Mike & Ike

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  • July 4, 2015 at 7:38 pm #5297
    amosluettgen1665
    Participant

    Figured I’d take the lead and start a thread on this new Forum. I’ve been modeling in 3R O scale but have have just demo’ed it to begin a Proto:48 layout modeling the Missouri-Illinois RR Bonne Terre District between Herculaneum and Festus-Crystal City. It’s primarily a switching layout (sans the St Joe Lead Smelter in Herculaneum). All of the other industries are being replicated. Will have dual eras: transition in May 1951 so I can have both steam and first gen diesel, as well as May 1972 (still first gen diesel, but considerably more weathered :) )

    Track is Protocraft P:48 flex and turnouts are a combination of Bill McConnell and Brad Strong. Minimum radius 60″, #8 turnouts, DCC, mostly brass engines and cars, but fair portion of the rolling stock is converted Lionel.

    The first engine is an Overland RS11 painted by Bob Anson in 1989. It previously had a Stu Kleinschmidt drive which was noisy, so Jay Criswell re-motored with a Swiss Faulhaber unit and installed a custom drive. Tsunami decoder (unusual for O scale, but the Faulhaber draws less than 0.5A at stall). In progress are a Red Caboose GP9, also drive train by Jay. Am searching for a brass 2-8-0 that can be converted to either M-I Consolidation #12 or #25.

    I tried to add images, but got an error message indicating that the “board attachment quota had has been reached”. Will be happy to upload a few images, including the track plan if board allows.

    …gregg

    July 4, 2015 at 9:47 pm #6667
    peggyrothschild
    Participant

    Greg
    I fixed the attachment issue its was a setting we needed to increase. Looking forward to your photos.

    July 4, 2015 at 10:47 pm #6668
    amosluettgen1665
    Participant

    Thanks Charlie.

    Here is the track plan…work has begun in Herculaneum w/ a couple of switches down and the turntable (converted from 3R to 2R P:48)…
    [attachment=3:ndxl8i4r]Window-3.jpg[/attachment:ndxl8i4r]

    First engine on the roster, MP #4612…
    [attachment=2:ndxl8i4r]BRASSTRAINS.COM – O Scale 2-Rail Brass Overland OMI 0206 MP Missouri Pacific DL-701 _ RS-11 Diesel #4612 w_ Lights-1.jpg[/attachment:ndxl8i4r]

    Lionel PS-4 flat car…
    [attachment=1:ndxl8i4r]IMG_8546.JPG.jpg[/attachment:ndxl8i4r]

    Magnetic air hoses…
    [attachment=0:ndxl8i4r]IMG_8550.jpg[/attachment:ndxl8i4r]

    July 5, 2015 at 12:48 am #6671
    peggyrothschild
    Participant

    Very nice work, I’d not seen an O gauge RS-11 before. The Mopac scheme looks great on it.

    November 6, 2015 at 5:10 am #7456
    amosluettgen1665
    Participant

    Here’s a quick progress update. All track has been laid excepting for the 2 stubs located in the Bonne Terre staging area. Switches are being fine tuned and tested with engines and rolling stock. I had to modify the track plan to maintain a 60″ minimum curve radius. The loop has also been eliminated, so the physical layout will now match the intended point-to-point planned operation. I will also start documenting progress with occasional photos (got some major decluttering to do first). For now, here is the final as-built track plan.

    [attachment=0:11ycvqr0]Missouri-Illinois_FesCC_P48.layout.jpg[/attachment:11ycvqr0]

    December 5, 2016 at 2:44 am #8154
    amosluettgen1665
    Participant

    I owe the group a few photos and updates (since it’s been over a year).

    All track is laid with the exception of several turntable stalls.

    About half of the layout now has scenery of some type – mostly grasses – weeds are still pending. A view block with photorealistic backdrops has been installed between the lead from Herculaneum staging and Shapiro’s Scrap Metal. A few buildings are up, but the Festus-Crystal city depot (painting by Wm Bunch) has yet to be built (awaiting arrival of Grandt Line windows). Shapiro’s Scrap is started – a scale house, fence and lots of junk are still pending.

    December 5, 2016 at 1:45 pm #8155
    peggyrothschild
    Participant

    Gregg
    Great progress on the scenery. Photo backdrop blends in well. I spent time on the M-I Shapiro Brothers was notorious for not wanting to pay demurrage. Great group of dedicated employees on the Mike n Ike as I remember.

    Charlie

    December 5, 2016 at 2:14 pm #8156
    amosluettgen1665
    Participant

    Thanks Charlie.

    That’s a great story about Shapiro’s – any other tales from the M-I?

    …gregg

    December 26, 2016 at 1:54 pm #8186
    peggyrothschild
    Participant

    Gregg
    The station at Ste Genevieve had been flooded several times over the years due to its location near the river. It seemed Anytime the Accounting Department needed older records to validate a claim or demurrage record the agent replied ‘records lost in flood’. After we closed the station and moved the work to St Louis the clerks told me that was just their standard reply so more than once a station auditor would pay a visit to the depot to see what was there. I’d been to Ste Gen a few times working with Mississippi Lime and the M-I guys were always willing to help to improve the railroad processes there but I do think they used the flood excuse more often than not.

    December 26, 2016 at 2:00 pm #8187
    peggyrothschild
    Participant

    Gregg
    The station at Ste Genevieve had been flooded several times over the years due to its location near the river. It seemed Anytime the Accounting Department needed older records to validate a claim or demurrage record the agent replied ‘records lost in flood’. After we closed the station and moved the work to St Louis the clerks told me that was just their standard reply so more than once a station auditor would pay a visit to the depot to see what was there. I’d been to Ste Gen a few times working with Mississippi Lime and the M-I guys were always willing to help to improve the railroad processes there but I do think they used the flood excuse more often than not.

    Many of the assigned lime covered hoppers had a strip of metal welded above the car initials and numbers so the railroad employees and customers could tell what the car ID was those cars not having this had several layers of lime dust covering the sides making it difficult to make yard checks, switch lists and waybills.

    December 27, 2016 at 3:30 pm #8189
    amosluettgen1665
    Participant

    Great stores – thanks!

    …gregg

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