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Layout Design Nearing Completion
After many iterations, track alignments, research, pouring over maps, charts, timetables, and visiting sites of interest I am just about near completed with the track plan for the 2-level layout scheme. The layout specifications are listed here: Name: Norfolk Southern Alabama Great Southern and New Orleans & Northeast DistrictsScale: HO (1:87:1)Layout Size: 39′ 6″ x…
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LDE – NS Oliver Yard – MP NO 195.6 Oliver Junction – MP NO 194.1 with Controlled Interlocking
Oliver Yard (NOPB) with Engine Fueling and Sanding Tower and Oliver Junction – Yard Limit. This section of the layout includes block by block elements between Charters St, Dauphine St, Burgundy St, St. Claude Ave., and Press St., and Homer Plessy Way. Several houses and warehouses are included in this segment, along with some maintenance…
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LDE – Downtown and Riverside New Orleans
Overview of the southern-most point of the layout plan includes the New Orleans Public Belt RR (NOPB-RR) track which parallels with the Mississippi River in downtown New Orleans just outside of the French Quarter and the heart of The Marigny neighborhood. Norfolk Southern (NS) interchange with the NOPB-RR and track turns northward toward Lake Pontchartrain…
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New River Mining Company Model Build
Added one light wash of acrylic white paint to the structures on this Walthers New River Mining kit. New River Mining Co – Part 2 Put a layer of Dulcote spray over the first wash, then let that dry. Next, I applied a second wash using Refer White this time around. More layers in areas…
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Conceptual Spatial Schematic of Prototype – Modeling the NS-AGS-NONE Railway
It’s been a long time coming since I dismantled my The Piedmont Division Model Railroad in North Carolina in 2017 . We moved back to the Gulf Coast area in 2018 to be closer to our hometown, and tending/caregiving to our aging parents. Six years later, and with things settling down, along with my semi-retirement,…
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The Depot
My train room, or how we learned to store more stuff outside the house. This is the building that houses the NS-AGS-NONE layout, also known as the storage facility, or man cave! The Derksen building measures 16’x40′ exterior dimensions with a 12’x4′ side porch, it’s set on 24 concrete blocks leveled and placed on the…
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Determining model railway maximum passing siding lengths
While struggling to find a good length of consist to model with my givens, I knew the only way to get a good idea was to mock up a section of the layout with actual track, locomotives, and rolling stock. The mockup I was getting with 3RDPlanit just didn’t seem to make much sense to…
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NS Train Consists to Model
I’ve identified 28 NS consists to model within the NS-AGS-NONE divisions, including specials, locals, interdivisional manifest, and short distance manifests. Train Number Series: 000-099 – special trains, foreign trains, passenger trains NS 22R – Oliver Yard – New Orleans, LA – McCalla Yard – Birmingham, AL – Daily (No longer in Operation) Train Number Series:…
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Operations
All things considering operations of the NS-AGS-NONE model railroad. Grade crossing – Gates and lights from Tomar controlled by infrared sensors and circuits by Logic Rail Technologies https://www.tomarindustries.com/, https://www.logicrailtech.com/ Lighting effects for vehicles – East Coast Circuits https://eastcoastcircuits.com/ Backdrops – Trackside Scenery – https://tracksidesceneryshop.com/index.php Consist Plan Passing sidings: 22’ length including turnouts at each end…
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Benchwork Plans
All things considering the layout benchwork plans are described in this post, including height and depth considerations, minimum aisle spacing, modeling assumptions, construction materials and techniques, scenery, and structures. Height and Depth Considerations Excerpt from LDISG Primer: It is very helpful to develop a set of personal standards for yourself. Important information to include is:…
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Birmingham Terminal Railway (BHRR) and NS Interchange at Ensley, AL
BHRR and NS Interchange at Ensley, AL MP 9.4 LDE – Birmingham Terminal Railway (BHRR), NS Interchange at Ensley, AL WATCO, a Kansas-based corporate owner of Class II and III railroads, recently purchased the Birmingham Southern Railway, and will operate it as the Birmingham Terminal Railway. (Google search) The Birmingham Southern (BSRR) had operated under…
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Birmingham Terminal Ensley Branch to Irondale Junction, AL
Ensley Branch and Yard at AGS MP 9.2 to Irondale Junction MP AG 135.7 LDE – Ensley Branch and Yard MP 9.2Ensley Junction MP 9.2 SA Stop sign, Non-interlocking LDE – Ensley Yard MP 9.4 SACommunications: The A23 Bessemer Run will begin their tour of duty on the Outbound Channel. The Bessemer Run will switch…