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atsf643 | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Chicago, Santa Fe & Pacific Railroad V.4 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Chicago, Santa Fe & Pacific Railroad V.4

Follow the design and progress on my new model layout based on the ATSF Clovis Subdivision. A track plan and description can be found in the Q2 2008 Warbonnet, the quarterly publication of the Santa Fe Historical and Modeling Society (see www.atsfrr.net).

Update (Jan.1st, 2010): as of today, continuous running is now possible on the top two levels using a temporary connection between Melrose and Becker locations. We're using Roco Line code 83 sectional track (from the old layout) until replacing it with Atlas flex track in all visible areas.

Update (Nov.2015): lower reverse loop (Albuquerque) is in and ready to use
my HO scale models
< my HO scale models > 		FREMO USA HO-scale modules
< FREMO USA HO-scale modules > 		construction of a HO-scale replica of the Santa Fe Railroad depot at Mountainair, New Mexico
< construction of a HO-scale replica of the Santa Fe Railroad depot at Mountainair, New Mexico > 		level 1 (top) - to be scenicked
level 1 (top) - to be scenicked		 level 2 - to be scenicked
level 2 - to be scenicked
level 3 - to be scenicked
level 3 - to be scenicked		 level 4 - staging only/no scenery
level 4 - staging only/no scenery		 bridge segment of old layout
bridge segment of old layout		 boxes full with rolling stock
boxes full with rolling stock		 the old set up in the new basement; soon to be changed drastically
the old set up in the new basement; soon to be changed drastically
first steps
first steps		 Systems Operations Center
Systems Operations Center		 Mountainair is up!
Mountainair is up!		 stretching for Mountainair, NM
stretching for Mountainair, NM		 Paul setting up future Mountainair
Paul setting up future Mountainair
happy switching on the old layout segments
happy switching on the old layout segments		 laying trackbed for Mountainair
laying trackbed for Mountainair		 trackbed progress towards East Mountainair
trackbed progress towards East Mountainair		 smoothing the backdrop behind Mountainair
smoothing the backdrop behind Mountainair		 Which signal bridge?
Which signal bridge?
East of Mountainair (behind it, really!)
East of Mountainair (behind it, really!)		 checking out the new system
checking out the new system		 checking the roadbed
checking the roadbed		 Amtrak on the 2% grade
Amtrak on the 2% grade		 Amtrak uphill
Amtrak uphill
test train on new trackage
test train on new trackage		 Mountainair and Broncho connected!
Mountainair and Broncho connected!		 ATSF3751 made it to Broncho
ATSF3751 made it to Broncho		 test train at Abo - steam rounding Willard curve
test train at Abo - steam rounding Willard curve		 seasoned operator
seasoned operator
top: Abo station; below: Willard curve into Willard
top: Abo station; below: Willard curve into Willard		 first full (18ft) eastbound train arriving at Willard
first full (18ft) eastbound train arriving at Willard		 top: Abo; below: Willard
top: Abo; below: Willard		 eastbound ready to go down from Mountainair
eastbound ready to go down from Mountainair		 Scholle (top) and Carnero
Scholle (top) and Carnero
locos on the turnout at Scholle
locos on the turnout at Scholle		 eastbound light engines at Abo; Scholle in the background
eastbound light engines at Abo; Scholle in the background		 upgrade at Abo (left) and down east of Mountainair
upgrade at Abo (left) and down east of Mountainair		 power boards
power boards		 detectors and section control
detectors and section control
more wiring
more wiring		 the C-YCCH rounds Willard curve
the C-YCCH rounds Willard curve		 dispatcher screen at the SOC
dispatcher screen at the SOC		 looking east at Willard towards temporary staging
looking east at Willard towards temporary staging		 Willard house track looking west on level 2
Willard house track looking west on level 2
starting with Abo Canyon (left and back)
starting with Abo Canyon (left and back)		 a Pelle Soeborg model
a Pelle Soeborg model		 progress in Abo Canyon
progress in Abo Canyon		 Abo Canyon (left) - Abo and Willard (right)
