Was at the Boeing swap meet today and a friend was telling me of a guy they talked to that lives in Valley Park has a big Frisco layout. Anyone have a clue as to who it is? He thought the guy's name was John.
No but I would like to meet him. The only layout I know of in the area is yours Don. Maybe Ken knows?
Gee! That person could be me. My name is John, and I do have a layout that I model in Frisco and I was at the Boeing show, I live just west of Valley Park, what a coincedence!
Mystery solved ! Could you tell us about your layout? Any photos you might have would be great. Thanks.
Layout size is 16ft.x30ft. dbl. deck connected by 32" radius helix with return loops on each level, the loops have 4 storage tracks that serve as hidden staging. The layout is linear configuration with the shelves being 12"wide, min. radius in staging is 26" to 32", min radius in layout is 30" to 36", a dbl. ended 7 track yard w/deisel service facilities which represents Lindenwood, layout is DCC using CVP radio throttles. The layout represents the Frisco Lines from Chouteau yds. (hidden staging) to Lindenwood to Dixon/Springfield(hidden staging), Dixon Hill, 3 truss bridge over the Meramec River in Valley Park and Eureka are represented. Will submit pictures as I figure out how to do this!
Hi geep07: We'll all be coming in for an op session soon. Can you accomodate about 4 dozen of us? Don't forget the snacks and drinks. Andre
I'm going to be in St Louis in late April for the annual battle at Jefferson Barracks . . . . Hmmmmmm?
John - WOW! That is some nice modeling! I especially like the area around what appears to be Southeastern Junction (the natural gas storage tanks and the plate girder bridge over River Des Peres). Have you modeled the Southeastern Jct. tower? Thank you very much for posting. Best Regards,
There is a tower, but not the exact prototype, unfortunately it is on the wrong side of the tracks, otherwise it would not fit in, there is a SE junction track that terminates to a mirror to give the illusion that it continues to somewhere.
Nice work John. Looks like Lindenwood and Webster Groves to me. I would like to see/operate there sometime if you have time and an open position. Thanks for the photos. You work is very nice.
Maybe I should stop off in Columbia and pick up Chris on my way to St. Louie.|-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-|
John - Very nice layout! How long have you been working on this? Is that Scullin Steel I see? The river bridges are very nice. Ken
From bare ground to present, 6.5yrs. The background photo represents Scullin Steel, the foreground building represents the ammunition plant that is now a warehouse. It is made of 2 Walthers car shop kits. If I had built it to the correct size it would be huge!
Wow! Excellent work. No steam? Very recognizable locations and very detail oriented modeling. Maybe someday it will come through Newburg out here.
I do have some brass steam,none have been converted to DCC yet. I have one Frisco 4-8-2, that is on my priority list!
Looks like there is no room at your Lindenwood area for the roundhouse, coal tower, turntable, etc, so you had best just stick with those good looking Frisco diesels. Ken (going to my underground bunker now as I detect incoming artillery fire heading my way from the Pacific, MO area!)
The helix is enclosed behind the wall were the picture of the E8's exit out of the trees it goes over the storage tracks and the begins to climb. If there is any problems I just crawl through the opening, I have not had any derailments or mishaps with the passenger cars or any of the rolling stock negotiating the 32" rad.curve. In addition, the passenger cars still have the original oversized flanged wheels, which I will replace in the future, and the track is code 83 and the tightest mailine rad. is 30" and they handle it without any problem!
