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) 

Owensville Terminal Micro Layout

I started building a micro layout based on my Owensville Terminal Railroad theme last year. I finished it this past week.

The layout is H0 scale and measures roughly 16" x 30", not counting the hidden staging track and sector plate. There are no turnouts on this layout, and the hidden sector plate is used to move cars between the three tracks.

Sector plate prior to being painted 

The baseboard was made with foamcore, and the backdrop panels are hardboard painted with oil paints to create the autumn landscape. Staging and the sector plate are only long enough to accommodate a single loco and car, so switching cars must be done in a particular sequence. First, an arriving car is left on the main track. The loco then proceeds to the feed mill track to pull the car sitting there. Next, this departing car is off-spotted at the middle track, then the loco goes back and recouples to the arriving car so it can be dropped off at the feed mill. Now the loco picks up the departing car from the middle track, heads for the sector plate that is rotated back to the main track. The car and local can now head back down the main track and proceed to exit the layout at the staging track on the left-side of the layout.

 

Here are some photos of the completed layout... 

I had a lot of fun building this micro layout. This is the first time I attempted to create an autumn scene, and I am really pleased with how it all turned out in the end. 

Tom

Operating the OASIS District Layout

This past weekend, I operated the layout and put together a video of a typical operating session on the OASIS District layout. I use car cards and waybills for routing cars on and off the layout.

Tom

Yard Office Access Road Crossing

Number 72 setting out a Frisco boxcar at the loading dock in Owensville, Missouri. 

Trackside at Owensville

 Close up action at Fourth Street Yard

Track cleaning and running a locomotive is ongoing to keep things in top working order. I'm also in the process of repainting an Athearn Sw1500 blue box locomotive into the Owensville Terminal green and yellow paint scheme. The old blue and white paint has been stripped. The project is well underway with new paint and decals already applied. A photo of the repainted loco coming soon. 

Shell stripped and for new paint. 

Trackside Action

An Owensville Terminal Transfer using pooled power from Missouri Pacific pulls outbound cars at the Fourth Street Yard in Owensville, Missouri.