There are no train stores here in Northwest AR with over half a million people stuffed into the corner up here. I go to Springfield for work every now and then, I'll have to check out the new shop!
It sounds like you’re in the same boat there in NWA! It’s very nice to have a shop nearby, again! I love going to the train show there at the Bentonville fairgrounds. I usually see a ton of fellow Springfield-area folks there! -Mike
Hi! Thank you! It’s a pretty good store with all the supplies you might need. It has already come in handy several times. I’m about to make another run in the coming days! -Mike
Hello! That's the strange thing...I do have a dehumidifier in the layout room and keep it the level at 45%. I haven't had a problem with any other wood on the layout. I sure hope it's the last instance! -Mike
Hi Mike. I don't remember what kind of industry was on the spur north of the MFA elevator. I always thought it might be the old lead to the old Katy car shops that took up most of the land north of the mainline and was repurposed when the shops were closed. The building was pretty long. The grainy aerial photo I have from 1990 doesn't really indicate what it was. The Sedalia Switcher would pull loads out of MFA and park them there for N102 to grab. Since the Sedalia yard was pretty small, that made sense. They'd drag the loads back to the yard if they were headed south for N101. Historical note: One stormy spring, they parked a string of hoppers on the spur. The ground gave way under the track, there was very little ballast used and a few of the hoppers tipped over. Rick Kraus was on-hand to photograph the event.
Hi, Byron! Thank you for your insight. This is very helpful. MKT track maps from 1984/85 show "H. Close & Sons" as the industry on that north siding. I can't find anything on it. I have a very faint memory of tromping through that weedy area on my bike and coming across the ruins of some sort of corrugated metal building and (perhaps?) the remnant of a Purina sign. But, who knows if that was it. Quick question about operations...if the Switcher pulled the loads for 101 and 102, did that job make runs out there to drop off the new empties for the elevator? Or were those dropped off by the road freights? If the Switcher took care of the empties, I'm assuming they would have done a backup move through town? I appreciate the details and helping fill in those blanks for me! -Mike
@@MainTrack The Switcher would run all the way to LaDue about twice a week. More during harvest season. If they had work to do in Green Ridge or Clinton, they could round around the trains and save the MFA for last, so no backing move. N101 rarely dropped off anywhere except the yard. They'd break the train before crossing 3rd St. as not to block any streets. Haul the cars for Sedalia to the yard and run light engine back to the train. N102 would leave its train on the main to work MFA. Because nearly every industry around Sedalia on the Katy seemed to diverge south, it was easier for N102 and the Sedalia Switcher to work. Back then all trains needed a caboose. I did see a couple of crazy and no longer allowed moves. I saw a crew do a "Flying Switch" with a caboose near the MFA. They cut it loose before Grand Ave crossing and the locos took off down the main. One of the head-end guys would throw the switch on that northside spur after the locos passed. They'd leave it there while working the MFA area. The mystery building probably was operated by H. Close & Sons. They had business in Green Ridge too. The Purina sign is a good clue. Operational note: The typical Sedalia Switcher was a couple of Geeps, 5-20 cars, and a caboose. Mostly crewed by the extra board. - Byron
Excellent information, Byron! That's a pretty interesting story about the flying moves. I recall seeing many of those being done back in the 80s and many roads- not just the Katy. I guess there was more rule-bending back in the day to get the job done. I recall seeing a note in one of the MKT timetables from around '88 about only single units being allowed on the Sedalia industry tracks. I wasn't sure if that was referring to just the MFA-area tracks, or all others as well. I've obviously seen pictures from over the years of switching moves being done with consists of two locomotives. However, my recollections from around 88/89 include seeing a single unit kept on the Sutherlands siding. I'm still trying to track down any pictures of the H. Close & Sons building. I even went up to Sedalia recently and scoured all the local history books at the library- hoping to find something to go by. Surely there is some image, somewhere!
I've been using cellulose insulation (blown into the attic type) and plaster of paris. Mix in equal amounts and you have home brewed sculptamold. Both products available at the big box stores, and saves a bunch in the wallet. I'll have to scoot up to check out iron planet. Just a short drive from me here.
Hi there! I haven't used that particular method, but I could see it being something that works well! Availability is a big plus! That's why I like using the wall plaster. Here in Springfield, we have a Walmart on every other street corner it seems. Ha. So, it's always a short drive (and a cheap purchase) if I need more. I'm sure they'd love to see you at Iron Planet! I made another run out there just this morning to grab some new flex track. -Mike
@Main Track Trains it's the same exact thing being sold elsewhere. I bought the bale of insulation and a 25# sack of plaster of paris. More than enough for 100 layouts probably. If you had a few people do a group buy you could split it up so it wouldn't take up too much room. I'm down here in NE Ok, so Springfield is only a short drive. There's a train show in joplin on July 15th if interested. It's a smaller show, but some good deals are usually there.
It sounds like you're plenty set in the plaster department. Ha! I have the Joplin show on my radar and hope to make it. Despite it's smaller size, I've been able to find some pretty good stuff there over the years. -Mike
Good to see you make progress. Have you been able to enjoy running some trains? I hope you get track time as you build. Love the look of the layout. I have family in Buffalo and hope to make it down for the fall trainshow.
Thank you, Chris! I do run trains here and there to make sure I have some fun- considering that’s the end goal. Ha. Adding these three new industries will provide some more switching opportunities. It should be enough to keep me busy! -Mike
I'm getting 60s through 80s Mkt red scheme to green. Mostly Atlas as N scale is my bag. GP38 and GP40. MoPac too. North Texas stuff. Finally scored a GP15. I really like your videos. N scale is tough for these era's.
Hello, Brian! It would be cool to model that unit sometime! It was repainted green by the time of my modeling era- mid/late 80s. But, I’ve been tempted to model that unit for those times I want to have a backdated ops session! -Mike
