[bargetanika]

And someone hopefully who is familiar with MP practice as well.

[bargetanika]

1. That’s really flat country for a coal mine. Great news for those of us who’d like one who don’t want mountains on our layout.

2. What is the outside braced hopper last in line? One of those “war emergency” cars?

[bargetanika]

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[bargetanika]

Jeff, I used to want a big layout. But now I’m older and want something I can maintain. I can barely keep the track clean on this little L.

I have another layout in my house outside of New Orleans where I lived before I retired. It’s like two of the outside L’s just pictured joined together, in a U except the bottom of the U is (3) 8 foot sections, 24’ long. Scenery is almost complete on it. But the time is coming to sell the house. I’ll give the layout to a friend when the time comes.

Pictures coming. It’s a jointly owned MP/Frisco shortline.

[bargetanika]

The local ready to leave the interchange:

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Point B. 20 fictional miles away but only 3 actual feet of line.

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This fall when it cools off I’m adding simple ground cover, a simple backdrop, and a very few cheap plastic buildings. Cats get up on this at night so can’t have anything valuable or delicate. I’m looking at insect screen protection for the area. This layout will never be anything that Tony Koester or George Sellios will want to see, it’s just a little switcheroo to stay busy with.

I’m eventually going to separate these two areas with another 2×8 between to make a U. The middle section will probably hsve a short passing track and a team track.

Executive summary: if I can make a layout in a lousy space like this, you probably could do something too!

[bargetanika]

You can have a 2×8 switching layout. That’s all I had for a long time. Over here in MS I have (2) 2×8 in an L. A town in esch one with 3’ of travel between! But! I can pull the interchange, switch a couple of local customers, build a 6 car local, go to the next town pretending it’s miles away, break up the train, switch the customers, build the return train and go back. And it takes 2 hours to do it!

This little layout is outside! Under a covered area but still outside air! So you need a fan in the summer and my former law enforcement tactical jacket in the winter. But most of the times it’s more or less ok.

So you don’t need a basement! Or even a room! Just a roof!

I’ve been trying to attach some photos but I’m unsuccessful. Maybe later it’ll work.

[bargetanika]

I go to Conway a couple of times a year to see family. I’ll come by and check on your layout. And bring some of my MP steam engines to run!

Pat Flory

[bargetanika]

Glory hallelujah time. ZERO damage to the house, trees, anything. No need to return anytime soon. Until after the hysteria recedes. My friend even emptied my Frigidaire for me, no stinking rot yet, great. Layout and equipment untouched.

No electricity or water expected for weeks but that’s ok, don’t need to go back till then.

[bargetanika]

We sheltered in Conway AR. The MS house with the outdoor layout is fine, never lost power. We had two neighbors inspect and report. We are going back tomorrow.

The house in Metairie with the scenicked layout, don’t know, can’t get a real time report. My neighbor stayed and was watching but cell phone service is gone. I’ll probably get there Saturday.

[bargetanika]

Better tell Hubert to go ahead and make them.

I’ll need some. There’s a Cat 4 hurricane about to hit my house in two days and there’s a good chance there won’t be anything there when I go back. I’ll build another railroad at some point but it won’t be down there.

[bargetanika]

ICM…… Illinois Central Mop! 🙄 😮 😆

[bargetanika]

This is how I want the track on my layout to look!

[bargetanika]

I thought Collias hated diesels.

[bargetanika]

I’m doing something about these cars, wasn’t hard to
do. I alerted both Strasburg and TVRRM about their existence. Let’s see if they show any interest and respond. They have the resources for restorations like these, certainly easier than rebuilding a steam engine.

[bargetanika]

There are multiple railroad museum operations that run vintage freight cars. If any of them knew about these boxcars they might make an attempt to acquire and restore them. There is still enough paint on them to create stenciling. These cars might be given free to the right recipient. Strasburg? TVRR?

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