Former Layout by Roger Nulton

Layout Name:

"The Monon Route"

Layout Status:

dismantled

Track Type:

Layout Style:

Point-to-point, with continuous-running option

Track Manufacturer:

handlaid, some Tomalco and Shinohara turnouts

Rail Size:

code 125, 100

Min. Radius:

33"

Era:

late-1940s Fall

Setting:

west central Indiana

Railroad(s) Modeled:

Monon (CI&L)

Featured In:

S Gaugian, Sep 2002, pg 33

Great Model Railroads 1998, pg 60

3/16 "S"cale Railroading, Apr 1991, pg 12

Notes:

This was Roger's second layout, built into an attic. It started with GarGraves and American Models track, but that was replaced with flex- and hand-laid track during the track-laying phase. An "in-between" layout was built after this one, utilizing a lot of the salvaged parts of this layout. You can read about that in the NASG Dispatch, Apr 2001, pg 15 article. The photos shown here are snapshots Roger took at the time. Roger successfully completed the NMRA's MMR program.

The layout was built in the attic of this vintage 1888 Victorian. It took 3 years to restore the house, which had been abandoned.

When the restoration was completed, the American Flyer trains were unpacked. After nearly 20 years, Roger's life settled to where he finally had the time and place to build the layout of his dreams. There are few basements in Southern California, so the only potential space for a layout was in the attic. The trains are out and running 'round and 'round on a sheet of plywood in this picture. A pulldown stairway was the only access.

Permanent access to the attic was gained by cutting an opening in the ceiling and constructing a staircase.

The attic wall/ceiling was covered with, ironically, cedar "car siding", purchased cheaply as surplus! The backdrop was then installed using 1/4" Masonite hardboard painted a sky blue. In this shot, the "L girder" benchwork and Gargraves flextrack with A.C. Gilbert American Flyer switches are visible. The track was glued to "Celotex" roadbed, beveled, and notched for curves with a table saw.

What a thrill: a "realistic" S layout! A favorite American Flyer K-5 is in the foreground. On the track behind are two "craftsman" kits with hi-rail wheels, which Roger built in high school, to run behind his AF locomotives. Roger became increasingly dissatisfied with the tall rail and large ties, clearly visible in the foreground of this photo.

This photo shows a Rex Engineering 0-6-0 pulling an American Models box car over the Ellettsville grade crossing. Structures were kitbashed from HO-scale kits or scratchbuilt. The line pole is a Lehigh Valley Models kit. All rolling stock has Kadee S scale couplers installed by now, and continuing to use hi-rail wheels. Roger used an idler car with a Kadee coupler on one end and an AF coupler on the other, to operate his trains with his AF locos.

This American Flyer car was adapted for scale operation with American Models trucks and Kadee couplers. The track and turnouts in McDoel Yard, pictured here, is Shinohara code 100, purchased cheaply at a swap meet. That spelled the end of the Gargraves track for Roger! The mainline in the foreground is now code 125 rail laid on Ace ties with hand laid "closed frog" turnouts to accomodate the AF equipment with hi-rail wheels. Only scale wheels can run in the yard, while scale and hi-rail wheels can run on the mainline.

Here is the Pacific Rail Shops' version of the previously pictured Monon express box car. The actual Monon had only four of these cars, yet PRS made all four numbers. John Verser of PRS said they were a big seller! The car has scale wheels and ran well on the hi-rail track system pictured. Both structures shown were available as S-scale kits.

This scene of a limestone quarry clearly shows the distracting attic ceilings. A Rex locomotive is switching a Central Hobby Supply "West Shore Line" PRR wood-sided gondola, produced as a resin kit, modified to look like the Monon's version. In the middle is an A.C. Gilbert AF flat, and on the right is a Rex low-sided gondola. In the rear (left) are two AF gondolas loaded with limestone blocks. The church is an HO-scale kit.

Another shot of McDoel Yard with a mixture of brass locomotives, a brass NYC express reefer and tank car, along with craftsman, American Models, and PRS kits. As Roger states, "Not one AF car in the bunch!" Roger's migration from pure AF to scale is continuing.

Here the foreground track is code 125 with a closed frog turnout visible. The siding is code 100 Shinohara flextrack. Power is routed to the turnout's frog with a toggle switch, modified with a brass switch lamp casting. The hoppers are AF and American Models. The coal dealer is a Lehigh Valley Models craftsman kit. The fuel dealer is a modified HO-scale kit, as is the overhead crane in the background.

Another view of B. E. Curry's coal dealership. This one has a brass tank car by Southwind Models and a brass NW2 diesel switcher by Oriental Models. The hopper is by American Models. In the foreground is a closed frog turnout built from a kit made by Earl Eshelman.

The "run through" depot at Gosport, as well as the freight shed, are scratchbuilt. All sides of the models were completed, even though they couldn't be seen on this layout. Roger states that it proved to be a wise decision for future layouts, as he preserved these models for later use. The water tower is a Lehigh Valley Models craftsman kit.

Southward freight #73 makes the White River crossing just north of Gosport, Indiana. The brass F3 engines are from Overland Models, while the box cars are Pacific Rail Shops kits. The bridge girders are sold as HO-scale. The limestone piers and blocks are made from tinted hydrocal cast in homemade molds. This scene has been used on three different layouts, including Roger's current layout.