Layout Status:
dismantled
Track Type:
AF
Track Manufacturer:
A.C. Gilbert
Rail Size:
code 172
Railroad(s) Modeled:
UP
Notes:
This was John's first layout, from around 1963. These are scans of old photos that John found of his layout. It shows what he had available at the time, and what he was able to do with those materials then. John got started in model railroading in 1961 as a teenager, at first building a 4'x8' plywood layout in the family home's screened-in porch, but later his parents had a pull-down ladder installed to the attic so that John could build his "empire" there. When John went off to college and eventually serving as a naval officer, his layout remained in the attic, until one day his Dad told them that the mice were eating the paper mache mountains. All salvagable items were carefully packed up and continued to be stored in that attic, for when John once again had the time and space to use them.
John saved up for his expanding rolling stock and engines, and rode the 8-mile one-way trip on his bicycle to the nearest hobby shop that carried A.C. Gilbert AF products to buy each item one at a time.
An Alco PA/PB and a GP7 plus a Pacific 4-6-2 and a Northern 4-8-4 were added over time.
John settled on a Union Pacific livery and even the Santa Fe Alco got repainted to UP colors, as well as a GP7. One got a cut-down nose, and was also painted in the UP livery with appropriate decals. John learned about how to do these things from the S Gauge Herald and other model railroading magazines.
Accessories like the mail pickup car, cattle loader, watertank, bridges, etc came along and were integrated into the now quite large layout that included a village with some scratch built buildings, as well as Plasticville buildings.
Although not exactly of the correct scale, John's ever-expanding Dinky Toy collection provided vehicles, including enough army vehicles for an army base.