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Iowa Central Railway


JAMO
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Hello all!

 

Welcome here.

 

I'm building a O scale 2 rail US shortline layout. I'll try to show you each stage of the building.

 

The company is named "Iowa Central". Obviously, this railway company is imaginary, purely fictitious but I've been inspired by several existing layouts in HO, N and by prototypes railroads.

 

Here is the first part trackplan of my project.

 

Plan Iowa Central

 

Have a good visit and stay tuned for future posts.

 

 

Edited by JAMO
Updated trackplan
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Hello all and thanks for the comments!

 

Context

 

Well, here are photos of the first steps of the building. I began by preparing the space. Previously, I've built a HO shortline here but I stop before to begin the scenery. I was attracted by the narrow gauge and else projects in other scales. Later I would like to make a French branchline O scale layout extension to my existing layout. There is a long time ago, I bought a Atlas RS-3 at an affordable price from e-b... and 2 tanks. At the same time I bought my only brass model from Rich Yoder: a GE44. The RS-3 would be a good chassis for a french locomotive and the GE-44 was modified for the french branchline. The stuff stayed like that during a while.

 

By October 2014, I couldn't resist more to switch to O scale US trains. I was attracted by the dark side! :locomotive:

I like the presence of the O scale and US trains in O are cheap (I speak of the common production: Atlas, Weaver, Intermountain, Roco...).

So I decided to sell a big part of my N scale US trains (mostly ATSF Kato and M-T collection). And I use the money to buy US second hand O scale models. I don't want to buy expensive models but cheap and I like to upgrade them (I'll show you later). For locomotives, I like "as new" and perfect running models.

 

The layout

 

So, coming back to the main subject, here are photos of the preparation of the space for the layout.

It's the first part of a maybe bigger project. I want to start with something not too big. I want to reach my goals.

I make the hole in the wall for my previous HO scale layout. The staging yard will be just after the wall. I'll show you later the idea.

The pics are speaking by themselves...

 

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The wooden deck isn't definitive. I go to put off to obtain more vertical space for the bridge clearance and to have access underneath the layout.

 

...

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The big pipe for air circulation was a problem so I decided to hide it. I don't need any access.

 

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In the foreground, you can see the old HO fiddle yard.

 

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...

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The track and the turnouts

 

Once the woodwork was done, I started to make my track. Firstly, I made my ties using a thin board of bass wood. My band saw was a great helper to do that job.

 

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I downloaded and printed the turnout templates from Fast Track. They are very useful!

 

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To build the turnouts, I used "second hand" rails from my stock (Peco flextrack code 124BH) and PCB ties I've made.

 

I know the Peco code 124 rail isn't a flat bottom rail but I have a lot of them in stock. So I decided to use that. No more fees.

 

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...

 

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Yes the Fasttracks templates are excellent. I don't have bought the metal templates: too expensive and no necessary. The paper templates are enough good for me.

 

My frogs are hand made using the code 124 Peco rail. I use a small belt sander to file the rail. It's very useful and easy to do.

 

I solder the rails together to obtain a stronger frog.

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The rails soldered on the PCB ties, I've made the baseboard in plywood. I use a Fasttrack template I've taped to the plywood. And I've cut the shape of the wooden ties. It's easy now to glue the ties.

 

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I managed to bend a few - spiking into hardboard!!! I do like them as well, just a pity the head part is so big (I haven't patience or time to grind them down!!)

Just be careful not to push the point into the roadbed right up against the rail, or else the spike will force the rail across as it is pushed home. Guess how I know? :blush:

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It's a lot of work to reduce the length of the head. I've modified 3 packs at this time.

Now, I take the time. No problem if the result/the end is far. The pleasure is to model.

 

I guess what you say  ;)

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Hi,

 

I've insulated the two rails

 

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The result when all the spikes are installed. Views in place.

 

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The height of the road isn't ready. It will be installed lower than now. The photo gives an idea of the pics I'll can shoot.

 

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The Peco track is there to give an idea of the future track plan.

 

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The hoppers are still ready to use!

 

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...

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