriented writing w/history and anecdotes mixed in among it... but I'm not too sure very many others enjoy reading it! 

Model Railroad/Railroading:

I've never understood just why some of us have a life-long love for railroading (and often express it with model railroading), I reckon it's just the way some of us are hard-wired, apparently.

My longest lasting friendships have been based in my interests:

Model railroading: My longest friendship dates back to April or so, 1969. That that friend is now in his late 80s. That friendship is still going. The next-oldest I met in early 1974, and is also still going. I also have several other long term model railroad friends from the mid-late 1970s on. The one I met in 1974 was also a long-term retired railroader. He's still a part of my operating crew board, as well as a couple others model RR friends from the late 1970s. He typically comes up from Pencil Bluff, AR (his home) and spends the night with me before an operating session, and the regional friend off the call board joins us the next morning for ops.

Motorcycling: Still have one that I touch base with, a school mate I met upon my move to Arkansas in Jan of '69. He's the one that helped set the hook on my dirt motorcycle interest! Just this past autumn, the wife and I rode our vintage dirt bikes (street legal "enduro" bikes) via backroads to Mansfield, AR and met up with Glen and his wife and ate lunch with them.

Anyway, those two interests, model railroading and off-road motorcycling, have produced some of the best friends I have.

Amazing the side benefits of model railroading.

Andre

Turning Point...

So I've had the layout up and operational for 1 1/2 years now. I know that I enjoy it tremendously, and it seems my operating crews really enjoy it.

Understand that when I designed and built this layout, I did so with the idea of running a dual era on it:

* 1964 using my KC&G theme.

* 1880s using my Ozark & Southern theme. (The KC&G acquired the O&S in the 1890s during its southward trek to New Orleans.)

Well, here's what I've learned in the 1 1/2 years my layout has been up and going:

* I am thoroughly enjoying the experience of having an operating layout again after nearly two decades of absence.

* I am loving (more than ever) my KC&G theme. (It's now proven itself since its creation back in the mid-late 1990s.)

* The dual era concept is in severe trouble.

My initial "dual era" thought was to incorporate some key replaceable structures (depots, add/remove water tanks/etc) to convey the passage of time. However, a dual era would also require keeping all permanent scenic support "generic" so as to have zero anachronisms to detract from either era. This would mean nothing "out of period" on the layout scenery (such as a paved road, which wouldn't have existed in the 1880s) as well as keeping any structures on the actual backdrop generic, along with many other little detail no-no's that I began to grasp. Once my initial enthusiasm for the idea I designed on the master track plan subsided, and I started having to think-through the elements needed to support a dual era, the idea got much more complicated than I expected.

Further, it has been a lot of work and a ton of money to acquire the needed (and some I want) engines for the KC&G as well as to equip them with DCC/Sound. I shudder to think of the $$ that would be consumed starting almost from scratch to equip the 1880s era!! As it is, I'm having so much fun, as well as willingly sinking my modeling energy, time, and hobby funds into my KC&G, that I really haven't done a thing with my 1880s idea. (Aside from the meager pre-layout collection of 1880s stuff.)

THEREFORE...

I am officially retiring the "dual era" concept.

My out-building layout is going to be the KC&G's Ozark Sub set in 1964. When the time comes for scenic elements, I can now add the scenic features that will support and enhance my 1964 era, instead of being restricted to doing a lousy job of trying to portray either era. (See the above "generic" scenery restrictions.)

Because of this decision, I can now undo what I feel is the worst feature of my layout design. Originally, my layout had that feature as way of turning a steam locomotive without a turntable. That feature is: The return loops in the upper left corner of the published track plan in this thread.

I've grown to dislike the "reverse loops" area shortly after the completion of my layout. It serves zero purpose in my KC&G 1964 era, and is only a "concession" to hosting a dual era. It creates extreme headaches in regards to any type of plausible scenery that allows minimum access at that location. Further, seeing as I haven't run a single 1880s era session, or even substantially ran the equipment, then the ability to turn a steam engine using either reversing loop is moot. It's nothing but a consumer of floor space as well as complicating and restricting the scenic potential of the layout unnecessarily.

So, I'm in the process of making sure I have the needed track, switches, and what have you, in order to pull the reversing loops entirely and reconfigure that corner. I'm liking what I'm seeing on paper with the "new" trackplan for that corner, and I like what it does for the ergonomics of operating. Lastly, I like what it's going to do for the visuals of the layout in regards to my KC&G's theme.

There you have it: Only 1 1/2 years into this layout, and yet a major revision lurks ahead.

In subsequent posts, I'll try to post a pic of the trackplan to illustrate the changes I will be making, and perhaps a photo or two of what I've already done to that corner. (I've already pulled the reverse loop switch and straight-railed that section, and already pulled some of the track off the loop itself.)

I'm liking what I'm seeing and can't wait to make this change happen at some point in the coming weeks/months.

All fer now.

Andre

You have chosen interesting railroading on which to base your railroad, Andre.  We'll look forward to further stories about the KC&G.

I remember the Midland Valley, too, from visits to family in Tulsa in the 1950's.  I always thought of it as an odd combination of secondary-looking track and multiple crossarm pole line.  Maybe it would be a nice spring adventure to head up to Wichita and follow any remains of the MV right of way down to Tulsa.

Joe:

Sorry to hear of your friend's passing. It can be tough.

I did Harley's from about Nov of 2007 to sometime in 2011-12. Wife would ride along with me. Favorite was the hot rod Deuce I had. Alas, she could ride but about 150-200 miles behind me on that thing, and that was with a high-dollar "Sundowner" seat installed. I used to do road trips on the Deuce and enjoyed them a bunch. Here's a pic of it out in AZ I snapped:

However, I began to feel guilty having all the fun, so I asked if she'd like for me to trade in the Deuce and get an Ultra that had a much more comfortable passenger arrangement. She jumped at it. She made many a weekend trips behind me on the Ultra, and a big road trip to Colorado and back in the spring of 2011. She got the full spectrum on that ride! Hottest temps she rode through was over 100 degrees, coldest was the morning we left Silverton: 19 degrees! However, she was a trooper. Here's a pic of her and the Ultra after leaving Silverton (we're in Ridgway here) after it warmed up to near 50 degrees.

However, my life long love affair with the dirt bikes (and her like of it, too) won out. We began to trailer our street legal dirt bikes to Colorado and ride them instead making the trip on the Harley. SO, I sold the Ultra. She loves riding out in the mountains on her bikes. Here she is at a lunch stop this past November. That's her '73 Yamaha AT3 125 she purchased so she'd have a vintage tiddler (small bore) bike to ride with me when I ride one of my vintage tiddlers. (That's my '72 DKW GS125 on the right.)

HOWEVER, I digress. Back to the topic at hand...

Foot Sore & Weary:

Only ran about 2 miles in Arkansas, nowhere near the Ozarks. However, it was an interesting railroad in its own right. Nothing operable remains of the FS&W except a short stretch of industry track on the Fort Smith RR in Fort Smith.

Tom:

Thanks for your kind words. I'm glad you find an interest in what I'm concocting. I shall endeavor to keep this thread updated more often than I did in the recent past.

The MV was a neat little line. Really did run from nowhere (Excelsior, AR) to almost somewhere. It took a huge hit with the fading of the coal industry, for I think a lot of its income came from the Coal Belt of western AR/eastern OK.

Speaking of lines that were abandoned in my region, the empty roadbed that pains me the most is the loss of the Rock Island through eastern OK/western AR. I really miss that line.

All fer now!

Andre

Andre, been listening to The Band while reading your stories.....perfect sound track!

looking forward to listening up.

safe travels to you and your wife, spring is coming next.

@Leroof posted:

Andre, been listening to The Band while reading your stories.....perfect sound track!

looking forward to listening up.

safe travels to you and your wife, spring is coming next.

Thanks for that post. I hadn't heard of "The Band" before you mentioned it. Some research was in order.

What I found was quite enlightening.

I always thought Joan Baez's version of "The Night They Drove Ol' Dixie Down" was essentially the only version of it. Didn't have a clue where the song came from.

In my research, I learned that a member of "The Band", Ronnie Robertson, was the one that wrote "The Night They Drove Ol' Dixie Down". I also found, and listened to, a live performance of The Band singing it, as well as "The Weight", etc.

