Layout Photos

Nathan's Point is currently running as 1990s Wisconsin Central.  This modelling interest stems back from the early 2000s when US models such as Kato and Atlas were excellent models at a good price, and as such, I accumulated a pretty big US collection before Auscision models really started to produce a wide variety of modern era Aussie models. 

The thing I love about the US outline is the manifest freights and variety of freight cars.  Modern Aussie prototypes are more about block trains although I have tinkered with that concept by having a lot of Steellink operations and small depots.  

I have also been going through my box of decoders from 10 years ago and have started fitting them to the locos.  Most of them were Soundtraxx KT-1000 type drop in decoders which were pretty easy.  I also did a basic decoder install into a Blue Box SW1500.  With the amount of reference material and videos on the internet now, it is pretty easy to research anything and have a crack at it.  The SW1500 was a bit of fun and it is great to have a loco running that I always thought would be static display or a 'slug' with no motor or gears in it.  

Enjoy the shot

Chris 

A couple of WC freights waiting to depart Jonestown Junction.

SW1500, WC1562 now with a decoder fitted.

WC1562 with the lid off going for a test run.

WC1562 on the bench.  The motor needed to come out to be isolated from the frame.  Surprisingly it all went back together.

The loco depot end of the main yard at Jonestown.  The yard is 6 tracks, each handling around 3.7m of train (about 18 cars).  The two Athearn SW1500s are the yard switchers.  The frogs in the yard are powered by Tam Valley Hex Juicers, and some of the other manual points just have a DPDT slide switch which routes power.  

Down the exit end of the yard shows a few trains ready to depart.  On the Loop is 1237 with two boxcars for a local industry.  A pair of SD40s sit on track 1 with a Chicago bound freight.  Track 5 is the local turn for the paper mill at Wisconsin Rapids with a handsome F45 leading, and track 6 is a bulk grain consist with a stock standard pair of SD45s.  

The same again but from the chopper!  You can see the basic set up with waybill boxes and NCE throttles.  The Yard has two PCPs for plug in operations as not all my throttles are wifi, but generally mainline ops are wifi control.  

A very full loco depot.  The shed needs a roof and I need to add a sanding tower over the track as well.  The units in this photo are from Atlas, Athearn, Proto2000, Kato, and an Overland caboose in the shed.

Enjoy!