| [click] | The Muncie turn cools off in the siding at the North end of Drew pass. This is a short hike to reach. Its also the spot that the PRR's Mathhews branch crossed the C&O. |
| [click] | The Muncie yard job has a U-boat today, as it runs south to South Muncie to get cars from the Muncie Western Railroad. Here we catch it at the Burlington Drive intermediate signals. (these aren't the final signals, these are stand ins for the time). |
| [click] | Muncie yard is vacant as work to lay more tracks progress. You can get a feel of the south end of the yard in this picture, only 2 more tracks to lay and the industrial track to put in. |
| [click] | Chessie on the belt? Well, just in a test. This is the NYC Belt and the C&O mainline is to the right. Work is progressing on the Belt and should be done shortly. |
| [click] | South Muncie, here you see (top) is the connection to the Muncie Western via the wye at 12th street, the other leg along the wall runs to Meeker. Next you have the Belt connection/interchange to the C&O, and you can see the lumberyard switch, the connection to Indiana bridge and off to NYC mainline. |
| [click] | These are the Sergent couplers that I'm switching to. These are the Double Shelf version used on tank cars and other various freight cars. |
| [click] | A standard Sergent coupler coupled to a Double shelf, they look great and operate even better! |
| [click] | The brains of the railroad, located under South Muncie. This is one of 3 nodes, but its the main node for the digitrax system. The CMRI main node will be located off picture to the right. You can see the circuit breakers and power supplies, track detectors and other tidbits. Its 2 foot tall, by 4 foot long. There is a DCS and DB200+ on this node and 3 breakers, 1 Specialty power supply and 1 computer supply. |
| [click] | Another shot of the main node |
| [click] | I was able to build the nodes at my workbench, then place them under the layout in their respective locations. This saved time and energy/effort and worked great. Here you can see all the basics in place with a little of the wiring pulled into the node. |
| [click] | Semi-finished, there is still work to be done, a few things to be added, but you get a better idea. When the crossing detection goes in, it can simply be plugged into the boards and go! |
| [click] | The Muncie & Western is slowly progressing. The DCC-Reverse circuit was added the other night and now trains can completely turn at South Muncie. Critical to MR OPS for interchanging with the Muncie & Western and the sanity of the South Muncie turn. The PRR switch is the one leading off the layout. |
| [click] | Here we catch the South Muncie turn using the Muncie Yard power to interchange a cut of "HOT CARS" to the Muncie & Western on the 12th street interchange. The C&O leaves the cars on the pickup track today. We catch them just as they double back to their caboose for the return to Muncie yard. |
| [click] | A nice overview of the area of South Muncie. You can see all the tracks associated with the area, and the location of the main control node for the layout. |
| [click] | Knowing it was close to pull time, we head up to the 8th street crossing in hopes that it might run the belt to grab some interchange, but no luck today, back to the yard it goes. The tracks close to you in the picture are the NYC's Muncie Belt interchange to the C&O. |
| [click] | A small neighborhood uses Brady Street as their only outlet to the world, but it crosses the C&O at the east/south end of the yard lead, so trains aren't allowed to block the crossing. Here we catch the turn rolling back to the yard, but today it appears it will head to the north end and back in. |
| [click] | The C&O installed a crossover at Wysor Street crossing when they moved the mainline over onto the old #1 track. This put all the yard tracks on the north side of the mainline and allowed for continuous switching without disrupting the mainline traffic. |
| [click] | Quick aerial grab shot of Willard street and Burlington crossings, the intermediate signals set between the 2 crossings at this location. The Belt track is on the left and in real life the PRR's Matthews Branch was further left yet (no room for it!) |
| [click] | Another quick aerial, this time looking south at 8th street and then 12th street, with all the associated trackage, the Muncie Belt and South Muncie wye to the M&W. At the time of these last 2 shots, I was doing some touch up painting of the rail on the Muncie Belt. |
| [click] | Although its situated oddly, this will be a busy spot to switch. The Muncie Airpark industrial is a "What If" for those that know the area, it never existed, but would have....Oh well. It was put in before the solid commitment to the C&O era specific was made. Its only 2 industries.... |
| [click] | G&G Oil was served off the PRR, but I can't simulate that, so I just show it off the C&O. The Indiana Farm Bureau track at one point in time crossed Granville and went to Marhoeffers plant, but none of my older friends remember this. So we will just show for Ind. Farm Bureau for the time. Its on the right, the G&G Oil is nearest. |
| [click] | Small details make the layout. I've always liked the Tomar Wheelstops, here is a closeup shot on the G&G Oil Track. |
| [click] | I get asked about Staging, so here you go. Here you can see 3 Southbound trains waiting in staging for their call. All the staging is open, and is computer controlled, but plenty of room to reach in and see things. Complete detection and automation is key here. 9 tracks total for through staging, plus 2 long holds that are stub tracks. |
| [click] | I've talked on the email list recently about "Punchdown Blocks" here they are. As you can see, the CAT5 is coming in. When I get the wiring ran overhead, then I will tie it in as well. This is just the start of it. 2 other locations will look like this. |
| [click] | A SD35 and UBoat set at the south end of Muncie yard waiting for their next call. |
| [click] | Blurry, but you get the picture. An aerial overview of Muncie yard at the northend looking south. |
| [click] | Nothing running, the mainline is clear, and #1 track is an open alley for cars. (we have a feeling that this will be a RARE event during ops.) |
| [click] | A B30-7 on the Muncie turn, surely not? Well, don't know why she is here, but she is and we get a grab shot of her. |
| [click] | Backdrops are IN! It took a lot of work, but they are in place, here you see the Drew side of the backdrop. We also catch Jason working as part of the "Wire pulling Gang" to get the CAT5 wire pulled from the middle of the layout. |
| [click] | Gaston is the opposing side of Drew, and here you can see it. |
| [click] | The backdrop gives a clean divide from the other parts of the railroad and is key to making you feel like you are in your own world! |
| [click] | Here we see Rob installing the custom cut backdrop in place, notched around each stringer to give it a tight fit. |
| [click] | The backdrop installed at South Muncie. |
| [click] | Rob and Richard made at least 30 trips up and down the stairs to the garage to make the custom cuts for the backdrop, they did a great job! |
| [click] | Here we catch the work gang having fun after getting construction finished for the day. A PACKED Muncie yard is the scene of Sergent coupler testing for the day. Soon lighting will be added above the layout to help visibility. |
| [click] | A BIG task, pulling wires is needed and much more simple without facia. I plan on having all the electrical done before any facia goes up, thus making it easier on all of us. Here we see Christian and Jason pulling the bundle of CAT5 as Mark keeps track of the far ends. Keeping track of each wire is a important task, because tracking them down after the fact is a slow painful process! |
| [click] | Here we catch the Muncie Turn waiting for a southbound freight train before it can head to G&G Oil and Farm Bureau to do its work. The turn is setting at the crossover in front of the depot at Wysor Street. |
| [click] | Conductor "Richard" cuts his caboose off on the main to spot up the tank car in the G&G Oil track. (loving those Sergents yet???) |
