The Old (4' X 8') J&S Railroad The Old (4' X 8') J&S Railroad About the layout...
My old layout was based on Atlas' HO - #15 layout, called Minimum Size Twice Around. However, I have made a few changes. First, I added an extra foot of track to the straight aways to make it a full 8' long. Next, I replaced the 30 degree crossing with a Model Power truss bridge. Then, to create the grade crossing, I removed the cross over from the main line to the inner loop near the crossing in the original plan and sent the inner loop up the grade to the truss bridge. I then completed the main line by connecting the "missing" outer curve in the original plan. So, I had the option of either running a train around the outside oval main line, or I can set the switches and send the same train around the "twice around" line over the bridge and around the inner loop. Just to keep things interesting, I added several industry and yard spurs to the open area in the middle of the layout. That way, one train can toodle around the main line, while a second engine traversed the switches in the center of the laytout.
About the Rolling Stock...
I purchased an Athern SW7 switcher and detailed it in the new J&S Blue/White paint scheme. Next, was a matching caboose. Then, I converted my Athern GP-38 to the J&S paint scheme. The rest of my engine fleet was Burlington Northern and Sante Fe.
My freight cars were a mixture of Athern, Model power, and Life-Like. I used Mchenry couplers on everything because they use a one piece design that works well with the cheaper cars in my line as well as the sturdier Athern cars.