Listening to band member Levon Helm's impassioned vocal gave an entirely new "feeling" to the song. I could "feel" the hardship war imposes as Levon sang of the plight of the Cain family. There was SO much more "feeling" than Joan's soft ballad approach.

Thanks!

Andre

Andre, hey there EZ Rider, don't you think it's about time for another progress report on the KC&G?

Have you ever visited Cliff Powers website that covers construction and operations on his HO scale layout, the Mississippi, Alabama & Gulf, which models the summer of 1955?  It has appeared in several of the model railroad magazines, and though now dismantled, still is active on Cliff's website.

His model of New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal is simply fantastic!

73

Joe

Hi Joe!

Even though I've been splitting time between my interests, the KC&G has indeed been getting attention. One major update is a proposed revision at the towns of Ozarka and Mountain Springs.

Since I've decided that my Ozark layout in the out building will be strictly 1964 KC&G and not try to accommodate an 1880s era as I envisioned, that meant I could eliminate an element in the track plan design that was purely a ploy to accommodate turning small steam locos: The return loops in the upper left corner on the track plan. (I've really disliked that corner ever since it took shape.)

Here's what I'm going to do:

Lower level at Ozarka...

Upper level at Mountain Springs...

You can see traces of the erased loop on the above photos of the trackplans. This revision will greatly improve access to that corner, as well as opens up the scenes at Ozarka and Mountain Springs. Also note because of the revisions, I'm able to include small engine service facilities at the Clarksville Yard (lower level, on left) and at the Branson Yard (upper level on left).

As for the Clarksville/Branson Yards:

Originally those were merely designed to be non-scenicked hand-fiddled yards used primarily between sessions by yours truly for staging various through trains/etc. They were simply referred to as the "South Stage" (lower level) and "North Stage" (upper level).

Well, I learned that I had rather use an engine and switch out the cars instead of hand-fiddling. This gave me the opportunity to do some yard switching in between sessions. Well, that idea has grew to the point that I began to think in terms of placing backdrops and scenic the stages so they look like part of the layout and not sterile looking, bare Homasote covered "stage areas".

With this revision, the idea evolved further to the point that I now intend to use both Clarksville and Branson yards during a session. You see, with the above changes and the addition of small engine tracks at Clarksville/Branson, the "crew" coming on duty to take a train out of Clarksville or Branson, can now pick up the assigned power over at the engine service area, fire up their engines, check the Blue Cards and do any daily inspection (if required). Ready to roll, they can give a bell, toot a couple times, then ease out and get on their train. Once on the train they can pump some air (look over their manifest and running orders), then whistle off and head out! Mucho more fun than just leaving with a train waiting for them on a non-scenicked "stage yard".

I have all the needed switches on hand to make the above changes. However, creating sawdust will have to wait until after I host my annual vintage enduro tiddler bike ride coming up March 19-20.

OH... and about that desire for an 1880s layout... figured out a way to scratch that itch... but that's another story altogether.

All fer now!

Andre

Hi Joe!

1964 seems to give me the most bang for the buck in my diesel "Givens 'n Druthers".

Sharp eye! I used Oddballs Decals (no longer viable) KO&G set to modify into KC&G. Worked great, but the ruse gets caught by those learned concerning the prototype KO&G.

No, I have not seen Floyd Brittian's MV layout. I will Google and see what turns up.

Andre

@laming posted:

I used Oddballs Decals (no longer viable)

Sure miss 'em, too.  Good product that covered our region better than any other product line.

Andre,

No update on the Kansas City & Gulf for a good four months now.  Hope there hasn't been a major derailment that shut down the railroad?

Item:  Like you, I'm following the latest hooray's since Menards released their Santa Fe "F3".  Although it appears closer to pass for an FP7 instead, let's face it, it's not intended to be a model for the rivet counters, but a Nice Price introduction in order to pull their extensive line of ever growing freight cars.  No biggie that the AT&SF never rostered any FP7, afterall, it can still be a stand alone locomotive as if Santa Fe had just purchased another carrier like when they grabbed The Orient and added some x-NYC steam power to their roster as well.

The point is, it looks like Menards has a winner up front that may just take the O gauge market by storm with an affordable Diesel that fit's everyone's hobby budget in these lean times.  It was long overdue, and just look, the future of toy trains appears to be now!

Joe

Hi Joe!

Well, I've been piddling along with my HO layout, but for about 2 months I was pursuing a V scale project (Frisco Line, ca 1889-1890s) and sharing it with some interested friends for their use, too.

I did make the proposed revision. Here's some pics...

The de-construction of the reverse loop corner completed:

The reconstruction commencing:

New plywood/Homasote in place:

Track work begun (re-connecting the mains):

Track work completed in the corner scenes:

The above revision accomplished a LOT:

* Eliminated the awkward eyesore the reverse loop accommodation resulted in.

* Increased yard capacity by over 30% at Ozarka, and about 25% at Mountain Springs.

* Gained a new industry track at Mountain Springs.

* Stretched the Ozarka town scene (lower bench, on the right) so it no longer looks as cramped and contrived.

* Ditto the Mountain Springs town view.

* Gained enough space that it allowed adding small service track areas at the stages. (The stages are now to become "Live" stages in that they will have scenery and backdrop scenes/etc.)

* Eliminated the contortions needed to reach some key (manual) switch throws as was the case with the deep scenes that resulted from the reverse loop "box" in that corner.

There will be a scenic divider between the town scenes and the stages. They are needed to help make the mental concept that the two scenes are separated by "miles" and not part of the same scene. I already have some cardboard mock ups in place and it appears the conceived scenic dividers idea  is going to do the trick.

While I was at it, I added another proposed revision: A new industry spur at Ozarka. I was originally going to make it a notable wood yard, but I was NOT too enthused about adding yet another wood product customer (there are several already). I felt I had enough wood product customers already to reinforce the Ozark idea. A long time RR friend of mine suggested a batch plant, so I would have an on-layout place for my growing fleet of short covered hoppers. I liked that idea, so I purchased a Kibri batch plant for use later.  (I also needed the footprint to determine the track location.)

Here's a pic of the new "Ozark Ready-Mix" plant area on the north end of Ozarka:

I'm now in the process of furthering some needed motive power projects and other fun stuff.

Thanks for jogging me about an update!

All fer now.

Andre

OH... and one of the best changes the above revision brought to the table was the new space under that layout at that location that allowed easy to reach and ample storage for motive power that will be swapped to/from the layout! (Visible in the fifth pic above.)

Andre

Howdy fellow Frisco Fan!  Though I lean towards The Katy, I was raised just north of Dallas in Farmers Branch, TX.  The Katy, Frisco, and Cotton Belt all crossed in Carrollton at grade.  The X'ings were located just a cat's meow at the NW corner of the SSW depot.  The Frisco/SSW X'ing was right smake dab in the middle of Denton Road (!!!) until relocated just a dab to the west in the 70s when Denton Road was widened.

If I was to win the lottery here in the Fatherland I'd pay you to come remodel my basement room.  I love the wood paneling in your train room!

Despite the fact Ozarka Natural Spring Water has been located in Texas for years, it got it's start in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  Why not consider a freelance water plant as an on line industry on the KC&G and ship the water across the USA in isulated box cars?  I think special KC&G "Ozarka" box cars would look pretty doggone cool!

Continued health issues have kept the wood panelling project on hold.  Therefore the Mineloa & Greenville Railroad is still a dream.  On paper, it's a onetime shortline that's gone regional, expanding from Greenville to Denison, with John Deere green and yellow motive power using the Katy's scheme with billboard M&G lettering on the Diesel power.  With so much vandelism in today's world, the M&G has retained the use of cabooses (Security Vans) with armed and dangerous security guards ready to protect the railroad and it's property, 24/7.

When I have completed selling off the bulk of railroad books, I'll start to purchase trains.  I have two dealers here in Europe.  Modellbahn Ritzer in Nuremberg, Germany and Trainmaster Models in Zürich, Switzerland.  Both stock US/Canadian model trains.  Both are international dealers and ship worldwide.

Time to hang the markers on this one.  Thanks for the KC&G update.  I'm just one of many who is interested in your HO pike and the progress yopu are making on it when your time permits.

Railroadingly yours,

Joe

Wow...

