Building the Frisco System 1980 - Construction Project Documentation - HO-Scale Layout

I snuck out to the building for a couple minutes to snap a picture.

The SP was kind enough to send us an SD40T-2 (Scaletrains from a few years ago), and a pair of GP40-2s (Recent Atlas run). The Frisco pitched in a wore out GP35 (custom Kato unit) to complete the set.

 

As expected, work this week left me wore out every day. I gathered up my remaining energy for a Saturday morning op session in KC, and then have been mostly chair bound since I got home.

As I had mentioned last week, I had another set of project locomotives to discuss, so that's what we'll tackle tonight. A few years ago when I first tried out some Scaletrains equipment, I was blown away and wanted more for the layout. I had an easy answer for the Santa Fe SD45s I picked up, but the Penn Central and Conrail units were a different story. How was I to wiggle those into the layout? They looked so sharp it was a shoot first, ask questions later type of deal. The solution I eventually cooked up was a what if question.

What if the Frisco was more proactive about their power shortage during 1980 instead of just suffering through it? They could have turned to short term leasing like the other roads around them did (more on that in a future post). For the time being, these units are going to run around looking like patched EMD lease units until I get supplies put together for my actual intention for these units.

The other option is to fill in some gaps left by wrecked equipment. That's what I decided to do with a couple Penn Central SD45's. The Frisco lost SD45s 909 and 926 to wrecks and didn't replace them. I'm rewriting history a bit. These two units purchased from Conrail will become the new 909 and 926. Now the next part, I'm kind of basing on what the MKT did in the mid 80s with their expansion fleet. The ex CR, nee PC units will retain their black paint and will receive new numbers and word marks in Frisco style Dulux gold font. Frisco and CR management were able to kill two birds with one stone. The CR doesn't have to repaint these guys blue, and the Frisco gets something that pays tribute to the black and yellow era. If you're wondering what this monstrosity might look like, here's some concept art.



Now, these two SD45s wont be alone. There is also a Rapido GP38 waiting its turn to become the replacement for unit 651. I hadn't originally planned on this, but Scaletrains cooked up a nice offering of GP40s that included the Penn Central so I decided to throw them in the mix. The Frisco didn't purchase any GP40s originally, but they would nicely fill in a numbering gap. These 2 units will be a part of the 740-749 series GP40s.

I hope to get these Frisco-ized soon. Until then, they're gonna run around with the simple patch out. I would also like to shout out forum member Tom Holley for his work on "what if" units over the years. I think that's where the seed for this idea was planted.

 

I spent a little time putting down track this weekend. My main focus was the engine facility at 19th St Yard, but I also tackled the 2nd transfer pocket track and a couple sections by the yard ladder.


I made a slight miss-alignment on the fuel rack tracks. I think with some scenery additions and locomotives parked in there, it should be fairly well hidden.



With after moving some extra power over and filling the caboose track, it's starting to look like a functioning facility. Also, with the extra transfer power out of the way, trains in staging can now freely leave the staging yard. Worth noting, I do plan on adding a backdrop of some sort to hide all of the staging stuff at some point.

 

I became a railfan in central PA during the PC era, and remember these units with their "mating worms" well. The PC was destined to fail, but it (and the dying RDG) were all we had. Patch-out looks good, will look even better in mandarin and white!