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 Posted - February 05 2026 : 01:22:08 AM
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Originally built upon a styrofoam base to allow for ease of transportation to model
train shows, it collapsed in half when I tried to move it. Glad it happened before
I tried to go to a show.
It is planned to be rebuilt on a plywood slab, but retaining the butte and a two-level track system, which do not communicate. The upper level will be a deformed oval, and the lower track will be a figure 8. The upper level will accommodate one DCC-equipped locomotive and one running on analogue, so that two may chase each other simultaneously. The lower track will have one analogue locomotive. Should be fun to watch when it gets built.
I've done smaller versions, slightly under 4 x 4, and these old Timers are a lot of fun. The newer
Bachmann 2nd generation steamers have boiler-mounted motors and much more reliable, and
they come equipped with sound, which is delightful.
I've got all the pieces on hand and need to start the business of carving up the plywood and assembling
the track. I'm going to use Bachmann EZ track and overlay the plastic roadbed with something appropriate
to the era. The painting of the desert-scape will be done using Rustoleum textured spray paint with and
overlay of good old El Paso dirt, while wet.
The layout will be christened "Mormon's Gulch," no offense to Mormons, but they were a significant
aspect of El Paso history (they came, and were welcomed as refugees during the Mexican Revolution
threatened their safety in 1912).
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Country:  USA ~
Posts: 11613 ~
Member Since: December 09 2013 ~
Last Visit: February 05 2026
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Posted - February 05 2026 : 12:14:07 PM
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Just a bit of friendly advice. Do not try to run a DC locomotive on DCC. WHile it is possible to do so, you risk burning out the motor. DCC is a form of AC, so you would be running a DC locomotive on AC. The internal circuitry of the decoder converts the AC into DC on the4 DCC locomotive. Your best bet is to either buy another DCC locomotive, or convert a DC one to DCC. The Bachmann 0-6-0 is easy to convert to DCC, though it is too modern for the 1880s.
Locomotives that would look good on that layout would be the Tyco 4-6-0, and the Roundhouse 2-6-0.
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Country: USA ~
Posts: 606 ~
Member Since: December 22 2013 ~
Last Visit: February 06 2026
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