Long time, no update. I keep forgetting about the HONGZ forum and instead just look at the "Recent Posts" listing. Silly me.

I was glad the forum software had not automatically deleted this thread! I've got some chores to attend to first, but I intend to update on what all's been happening in the model railroad realm for the KC&G and me.

Andre

Okay... now to update you on the roller coaster ride that has traditionally constituted my way of doing model railroading!

First off, the above modifications (the corner mods) were a huge success and the layout and operations are so much the better for it.

Secondly, I had seriously considered using the bench work here* in this computer room to scratch my 19th century itch and went so far as to design a layout to use said bench work.

* As a matter of info, I have 24" deep bench work around the walls of this 12' 6" x 9' x 6" computer/office room within our home.  It also passes through the 24" deep closet. This bench work has been in place since the very early 2000's and has been used to experiment with Sn3, 3-rail, S scale, a rather complex HO urban industrial, etc. It has served its purpose well, but never as it was originally intended (Sn3).

So, here's a look at what I came up with for a 19th century, Colorado theme, to reside in this small room upon the existing bench work that would allow for grades and helpers by using a "switch backs over the divide while the tunnel is being bored" concept. I could also use the tunnel track for continuous running when I just wanted to watch trains roll. (A desire for continuous running doesn't happen very often, but it can upon occasion.) Anyway, I present to you the plan for the "Colorado & Pacific":

However, no small amount of time has passed since the above concept. During that time, I've come to this rather sobering conclusion.

To be continued...

A rather sobering conclusion:

I'm not getting any younger.

You see, I suspect many of us model railroaders have projects and things we want to do "one of these days". Just this March, I turned 70 years old.

I think "one of these days" is HERE.

That is, IF I'm going to finish up some of my goals I had for "one of these days", then it's time to get with the program while I still can.

That so, I began to se the 19th century layout idea having the potential of being a huge time sink. Time that I really don't have to allot to it IF I want to make significant progress on my KC&G theme. In my opinion, the Colorado & Pacific theme would be at least a 10 year project to ready the engines, rolling stock, build the structures, build the layout, and get scenery to a "reasonably complete" level. If successful, I would be 80 years old.

Sometimes choices have to be made.

SO... I seriously debated the thought of poop-canning the C&P theme idea. Besides, the overwhelming bulk of my exposure and experiences within railroading have been diesel. (Aside from the very few years I worked as an extra Engineer at the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas.)

For decades, I've been tempted to have a 19th century layout... but to date any concept I concocted never gained enough traction to displace my desire to model using diesels. Thus, the temptation to model 19th century steam might be one of those "day dream" things that's simply not practical for me.

THAT so, I would start the liquidation process on my steam stuff sometime in the next few months.

Now, as for my KC&G "Ozark Sub" layout in my out-building...

The NEXT "Big Project" for my KC&G theme will be to pack up all the equipment for safe keeping, then:

* Installing the back boards for the back drop.

* Smoothing/sealing/priming of same, then painting a pleasing sky blue.

* Install overhead lighting top/bottom levels, et al.

* Install the needed lighting valances.

* Install basic fascia.

I figure the layout will be OOS (Out Of Service) for about 2 months to accomplish the above, but, once accomplished, the entire visual experience and operational experience will be greatly enhanced and well worth the inconvenience. From that point on, choosing a place to create some scenery will be a realistic option for me. Accomplishing the above will be a major milestone for my KC&G Ozark Sub.

OH, but I do have an idea about this computer room...

You see, I would like a layout here in this computer room for those crappy days (pouring rain, nasty cold, icy, etc) that I simply don't want to hassle with the weather to get to/from my out building, but I want to run some trains and/or piddle on a layout.

For that, I'm thinking about reviving the idea I had a while back for a small, shelf type, diesel operated switching layout here in this computer room. The switching layout would also be set in the autumn of 1964 like my Ozark Sub layout. Thus, the shelf layout could use one of the KC&G switchers (that I have on hand) and rolling stock (that I continue to acquire) that would compatible for both the Ozark Sub layout and the small shelf layout. (i.e. I don't have to build equipment for it!)

Now, THIS idea may have merit and just might gain the needed traction to make it happen within a year or so.

More about this shelf idea in a bit.

All fer now!

Andre

The Thoughts We Have...

Here a couple weeks ago, right before we left for vacation, I'd been spending some time out in my Ozark Sub layout building. During some of that time, I had been running (operating) trains.

That operating session was the first time I had run a solo op in several months. Plus, it's been at least a couple months prior since running at all (with visiting operator, or operators). Running this op session solo, there were no personal life schedules to coordinate, no worries about mechanical or electrical issues (track and otherwise). No "body dodging". None of what accompanies hosting others to enjoy the layout with me. No, it was just me and my trains.

For a change of pace, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

At one point, I was headed south with a Extra 323 South. My power was an A-A set of EMD F's. (In KC&G paint! No undecorated units in the consist!)

I had brought Extra 323 South down The Mountain, and seeing as the 'Spatcher had added work to the trip, I had stopped at the town of Ozarka to make the few moves that would be needed. As I was accomplishing the set out and pick up at Ozarka, I found myself simply grooving to the visuals of the set of F's, as well as the cars easing along the track behind them, and the sounds that were being emitted from the engines by the magic of DCC/Sound.

My Ozark Sub layout is working out great. I was concerned about an aspect of it as it shaped up on paper, but now that I've modified that portion that had me concerned (removed that "compromise" section and totally revamped that corner), along with having operated on it for many sessions, I'm very glad to find that my Ozark Sub layout is tripping my trigger nicely. It's my most successful layout yet.

As I stood there enjoying the sights and sounds of the switch movement, I found myself thinking:

"I really should make some meaningful progress on this layout along with my KC&G theme".

Sensing this, makes me feel even more confident that I'm making the right decision to pull the plug on the proposed 19th century layout in the computer room idea and give more attention to my Ozark Sub layout. Even when the abandoned 19th century idea becomes reality, I will be in no hurry to remove the current bench work, or commit to a small L shaped shelf diesel powered switching layout. If there's a shelf switching layout, that idea will simply come along in its own time, if it happens at all.

In the meantime, I have things I want to accomplish on my Ozark Sub layout before summer's end, and then I truly want to make some progress on painting/lettering/weathering on the extensive undecorated motive power fleet I have in service.

There's much to do.

(More to come later.)

Andre

Now to try to bring this massive update to "where I'm at now"...

I'm 99% sure I'm going to abandon the 19th century steam idea.

I'm about 90% sure that that I am going to revive the small shelf urban switching idea I had before the 19th century concept iced it.

Remember, I still have 24" deep bench work going around three of the walls of this 12'4" x 9'6" office room that also passes into the 2' x 9'6" closet for staging storage. It utilizes a drop bridge to span the entry door. Upon this basic bench work, there have been several long and short term experiments. They are:

* The original Sn3 theme that caused the bench work to be built. It was originally "cookie cutter" with grades/etc.

* A 3-rail "KC Lines" theme which occasioned the Sn3 bench work being modified into a flat "table top" surface.

* An S scale (not hi-rail) "KC Lines" version. This was ill fated and what track was in place track was never in an operational state.

* Following my failed S scale foray, the bench work was to be repurposed again to be used for my HO scale "KC Lines" urban switching idea. The layout plan for my HO "KC Lines" theme was quite complex and could have easily filled the remaining years of my life. It would have offered extremely varied switching and operational scenarios.

* The out building and the Ozark Sub layout became a reality.

* Toyed with the idea of ripping out this clutter-some 24" around the walls bench work, and downsizing to a narrow shelf switching layout on one or, at most two walls. This would again use the "KC Lines" theme, but much reduced in scope. However, it was also be the autumn of 1964 (as is the case out on my Ozark Sub), and thus be able to use current KC&G equipment and current rolling stock if desired. (It is.)

* I then hatched up the happy idea of reusing the existing 24" bench work for the 19th century idea, and I sunk a ton of money into it. Yup, the same theme that I am now seriously considering abandoning. (It would have been a significant project that would have taken from my remaining time, energy, and modeling resources.)

Since the above, the existing bench work, the 19th century layout idea have sit and languished.

BUT...

The desire for a manageable small layout in this computer room is still resident within me. It would be so nice on those days/nights that it's just not practical to make trips to/from the layout building.

SO...

