A Thoroughly Modern Layout

Kadee #48 and metal wheels meet on my test track. 

    One of the goals of the Clearwater Pacific is to create what can be considered a modern, up to date layout. This is 2025 and the state of the art has moved forward. Getting back into a hobby as deep as model railroading is a fascinating process.  The last time I was seriously looking at layout building and what was out there was when this blog ended around 2011. Since then there has been travel, sailing,  and a host of other things to move my mind away from this hobby. But now I'm back and boy has it changed. 

    Well not really. But the standard for a modern operating layout are pretty well set. Groups like OpSig, the OPerating Special Interest Group of the NMRA seem to have it dialed in pretty well. And the internet expands the ability to communicate and share information and hard won knowledge. A favorite of mine at the moment is the Talking Ops with Don Irace sections of the Around the Layout Podcast. Lot of good things percolating from listening to those episodes. 

    Later posts will delve into the operation of the layout and what I have planned but now I wanted to touch on standards. If you're interested in operating it becomes very apparent very quickly that setting yourself up for success is a matter of eliminating as many variables as possible. This means your standards for track, wiring, couplers, wheels, and more have to be exact and maintained.

    So the Clearwater Pacific is now different. In a great episode of Talking Ops on Bulletproof Operations Don mentioned two things I'll touch on here. They are couplers and wheels. On the subject of wheels switching to metal wheel sets is a recommended practice for a variety of reasons. Those reasons include layout and track cleanliness and less friction. On the CP we're settled on Walthers 33" wheelsets as standard for our freight cars. Changing over the current roster is slow but once done maintenance will be more cost effective and easier. Couplers are standardized with Kadee 148. These are easy to install, have less required parts and are a great improvement over a mix of different knuckle coupler types. At the time of writing this all of our cars have Kadee 148's and the locomotive fleet is rapidly changing over as well. Eventually as we get to the wiring and control system that too will be standard. We'll most likely devote a few posts to that but it's coming.

    In conclusion we've set these standards early and hope to reap the benefits as we get closer to actually laying tracks and running trains. 

Don't Call It a Comeback

 

    Let us return to the big north woods. The story that started all those years ago has returned. Some old faces will make an appearance. The lure of tall timber and small trains is still there. But we needed an outlet for the creative side of things and this blog will become it. So join us once more as we delve deep into Montana's history in both the real world and cinema. And the depths of my own imagination. 

    I kept wanting to write about what I'm doing with this layout. And thinking I should start a blog. But then I remembered I already had one. This one. So the history from the first Big Blackfoot remains but we'll build on that foundation. This is where I'll update you on progress, sketches, harebrained half baked ideas and the joy that comes from building your own miniature world. All aboard it's going to be a great ride.