Water Tower

The water tower is a 1:48 scale model made by Lionel.



Missouri Pacific Double-Sheathed Boxcar #45111

MODEL INFORMATION

Company: Lionel
Item#: 6-27247
Gauge: Standard O
Catalog: 2008 v1
Trucks: Die-Cast, Sprung
Notes: Runs on 36" curves. It is a scale model except for couplers and trucks. Separately applied detail parts. Die-cast operating couplers. Hidden uncoupling tabs. Metal underframe details. Opening doors. Min Curve: O-31.

Reading 2-Bay Hopper #6177

MODEL INFORMATION

Company:  Lionel

Item #:  6-6177

Gauge:  Traditional O

Year Produced:  1986

Trucks:  Plastic

Notes:  Part of the Cannonball Express set. 

Monsanto Single Dome Tank Car #9155

MODEL INFORMATION

Company:  Lionel

Item #:  6-9155

Gauge:  Traditional O

Year Produced:  1975

Trucks:  Plastic

Notes:  Commemorates the 1975 LCCA convention in St. Louis, Mo. and features operating knuckle couplers, metal wheels and axles.

Illinois Central PS-1 Boxcar #400666

MODEL INFORMATION

Company:  Lionel

Item #:  6-17293

Gauge:  Standard O

Catalog:  2004 v2

Trucks:  Die-Cast, Sprung

Notes:  Runs on 36" curves.  It is a scale model except for couplers and trucks.  Separately applied detail parts. Die-cast operating couplers. Authentic paint scheme. Box load. Hidden uncoupling tab. Metal underframe details. Opening doors. 6’ Superior doors. O Gauge. Min Curve: O-31. Length: 11 1/4”

Missouri-Kansas-Texas PS-2CD 4427 Hopper #1122

MODEL INFORMATION

Company:  Lionel

Item #:  6-17194

Gauge:  Standard O

Catalog:  2004 v1

Trucks:  Die-Cast, Sprung

Notes:  Runs on 36" curves.  It is large - a scale model except for couplers and trucks.  Die-cast metal operating couplers. Separately applied details. Hidden uncoupling tab and rotating bearing caps on trucks. Die-cast metal end platforms. O Gauge. Min Curve: 0-31. Length: 12 1/2”.  Pullman-Standard.  Supremely detailed, beautiful car.  Doesn't roll very well.  Painted body.

Union Pacific 3 Dome Tank Car #41609

MODEL INFORMATION
Company: Williams
Item #: 47014

Gauge: Traditional O

Trucks: Metal

Notes: Die-cast side frames and operating couplers.

C & O Waffle-Sided Boxcar #15002

MODEL INFORMATION
Company:  Lionel

Item #:  6-15002

Gauge:  Traditional O

Catalog:  1996

Trucks:  Plastic

C & O 9464 Boxcar #12700

MODEL INFORMATION
Company:  Lionel

Item #:  6-17268

Gauge:  Standard O

Catalog:  2001 v2

Trucks:  Die-Cast, Sprung

Notes:  A very heavy-bodied car.

Frisco ACF 6 Bay Cylindrical Hopper #81015

MODEL INFORMATION

Company:  Atlas O

Item #:  6333-1

Gauge:  Standard O

Trucks:  Die-Cast, Sprung

Notes:  This hopper handles the 60" and 72" mainlines just fine, but the trucks hit the car on 36" curves.  It is a large - a scale model if the couplers and trucks are converted, and it is made for easy 2-rail conversion.

PROTOTYPE INFORMATION

Car Manufacturer:  ACF

Notes:  An early design of what would become the highly successful "Center-Flow" car.  Frisco had 25 of these cars: SL-SF 81000 thru SL-SF 81024.  The cylindrical design was expensive to build.  ACF soon modified their Center-Flow design into what has become a very common covered hopper in many sizes and capacities.

Introduction to the Merritt-Wright Railroad

The Merritt-Wright Railroad is a 3-rail O gauge layout; about 95% Lionel stuff.  The table is shaped like an "L", and is 20' long by 8' wide, with the L part being 11' wide.  The attempt is a "high-rail" type of layout, in that it mixes the toy end of the hobby with as much realism and scale as possible.  Here is a photo of the layout from early November 2010:

It has taken about 3 years of planning and construction to get to this point. 

The train collection is almost entirely modern Lionel.  There are 2 postwar cars and 1 postwar engine; everything else is modern.  The track and switches are all Lionel Fastrack.  Power is modern ZW and a CW-80 for switches and accessories.

Track, Power, and Wiring Completed

A shot of the final track plan, minus the 3 non-attached tracks in the foreground.  Everything is wired and running.

 

The control center:  Modern Lionel ZW with 2 180w PowerHouses, 14 switch controllers, 8 uncoupler activators, 1 operating track controller, 1 modern Lionel Log Loader controller, 10 power block toggles, 2 SC-2s for TMCC switch control, 1 Lionel TMCC unit with Cab 1.  The train can easily be operated in conventional or command mode, though the calibration on the ZW's arms in conventional mode is horrible.  One 180w powerhouse feeds the outer loop, yard, and passenger siding.  The other 180w pw feeds the inner loop, the reversing section, and the log yard siding.



 

Below that is a shelf that has a Lionel CW-80 that provides static power to the switches, uncouplers, log loader, operating track, and crossing gate (seen in above photo).  A Lionel 40 watt controller is used for lights.  The 3 electrical switches mounted on the layout are, top-to-bottom:  On/Off/Fader for overhead lights, power for command control components, main power.



Ballast Experimentation

It's kind of illogical to ballast FasTrack, since it already has a plastic base built in.  If I could choose any other track, I would go with Atlas O without a base so ballasting would make more sense.  But the fact is that I already have a lot invested in the FasTrack, and it is great track no matter what.  I also think the switches are incredibly good, and I might not be able to find that with other systems.  I'm not speaking from experience with other switches, just considering it.  Finally, while I do think the gray plastic base on FasTrack looks good, I think ballasting will look dramatically better for what I am shooting for, which is kind of a high-rail type of layout.

So here is my first shot at it.  I don't particularly love what I am seeing but it is ok.