A disastrous F9 tornado struck Newburg,MO. All of the buildings in town are gone and can't be found and the roundhouse has been moved back 300'. I am in the process of dismantling the layout. My eyes were bigger than my common sense and I built far too big and didn't have a practical track plan. I recreated Newburg 1943 as the center point but didn't design the rest of the layout to do anything more than run trains continuosly. Coupled with the fact that I enjoy building brass Frisco steam and neglecting or even finishing the RR, I'm older than dirt and lost my wife of 59 years six months ago tells me its time to downsize. I have sold the roundhouse and certain scratchbuilt buildings, my larger steam engines and will build back smaller with a much better design for operation. I've already built a smaller roundhouse, turntable and coal chute and I'll try to use as much of the existing yard as is practical only smaller. Also will eliminate the duckunder. I was 15 years younger when I built it and could duck under a lot easier.
It even knocked the hill down! I wonder where the dump and cemetery landed? Good luck with the rebuild Don. A lot of work but an understandable choice.
Boy those tornados are terrible things! I think you made aa good decision. Rebuild smaller and more user friendly which will result in more pleasure from Newburg as well as adding to your enjoyment from building Frisco steam. I'm sorry to see the old Newburg go as it was darn impressive, in spite of the burden of finishing it. I look forward to the opportunity to come down sometime to see the gem you will create the joy it will provide in running your brass roster. Your work is unmatched. I'd like to see a complete 3695 before the real one rusts away! It wouldn't be out of the question that 3695 ran down to Newburg to fill-in for another 0-6-0 being shopped would it? Hang in there my friend. K
First off, Don, I can't begin to imagine what you're dealing with concerning the passing of your life's love. So very sorry to read of that. Layout: It's called life planning. We don't often consider such until we're older, but as we age, it becomes readily apparent that our bodies change, and so to, how we redefine how we enjoy our hobbies. It's part of life. I've done it with my model railroad hobby, and I will still face more adjustments in my hobby of dual sport motorcycling. I wish for you the very best in your rework, and I hope you'll be richly rewarded with a layout that's more geriatric friendly and lot more fun to operate. Andre
Don, I am saddened by your loss of Rosie as your best friend and companion. She was a delight to know. You should know that you have most certainly enriched my life with much "Frisco joy" for the past 45 years. Downsizing can be a great thing, as I have discovered by moving my modeling venue from the Birmingham East Thomas Yard and mainline to the minuscule downtown Ninth Avenue Yard with it's "little engines." That's what you called them as you once told me memories about visiting Birmingham with your dad. Thank you. Ken McElreath
Man those tornaders can really sneak up on you. I know it's a tough decision to tear down and start over, but it should be worth it in the long run. Being able to enjoy your layout should always be #1 with this hobby. Excited to see what you come up with.
Newburg will be gone. The roundhouse/turntable and the big depot are sold. The roundhouse had a big footprint and always faced wrong on the layout. I've already build a smaller house (Walthers small brick house, 9 stalls) 90'TT and a wooden coal chute. The "division point" and yard will be freelanced as will whatever towns grow on the RR. I have enough Frisco depots built to give it the family look. I have sold all of my "big" power. Nothing larger than a 1500 and 4100 which fit on the 90' TT very well. I'm going to see if I can stretch the "dogbones" on either end and make more plausible towns on either end. A smaller yard will be along the back wall and that part of the layout will be higher to allow trackage to be below it as a sort of staging or hiding spot. I have it all visualized in my head, I just have to work up the energy and ambition for all the construction. I'll keep the wide curves. I'll be 81 in a month and had better get off my butt.
I can do little more than echo the comments above. I have been through the layout remodel--though for different reasons--and I have never regretted anything but the loss of the larger, sweeping curves. Operationally, the current pike is much better.
Hey Don if it’s easier to build Newburg 2021 I’ll loan you some modern diesels and graffiti covered BKTY boxcars.
Hey, Don, if a six-stall roundhouse, nice coal chute, 90 foot turntable and 4100 and 1500 locomotives are your cup of tea, consider Chaffee MO. It even has the same approximate alignment of the yard, station and roundhouse, plus being the terminal for several branch lines featuring mixed trains with Consolidations and Berry Pickers to boot. Ken McElreath
Don, if you find yourself stumped on track planning, I would be happy to help with that. Farming season is starting to wind down, so I'll start having free time to work play with the software again.
