Current Layout by Fred Schlegel

Layout Name:

"Milford Valley RR #2"

Layout Status:

active

Track Type:

Layout Space:

16' x 15'

Layout Style:

Around-the-room, two-level, with peninsulas

Track Manufacturer:

Tomalco Track flextrack, handlaid turnouts, Bob Peare, Tru-scale Models

Rail Size:

code 100, 172

Control System:

Battery-powered (Blunami) and DC

Notes:

Fred notes that the bottom level of his layout uses Bob Peare code 172 and Tru-scale Models track. The layout is two feet deep around the walls and has a 6'-8" peninsula. Ramps on the outside of the layout connect the lower level to the upper level.

A partial overview of the layout.

Roll Transfer is one of the major employers of the area. In the foreground an American Models UP FP7, converted to freight service, is coming out of the yard.

Passengers are also serviced by the Milford Valley railroad, using an American Models CB&Q 4-8-4 Northern.

The "Cathcart" Union Pacific passenger station was built by Rusty Westermeier.

This Mobilgas gas station was also built by Rusty Westermeier.

Milford Tower with interior lighting.

The Sunset Models' brass Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 (the Big Boy) #X4010 is pulling a train out of the Milford Valley train yard.

An American Models 4-6-2 Pacific is pulling a CB&Q freight train out of the Milford yard.

This photo shows part of an all-reefer train, which was built out of Pacific Rail Shop cars.

Two of the CB&Q cabooses found in the yard. These are American Models wood cabooses. The one in the foreground has been improved with window panes and turnbuckles for the cupola.

Several views of the lower level of the layout.

CB&Q #763 pullling a string of Pacific Fruit Express reefers through Lincoln, Nebraska on its way to Des Moines, Iowa for delivery of apples. The engine is an S-Helper Service 2-8-0 which Fred painted and decaled for the "Q". He converted it to run on battery power.

CB&Q #231 switches out an MP express reefer at the Ice House at Chelsey yard. The engine is an American Models RS3 which has also been converted to battery power. Fred painted and decaled this engine in the Q's Blackbird paint scheme.
The AM GP35 #991 in the background is painted and decaled in the Q's Redbird paint scheme and is also converted to battery powered.

Burlington Denver Zephyr pulling into Omaha.

Fred made the signs from ones found on the Web and printed off using his computer, printed on tissue paper, then glued to the building.

These signs were old magazine ads, which Fred sanded thin, and then used Elmer's glue to affix them to the buildings.

A pair of CB&Q U25B Redbirds with freight, leaving Lincoln, Nebraska from Chelsey Yard.

CB&Q #2985 leaving Chelsey Yard west bound out of Linclon, Nebraska.

CB&Q 4-8-4 #5627, the west bound mail train, meets the Burlington Denver Zephyr heading east bound for Chicago, at Finley Yard in Lincoln, Nebraska.

CB&Q #2985 leaving Chelsey Yard west bound out of Lincoln, Nebraska.

A Union Pacific F-unit ABBA lash-up with west bound freight leaving Omaha for Chicago.

Fred had an 8-inch open space at the back of his layout that needed to be filled, to connect the Hudson Coal Co. mine to the Reinmiller Cattle Co. at the other end of the layout. This section sits 3-1/2" higher than the adjacent layout, so there was no good way to connect this raised section to the main layout. Instead Fred turned it into a "stand-alone" switching "module", which is completely "dead rail", i.e. engines use battery power to run on that module.

This shows the right-hand side of this raised area.