I just joined. I grew up in Kansas (Stockton, end of a MoPac branch line in the 1950's and early 1960's. I model HO freight exclusively from the 2 decades of my youth. All of my motive power is MoPac — 3 GP7 roadswitchers, 2 S1 switchers, 1 SW9 switcher, an F3A-F3B combo, and 1 F7. All are DCC, 5 locos also being converted to sound. (I have 45+ years modeling experience (plastic static models, radio control fixed-wing and helis, model trains) and 30+ years in electronics/electro-mechanics, so I do the DCC conversions myself.) I am just setting up a 4'x8' yard layout to test switching and consisting ops — it has one "mainline" run around the perimeter but is mostly set up for switching, consisting, and yard service ops. I have freight rolling stock including all the lines that interchanged with the MoPac. The yet-to-come full layout is expected to be a multiple level shelf-type "around the room." I live in Northern CA, less than 2 hours from the Sacramento Railroad Museum and the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, and about 25 minutes from the UP's famed Feather River route (you can check these all out online). If anyone wants pics of anything at any of these, let me know. I can also assist with DCC conversions — I will be glad to answer questions. I may be doing some conversions as a side business in the future but will not use this forum as an advertiser, and any advice, etc., offered on this forum will be free of charge and offered only as a member of a group with similar interests. Frisco and MoPac live on! Steve Eckart aka oldkansasboy
Steve, Welcome Aboard! Be sure to check out the layouts section for modeling ideas that include the MoP and Frisco. There are quite a few areas where both roads work together - one of which is my home town of Cape Girardeau, Mo - which I am modeling. I'm sure you'll find this forum a valuable resource and there are quite a few of us that have interest in more that our beloved Frisco.
Steve, welcome aboard. It sounds like your layout is similar to mine, the Iantha Branch, which is made up, but the Frisco did run through Iantha on the Ash Grove sub. The Mop use to some through Lamar and a different mop line through Liberal. The Frisco line is still there, but operated by BNSF and the Mop line through Lamar is there, owned by UP, operated by MNA and the line through liberal, but WATCO uses it from Cornell to Pittsburg. And they recently built a line going to interchange with the Iantha Branch, but MKT, ATSF and KCS have trackage rights to it. Anyway I'm sure you can find about any info you need on here about the Frisco, and maybe some about MoPac.
Steve, glad to have you aboard. With a few more of us around, It Just goes to show that the Frisco did indeed make it to the West Coast.
Steve, You don't sound so old to me (oldkansasboy). Hey a lot of us Frisco guys add interchanges to our layouts with the most popular ones being the MP, MKT, KCS, etc. I have the MP represented on my layout represented by a KC transfer and a local run from staging to Paola to work the local customers. Future expansion will include a MP local from Carthage (staging) to the small MP yard & customers in south Springfield, MO. It's just too much fun not to include the connecting roads.
