COVER STORY Between RAILS WIRE REALISTIC CATENARY AND WORKING SIGNALS &LET JAMIE HAISLIP RUN LIKE THE PROTOTYPE ON HIS 18 X 18-FOOT O GAUGE LAYOUT by Jamie Haislip • photos by Paul Dolkos ike most Classic Toy Trains readers, build a layout. At first I attempted to my interest in railroading devel- revive my old HO trains, but when I oped early in life. Growing up in remembered how much fun I had at Virginia near the main line of the my neighbor’s house running all those Southern Ry., I loved watch- great accessories I knew I had to build ing trains. Summer days my new model railroad in O gauge. Lwould often find me riding my bike With that in mind, I started work on down to the tracks just to see those a basic postwar-style layout. I had just long freight trains roll by. one requirement, and that was to have My first train set was HO scale, but I an operating milk car. Most CTT read- had a neighbor that had a Lionel lay- ers can guess what happened next. In out packed with postwar operating no time at all, I was buying more and accessories. During my teenage years I more Lionel postwar accessories to fea- lost interest in model railroading about ture on my layout. It got to the point the same time I learned that the trains were to drive. I packed my reduced to a supporting HO trains away, but that role, but my sons loved neighbor’s layout had all the action and they before it was completed, and years planted a seed that years played endlessly with that would pass before I could start my later would grow into my crowded layout. dream layout. Fortunately for the kids, present 18 x 18-foot O A move to a newly the old layout was at my mother’s gauge railroad. built house with an house. While I dreamed of the future, expansive basement the kids kept on playing. Rekindling a flame finally gave me the neces- I started to renew my sary space to design and Benchwork, free for the taking interest in model rail- build a truly large O Luckily, my house was one of the first roading after my second ▲ Jamie Haislip is an electri- gauge layout, one that in a new neighborhood. As other houses son was born. By the cal contractor. He lives with would have plenty of were added I was able to gather most of time my kids were old his wife and two sons in room for accessories and the lumber for my new layout by picking enough to express an Virginia. One of his hobbies eye-catching scenic through carpenters’ discard piles. interest in trains I was is restoring and operating effects. The house I built the benchwork for my layout ready to jump in and track speeders. needed a lot of work in a modular arrangement. It can be 46 Classic Toy Trains© 2014 • October Kalmbach 2009 Publishing Co. This material may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher. www.ClassicToyTrains.com ▲ 1. A freight-hauling P5a from MTH Electric Trains meets a Pennsylvania RR passenger train under the meticulously detailed overhead catenary on Jamie Haislip’s 18 x 18-foot moved and reassembled if necessary. O gauge layout. The Hell Gate Bridge is a Lionel reissue of a prewar accessory. One of the highlights of the layout is a mountain scene nearly 20 feet long. sections are simply nailed together and joined the Train Collectors Association. Even this area is modular; I designed it joined with bolts. I quickly began to see that there was in such a way that it can be sliced and a lot more to the hobby than postwar moved in sections. A large truss bridge, A new world of trains trains and accessories. About this same another signature item on my layout, is At the time, I was not familiar with time, I discovered that a co-worker, Bill mounted on its own module, and can any of the new products that had Fosbrook, had been the head electri- be removed in less than five minutes appeared on the market in the modern cian for Tony Lash’s amazing layout. after I disconnect the track. era so I purchased some magazines, After seeing Tony’s O gauge layout in Being made from 2 x 4 lumber and Classic Toy Trains in particular, and the July 2000 CTT, I arranged a visit and ¾-inch sections of plywood, the layout began to develop an understanding of immediately knew that I wanted to table is exceptionally sturdy and – since what could be done in O gauge. I also build a hi-rail layout that would com- it was scrap wood – essentially free. I researched actual railroad locations bine the accessories I enjoy with the kept the table design simple. The