I have revived the idea of a layout in this computer room. However, the idea has been significantly downsized from the previous scope of the extensive HO scale "KC Lines" urban switching layout I had designed.

Along with heavily revising the idea (i.e. downsizing), I also envision a name change.

That is, instead of my urban switching layout reflecting KC's "West Bottoms District", along with a double track main line and a whole host of KC power being seen, I am now leaning toward making this much smaller in scope, more KC&G* specific, and calling it the KC&G's "Riverfront District". This would tie-in well with the KC&G's "Riverfront Yard" that was/is part of my paper history of KC&G's KC presence.

(* - Reminder: The "Kansas City & Gulf" is my own proto/free lance theme that I concocted many years ago and which I still model on my Ozark Sub layout.)

Looking over my stash of HO switch engines that was purchased for the around-the-room HO "KC Lines" urban switching idea, I do see that I can thin the herd by selling duplicate schemes (different #'s). That would mean a BLI CB&Q NW2 and a Frisco SW7 would be sold off. I would also need to make a decision on the Altas Gold MILW S-2 in the older gray and yellow scheme, as well as a Bachmann "Sound Value" ATSF Zebra S-4. Decisions, decisions.

Now, if I should go forward with this "Riverfront Switching District" idea, as was the case a couple years ago when I first considered a major downsizing and the possibility of having dual KC&G layouts, I'm still inclined to use the basic core of the mirrored Atlas Track Plan 13. Here's a look at a concept sketch using the Atlas 13:

I would expect much revision of the above plan, such as narrowing the short leg shelf down to 18"/20", and increasing the width of the long shelf to 20". I would also expect to heavily revise most of the spurs/etc. What would remain is the basic alignment over on the right at the closet entrance, a run-around, and the wye.

However, I may find that the wye goes to the chopping block if it complicates space utilization too much. In fact, it might that the "Definite Maybe" design I end up with will look nothing like the above!

I have already been using the existing bench work and the stash of Peco and Atlas switches I have on  hand to mock-up certain key configurations to see how they will fit and what have you. Here's some pics:

Here's an overall view of the long wall. The opening in the far wall leads to a stage area where the "interchange" tracks will be. The back drop will need to be reworked, and all the photoflats in the picture are the wrong scale. I will need to re-scale my current crop of photoflats to HO scale.

This is the wye area. It will fit nicely in the space it will occupy. Not only will there be car spots along the left wye leg, there will be one on the tail track, too. This will complicate (intentional) the need to turn certain cars to be oriented correctly for unloading: TOFC, and some boxcar loads. (Paper rolls, for example.)

Here's a look at the entire L-shaped area that will be used:

Yes, it's fun to dream about this, but frankly, my re-thought idea of a small urban switching layout has a much better chance of becoming reality this time around.

You see, a small switching layout that uses the same theme/era as my KC&G Ozark Sub layout could be very "do-able*". (i.e. Not requiring a new engine roster or rolling stock roster from the ground up.) If it does become a reality, then at long last, I would have a fun little layout upon which to operate (or piddle with) during the late night hours, inclement weather, whatever, right here in the house. (Thus avoiding a trek to the layout building.)

By "Do-able", consider the following:

* The smaller scope of this concept makes the entire package very practical, especially considering the thought points that follow.

* I already have theme/era compatible equipment on hand with more often being added.

* I already have the means to create the photoflat backdrop buildings and scenes, with many photoflats that can simply be re-scaled for HO use, and quickly printed-out for assembly.

* Left over from the bigger HO "KC Lines" layout concept, I already have a surplus of Peco code 83 "Electrofrog" switches on hand to equip just about whatever I design for the above space. Of Peco switches, I have five #6R's, four #6L's, twelve #5R's, ten #5L's. I also have Atlas code 83 products on hand: Three #4 wye's, and a 25 degree x-ing. I also have more than enough Peco code 83 flex track (four boxes). Thus, there should be minimal expenditure on track components. What Shinohara code 70 switches I purchased for the 19th century concept will go to the Ozark Sub layout for back ups for the Shinohara switches currently in place. Waste not, want not!

In recap, this KC&G "Riverfront District" has gained traction, and I'm quite sure I'm going to tackle it. The goal will be for it to be 100% functional by year's end.

THIS brings you entirely up to date about what has been happening my my model RR world!

All fer now!

Andre

I used part of yesterday to clear some of the existing bench work of top clutter. I cleared off enough that the basic footprint of my proposed "Riverfront District" switching layout was then available. That done, I began to place switches here and there to see what I could come up with.

After some ploppin' n' piddlin' with switches (while listening to "Happy Larry's Request Express"!) I came up with something that I think can be a "start here" point for continued refinement. For future reference, I made a crude sketch of the schematic. This gives me a "Version 1" track plan for my Riverfront District idea.

From there, I dug out some more of my photoflats (wrong scale, but oh well) and placed them along the backdrop to give me an idea of how this could shake out.

Below is a pic of my area I have to work with, complete with O and S scale photoflats leaning up against the backdrop! However, if you have a good imagination and squint a bit... you get the idea:

I'm liking what I'm seeing. I think this is going to be fun.

Andre

Andre, that is looking great. Looking forward to seeing updates. Where did you get those nice photo flats?

Tom

Hi Tom!

Thanks for the kind words!

My "Photoflats":

I made them out of photos I had taken.

In a former life, I was involved in building CAD models and installing same into a "virtual" train simulator. I would use photos to "paint" the CAD structures. Here's a few examples:

And here's a tunnel portal being constructed. I used photos of some rock masonry work I had found and photographed for the "paint". Here is a screen pic of the actual program I use for such:

The above need taught me how to deal with imperfections in the photograph ("keystone", etc), as well as manipulate photos (removing high line wires, fixing windows, etc).

Once a suitable photo was "doctored" and ready for use, I then sized it, printed it out (in sheets if needed), then cut/pasted to mat board and attached to the wall. I have a sizable photo "library" with more being added as I find them. Some of the photographic subjects are older brick buildings such as appear on the "Photoflats" I used on my "mock-up" layout effort.

Andre

In other KC&G news:

Painted some cast resin coal loads to become gravel loads:

Each of my gravel loads comes with a special hidden surprise:

You're looking at 1.0 - 1.25 oz of weight that is tucked away under each resin load. This helps to add some "interest" to handling gravel on the KC&G's Ozark Sub. Plus, seeing as there is variance in the weights, you never know when your train that was supposed to have adequate power for The Mountain... just might not.

By the way, I currently have something like 30 such gravel loads in service. I also have another batch of 5 or 6 coal loads on the way to become gravel loads. Also steadily acquiring more Athearn 34' hoppers (several different flavors) to cover the increased business. Slowly working my way up so that gravel business is BIG business on the KC&G's Ozark and Ouachita subs.

You see, the KC&G's Sales Dept. has really been working overtime. One area where they've hit a home run is with the quarry businesses. They've assured all the gravel quarries along the line (especially Arkansas Gravel's quarry that's on the KC&G's Ozark Sub) that the KC&G is indeed going to recover from their bankruptcy and will do whatever is needed to make positive there's enough hoppers on handle their increased production. Fortunately for the KC&G, there's a nationwide downturn in demand for coal, so 34' hoppers are plentiful on the used market as well as for lease.

Also in the KC&G news:

The KC&G has sent SLSF #214 (Baldwin VO1000) back to the Frisco at KC. Rumor has it that the KC&G bean counters decided the lease fee wasn't worth it. Got to be as savin' as you can, 'ya know. After all, one of the favorite sayings of the KC&G's new CEO is: "Waste not, want not!"

FWIW, once it reaches home rails and the Frisco puts it back into their power pool in KC, it's very likely that same unit can show up delivering/pulling blocks/cuts of cars to/from the KC&G's small receiving/outbound tracks that feed the KC&G's "Riverfront District".

BY the way...

Looks like the #214 made it to KC safe and sound. AND, it looks like the Frisco ran it through their shop and threw on a new coat of paint!

Here's the 214 burbling at idle in KC over toward the West Bottoms area:

Very nice thread Andre'.. I always thought you were an O Gauger.  But I see your track plan and it is very interesting.  When I was stationed at FR Riley, we would go to KC on the weekends.  Was a great city in 1972 Circa.  Your layout takes me back to those days'....👍

@Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

Very nice thread Andre'.. I always thought you were an O Gauger.  But I see your track plan and it is very interesting.  When I was stationed at FR Riley, we would go to KC on the weekends.  Was a great city in 1972 Circa.  Your layout takes me back to those days'....👍

Hi Ted! Thanks for the reply! Let's see what you said!

