Introduction

WELCOME TO THE GTW FLINT SUBDIVISION

 

  The layout is an HO scale, prototype-based depiction of a portion of the GTW Flint Sub from Port Huron Michigan to East Lansing Michigan.  The time frame of the layout is 1980 – 1990. The time of year is early autumn with the fall colors just beginning to show on the trees. Harvest is in full swing and grain traffic is heavy on the roads and railway.
  The motive power, rolling stock, and structural detail are typical of what would have been seen along the GTW RR at any point during this time period. Some modeler’s license has been applied. 

Modeled portion of the Flint Subdivision depicted in blue

Below is the layout as I am envisioning it. The timetable will obviously need to be adjusted once the layout is up and running. I rebuilt and modified the actual employee timetable from 1984 to show the modeled locations.

THE LAYOUT AT A GLANCE

NAME:  Grand Trunk Western

SCALE:  HO (1:87)

SIZE:  40 x 80 feet ?? (Size of layout will determine pole barn dimensions)

THEME:  Grand Trunk Western R.R. Flint Subdivision  

LOCALE:  Flint Subdivision from Port Huron to Lansing Michigan; Interchange with C&O R.R., Tuscola & Saginaw Bay R.R., and Central Michigan R.R.

PERIOD:  1980 - 1990

LAYOUT STYLE:  Modular, Linear walk around, Multi Level, Mushroom

LAYOUT HEIGHT:  20” to 60” (from floor, floor height varies- see track plan)

BENCHWORK: Waffle Frame

ROADBED:  Luan plywood

TRACK:  Atlas code 83 for mainline, Micro Engineering and Shinohara code 70 for yards and sidings. Atlas code 100 for hidden track and helixes.

LENGTH OF MAINLINE RUN:

TURNOUT MINIMUM:  no. 10  mainline and staging, no.6 yards and sidings.

MINIMUM CURVE RADIUS:  mainline 60”, branch lines 30”

MAXIMUM GRADE:  1 %

SCENERY CONSTRUCTION:

BACKDROP CONSTRUCTION:  1/8” Masonite

CONTROL:  DCC, Wangrow System One / NCE, C/MRI

WHY 1980-1990?:

 The 1980's was a major transitional period for the GTW diesel fleet.  The GT's roster was increased significantly with the acquisition and purchase of units from several other roads. During this time frame, the Trunk acquired the Detroit, Toledo, & Ironton (DT&I), and Detroit & Toledo Shoreline (D&TSL) railroads. In addition, several units were  purchased from Rock Island, and the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie (P&LE).

  

Former P&LE GP38-2's  Photo by Kyle Korienek

Former Rock Island GP38-2 and DT&I GP38AC  Photo by Dan Tracy

  In 1990, the GTW purchased eight surplus Missouri Pacific (MP) SD40-2's from the Union Pacific (UP) railroad.

  

Clyde Yard, IL 1990 Photographer Unknown

  Due to the large number of new units, most of these newly acquired locomotives wore their original paint schemes for a period of time as they were pressed into service while awaiting scheduling for the paint shop. Many had only a large GT logo stenciled along the long hood. I will be modeling at least one of each of these paint schemes for visual variety.

MODULE CONSTRUCTION:

 I must say up front that all credit for the concept and design of Sipping and Switching type modules must go to Mr. Joe Balint of the North Carolina Sipping and Switching Society (S&SS). 

The link to the Yahoo home page is: http://s-ss1.home.mindspring.com/.

 The module boxes themselves may look complicated at first glance, but a simple straight module is rather easy to build. Once you get the hang of building straight modules, you can start to do more complex designs and expand your horizons.

 Having everything moveable to me is very important and this light weight rigid design lends itself well to my needs. I have often heard people say that they have abandoned the modular design in favor of fixed permanent layouts because they could NOT do what they wanted on a module. I hope to show here that there really are very few constraints to modular design. A "module" doesn't have to be a 2'x4' box with two or three tracks running straight across the front. A module is defined by a set of common frontiers. What happens between those frontiers is completely up to the modeler. Any place where two tables meet and the tracks are not in the common frontier configuration is called a proprietary front...those two tables MUST be together.
 I also do cabinetry, so yes I have various tools which make things a little easier, but they are not necessary to build these modules. Realistically, anyone with a circular saw and a jigsaw could build these modules, although a table saw does make it easier to cut multiple ribs and rails.

FORWARD PROGRESS "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...":

  You will probably notice as you read this blog that I have many projects in a partially finished state. In the past I have experienced extended delays in projects for one reason or another. There were times when I was scratch building that I had an idea of something I wanted to do, but was not quite sure how to go about it. Other times I needed to gather more data in order to make something more accurate, additional parts or materials needed to be ordered, or something needed to be fabricated. 

  Durand Union Station is a prime example of this. I have been working on the station off and on for the last 15 years. As a focal point of my layout, I am unwilling to settle for something simply in the interest of finishing the project. More than once after the project had came to a standstill for months, a ray of light would shine down from the heavens and say "START UP THE BAND!!!". Then, with reinstated enthusiasm, I would begin working again until the next stopping point.

  Whatever the reason, I noticed that these extended periods of stagnation were better spent by simply moving on to another task where I could make significant headway. Otherwise I may never see my ambitious layout plan through to completion.

  Currently I am in a holding pattern for module construction because my entire wood shop is in storage as a result of a move. Therefore, I am making quality use of my time by completing structures.  

OPERATIONS DOCUMENTS:

   I have been slowly putting together an operator's manual for the layout. Eventually I will have it converted to PDF format, but for now I will post JPEG images as they are created.
  First up is the Signal Aspect Chart which I have recreated using the actual 1990 Rail Operations Manual. I have minimized some of the unessential data, but still stayed true to the GTW format in order to give it an authentic feel.