The Mogollon Railroad

[nachoman]

This will be my official layout-building thread. I had a thread at the old forum, and not much significant has been done since then. I've been slowly building the trackwork up the hill, but most of my modeling has been done on projects that I can work on in front of the TV (football season ) The reality, though, with home improvements and maintenance, automobile work, holidays, and other hobbies, it seems like the best way to fit in railroading is in front of the television while watching football.

So... here is a Woodland Scenics' "Pharmacy" kit I picked up at a train show a few months ago for about two bucks. It is a white metal and wood kit. My plan is to work on buildings and rolling stock so that when I finally get the track layed and the scenery in place, I can populate the layout quickly. I painted this building with standard craft store acrylic paints, and am pleased with the results. I still need to decide what this building will be, weather, and add signage.

[Russ Bellinis]

Looks good. It looks like that building is meant to be placed tight against a similar building which would be placed tight against another and so on to make a down town scene. If you use it that way, you might want to change the stairs to zig-zag down the back of the building. If I remember correctly, you are from Az. and of course the Mogollon Rim is a well known feature of Az. That building looks like it would fit right in with an old western town.

[nachoman]

My intent is to represent various southern arizona Copper mining towns circa 1915-1925. "Mogollon" is the name of a prehistoric, native people that lived in what is now Eastern Arizona and Western New Mexico. You are correct about the staircase - it is prohibitive. Being that it is a white metal casting, it would be difficult to alter. Many arizona mining towns were situated in some very steep, rugged locations, and buildings were seldom side-by-side. The town of Morenci, which I am attempting to emulate was especially steep and rugged, with many buildings accessible by only boot or hoof. My goal is not to emulate Morenci, but to capture the feel of buildings perched along the hillside.

[Russ Bellinis]

I've never been to Morenci, in fact I never heard of it. I also haven't been to Bisby, but I would like to visit someday. I did spend a bit of time in Jerome when we spent a week in Sedona about 3 or 4 years ago, and I noticed it was pretty steep. Of course due to seismic activity I think some of the streets or even lots on the streets have swapped positions (exaggeration), but Jerome is famous for having the land move around a bit.

[TrainNut]

I did spend a bit of time in Jerome when we spent a week in Sedona about 3 or 4 years ago, and I noticed it was pretty steep. Of course due to seismic activity I think some of the streets or even lots on the streets have swapped positions (exaggeration), but Jerome is famous for having the land move around a bit.

From the Jerome, AZ history page,
"Due to the 30-degree incline of the mountainside, gravity has pulled a number of buildings down the slope. To the delight of some, one of those buildings was the town's jail."
"It was during the '30's that dynamite blasts combined with general shifting caused parts of the town to crack or slide. One particularly powerful blast caused a whole block to slide down to the next level, and the "sliding jail" came to rest a block from its intended location."

[LynnB]

Alright , I like layout threads, never enough of them , post lots of pics , don't be shy I'm on hi-speed.

[Russ Bellinis]

I did spend a bit of time in Jerome when we spent a week in Sedona about 3 or 4 years ago, and I noticed it was pretty steep. Of course due to seismic activity I think some of the streets or even lots on the streets have swapped positions (exaggeration), but Jerome is famous for having the land move around a bit.

From the Jerome, AZ history page,
"Due to the 30-degree incline of the mountainside, gravity has pulled a number of buildings down the slope. To the delight of some, one of those buildings was the town's jail."
"It was during the '30's that dynamite blasts combined with general shifting caused parts of the town to crack or slide. One particularly powerful blast caused a whole block to slide down to the next level, and the "sliding jail" came to rest a block from its intended location."

I think Jerome was one of the most interesting towns I have ever visited! I was also surprised to discover that one of the founders of the town was Winston Churchill's mother even though she never set foot in Arizona as far as I know.

[nachoman]

I can't remember if this is the Woodland Scenics' doctors office, or the shoe repair shop, as both come in the same kit. I am not sure what I am going to make it into. It too still needs signage and weathering.

[Tom]

*To me*, that appears to be 2 businesses in one building, like for instance, a doctors office down below with an attorney's office on the top floor. Perhaps even an apartment or two on the 2nd floor?

I'd place a hanging "shingle" (sign) near the stairs for the second floor business. "Jared Barkley, attorney at law" or some such.

My Old West Gunfighter team built two old west towns in what basically amounted to 3/4" scale for special events and the buildings of the first one looked real similar. PM me if you'd be interested in photos of what we did and how we laid it out.

[nachoman]

These dual gaug switches are not easy to make. Here is the 2nd one I have attempted, almost done. The first one went together okay, and seems to work well. This second one has been a headache getting all the rails aligned and in gauge. Too many interdependent arrangements that if one an angle is slightly wrong, the error propagates through the whole switch. It is good experience, though, because the techniques learned making these monsters make building standard turnouts a snap.

[tetters]

That looks excellent Kevin! Dual gauge turnouts really throw me for a loop. Just make sure you keep the frog points nice and sharp and you should just sail along.

[Sumpter250]

I have to agree with Tetters, very nicely done !!!!!

[tetters]

I meant to ask the first time. Are you using a template to work from?

[nachoman]

After working on non layout projects such as structures and rolling stock for the better part of 6 months, I am finally back to layout construction. Here, I have begun to install the surface for what will be the "town at the top of the hill". The narrow gauge branch loops around 1 1/2 times to get to the top, 10 vertical inches from where it started. There are still a ton of rails that need to be laid.

[nachoman]

If the railroad is ever going to reach the town of Joy's Camp, it will need to cross over itself. Thus, this bridge. It is the sides of two atlas thru-girder bridges cut off, and glued to the sides of the subroadbed. I know, kinda low budget, but the economy is bad and I have had these sitting in a box as salvage from my childhood layout. Trust me, it will look good when done. It will be a bridge on a steep grade and on a sharp curve; probably an exaggeration of prototypical, but it will look mighty precarious and exactly the look I am after. The center support and end abutments will be poured concrete pillars (made of an old styrene for sale sign I found in my utility room). Once I get some bride ties laid down, I can continue laying rail up the hill.