"Very nice thread Andre'.."

Thanks Ted. I'm glad you found some interest in my ramblings.

I always thought you were an O Gauger.

Me and O gauge:

I experimented using 3-rail for a "KC Lines" theme here in this small computer/office room way back in the early 2000's, but it didn't pan out. Here's as far as it got:

I then spent a few years trying to pursue the same theme, but using scale-sized S trains. That didn't work out either.

Lastly, I decided to go back to HO, and I've been with HO ever since, even designing an HO scale KC theme layout for this small computer/hobby room. (FWIW: The HO train set that hooked me into this hobby was my Lindberg Lines set I received for Christmas, 1962. That was a long time ago!)

HOWEVER, I do like traditional 3-rail trains, primarily PW Lionel and some Marx. (I own some of each.) SO, in that respect, I am "technically" an O gauger, but it's not my primary modeling medium... just a side interest I've had for a looong time.

"But I see your track plan and it is very interesting. "

Which one? My KC&G "Ozark Sub" layout that resides in a 16' x 20' out building, or my proposed KC theme to reside here in this small computer/office room? (Or the ill-fated 19th century layout for this computer/office room that I've scuttled?)  Choices, choices!

"When I was stationed at FR Riley, we would go to KC on the weekends.  Was a great city in 1972 Circa.  Your layout takes me back to those days'...."

Ah! You must be referencing my KC theme for this computer/office room!

Yes, I too, have very good memories of the Kansas City that existed during my time there. I was born in KC KS, lived in KC KS, then North KC until 16 years of age. (When my mom & dad and I moved to Arkansas.)

All fer now!

Andre

😉 That's funny, I got my first HO set for Xmas in 1964.  Union Pacific. AHM, loco made in Yugoslavia.... That was some runner....... a few years later I built a very small layout with the same set.   And again more years later, I built another small layout. But now married and with kids.. Just didn't work out...  Almost 40 years later, I started building 1/2 scale structures to go with a 1/2 scale car collection... And then got into 3-rail and built a 5 X 13 layout..  That was 10 years ago.. Now that is long gone, and I will be starting over again.. This time I have a brand new 10 X 12 shed that I will be making my train room... Not exactly sure what the track plan will be.. Still kicking around ideas...

Well done Andre. I've been checking out H O and a like what I've found and see. I'm a steam and early diesel fan.

Who makes the best locomotives and what manufacturer's should I stay away from ?

@feet posted:

Well done Andre. I've been checking out H O and a like what I've found and see. I'm a steam and early diesel fan.

Who makes the best locomotives and what manufacturer's should I stay away from ?

Hi again!

I'm not overly conversant with a lot of product currently on the market, but of the diesel engines I own, or have been around that friends own, here's some I could recommend:

Older mfg'er (1990s and up):

* Older Stewart/Kato F units.

* Older Stewart Baldwin switchers.

* Stewart/Kato Baldwin road switchers.

* Older "Yellow Box' Atlas/Kato engines: GP7, RS-3, RS-1, Alco C series.

* Kato RS-2.

* Kato NW2

New mfg engines:

* Just about any Bowser (formerly Stewart) offering.

* Just about any Atlas "Silver" (DC) or "Gold" (DCC/Sound) offering. Their "Classic" series is good, too.

* RECENT mgf'er Bachmann "Sound Value" (DCC/Sound) offerings. I "think" their engines are also offered as DC.

* Just about any Athearn "Genesis" offering. (Can be had as DC or DCC/Sound.)

Older Mfg'er products that have issues:

* Life Like Proto 2000 offerings. These have brittle axle gears that are always split. Replacement gears are available from Athearn and are direct replacements. To make P2K engines run great, they must be disassembled, the gear boxes disassembled and the gears and truck frames soaked in plastic safe de-greaser. Then reassembled (with replacement axle gears) and lubricated with a quality model railroad lubricant. (I use Labelle lubricants.) After that, they run really nice.

* Older Bachmann: Stay away.

* Tyco: Ditto - Leave it alone.

In fact, leave all the low-price "train set" engines/rolling stock alone. The quality is poor.

There's a lot of good stuff out there, but typically it's either new mfg'er or an established mfg'er that set the standards and their stuff is STILL good, such as Kato. Kato mechanisms were so good they could be found under all sorts of offerings by Atlas, Stewart, Con-Cor, etc. Of course, Kato also made their own complete engines: NW2, RS-2, GP35's, SD40s that I know of.

Hope this helps!

Andre

Killing a bit of time before readying myself to leave to go meet up with a group of long time model RR friends for lunch. SO... thought I'd post some pics and create some drivel.

Morning On The KC&G, Autumn, 1964...

It's a cool, crisp autumn morning as "Early Bird" Bryant stands next to The Shanty at the Branson, Mo Sub Division Yard's engine tracks patiently awaiting the arrival of the rest of the Day Job switcher crew. Early Bird and his crew won't have a huge day, but make no mistake, they'll earn their day's pay today.

And here's a look at the Branson Yard Early Bird is gonna' be switchin'. By shift's end he'll have built the South Local, switched up the blocks for trains #31 and #45, and likely an extra south.

And down south at the sub division yard in Clarksville, Ark, the Day Job's Engineer "Bulldog" Benson and Conductor "Mouse" Callahan are talkin' over the latest Razorback's football game. The Hog's are having a good season! Oh, and word is that with all the gravel off the Ozark and Ouachita Sub's now having to be weighed at Clarksville (the scales at Branson are OOS until further notice), that little D10 switch engine ain't gonna' be long for this world at Clarksville. No way it will be able to handle the weight of a full track of loaded gravel cars. Bulldog says it ain't no "Hog"... but more like a "Piglet"!  (Ha!) SO... it's probably going back to KC to be used at Riverfront Yard as well as being sent out to the one of the KC&G's switching districts, with the Riverfront District being most likely. So, it might not be long and we'll probably be seeing a road switcher being used as the switch engine at Clarksville.

And here's a look at the Clarksville yard. Ol' Mouse is gonna' have his hands full sortin' out that mess and building the Gravel Turn, the North Local, blocks for #30 and #44, and likely building a north extra! Looks like the Night Job has already got a Coal Extra North ready to go.

Meanwhile, right smack dab in the middle of the Ozark Sub at the sleepy little town of Ozarka, Engineer "Coondog" Bivens is dutifully at his post in the 412 as Conductor "Red" Baughman folds up his switch list and shoves it into his vest pocket. The crew of the Ozarka Switcher is ready for a long day at Ozarka. Before it's all over, they'll work the industries at Ozarka, switch out the in-bounds the North and South Locals set out, and build the Piney and Jack Fork turns. as well as block the out-bounds for pick up. Oh, and they just may be called upon to shove a train or two up The Mountain! The Ozarka Switcher is a good job in that you're home every night... but it can be a long one. However, even at that, it's a preferred job and only those with the whiskers can hold it.

Maybe "one of these days" we can take our day and watch an entire day on the KC&G's Ozark Sub? That could be fun!

All fer now!

Andre

Looks great Andre. I love your pics and drivel.

Nicely done!

Thanks Jerry and Stephen!

I have a lot of fun with my KC&G theme. As can be seen, I thoroughly enjoy the fictional side of it, too!

Currently I'm neck deep in some motive power and rolling stock projects for it, and the weather is getting closer to the time that I can start The Big Project on my KC&G "Ozark Sub" layout.

Shucks, I'm hoping to have my KC&G "Riverfront District" shelf switching layout 100% functional by year's end!

Andre

Drivel time!

Sometime ago I posted these pictures to various places here at OGR. Now I can't remember where. Seein' as these photo mini-essay's deal strictly with my KC&G Ozark Sub theme, I thought it good for me to place here in this thread so they're where they belong: In my KC&G thread.

Of course, I can't just post a pic. Nope, as typical, there's drivel that goes with the pics as I spin some yarns based on my prototype railroading career, incidents of railroading friends, etc, etc.

For those of you that haven't previously seen the pics or read the yarns, I hope you enjoy!

