OWNER: Ray Puls
LAYOUT TYPE: Single Level with Single main walk around consisting of two
loops. The outer loop is a modified oval with about 70 to 80 feet of track. The
inner loop is a dogbone laid over itself with about 130 to 149 ft of track.
RAIL CODE: Code 215 American Flyer rail
on all mains and sidings and using AF rubber roadbed
ORIGINALLY POWERED BY: AC mains with TMCC controls using one 22090, and one 22035 American
Flyer transformers. The mains also include blocks powered through Lionel
Powermasters to allow the operation of conventional locomotives with the TMCC
wireless remote.
SEE BELOW FOR UPDATED POWER SUPPLY &
CONTROLS.
I have been interested in model
railroading and trains as far back as I can recall. We received an American
Flyer train for Christmas in 1952 and my brother and I played with it for
endless hours. I saw the end of Gilbert in the sixties and when my interest in
trains was reawakened I moved to HO because I thought S gauge was dead. It was a
visit to a hobby shop on the north side of Milwaukee in the early 90s where I
found some used American Flyer equipment that my interest in S was re-ignited; I
bought everything in Flyer S that was in the store. Shortly after that I
discovered the Badgerland S gauge swap meet and John Heck and his array of
American Flyer trains. The accumulation of Flyer has also been augmented the
addition of some S Helper and American Models rolling stock along with K-Line
and the Lionel Flyer. It has been great to be involved with the people who love
S gauge and the hobby of trains whether its collecting or operating or just
playing with these wonderful toys.
The IMRR, N. P. Division table is approximately 8 feet wide by
35 feet long with consideration to a reasonable walk around space. The bench
work is built using framing lumber with buss wires running around the table
under each set of rails. All buss wiring is minimum 14 ga to provide sufficient
power for the trains. There are
accessory wires under the table as well powered by their own 30B transformer
which allows the speed of the accessories to be throttled. The layout can run
multiple trains at the same time each having their own remote throttles. The
buttons for the turnouts and accessories surround the outside within easy reach
of the operators.
This is my third layout, my first was an HO scale layout and was torn down when we moved to our present home, the second layout was built using modules that were also used on our club layout. This being my third is built as a modular layout so if we were to move it will not have to be destroyed but rather revamped to fit the new location.
With the TMCC that was recently added, Ray enjoys the operation very much. As each of the locos is converted it adds more excitement to his operation.
Recently Ray adds: I have upgraded my layout to the Legacy System using the Legacy Cab 1-L control. My power now comes from five Lionel Power Houses connected to the Lionel Legacy Powermasters, the AF transformers have been relegated to other duties.I have also removed the control buttons, around the layout, that were used to operate the AF switches, the switches are now operated from the Cab 1-L remote using the Lionel SC-2 switch and accessory controllers.
I have also modified the switches by moving the motors to below the switches, thus being able to move the tracks closer together for a more realistic look, this also allows for yard tracks to be closer and increased the number of sidings in the yard.
I am at present also adding operating crossing signals at several locations around the layout.
I have also added three of the Flyer Chief locomotives to my roster, Flyer Chief is a system of Walk-Around wireless control. One of these locomotives being of course the Polar Express along with the accompanying passenger cars.
Eight Place Car Haulers
I have built a number of car haulers using the Lionel O-27 car hauler chassis. These chassis are the ideal size for S gauge, if you measure the width of the car it is very close to the width of other S gauge rolling stock.
These are not very hard to find, the first one that I acquired was given to me by a friend of a friend in S, and others were purchased at swap meets or on the internet auction site all for $20.00 or less. This first chassis arrived with the Lionel trucks already removed so I measured the distance from the end of the coupler on an American Flyer box car and proceeded to place an AF truck with the same coupler end distance on the Lionel chassis. I found that I would have to make an adapter to fasten each AF truck to the chassis because I wanted to use the same mounting holes already on the car. I made the adapter out of some scrap .060 aluminum sheet. This piece I made 15/16 wide and 1 5/16 long and drilled an 11/64 hole 7/16 from one end of the adapter, I then drilled a second 11/64 hole in the adapter spaced ½ from the first hole, this hole will be used to mount the AF truck to the adapter. Since the adapter will swing on the Lionel chassis the second hole is countersunk to allow a flathead screw to fit flush with the surface of the adapter and the AF truck mounted tight to the adapter. The adapters with the AF trucks attached than were mounted to the to the chassis and the car was complete other than adding the autos for a load. This is an easy project and can be done for a very reasonable cost.
As I have had a number of these cars on my layout for some time and have acquired several more I have made a minor change in the manner of mounting the American Flyer trucks. The trucks and adaptors were removed from the car. Four pieces of 1/8 x Ό Styrene were cut and cemented, one on each side of the rib at the ends of the car. With the Styrene blocks mounted it was then necessary to file down the mounting boss for the Lionel trucks to the level of the Styrene. A hole was drilled for a #2 x1/4 pan head self-tapping screw centered on the car and 1 1/8 from the very end of the chassis, and the trucks were remounted. I put a drop of acrylic paint on the screw to act as a locking agent to keep the screw from backing out. This modification lowered the car by 1/16 and greatly improved the appearance of the car.
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