Current Layout by Mike Fyten

Layout Name:

"Kaw Valley Railroad"

Layout Status:

active

Track Type:

Layout Space:

30' x 30'

Layout Style:

Around-the-room, with peninsula

Track Manufacturer:

handlaid

Rail Size:

code 100

Min. Turnout Frog:

Min. Radius:

32"

Ruling Grade:

Track Height(s):

40" to 48"

Mainline Track Length:

145'

Era:

early-1950s

Setting:

rural Kansas

Railroad(s) Modeled:

freelance

Control System:

DCC (Digitrax)

Featured In:

Railroad Model Craftsman, Mar 2017, pg 42

Model Railroader, Jun 2015

NASG Dispatch, Mar 2015, pg 15

Model Railroader, Aug 2001, pg 52

Notes:

Mike operates his layout in a point-to-point format.

Other Links:

A visitor's photos of the layout

Some (tiny) older photos

Videos:

Onboard Video of Entire Layout

New Box Cab

The photos that follow have been laid out in approximate order following the track plan from South Lawrence to Fairfax and its yard.

Munson's Meat Co. and Tomie's Tire Co. are prominently featured in this photo of South Lawrence.

The FMC Corp and the yard with the turnable are in the background. The foreground is the main track having just left North Lawrence and heading toward Linwood.

High-level view of Linwood.

Bizorik Bull Shippers is in the foreground, right, and J. Breau's Feed & Seed is in the background on the left.

A close-up of the Linwood passenger station.

The Kaw Valley local, headed by GP #901, is preparing to switch the co-op elevator in Linwood, KS in the late summer of 1957 on Mike Fyten's layout. The elevator was scratchbuilt by a late friend of Mike's many years ago. The station is a kit (unknown manufacturer) but with a modified roof. All of the track in this scene is hand-laid, as is about 85% of the track on the layout. The box cars are from Pacific Rail Shops, the Chevy by the station is from Racing Champions and the brown pickup is from Mattel's Matchbox. Mike's photo appeared on the inside cover of the July 2023 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman in the NASG promotional ad campaign.

The entrance to Bonner Springs.

#901 is switching in Bonner Springs. Long's Lumber is behind the roadway bridge.

The side view of Lone Star Cement.

The front view of Lone Star Cement.

The view of the end of the peninsula, with the town of Fairfax in the background.

In the foreground is the Mobile Oil facility in Fairfax, with Sunshine Biscuit Co. in the distant background.

The other side of the Mobil Oil building, with the Fairfax station on the right in the photo.

Fairfax engine servicing area.

(unknown location)