June 2024

Published by Thomas Austin on June 11, 2024June 11, 2024

I know…I missed a month. The month of May actually flew by without my thoughts being put in writing about anything remotely related to model trains. But, that’s okay. I am back here in June and am busy planning things for the future of the layout and home. Life has been a roller coaster for me the past 7 months or so and I am so looking forward to this calmer settling of things. I have finished another locomotive; and have started the next one for a friend who has been there for me all along. I so enjoy the building of the models that I still partake in these activities and am also working on DCC installations for another friend.

I have been able to get this house in order and all things settled in and unboxed. I have decided to keep the layout theme the same but have added the BN/CB&Q back into the mix. I am also going to build Neilson Junction for now and the original trestle that once spanned Little Saline Creek; and am having the deck trusses for it designed off of original C&EI plans. The towers at Neilson and Vienna Jct are also being un-mothballed. I am getting the twin semaphores out as well as my Integrated Signal Systems train order signals that have sat for 15 years. I think the single track line and junctions at both ends will also get my juices flowing again. The BN sidings will also be operational at each control point to allow maximum BN and CB&Q equipment; as well as MoPac 6 axles to traverse on their way to Cook Coal Terminal and Chiles KY power plants.

As hard as it was to leave Centralia and the old layout plans…I had always longed for the Neilson Junction thing too. I will also add Marion IL into the mix as well; and CO&E 1147 will be used with modelers license to achieve the look I want. I might even revive the old #17 brass steam project too…but there is such a thing as too much…no matter how hard I try to justify everything. The other thing is that West Frankfort yard by itself could be a great layout design element being fed from the north and south with traffic coming in and going out. Salem locals that brought empty hoppers back down; and left with loads behind 6 axles…Empty hoppers going to south to the mines; loaded cars brought back from the southern Illinois coal mines…local merchandise traffic going to various customers as well; but why the heck not include it all? I don’t know. It’s just taken a year to get out of the doldrums of divorce; and to deal with the blow of losing the last two of my brothers in less than a year.

I will be in Sesser for a bit as previously stated…but not long term. I now have a plan in place and am going to set it in motion. In the meantime, I will use the modular bench work here from the original layout and go forward with an operating Layout Design Element so I can continue to put my coal hoppers into service with weathering and needed tuning and weighting. I am mulling over a couple of new mines to include…Inland Steel and Old Ben 21 in Sesser. But I will have to see. I need a much larger space for both. But being able to drive over to Number 21 every day isn’t helping quell the interest!!!

I’ll have some stuff on display at the RPM meet in July this year. It’s time to start to patronize the event with models again; as I was originally there for the founders when they started the meet in O’Fallon. Yes, they went on to bigger and better things without me…however, it was an honor to be there to help promote the thing from inception. It’s a great show. I even offered to help sponsor it during its brief hiatus while John Golden was away. But, no need. Anyway…always a fun time.

Have a great week and weekend.