Freelanced Frisco subsidiary in Large Scale.

Discussion in 'G Scale' started by Joseph Toth, Jul 2, 2012.

  1. Joseph Toth

    Joseph Toth Member

    I have given up trying to design a workable layout in my apartment. I have looked at the advantages of large scale before and still find the cost of equipment cheaper in many cases when compared to the smaller scales. Easier on eyes just shy of turning 66 years old too!

    My first venture in HO modeling after I sold off my Lionel O27 in 1962 to finance the HO project was to model the first layout in the book "Six Atlas HO Railroads you can Build". It was the "Simplicity & Great Plains RR" and designed for a 4X6 foot sheet of plywood.

    I created the town of Simplicity, Texas, and the S&GP became a subsidiary of the Frisco operated "Somewhere in West Texas" by the QA&P. A timely artical about the same time in Trains Magazine on the transcontinental freight operations of the Frisco-QA&P-Santa Fe helped inspire this freelanced shortline.

    Welcome Back Dear Old Friend! I have decided to construct a large scale switching pike on my balcony which measures out to a length of 28 feet. There is enough space at the ends to provide real estate for a small engine facility and a Purina Feed Mill. I have been in love with the red and white Checkerboard Square since childhood as my grandparents bought chicken feed from a dealer on Denton Road in Dallas near their farm in Farmers Branch to feed the fine feathered fowl who laid large fresh farm eggs that they sold.

    The Frisco's mainline from Ft. Worth to Sherman ran behind their farm and the Katy and Cotton Belt crossed it at grade at nearby Carrollton. Howard Fogg's night painting of Frisco FAs on a freight at a depot under a partly cloudy full moon night brings back those innocent memories of my youth in the early 50s in Texas.

    28 feet might not seem like much in large scale but the S&GP is being reborn as a Frisco subsidiary again as I make final plans to properly enter my Second Childhood! Are there any other Frisco Folks dabbling in large scale currently?

    ALL ABOARD!

    Joe Toth
     
  2. Jim James

    Jim James Staff Member Staff Member

    Not yet, but after building my deck in the backyard this past weekend I've thought about a small garden railway.
     
  3. gstout

    gstout Member Frisco.org Supporter

    If anyone is interested in taking title to a never-run FA-FB Aristo-Craft set (currently dressed in factory Santa Fe silver and red livery) for a small pittance, contact me via PM.

    GS
     
  4. DanHyde

    DanHyde Member

    Joe,
    See some of my album photos. I have quite bit of Frisco large scale. A bunch in the paint shop as well.
    2 FA's, a U25B, a "new" F7, an E8, and many others. Right now, waiting for the winter hibernation to get busy indoors - too much outdoors stuff to do.
    Dan
     
  5. SAFN SAAP

    SAFN SAAP Member

    Please, oh, please do not get me hungry for an outdoor version of the S.A. & A.P. My wallet will never forgive you for the LGB Mogul 2-6-0's, and the Bachmann Spectrum 4-6-0's! Oh the fun I could have...
     
  6. Joseph Toth

    Joseph Toth Member

    Thanks Dan,

    Will start a look-see shortly. FAs and F7s were the regular assigned power on the freights through Farmers Branch and Carrollton during the Summer '61. I have many fond memories but hadn't gotten a camera to record all the neat trains then. My 75c hourly wages at the Pinguin Drive-In in FB wouldn't have bought me quality so I just watched the trains roll by from a safe distance on my bike. Item: I made the thickest milk shakes in Texas!

    Jim,

    Wish I had a deck to construct my large scale on. A 28 foot long balcony isn't much but still beats modeling indoors in a smaller scale that I can no longer see with aging eyes. Besides, I wanna really be able to "Bend the Iron" when I throw a switch! I forgot to mention that a Hartland Locomotive Works "Mighty Mack" centercab switcher will switch the mill and pick up and set off cars at the interchange. I just gotta get this one! Some freelance artistic license here. It will be owned by the mill to justify its existance on the railroad. I can hear the late Bobbye Hall now..."CUTE!" A black and yellow GP7 will perform the mainline duties.

