A Few Good Photos

Thanks to Mike McNamara for taking these shots of my module at the NE Free-mo setup during the 2015 Amherst Model Railroad Society Show at the Big-E in West Springfield. The second photo is particularly amazing in that it hides the bald spot. :)

Plans, I've got plans

Now that I've had a couple of weeks to think about the Springfield show, I'm really pleased with how things turned out. Thanks to the help of a few people at the show, the module fit right into the setup and operated exactly the way it was supposed to.

I did, however, want to make sure that the track on the module was capable of being changed in case there were issues; so, I used track nails to attach it to the roadbed rather than using Liquid Nails to permanently attach it.

After further review, I think I do want to change the plan. I want to add a spur, in preparation for turning the western spur into a true passing siding with the addition of the second module. More on that in a moment.

So - here's the module as it existed for the Springfield show in 2015.

The spur used for Abel Porter and Sprague Meters will become part of the passing siding, we add a spur, the shops go away, we add a passenger station and Fox Theater Scenics (one of the industries named in honor of friends) juggle a couple of other businesses and we have Naugatuck North, version 2.

Immediately to the south, we will add Naugatuck South, giving us a complete, functioning switching layout when not part of a larger Free-mo setup.

Naugatuck South adds the Naugatuck Freight House (at least 3 car spots), a house track (or yard track) for storing off-spot cars, a larger space for United Rubber Footwear (Keds) and a dedicated space for Ide's Radio (another named-for-a-friend industry). The passing siding will serve as a run-around as needed. It's not really long enough for a full passing siding, but once again, Free-mo comes to the rescue. Introducing, Naugatuck Chemical!

The original Naugatuck Chemical was at the south end of the town. I've taken a little liberty planning this module so that when placed in-between Naugtuck North and Naugatuck South it can extend the passing siding as well as provide providing a space for another one of my named-for-a-friend industries.

So - a three-module set providing nearly two dozen car spots, a passing siding and plenty of opportunity for structure placement.

Am I forgetting anything? Absolutely. Stores? Houses? A place for Valley Aggregates and Peter Paul Mounds (an actual industry in Naugatuck, but not rail-served in real life)? So - at least two more modules beyond the three above to be planned and built. I'm envisioning that stores/houses exist on a curve and the two remaining industries could be on a fourth straight module. However, there's plenty to do before I start planning those.

My goals. Update Naugatuck North before the summer. During the summer, cut out the wood for and build/wire/scenic Naugatuck South. It would be great if I could get Naugatuck Chemical built as well, but I'm trying to be realistic.

Sounds like a plan!