To be continued...

To be continued...

Addendum to the above...

#44 and the tale of the stalled train: The myth and the truth...

The above essay of #44 that accompanied my second photo-chop job wasn't total concoction. It's actually based on a situation that happened at an op session (Dec 13, 2021) with a friend.

I was running #44 and was headed up to Piney Gap.

My set of power should have made it... but some of the cars were a bit heavier than expected, so as soon as I hit the grade (the long climb begins immediately after the north main switch at the town of Ozarka), I realized it was going to be "close".

Sure enough, the train pulled down before I got to Sawmill Spur to the point it was literally crawling along at 1-2 MPH (and slipping). At times, it would momentarily stop and sit, wheels still spinning, then get a bite and start creeping upgrade again!

It did this 2 or 3 times (getting up to maybe 5 MPH at times) as I struggled on my way alongside Possum Creek to the town of Jack Fork.  It was such a show that operating friend Jimmy had stopped what he was doing and had come over to enjoy the experience with me.

I was losing hope that I would make it on my own to Piney, and sure 'nuf,  just as the head end bent around Chinkapin Knob to enter Buck Creek Hollow... down it went and I couldn't budge it.

At that point I made the call for help, and op friend Jimmy (that had been working the Jack Fork Turn),  brought his engine up out of Ozarka to help me on up to Piney.

SO... as you see... the above yarn wasn't total BS... the circumstance actually happened in model form! From there I took the actual event, and extrapolated the incident so it was from a prototype perspective. (I really enjoy doing that.)

So... now you know... the REST of the story! (Said in my best Paul Harvey voice!)

Andre

P.S. Final mini-essay installment to follow eventually.

Final mini-essay installment of this series.

Autumn, 1964...

Up on the top of the the divide at Mountain Springs, small residences in the town appear above the train on the mountainside behind. Resident hoghead J.B. "Biscuit" McHollister eases tired old #412 along the rails headed for the cut of cars down at the end of the "Apple Track". The crew will be switching out any outbounds and re-spotting any cars still being unloaded, or being loaded, as the case may be. Soon as that's done, the #412 and crew will be heading over to the depot to go on spot for beans. Seeing as it's Saturday, the crew is hoping to catch some of the Arkansas football Razorbacks on the radio to see how they're doing in today's game. Word is the Razorbacks are in the runnin' to be National Champs this year!

And so it goes: A small slice in time on a fine autumn day  in 1964 out in the Ozarks along the KC&G's "Ozark Sub".

About the above photo:

Basic scene snapped on my current KC&G layout at the town of Mountains Springs. I then took the photo into my photo shop software and added the autumn background as well as some foreground texturing. Not a prize winner of a photo... but I certainly enjoyed creating it and sharing it.

All fer now!

Andre

Your railroad looks like the real thing. I'd bet if you didn't tell anyone otherwise  people would think it's real.

I had to study the one photo above for a minute to figure out if I was looking at the real deal or a model. Great work!!!

Thanks fella's.

Please keep in mind that the autumn background is only present in the digital version. I added the autumn backgrounds to the plain photos using my photo shop software. In reality, there is paneling behind the scenes. However, I will be tackling the first phase of fixing that issue "soon", for I will be packing away the equipment and clearing the bench work, then installing the backdrop boards, smoothing/priming same, then painting a pleasing sky blue.

I do intend to use photo backdrops... but whether I can pull off similar results in actuality as I did in the photo shop software, well, that remains to be seen.

Andre

I've been a busy little beaver the past week or so:

* Readied the BL2's frame so I can drop it off at the machine shop for milling. (See the crosshatch markings?

* Added some details to the BL2 shell. (Installed all 8 of the lift rings on the top of the long hood, and fabricated/installed the eyebrow grabs above the windows.)

* Finished setting up the op session for Sunday evening/Monday morning. (Long time friend coming up to spend the night and play trains.)

* Added a team track to the summit town of Piney. (Track on far left.)

* Installed new axle gears into a pair of P2K engines in the pipeline.

* Purchased a Stewart/Kato F3A Late that will turn into an F7A Early, and also picked up a Stewart/Kato F7B.

* Weighted/painted some more gravel loads.

* Also revisited a completed engine project that hasn't panned out as I expected. Perhaps more about this in a subsequent post later.

SO... I've really been burnin' the modelin' energy of late!

Ain't I sumpthin'???

Andre

Autumn, 1964...

The late autumn air is quite crisp on this beautiful bright moonlit night in the West Bottoms district of Kansas City, Mo. as the crew of Frisco's Baldwin VO1000 #214 takes pause from its chores of switching the various industries therein. Inside the toasty warm cab, hot coffee and maybe a biscuit or two is being consumed as the crew talks about how the KC Chief's are doing... and isn't that Lenny Dawson something? However, it won't be long and it will be time to grab up the lanterns, hit those footboards, and get back to doing what they do: Earning a living workin' on the railroad.

About the photo:

As the mood moves, I'm in the process of mocking up my future KC&G "Riverfront District" urban industrial switching shelf layout. This current around-the-wall bench work (that was to represent the West Bottoms District in KC) will be removed, and the concept will be significantly downsized to a narrower, more simplistic L-shaped layout. Thereon will reside my new KC&G "Riverfront District".

I'm hoping to have my "Riverfront District" 100% functional by year's end. Going forward, I will be dividing the time spent on my model railroad layouts between my mountainous "Ozark Sub" of the KC&G which dwells in my 20' x 16' out building, and this simplistic shelf layout, the "Riverfront District" of the KC&G.

I'm super enjoying my KC&G theme!

Andre

Great pix and stories Andre. Keep 'em coming.

Looking forward to following your new build.

Bob

Wow.

It's been April of '22 since I've posted here? That's over a year ago!

Well, I haven't been letting the grass grow in regards to making progress on my Kansas City & Gulf "Ozark Sub" HO layout... but admittedly The Big Project took WAY longer than I thought would. (From June of '22 to March of this year!!)

However, I now have ALL of the basic hardboard backdrop boards in place, the seams/nails have been filled and smoothed, 2 coats of primer to seal the hardboard, followed by two coats of Valspar's "Morning Glory" blue, 100' or so of LED's installed, valance cut/installed/painted, fascia installed, as well as a bunch of other stuff. Here's some pics of the end result:

The upper and lower level live stage areas:

Looking toward the corner between the stage areas (left) and the towns of Ozarka (lower) and Mountain Springs (upper) on the right:

Looking at the towns of Ozarka (lower level) and Mountain Springs:

Looking at the peninsula from the Ozarka/Mtn Sprgs side:

Looking into the aisle at the towns of Piney (upper left), Sawmill Spur, (lower left) and Sweetgum (right):

Standing at the end of the peninsula looking toward the Chinkapin Knob (recently renamed Sassafras Knob) scene:

Still standing at the end of peninsula but looking at the summit town of Piney:

Since the above pictures, all the rolling stock is back on the layout, as also the stand-in structures (what I have), and even some temporary backdrops have been installed.

Once that was done, I hosted an "Open House" for my circle of model railroading friends, and I've been been operating trains ever since.

It is WONDERFUL to be able to run trains again after months and months of construction work!

All fer now!

Andre

Dude… You are rockin’ it!

SO... now that I've remembered and am revisiting this thread, thought I might share with you something that, though I've enjoyed for eons, of late has really come to the fore: Creative writing concerning my layout.

I've always enjoyed creative writing, as well as experiential writing (i.e. experiences I've lived). However, I've really begun to enjoy blending the two into creative writing about my layout's theme as well as actual events on my layout.

Doing so is a way of breathing life into my imaginary theme, if only in text and photo.

That said... I'd like to share with you a lengthy narrative (in manageable installments) of a day in the life of the KC&G's Ozark Subdivision. It's entitled...

ONE AUTUMN DAY...

Editors Note: I was really having a great time during my solo operating session. It was time to make a dent in the through trains waiting to be moved over the line, so I started off with northbound train #30. Number 30, and its southbound counter part Number 31, are the "hot shots" or "express" trains that handles the fledgling (for the KC&G) TOFC business, as well as reefer business and other high priority freight. I'll let the regional train nut (and my imaginary 2nd cousin) Jimmy Don McCradden tell the tale... he's better at than I am.