    Manny,

    You don't gotta start BIG in large scale! How 'bout a caboose for starters? Would make a great paper weight! A working toilet seat in the privey would really be cool but of course will draw flies on a hot Texas summer afternoon! And watch out when you walk the tracks! The SA&AP is modeled in the days before chemical toilets! P-U! If the stink gets unbearable you can sell it to me! (The caboose, NOT the stink!) The Frisco used the Santa Fe East Dallas Yard when I switched for ATSF from 1968-1976 and came in from Irving. They usually arrived in the late evening and were still assigned a wood crummy with kerosene markers! Another reason to build on the balcony. Wouldn't want to set my apartment on fire!

    Joe Toth
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 3, 2012
  7. Joseph Toth

    Joseph Toth Member

    Dan,

    I checked "Dan's Stuff" and couldn't find any FAs or U25Bs. Either I got another sniff from my old tube of airplane glue or I got derailed trying to locate those pix? I like the purple and silver RS3. Is it lettered for the Atlantic Coast Line? Though they didn't roster any, the color scheme is a classic. I remember the last of the ACL purple paints in the Tampa, Florida, area. I lived there from 1959-1964 although a short move back to Texas in '61 did put me back on the Frisco for about 9 months. Almost Heaven!

    Joe Toth
     
  8. DanHyde

    DanHyde Member

    Hi, Joe,
    My locos are in the paint shop, so nothing to show yet. I just wanted you to see some of the large scale stuff that is available that can be " Frisco-ized".
    Being raised in the 60's, I remember what airplane glue was likeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
    Dan
     
  9. SAFN SAAP

    SAFN SAAP Member

    I'm still amazed that after 20+ years, they still haven't standardized "G", "Large" Scale. Still too many sizes. None the less, good to see Frisco being offered.

    Dan, can't wait to see your goodies.
     
  10. Joseph Toth

    Joseph Toth Member

    I never got hooked on the airplane glue or any stuff of that nature nor did I ever smoke...anything! Had loving parents and grandparents who taught me most of the good things in life except how to keep my BIG mouth shut. I am learning that now!

    Love your Frisco pix Dan. That special run boxcar has me wanting to hunt one down. The Atlantic Coast Line had reflective broken stripes along the sills of freight cars too but I haven't found a single one in G that looks prototypical enough to make purchase of one.

    Large Scale has indeed suffered for lack of standards. Even coupler height is a problem. I can accept the 1:29 scale though I understand that 1:32 is correct for standard gauge. MTH and Märklin offer 1:32 while Aristo Craft and USA Trains use 1:29. I believe the Hartland trains are 1:24 but may be wrong. Some of Bachmann's Big Trains, like the 4-6-0 and some freight cars will work too but they do have a non-standard coupler height from what I understand. I have a lot to learn about Large Scale and what will work with whose stuff. I recall a neat non-powered plastic kit released by MPC-Lionel of The General 4-4-0 I believe it was. Don't know if it was based on the Western & Atlantic prototype or not? I always wanted a model of The Texas to grace the top of my bookcase.

    One thing regarding non-powered kits or dummy diesels is if you do have the space for a large scale roundhouse or ready track you can fill up a few stalls or ready track and increase the size of your roster without putting a pain strain on your pocketbook. This really works for the dedicated UP modeler who wants several Big Boys since Revell still makes their non-powered HO kit! I gave a co-worker at Deutsche Bahn one for his birthday about four years ago and he displays it in his train room. He has bought a 1:35 scale non-powered Deutsche Reichsbahn 2-10-0. Now THAT IS LARGE SCALE!

    Also, with freight cars coming in all sizes it can be determined just which ones will look good on a unified roster. The famous Pennsy X-29 boxcars were smaller in size than the standardized AAR's that were released in the 30s I believe and then you have the Santa Fe outside braced boxcars that received roof extentions and all of these in one train kept the brakemen on their toes when having to walk the roofs and set retainers in the Good Old Days!

    A sharp eye and Safety First had to be practiced at all times.

    Joe Toth
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 5, 2012

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