HO 80s/90s CSX, NS, & Conrail layout resurrection.

[minitnkr]

After many years of sitting out in the garage in pieces, I've started it again. Basic benchwork was done modularly & I had finished two 2'X4' sections of intermodal yard with dbl track mainline & the staging sidings in a lower level w/wiring.


The MOW yard was semi completed w/return loop of the folded dogbone in the lower level of the 2'6"X3'6"' module.

The light maint. sidings, team tracks & dbl track mainline on a 2'X7' module getting turnout motors.

Small connector module between intermodal yard, MOW yard & team track/lt maint sidings getting control wiring.

C&Cs encouraged. PaulE

[Guest]

Gosh all those wires.
Nice work so far.

[Mini Me]

That's quite a project Paul. Definitely not your average Christmas tree layout. Rick H.

[minitnkr]

Thanks for tuning in. I still have the Santa Fe "Super Chief" oval for around the tree, but the grand kids are grown up & have no interest. There are 8 locos (2 CSX, 2 NS, & 4 Conrail) & over 100 freight cars, many detailed & upgraded to metal wheelsets & all w/metal knuckle couplers. This will be my fourth attempt to finish. The first three operated but were never completed. I hope to run a train by Christmas.

[Mini Me]

The wiring alone gives me nightmares...I'm all good with track laying and scenery though. Looking forward to seeing this finally completed. Seems a nice change of pace at any rate. Rick H.

[minitnkr]

Thanks. You're welcome to come do ballast & build trees anytime. The wiring is a PITA but a must do to operate, otherwise it's just a big dio:smiling2:. PaulE.

[Mini Me]

I'll take a rain check on that as this is the wrong time of year for air travel. Have done my share of ballasting while I was affiliated with the West Bay Model RR Club in the SF. Bay area years ago. Somewhere in my RR stash I have one of those ballast spreaders that make it so easy. Are you going Hi Tek with DCC or using a block system? Rick H.

[minitnkr]

All my locos are old pre DCC & don't have room unless I use dummys & cable them together so I'm using blocks. PaulE

[minitnkr]

Some progress on wiring control panel. It will have 6 blocks, 8 powered turnouts, variable 12vDC, constant 12vDC & constant 18vAC for accys. PaulE

[Mini Me]

Hang in there Paul. Once you get that Rat's Nest sorted you'll be on to the "Artsy Fartsy" stuff and of course The operational aspect of this effort. Rick H.

[JR]

Wow that's some job you've set yourself Paul. I'll find a seat in the corner and settle in .

[Mini Me]

Watch out he doesn't strip you and splice you to a terminal block JR. We mechanic types do our best work when not being supervised!LOL:thumb2: Rick H.

[minitnkr]

Thanks for your support guys. Right side of control panel pretty much done.


PaulE

[boatman]

Cor wow PaulE I love model railways I once had a big layout gonna whatch i'll settle down nr John are there any bickies goin ?
chris

[Lee Drennen]

Looking good Paul I just sold about $1000 dollars worth of my HO last week and made a trip to St.Louis yesterday and sold more but I still have about 8 tubs full of the HO nightmare. If you need some modern Intermodal trucks or containers let me know