New Member from Down Under

Hi, I live in Australia and I am building a HO layout based on the Frisco switching remnants of the former Belt Line around 14 st and 5th Avenue S in Birmingham ALA in the 1980's. I was inspired by a 1991 MR article. My roster is limited to a couple of MP15Dc's and about 15 cars. I would like to get more information about this area particularly with regard to the street trackage. I am starting to lay proto87.com girder rail as distant from steam track in the streets and maybe someone out there can help me to confirm what type of track was used by the Belt Road. (ie were the switches tongue switch and mate style or conventional steam track layed in the street?). I also want to improve my knowledge about Frisco as I only switched my interest to Frisco recently after many years modelling US western roads. The old posts regarding Birmingham and the Belt Road that I found were most helpful. I am new to this chat group way of doing things so I apologise in advance of making any unintended goofs. Cheers,

 

Andrew, our resident experts on Birmingham are Marvin Clemons, a co author of BIRMINGHAM RAILS The Last Golden Era, and Ken McElreath. Ken's nice Birmingham layout was featured in an issue of Railroad Model Craftsman.

Expect some excellent feedback, and welcome to frisco.org. It's a very knowledable group.

Doug

 

Hey, I'm working on the BBRR from 46-56. got lots of info on the line and some pics of the buildings still there today. I work in the old Hill warehouse for UAB off of 16th st and 3rd ave south. they tore down the bbq place and one of the moore-handley warehouses. 90% of the trackage is gone. the Paper building burnt down a few yrs ago. all of the team trackage is gone, building a public park there. But i have a site u can go to, maps of the area, just let me know. Good luck to ya. my wife's boss's son, in "down under", Adalade (sp).
later,
train61|-|
jason

 

Hi, thanks to all for the warm welcome. Jason, it would be great to share info as we have a common interest here with the BBRR despite the difference eras of operation (circa 1980 for me). I am still working out how you use this site properly so I will be guided by you but I would be most interested to take you up on your offer to share info and that internet site. I am relying largely on the 1991MR article, this site and Google Earth for research but have a lot of gaps to fill. I am modelling my rolling stock as per the ones referred to in the MR article and have found the site by Mike Condren most helpful to get the paint schemes accurate but as always a lot of projects on the go but not many completed. I am experimenting with trolley track from proto87.com that you can guage for either RP25 or P87 standard that I highly recommend. I am not sure if the Belt track was steam or trolley type so I am trying to get a handle on this before track laying in earnest. From the photos I have it appears to have been a girder rail style and possibly the trolley track will work well but if you can help clarify this that would be great. I have a track plan that I have designed that I would like to share as well to get your thoughts. Coming into winter for us down here and this is the time to get some serious progress on the layout. cheers, Andrew