Shelf Layout Update 7-14-25

The revised track work on the right side of the layout has been installed and is ready for ballast, but first I need to test it out by running a train over it.

With everything running well, it's time to ballast the new track and start with scenery work! 

Owensville Terminal Grocery Warehouse Layout 
8 x 120 inches (960 sq inches) 

Shelf Layout Update 7-11-2025

Scenery development on the grocery warehouse layout. I'm repurposing the old yard office from the Fourth Street Yard layout onto the shelf layout. Testing out a farm supply scene.

Updated Track Plan

I've updated the track plan for the remaining shelf layout portion of the Owensville Terminal Railroad.

I'll be gluing down the new track arrangement on the right side of the layout, and then work on ballasting the track along with scenery.

1981 System Map (Northern Section) 

Tom

Abandonment Notice

On or about July 7, 1980, Owensville Terminal Railroad Company has filed for abandonment of 3.8 miles of track in the city of Owensville, Missouri. This includes all of the track designated as Fourth Street Yard and the industrial lead track to the connection at Southeast Junction. 

The north end of Fourth Street Yard sits idle after recent abandonment by the railroad. Rail salvage crews are expected in the near future. 

The Owensville Terminal Railroad in 1980

Back in 1978, Schmidt Mfg announced the closure of its furniture manufacturing facility located along the former mainline of the Owensville Terminal Railroad. With its closing and the previous closing of the Gasconade Canning plant in 1976, the Fourth Street Yard tracks went dormant with only a few cars a week operating from the Rock Island Junction to the wye connection located a few miles south of the South Owensville Classification Yard. The Rock Island's bankruptcy on March 31, 1980 ended interchange service between the Rock Island and OTRR. The Cotton Belt/SP, which took control of the Rock Island in Owensville, didn't seek to re-establish interchange service. On July 7, 1980, the OTRR officially filed for abandonment of the 3.8 miles of track from Rock Island Junction to Southeast Junction. This abandonment included all of the Fourth Street Yard tracks. The tracks of the OASIS District were eventually removed by early December of 1985.

The Future of the Owensville Terminal Layout 

The shelf layout featuring the grocery warehouse will continue for the foreseeable future! 

Due to life changes and a potential move in the future, I have decided to downsize my model railroad layout. The original 1' x 8' Fourth Street Yard portion of the layout is in the process of being dismantled. The grocery warehouse extension will be kept in operation and moved when I relocate in the future. I'm planning to finish scenery work in the near future which will allow me to focus on running trains on the layout today and in the future after the move. I'm also going to be scaling back my model railroad hobby activities and projects as I concentrate on my growing art business. I no longer have the time, space, or funds for model train layouts or equipment.

I plan to maintain this blog for the foreseeable future with updates about the grocery warehouse shelf layout as they become available.

To all who have followed the blog, thank you for your support! 

Tom