Going back to the narrow gauge of my youth - 2/7 Layout started

[Marlin39]

I remember how fascinated I was when the April 1970 MRC featured the Frary & Hayden Elk River Line. I was still in my early teens and I was hooked, but never really built anything because I was broke. When the magazine featured the C&DR line (1977?) and showed how they converted the Minitrix FM I jumped right in. I made several engines, boxcars from scratch, converted N gauge ore hoppers, and cut down Roundhouse Old Time passenger cars to narrow gauge size. I built a small layout, but everything was quickly packed up and pretty much forgotten about them for ~40 years.

Several years ago I got back into the hobby and built an HO 12'x2' switching layout. It was extremely enjoyable building it, but I became bored with it. I just couldn't tear it down after all the effort.

I was going through some boxes a few months ago and found my HOn30 stuff. None of the engines ran anymore and all the cars needed to have new wheel sets. I started to do some research and found a fairly "basic" end cab unit on Ebay that fit on a Kato chassis. I went to work scavenging parts from the other engines, buying a few new, then put about a week of evenings to make my first "new" engine. It was fun and the Kato units are super smooth and quiet.

I retired several months ago and this is becoming my primary hobby to keep me out of trouble. I will be adding photos as rolling stock, layout, etc progress.

I added an engineer and window glazing in the last photo.

 

[Snowman]

As it happens, I snagged a copy of MR just a short while back. I am double-archiving important stuff, and I wanted a duplicate drawing of the D&RGW standard guage 100 ton quad hopper...

...but the cover reads "Ride the Carrabasset with Frary & Hayden. I THINK this may be an issue you would want too--MR November 1979.
There are photos of two center-cab diesels in there. #28, painted a sage green color with rust grille weathering and sporting two ends shorter than the cab itself is described thusly:

"A combination of AHM Minitrains HOn2 1/2 bodies and a Minitrix N gauge mechanism." The loco is shot centered on a raised girder turntable (in case you are trying to tease your memory).

#30, a longer center-cab, painted mineral brown and pulling a seven car train is "a converted Minitrix N scale Fairbanks-Morse switcher."

Yours looks at least as sharp as either one of those. Slick stuff ^^^, man!

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There is also a wrap up of the then-current offerings in commercial command control systems...but that one belongs in another thread. Probably the Coffee Shop.

 

[Marlin39]

I cut out and filed articles & plans, from the 1960s-1980's MRC and MR subscriptions I had....before dumping them. It just gets extremely challenging when you're in your 60's to see and work with the small stuff. Unfortunately I don't have the room or funds for On30.

 

[Snowman]

I cut out and filed articles & plans, from the 1960s-1980's MRC and MR subscriptions I had....before dumping them. It just gets extremely challenging when you're in your 60's to see and work with the small stuff. Unfortunately I don't have the room or funds for On30.

With HOn30 (2 1/2) who needs On30.

 

[Marlin39]

I converted 6 N Scale Atlas ore cars back in the 1970's. I built coal loads for them yesterday. Basswood, full strength matte medium, and coal.

 

[Marlin39]

More cars I built 40 some odd years ago. Boxcars from scratch and the combine is a cut down Roundhouse HO scale.

 

[Marlin39]

Built another critter based on a Bachmann MDT I found at a swap meet for $20.. Working with the small stuff is tough. I don't know how you guys like me, over 60, manage to not scream every once in a while.

I have the Peco flex track. Just waiting on the switches to start building the layout.

 

[Smudge617]

Built another critter based on a Bachmann MDT I found at a swap meet for $20.. Working with the small stuff is tough. I don't know how you guys like me, over 60, manage to not scream every once in a while.

I have the Peco flex track. Just waiting on the switches to start building the layout.

Be interesting to see how this build of yours develops, what are your current thought's of the kind of layout you intend to build.

 

[Marlin39]

Fictional post WW2 coal mining operation. Coal taken from the mine, to a conveyor transfer, and into a standard gauge hopper.

I've already scratch built or kit bashed most of the structures, but you know how things change when you actually try to place them.

I contemplating a 3'x5' track plan based somewhat on the old 1970's Frary & Hayden Elk River Line. The other option is to tear down my 12'x2' standard gauge switching layout and building 10'x3' or 12' x 30".

I really get most of hobby joy out of the building of stuff.

 

[Marlin39]

I bought this Bar Mills Majestic Hardware kit at a swap meet last year for $30. I modified it a little bit. Also put some pigeons on several roof peaks.

Pictures aren't that good, but you get the "run down" theme I'm going for.

 

[Marlin39]

Several months ago I picked up this Downton Deco kit for $25, at a swap meet. I finally got around to building it. It was pretty simple and fun to build, but If I had to pay full price I would have been disappointed. The castings were not that high quality and parts were missing. I found parts in my junk box that I was able to use including some extra vents.

I just need to find the spot for it once I start the layout build. Hopefully that begins in a couple of weeks.

 

[BigGRacing]

Hopefully that begins in a couple of weeks.

You definitely did a nice job with it!

 

[Marlin39]

Plans changed again. "Real Estate" negotiations with the wife have ended.

I have 13' overall length. It's 3'x1' at one end, 2'x7' in the middle, and 3'x3' at the other end. 50" from top of table to floor. 9" radius will work with the 20' box cars, 14' ore cars, and small 2 axle engines.

I still have space on the other side of the room for a 2'x5' standard gauge switching layout.

Benchwork is done. I was able to re-use/modify the modules from my HO standard gauge layout I tore down. The backdrop just to help blend in the actual scenery.

 

[Smudge617]

Plans changed again. "Real Estate" negotiations with the wife have ended.

I have 13' overall length. It's 3'x1' at one end, 2'x7' in the middle, and 3'x3' at the other end. 50" from top of table to floor. 9" radius will work with the 20' box cars, 14' ore cars, and small 2 axle engines.

I still have space on the other side of the room for a 2'x5' standard gauge switching layout.

Benchwork is done. I was able to re-use/modify the modules from my HO standard gauge layout I tore down. The backdrop just to help blend in the actual scenery.

Nice piece of real estate you have, look forward to see how the track layout looks.

 

[Marlin39]

Progress report 2/24

We were snowed in, so I spent some time playing.

I've laid about 85% of the track. I just need to finish the sidings and the branch line to the mine.

I scratch built the mine and it's just in a temporary location. It will need to be flush with the rear.

So far there are no electrical bugs or derailment issues. I've never had track not have problems.

 

[BigGRacing]

Looks awesome Marlin!

 

[Marlin39]

I'm almost done laying the track. I just have the branch line to the mine left. I hate laying this tiny stuff.

I had a wye switch, some empty space up front, and I found an old Walthers truck dump conveyor. I decided to incorporate it into a narrow-to-standard gauge coal transfer.

 

[Smudge617]

That's coming along very nicely, good work, love the mine.

 

[Marlin39]

Ooops! Forgot the photo

 

[Smudge617]

Ooops! Forgot the photo

I like that.