seeking inspiration for my layout, and realistic scenery I prefer. www.ClassicToyTrains.com 47 ▲ 2. A pair of P5a electrics growl along the high line. The industrial area in the back- ground is home to a few of the layout’s many Lionel, MTH, and Gilbert American Flyer operating accessories. Jamie credits childhood memories of accessories with sparking Tony, in turn, led me to Bob and Shar- his interest in returning to the hobby as an adult. lain Chapman of BC Rails, who special- ize in designing and installing scenery. I started seeking out other layouts Va., said, “Take this TMCC system and Although I had built the benchwork, through local clubs, people I met in the go install it on your layout. If you don’t installed the wiring, and laid the tracks, TCA, and various railroad events. Not like it, bring it back and you won’t have I knew I needed a true modeling profes- only did I meet some great people, I to pay for it.” sional to make my layout come to life. soon had a firm idea of what my future I took it thinking that I’d be return- Bob was a tremendous help in getting layout would look like. ing it within a day or two, but, as adver- me organized on the scenery side, espe- tised, the system was very easy – basically cially given the limited amount of space Leaping into the computer age plug and play. I quickly fell in love with not devoted to track, and Sharlain did a I knew what I wanted, but I wasn’t the added features that TMCC offers. great job of landscaping and painting sure how to make everything fit. Track Shortly thereafter, I began seeing the layout. planning software was fairly new at the advertisements for MTH Electric Trains’ Feeling that my wiring was sound, I time, but I purchased a copy of RR- Digital Command System (DCS). The decided it was time to move ahead with Track [rrtrack.com] and discovered it ability to control large numbers of ballasting track. I sent for samples from allowed me to swiftly translate my ideas accessories through MTH’s Auxiliary almost every vendor advertising in my into a workable plan. My track plan Interface Unit (AIU) digital relay box magazines, and one in particular seemed to just fall into place with mini- was an appealing feature of DCS. Doing quickly got my attention. CTT contribu- mal adjustment. the same with the TMCC system seemed tor Dennis Brennan provided samples My layout spotlights operating acces- rather complex. that were the size and color I wanted sories, but I also gave a great deal of After evaluating the competing sys- and offered help when I sought advice thought to the track plan. Watching tems, I decided to switch to DCS, partly on preparing the track for ballast [bren- trains go ’round and ’round seemed because I liked the detail of MTH’s nansmodelrr.com]. like it would quickly lose its appeal, so I products at the time and partly because Dennis recommended a two-step made sure to work in plenty of switch- the system could also control TMCC- weathering process using spray paint. ing opportunities and diversity on the equipped locomotives. While awaiting Although I was reluctant to paint new direction and control of my trains. the arrival of DCS, I laid all the tracks, track, after I did a sample piece I real- Although I was purchasing mostly installed several accessories, and pre- ized that his method was sound. The Lionel locomotives, I was hesitant to pulled all the AIU cable. finished track looks spectacular, and it make the jump to Lionel’s TrainMaster Once that work was accomplished, I was an extremely labor-saving process. Command Control (TMCC) until Steve finally had time to meet with Tony Lash While Bob and Sharlain worked on Fortes from KMA Junction in Manassas, and ask his advice about layout scenery. the mountains and other layout scenery, 48 Classic Toy Trains • October 2009 LAYOUT AT A GLANCE 6 Name: Jamie Haislip’s O gauge layout Dimensions: 18 x 18 feet 18'-0" Track: GarGraves O (O-42 minimum radius local track, O-72 minimum radius main line) Switches: Ross 2 Motive power: Lionel and MTH Rolling stock: Lionel and MTH Controls: Lionel TMCC 5 1 7 4 and MTH DCS Illustration by Kellie Jaeger Accessories: Lionel and MTH Structures: Atlas, AmeriTown, Korber, Lionel, MTH, scratchbuilt Vehicles: Maisto and 3 18'-0" Road Champs ▲ Jamie Haislip combines modern trains, great scenery, and operating accessories from Lionel, MTH, Backdrop: Backdrop and Gilbert American Flyer on his 18 x 18-foot O gauge layout.