Abo Canyon (left) - Abo and Willard (right)		 roadbed for bridge #4 is in place; due to concrete walls it's curved backwards
roadbed for bridge #4 is in place; due to concrete walls it's curved backwards
first train snaking down the canyon
first train snaking down the canyon		 windows will receive lift-out backdrops
windows will receive lift-out backdrops		 intermodal train crossing the site of a future bridge #1
intermodal train crossing the site of a future bridge #1		 laying out the base for the helix
laying out the base for the helix		 working on Sais
working on Sais
cutting roadbed for Sais
cutting roadbed for Sais		 first train rounding the curve at Sais
first train rounding the curve at Sais		 top helix - now operational; 2%-grade, 32 minimum radius
top helix - now operational; 2%-grade, 32" minimum radius		 Becker with test train - future site of signals and the old water tower
Becker with test train - future site of signals and the old water tower		 Sais above future Melrose
Sais above future Melrose
Bailey and East Vaughn now on the lower deck
Bailey and East Vaughn now on the lower deck		 Vaughn below Abo Canyon
Vaughn below Abo Canyon		 Vaughn flyover laid out on the lower deck
Vaughn flyover laid out on the lower deck		 testing the Faller car system, to be used for U.S.60 later
testing the Faller car system, to be used for U.S.60 later		 work in progress at Vaughn (lower level)
work in progress at Vaughn (lower level)
Golden Spike set Jan.1st, 2010
Golden Spike set Jan.1st, 2010		 eastbound intermodal train flying over the SP at Vaughn
eastbound intermodal train flying over the SP at Vaughn		 Vaughn yard lead - stub at right is the SP connector
Vaughn yard lead - stub at right is the SP connector		 meet at Scholle
meet at Scholle		 labeling
labeling
westbound manifest
westbound manifest		 eastbound stack on bridge #1 and 2
eastbound stack on bridge #1 and 2		 checking the rails
checking the rails		 Mr. Dispatcher
Mr. Dispatcher		 bridge #1 mock-up
bridge #1 mock-up
bridge #1 and chaos
bridge #1 and chaos		 guest operators Elza and Michael Gross
guest operators Elza and Michael Gross		 Michael inspecting the stack train
Michael inspecting the stack train		 airbrushing the backdrop at Scholle
airbrushing the backdrop at Scholle		 white base level sprayed
white base level sprayed
on to the blue
on to the blue		 adding blue skies
adding blue skies		 finished blue skies over Scholle and upper canyon
finished blue skies over Scholle and upper canyon		 a painted backdrop makes a HUGE difference!
a painted backdrop makes a HUGE difference!		 991-train taking the siding at Scholle
991-train taking the siding at Scholle
three levels
three levels		 Belen - where the Harvey House will be
Belen - where the Harvey House will be		 Belen Jct. on the lower level
Belen Jct. on the lower level		 Albuquerque reverse loop is in
Albuquerque reverse loop is in		 wye for test and DCC-calibration
wye for test and DCC-calibration
the loop area
the loop area		 Golden Spike ceremony
Golden Spike ceremony		 main area of progress
main area of progress		 now added continuous running
now added continuous running		 side view - three laps to go
side view - three laps to go
Belen yard on third level
Belen yard on third level

comment
Hondo03-Mar-2012 22:20
Glad to see another on the ol Pecos Div. I am interested in your depot that is great.
sammy197418-Aug-2010 21:25
Keep up the great work! Looking forward to more.

Sammy Carlile
ATSF Hereford Sub
Bill Castello 18-Jul-2010 07:37
Looks absolutely great, Jurgen! Was great to meet and do some rail fanning (7/17 - Encino-Mountainair) with you today! Keep up the great work and hope the rest of your trip is great!!
Guest 23-Feb-2010 10:53
Great job, Hope to start mine in the next few months.
Paolo Peggi (aka Bracciodiferro)30-Nov-2009 12:29
YES! Excellent Gallery! Vote!
Paolo
Jim Howell - Brownwood Texas 07-Oct-2009 12:49
Appears you're off to a very good start there. Also good to see that you have two young modelers helping out with layout operations. Good luck with the project.
Bob23-May-2008 12:52
Good start. Anxious to see your Santa Fe layout develop.

Bob Miller
Kansas City
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