new layout photos

Well, here are the first photos of the new Kenwood Valley Railway. Built in 5/8" scale to make it 2ft gauge, the line will have a loading area (possibly from an imaginary quarry) to an unload area, where the narrow gauge cars will transfer the load into standard gauge. Other sidings along the way as well. Here are a few shots of the layout, and one shot of what happens when i leave my wife at home to watch our newborn son.

1st shot is my rebuilt atlas MDT switcher, with a couple cars.

2nd shot is taken from the roof of the shop looking towards the unloading area. The is all the track there is at this point. It's a runaround with 3 sidings, plus another for the shop.

3rd is the track gang hard at work.

4th is, well, the 4th is my wife when i step out for 5 minutes.

I'll send more photos as the layout progresses.

 

I know that feeling. I left my wife to her own devices one day and she drew a dirty picture on my pink foam. I had a picture of my layout on the old Railimages, and the drawing was visible. Took me a couple of months to figure it out and modify the photo. The picture is now covered with ground foam.

5/8"? Is that 1:20 scale? Does that means you will probably have to scratch just about everything? I really like your use of action figures. Looks like you are having alot of fun building this. Keep the pics coming.

Eric

 

>>>5/8"? Is that 1:20 scale? Does that means you will probably have to scratch just about everything? I really like your use of action figures. Looks like you are having alot of fun building this. Keep the pics coming.

Ummmm, yep, 5/8" or 1:20scale. I've worked with it before, but at the time, the cars were used as 1/2" scale, which works out to 30" gauge. But, since i've owned and operated 2ft equipment, i thought i'd jump to 5/8" scale. All the cars are scrathbuilt with stir sticks for the deck, and some pine or other wood for the frame. the wheels are athearn, while the couplers are kadee # 805 (i think) My 2 locomotives are atlas MDT 3 axle plymouth switchers. Hey aren't the greatest, but they work well enough. THe track is all older atlas O scale flex track, with new cut and stained wood ties, while the turnouts, so far, have been kit smashed old O scale Atlas turnouts. (which i'm looking for more of) The action figures i bought in a 20 figure set at walmart many years ago. They were called "The Corps", and once you cut and file off all the grenades, knives, and other asociated weaponry, glue, putty and paint them into position, they work very well. They are just under 6ft tall. So, that's my story. Hope to add another 8ft next week, and continue the construction. Only problem is, i'm out of turnouts!!

 

>> I'm in the process of building a much needed 5th switch. If it turns >> out ok, I may tackle replacing the two pair on the layout.

Keep me in mind, but also send me pics of the ones you are building. I may have to resort to that, and last time i tried to scratchbuild turnouts, they didn't work out all that well.