Modeling Lebanon

[w3hodoug]

IMHO, the key is to model Lebanon with the view being to the SE. Model railroaders prefer east to the right, west to the left, but Lebanon probably works better the other way so the wye points away from the aisle. I'm now thinking of doing a switching layout just of Lebanon - with maybe some main-line staging thrown in. I'll let Brad Slone do the Ft. Wood Branch.

[mark]

Doug,

If you will be building an operating railroad I strongly believe the better orientation for Lebanon is looking to the Northeast.

With a northeast orientation the majority of the industries are on the aisle side. This includes those along the wye tracks. The all important wye, with its industries, can extend into the aisle. This is a critical element for an operating railroad so that the operators can reach the equipment to more easily couple and uncouple cars. Even a tight radius wye would extend beyond comfortable reach (24" to 30" max) if orientated the other way.

Since the majority of the rail served industries on on the south side, they would have their fronts toward the aisle, so business signs are more readily visible, easy for operators to identify and aesthetically pleasing. The backs of the downtown businesses on the north side then form a "logical" backdrop of flats or shallow profile buildings against the wall.

For the owner building the railroad with this orientation would be much easier. The orientation places the tracks in easy to reach locations for installation, wiring, maintenance and cleaning. Any derailment could be reached without having to lean over the railroad. If aisle space becomes a concern, the stub end of the wye could be hinged to fold out of the way when not in use.

And better still, this orientation resolves the direction orientation issue. Operators always face north, to the right is east and to the left is west. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps the North Star orientation everyone is familiar with on maps. Visiting operators can keep their bearings and understand St. Louis is east of Springfield.

Hope this helps.

Thanks!

Mark

[w3hodoug]

Thanks Mark, This issue has been a design hang up for about six years. Actually most of the industries, except Lee Jeans and Detroit Tool, are on the south side, so the operators would have to reach over the model structures for uncoupling. It probably doesn't matter much - I don't think my wife wants to stay in this house long enough for me to build another layout.

This string has been dormant for several years - I'm guessing you and I are the only ones interested in Lebanon.

[pbender]

Doug,

I might eventually have an interest in Lebanon as well.

I have been doodling grand layout plans ( easy to do when you don't have the space for the actual layout). One of these days, I will model at least part of the Springfield terminal and at least one of the lines radiating out from it... In addition to the Ozark branch ( which is a personal favorite).

Current thoughts are to model a few towns on the St Louis main to Newburg and a few towns between Springfield and Thayer with connections between the two on the old east belt and the new east belt, along with a common staging yard representing Tulsa and KC. ( and the staging may be labeled on the plan as North Yard on one end and South yard on the other... But I have not thought that through completely).

If I am doing the Ozark branch, modeling the old east belt and everything east of the there in town would provide enough action for a couple of crews. The mainline run would provide additional interest.

Paul

[w3hodoug]

Paul, it sounds interesting. Give your operators two or three towns to switch and they'll always show up. Those industry charts posted here a month or so ago are ample ammunition. Lebanon's blew me away with all the local industries that used the team tracks. I knew about the track-side ones. Doug

[yardmaster]

Doug, I think your detailed notes and photos make it ridiculously easy for anyone who would be interesting in modeling Lebanon. I think Lebanon by itself, with staging at each end - the end-to-end forks, if you will - would provide several operators a LOT of work in one fast-clock trick.

Would the LDE lend itself to portable or even moveable segments that could be moved to another house?

Best Regards,

[w3hodoug]

Would the LDE lend itself to portable or even moveable segments that could be moved to another house?

Best Regards,

Yes, but my wife is intent on down sizing and my eyesight no longer allows detailed model building.

If I'd known I'd live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.

Thanks Chris, Doug

[mike_newton]

Just one additional use of the team track near the Lebanon depot. I remember a 50 foot Great Northern (similar to the Kadee model #39817) box car spotted just to the west of the depot, and the Osagian Canoe company was loading canoes into the box car. I have no idea of the destination for the canoes.

Also, the MFA feed mill use to receive a lot of Peavey and ICG covered hoppers. I really liked those cars when I was a kid (oh wait, I am still a kid just with an older body now).

[yardmaster]

...and my eyesight no longer allows detailed model building.

If I'd known I'd live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.

Well, Frisco Nation is the poorer for it. With my maternal/paternal family's history of eye problems increasing with age, I shall heed your words.

I think this LDE is ripe for the picking for an intrepid prototype modeler. One might turn away from modeling it since it's on the busy Eastern Division main. However, even for someone who doesn't have the wherewithal to model the full range of traffic, I think it's possible to still accurately model Lebanon, operating the layout as a "switching/local" layout, and have any mainline traffic be conceptual in nature.

As someone who finds this type of Frisco archaeology challenging, a big THANK YOU for carefully documenting Lebanon!

Best Regards,