So it wuz a beautiful autumn day in the Ozarks an' jist perfect fer gettin' out an' doin' some train watchin'. I wuz down at the depot at Ozarka talkin' with the Agent there, A.B. "Pappy" Yokum. (He got that nickname account of the comic strip in the newspaper funnies by the same name! All the KC&G's railroaders tease 'im and tellin;' him he's related to the Yokum's in the comic strip! He don't think that's funny. Shucks, though, at least the comic strip has put our part of the Ozarks on the map! Even heard tell there may be a ride park of some type that could be built nearby named "Dogpatch" after the comic strip! )

Anyway, Pappy told me that northbound hot shot #30 wuz headin' our way. Train #30 had drawn a couple of older engines instead of one of few of the better 'uns that the KC&G has. (Like them big looking Alco somethin' or others.) Seein' as none of the better engines wuz available, then the old plugs would have to do the best they could. Accordin' to Pappy, the power would be one of them re-motored Alco covered wagons, #203, and an older Alco. This ought to be "iffy" on The Mountain!

Soon 'enuf #30 come rumblin' into town. Goin' by the depot, I could hear the hogger notchin' 'em out gettin' ready to tackle the start of that long, hard ol' climb up Buck Mountain to that little summit town of Piney. This ought to be good! Pappy said the if needed, the Piney Turn crew would rescue 'em if'n they laid down on the mountain an' give 'em a shove to the top.

As soon as #30 wuz by, I decided to aim fer Piney an' meet 'em there to get a picture of 'em if'n I could. With that I said my byes to Pappy an' I's out the depot door to hop in my ol '50 Chevy pick up an' start bouncin' my way over the dirt roads to Piney. I did git to the Sweetgum crossin' in time to see 'em grindin' over it an' headin' fer Buck Holler.

Boy howdy... were them old motors wuz sure 'nuf workin' their guts out! They might'a been makin' 8 MPH!

Over the crossin', I started on up to Piney an' got there just in time to see #30 easin' to a stop on the main in Polecat Cut. Hard to believe they made it without a shove with them old plugs!

But stoppin' here at Piney? Hm. Must be a meet or sumpthin'? Maybe I need to head over to the little depot at Piney to see if'n I could find out what's happenin'?


Picture: Ol' 203 easin' 'em down to a smooth stop in Polecat Cut...

Pic: Before I tromped back over to the Piney depot to see what I could find out about what's goin' on... I fought some tangle briars in the drainage ditch and scurried up a bit on Polecat Cut an' got another pic of #30 sittin' on the main...

From here, I hurried my butt back over to the depot to talk to Agent J.D.(his nick name is simply "J.D."!) Clampett to find out what's goin' on with #30.

No sooner did I git there, then I heard a whistle blowin' fer the crossing and who'd a thunk? Looked like southbound hot shot #31 was meetin' #30 here at Piney! He done snuck up on me without a warnin'!

Now ain't that the drizzles! Here I had a meet on my hands... both hotshots at that... an' I'm in the depot with a standing train between me an' southbound #31! From what I could see, it looked like #31 had one of them EMD covered wagons an' a booster engine fer power. That ought to make a keen picture down at Sweetgum... IF'N I can beat him there! (He'll be a' ballin' the jack comin' off'n The Mountain with the hotshot.)

Shore wished I had some way of knowin' what all was a' happenin' out here on the line... (sigh). It'd be great if'n I could hear their radio chatter in some way... or maybe I need to git my skinny butt over to the depots faster or sumpthin'.

With that I fired up my ol' Chevy pickup an' headed down to Sweetgum, in the hopes I could git there in time to get a shot of em' bustin' Sweetgum Crossin' with brake shoe smoke just a' rollin'. It can be quite a show watchin' them boys drop these trains off'n the side of Buck Mountain!

After a few miles I bounced up to the crossing at Sweetgum (lands me these ol' dirt roads get rough!)... an' I saw the head light up toward Buck Holler... but...

He was stopped?

Now what in tarnation is this all about?

To Be Continued...

@SantaFeJim posted:

Dude… You are rockin’ it!

Thanks Jim.

It seemed like it was going to take forever to finally be able to unpack the trains again.

BUT, after all those months of hammering away at The Big Project, at long last there's cars and equipment on it and it looks like this now:

I don't like disabling a layout to perform construction work. It becomes way too much like work.

But I had to stick it out and get it finished or I couldn't get back to the things I enjoy most about model railroading. Now that The Big Project is behind me, it's fun again!

Andre

ONE AUTUMN DAY (Cont'd)...


So I hot-footed it up toward the standing engines an' as I got closer I could see they had one car behind them?

What what in Sam hill is goin' on here? One thing wuz fer shur... this probably wuzn't good!

Picture: The old EMD covered wagon and its booster engine sittin' on the main...

Not having any idee what this wuz about, I walked over on the hoghead's side of the engine to see if'n I could find out from him what the hold up wuz.

The hogger hung his head out the winder so's he could hear me. Turned out that ol' "Hack" Hawthorn was hoggin'... so I hollered up at him "what's goin' on?

"We got a shore 'nuf mess back there in Buck Holler! Cars are piled up somethin' awful!"

Whoa Nelly... I didn't expect THAT!

"Know'd yet what happened?" I hollered up to him. With that, Hack motioned fer me to climb on up in the engine.

Up in the cab with him, Hack continued...

"We don't rightly know just yet... I wuz bringin' 'em down in style an' things wuz goin' smoother than a baby's butt... then all of sudden bad slack pulled out an' my air dumped on me. We ground to a halt right here where you seen us. Before we's even stopped, ol' Fat Dog (the head end brakeman) had done hit the ground and started back to see what we had on our hands. He used that new "pack set" thing we've got now to holler at me that we wuz strowed all over Buck Holler and had a bunch of cars in the dirt and over the side. The hind end hollered at us on the radio sayin' that they's all good back there, but they took a lickin' when the back half of the train slid into and pounded the front half that was still on the rails. It's mess. A shore 'nuf mess."

Wow... I didn't expect this!

We talked fer just a bit more, and then I climbed down from the cab and decided to pound the chat back into Buck Holler to see what I could see.

Boy howdy wuz Hack ever right!

It was a shur 'nuf MESS back there in Buck Holler! They's cars piled up on one another on Sassafras Knob an' all...

No doubt 'bout it... there'd be no trains fer a spell now! This wuz gonna need what the railroad boys call "the big hook" to come up and get stuff cleared... an' it looked like the MOW was gonna' have to straighten up some track... an' I wouldn't be surprised if some big rip-rack rock would need to be dumped off the side of the curve to help shore things up.

Seein' this, I thought I'd git on back toward the head end... an' maybe go down to the Sweetgum depot to find out what I could from Agent "Tiny" Wright about what would be next. ("Tiny" is anything BUT "tiny". He's a shorter, somewhat... think I'll say "heavy duty" feller... that tips the scales near 300 lbs! Long as I've known him, he's always worn a thick mustache.)

Once I made my way over to the depot... THEN I could see there on the north side of Sassafras Knob that cars had even dumped off the sliding back half of the train and tumbled down the embankment onto the track are that Possum Creek Lumber uses to load their ties and pulp business! In fact, it looked like one of the car's frame got into a Possum Creek Lumber truck!

This was indeed a bad 'un!

Picture: Cars sprawled ever which way over off the side of Buck Mountain, even spillin' onto Possum Creek Lumber's tracks!

Wow. I never in a million years would'a thought I'd see somethin' this bad up here on the Ozark Sub. Shur, I'd heard-tell from the old heads of some of the pile ups that's been on this ol' mountain... but this is the first time I seen a really bad 'un fer myself. Hope I don't see more of 'em!

What a shame. The KC&G wuz just gettin' back up to speed after a bit of a shutdown an' things were lookin' good... but this mess is gonna' be really expensive fer sure. Such a shame.

I wuz out of time... so I didn't stop by the depot to holler at Tiny... instead I needed to pile back into my pickup an' head off for the house. I wuz hopin' I could git back up there in the mornin' and learn more.


To Be Continued...

ONE AUTUMN DAY (Cont'd)...

So's the next mornin', I headed out to Ozarka to chew the fat with ol' Pappy to see what's the latest doin's on the KC&G an' their mess on The Mountain.

