Great Scale Model Train Show - April 2015



Looking from the east end of the "S".

Looking from the west end.

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The Capitol Free-mo Modelers setup our modules at the Great Scale Model Train Show on April 11 & 12, 2015. We had 82 feet of modules - with 70 feet on the main and another 12 feet on the branch.

Five members with modules attended during the two days.

Due to having more curves, we set up going from east to west in an "S" shape, with a short branch. We had an "open" plan, with the public being able to look from both sides of the track. It felt nice not being a "fortress" style of layout.

Starting at the east end was "Klaxon", Matt Piccotto's one-foot long, end of track module - it's got a sensor that actuates a klaxon before a train gets to the end;

following this was Dan Piccotto's 21-foot, three-section module, which included "Aliceanna Yard", "Boston Street" and "Southwest Broom",

"Windsor Vineyard" was next, one of Larry Case's new 45-degree curves (the vines haven't been planted yet);

Dan Piccotto's new wye, "Baltimore Junction" replaces his old "Wye Knot", which has since been re-cycled;

off the branch of the wye was a short, shallow curve, from Dan Picciotto, "Sinkhole Lake";

next to this was another curve, "Orphan" (it used to be "Instant Scenery", which Tim Moran of Western Reserve Free-mo built for the 2014 NTS held in Cleveland) - (Tim gave it to Matt for Capitol Free-mo when they were together at the Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show) which is a group owned module - after each show, a different member is expected to take it home and add something to it - prior to this show, Matt & Nicole Piccotto worked on some of the scenery, then Larry Case added the APP connectors and name plates on the sides - Dan Piccotto took it home after this show;

at the end of the branch was Larry Case's other new 45-degree curve (no scenery or name yet);

continuing back to the main line were the three-parts of Larry Case's "DAC Siding", a passing track module;

Don Miller then followed with two new mini-mo curves - one that is 30-degrees and the other 60-degrees;

Next was "NAPCO", which now has two parts of a three-section module being built by Matt Piccotto;

this was followed by Nicole Piccotto's "Lacey's Bend", a slightly curved module;

then there was a short-curved mini-mo by Dan Piccotto;

following this was a staging yard where we were switching on Dave Beckstein's double-ended "Plank Yard", twelve-feet long, with four tracks;

on the west end, being used a switching lead for the yard, was Dave Beckstein's short-curved mini-mo.



We finally have enough curves to make more than a 180-degree turn, but now we need to get everything looking better. At this point, we could use some LDE's (Layout Design Elements) in order to have more areas to store and switch equipment.

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Group shot of those present (L to R) - Larry Case, Dan Picciotto, Dave Beckstein, Matt Picciotto, and Don Miller.

Starting at one end we'll go from the east to the west along the track.

"Klaxon"

"Klaxon"

"Alice Anna Yard"

"Alice Anna Yard"

"Boston Street"

"Boston Street"

"Southwest Broom"

"Southwest Broom"

"Windsor Vineyard"

"Windsor Vineyard"

Our power set-up beneath Windsor Vineyard

Matt made a sign-up board so
that we'd know who was using which
channel on the Digitrax system

"Baltimore Junction"

"Baltimore Junction"

"Sinkhole Lake"

This is the last appearance of
"Sinkhole Lake" as Dan has sold
it to a new member

"Orphan"

"Orphan"

"Orphan" nameplate

This shows the "heritage" of "Orphan"

Larry Case's other 45-degree curve

We placed these new signs around
so the QR code could be scanned

"Orphan"

"DAC Siding"

Don's new curves

Don's new curves

"NAPCO"

"NAPCO"

"Lacey's Bend"

"Lacey's Bend"

Dan's short curve

"Plank Yard"

"Plank Yard"

Dave's short curve

Spectator Daniel was given
a throttle and spent
two hours running trains

Daniel was a very good engineer
and was doing
everything on his own



Dave tried out his On30 train


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Following are some pictures taken by Chris Gilbert.













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Following are some more pictures of the set-up.

"AliceAnna Yard"

"AliceAnna Yard"


"Baltimore Junction"

"Baltimore Junction"


"Boston Street"

"Boston Street"





"DAC Siding"

Don's curves


"Lacey's Bend"


"Lacey's Bend"

"NAPCO"


"NAPCO"

"Southwest Broom"


"Southwest Broom"

"Sinkhole Lake"


"Sinkhole Lake"

"AliceAnna Yard"

"Baltimore Junction"

"Boston Street"

"Baltimore Junction"

"Boston Street"


Don's curves

"NAPCO"


"Windsor Vineyard"

"Southwest Broom"


"Boston Street"

"Boston Street"


"NAPCO"


"NAPCO"

"Southwest Broom"


"Southwest Broom"

"Boston Street"

"Boston Street"

"Boston Street"

"NAPCO"


"Southwest Broom"

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If you would like to contact us, email us at: info@capitolfreemo.org