Former Layout by Rich Gajnak

Layout Name:

"Kansas Grain Belt"

Official Web Site:

Visit

Layout Status:

dismantled

Track Type:

Layout Space:

12' x 18'

Setting:

Iola, Kansas

This photo, which Rich took on this layout, mimics a real-world Chicago Burlington & Quincy publicity photo. From left to right are the River Raisin Models Pioneer Zephyr, the American Models E8, and the S-Helper Service F3.

A scene not often captured in photos, because it is rather mundane but yet important, here are members of the maintenance-of-way crew performing an inspection of the caboose track.

Kansas Green Belt #357 takes on water in Iola, Kansas on Rich Gajnak's former layout. The lengthy process allows time for some of the crew to strike up a conversation.

This is one of the earliest S-scale production locomotives, the Cleveland Model & Supply 4-6-0, running on the layout. These locomotives consisted of wooden cores to which the modeler applied embossed cardstock. The kits were produced starting in 1937. At first they did not have a motor, but starting in 1938, the company sold them with the then-new Bowser company's motors. The mechanism was metal and diecast. The actual model shown in the photo used to belong to the late Tom Coughlin and was decorated for Tom's "Berkshire Central". Rich was able to acquire this model through one of the former annual Scenery Unlimited open houses. The reefer in the photo is another classic, in that these were core wooden body kits with unique sides that the modeler had to apply. These specific ones were offered by the late King Haswell. The reefer was also obtained at Scenery Unlimited.