Before I hit the depot, though, I took a short hike up the nearby hill and took a pic overlooking the Ozarka engine barn area. Yup, shur 'nuf... there was that covered wagon and the booster. Don't see that often at the Ozarka engine barn!

That done, I moseyed on over to the depot to see if'n Pappy knew anythin' new.

"Howdy Pappy!"

"Mornin' Jimmy Don."

"Heard anythin' 'bout the the mess on the The Mountain?"

"Well, they's a Work Extra North headed our way with the hook. It ought to be here within the hour."

Upon hearin' that, I decided to piddle about an' wait to see if'n I could take a gander at the Work Extra. Me n' Pappy fell to chewin' the fat 'bout... what else? Railroadin'!

Sittin' there in one of them old wooden roller chairs talkin' with Pappy... I was agin hit with that "railroad" smell the ol' depot had. There's just somethin' 'bout railroadin' that I jist love. It has its own way of doin' things, it's own way of talkin', and boy howdy, it really has its own sounds... and fer shur railroadin' has its own smells.

Speakin' of which, there ain't NOTHIN' like the great smell when you climb yerself up into a cab.

Some folk say that those of us that love railroadin' are goofier than a run-over dog... but I jist can't help it. I jist love it railroadin'...an' have as long as I kin remember. Fact of the matter... I can't even remember when I didn't NOT love it. In fact, my mom says I've loved trains since I was a little tow headed toddler still piddlin' my diapers!

So, yup, I jist love it. An' some way, somehow... I'm a' gonna work fer 'im if'n I can. Gotta finish this school year an' get my High School Diploma first, an' soon as I do, then I'm a beatin' a path down to the depot like a hound trailin' a coon to ask Pappy where to begin applyin' fer a job. Though I love it all... I wanna' be on the trains... that's where I really wanna be!

Sure 'nuf... within the hour ol' Geep #418 eased to a stop i front of the depot with the hook behind. Seein' as they's restricted on how fast they can move the hook, it took 'im a while to get to Ozarka from Clarksville down south. Anyways... once he'd stopped at the depot to check with Pappy on anythin' new, I took a picture with my little camera...

Soon 'enuf the crew came back out of the depot an' climbed up to the cab and settled in, then the hogger whistled off and they eased out of town.

I figured they'd make a stop at the Sweetgum depot to see if'n Tiny had any new scuttle fer 'um as well as get in touch with the MOW Foreman that Pappy told me was already up there.

I figured with their speed restriction on pullin' the hook, I had plenty of time to beat 'em up to Sweetgum... so's I made my way over to the drug store an' got myself a so-dee pop an' a Baby Ruth to swig an' chaw on while I's on the way.


To Be Continued...

ONE AUTUMN DAY (Cont'd)...

"It shur is another pretty day in the Ozarks... an' some of them trees are turnin' awful purdy." I thought to myself as I made my way over the dirt road to Sweetgum.

Some days my timin's just right... I pulled up to Sweetgum crossin' 'bout the time the #418 wuz easin' to a stop.

I parked my ol' flivver an' started over toward the tracks and then on to the depot. However, soon as I got out, I held up my little Kodak "Hawkeye Brownie" and snapped me a pic.


#418 idles as it sits at Sweetgum Crossing waiting for the moves to begin...

"Hey Jimmy Don!"... I heard someone yellin' at me.

Lookin' toward the motor... it was none other than "Goose" Hollum sittin' in the hot seat of 418.

"Git yer skinny butt over here!" he yelled with a "come over here" swing of his arm.

Walkin' over to engine I stopped below and looked up at him hangin' out the cab winder.

"What've you been up to, boy? Been a while since I've been up this way."

"Nuthin' much. Just workin' around the home place for Pa and doin' other jobs 'round these parts. Later this afternoon I'll be 'a helpin' J.B. Fulgum put up some hay against the comin' winter after he's started bailin'. You?"

"Me? I've been workin' south out of Clarksville on the Ouachita Sub fer a spell. Sometimes a feller needs a change of scenery! But... truth bein' told... I miss these Ozarks awful bad. May bid up this way agin' real soon. Say, we've got to run around this hook that's behind me... wanna' ride along?"

"Does a hog like slop?" I replied with a smile as I gladly climbed the steps up to the cab door.

I tell 'ya... that engine smell was grandest smell I've whiffed in a long while... even better than Pappy's depot back down at Ozarka!

"Take a seat... we ought to start moving here shortly!" said Goose with a big smile.

Sure 'nuf, over toward the depot, I could see the Brains headed our way. "Smiley" Morris, the Conductor, climbed up and him an' Goose had a job briefin' on what's what.

With that Smiley left the cab, and soon enough, the hook wuz tied down and with a motion of the hand from the Smiley... Goose grabbed a notch or two on the throttle then "PSSSSssssshhh" as he released the brakes to begin easing forward. Even that air off the brakes also has its own smell... an' yes... I like it!

It was sooo good to hear that engine revving and whining as Goose n' crew did the moves needed to get the hook on the north end. That done, and with Smiley ridin' the point... the hand signal went up to "bring 'em ahead". Behind me on the other side of the firewall that wonderful engine noise began agin. This time the ol' Geep had a load to shove... so it was revvin' a bunch higher than when it was makin' light moves.

'Ya know... now that I think 'bout it... I reckon it could be that us train lovers are a bit goofy... fer I noticed I had goose bumps on my arm from that wonderful noise that ol' Geep wuz makin'!

Yup, it just might be that us train lovers ARE goofier than a run over dog!


To Be Continued...

Goose eased 'em into Buck Holler and inched 'em up where they wanted him fer now...

Once Goose had 'em where they wanted, all the fellers that would be involved in the lift talked it over to make sure they's all got a firm understandin' of jist how they's gonna' do this...

Them KC&G boys shur know what they's doin', 'cause faster than a gray squirrel out runnin' a squirrel dog... they had that car up and back on the rail!

I rode with Goose as they eased the hook back and tied it down. The MOW of way boys had the track behind the derailed car shored up enough that Goose was gonna' shove the righted car up to Piney an' set it against the rest of the train on the pass, but, he'd have to git over that section at walkin' speed. That done he was gonna' drift back down to Sweetgum and tie up until tomorrow morning.

Once the car was up at Piney, the Car Toads wuz gonna fix the brake riggin', bent air pipes, the missing angle cock (broke off), and get the steps n' grabs straightened out. In the meantime, the MOW boys hit that section of track that had been torn up good, and try to get it good 'enuf to get trains over it at 10 MPH. That's so's the line could git open again and the trains backin' up could get to movin' agin. They's gonna' work late today!

Once Goose cut away from the boom cars, I rode with him down to the south Sweetgum switch and up through the pass. Though he had offered to let me ride up there with 'im to Piney... and I would'a loved to... but I had to step off at the crossin' and go get in my pickup and head fer Mr. Fulgum's to help put up his hay. It was gonna pay pretty good though, I wuz gonna git 5 cents a bale... more than most were payin' for hay haulin!

However, I wuz going to get back over here first thing after Sunday School tomorrow mornin' an' see they's doin' next. From what Goose said, now that the main's open... they's goin' to git started on them cars that tumbled off the side of Buck Mountain an' git Possum Lumber's tracks opened up.

What a big doin' this has been! I didn't want miss a minute of it... but, dadgum, I got things I need to do.

Well... I couldn't help it... fer I'd give my word to Mr. Fulgum I'd be there to git his hay in... but I did stay long enough to see Goose easin' that bad order up to Piney!

To Be Continued...

Just a quick update.

Amid running trains, I've started the long process of getting my undecorated fleet through the paint shop. This is the first time I've painted/lettered/weathered a model engine in 15+ years!

I chose to start with KC&G RS-1 #110. I had to re-learn a lot of things I'd forgotten or skills unused, but I got 'er done! For this one, I decided to paint it as if it was in its original paint scheme when delivered to the KC&G in mid-1945.

Here are some pics.

Right after finishing:

And on the layout...

The next two for paint (RS-1 #115 and GP7 #402) are disassembled and awaiting me having the needed block of time to start airbrushing. These will get the more familiar KC&G "Gulf Coast Blue/Mountain Mist Gray" scheme.

All fer now!

Andre

@laming posted:

Outstanding job, Andre. All of it. Your weathering really brings out the orneriness of the RS-1.

Cool railroad.