Bob Brady’s St Louis River Sub

Chaffee, MO Station

 

LAYOUT DESCRIPTION OF THE FRISCO IN EASTERN MISSOURI

Theme is “Transition Era” late 1940’s to early 1950's built as a switching layout.

My research has been from maps and time tables, notes and stories from various web sites.

SLSF (Frisco) River Division - St. Louis Sub (St. Louis to Chaffee).

SLSF (Frisco) River Division – Chaffee Sub (Chaffee to Memphis).

Interactions with other railroads are the C&EI, MI, MP at different locations along Frisco’s mainline.

Mainline is approximately 265' point to point representing 285 miles.

Staging is represented by St. Louis and Memphis with Chaffee as the midpoint and crew change.

Construction is triple deck, height 37" to 68" gradual climb, no helix.

Layout room 15' x 30' with an isle width of 34".

Fast clock running at 2 to 1 is centrally located in layout room near the ceiling.

Four sessions complete a 24 hour day. One session is a 6 hour shift.

5 operators required for full session, Verbal dispatching, no radios, run regarding Time Table

6 operators if including Dispatcher for TT&TO. radios on fascia used as telephones.

Car forwarding is accomplished using 3x5 cards having check boxes for current location and OUT boxes indicates which cars are to be picked up and IN boxes for cars that have been delivered or remain at current location.

All jobs involve switching, some light and some heavy.

Digitrax UT-4R throttles are provided, please refrain from using 400 throttles.

Many locomotives now have sound, functions controls are listed on their engine card along with the correct two-digit address.

House rules and things to observe while you enjoy yourselves.

  • Drinks in the refrigerator and bathroom are in the laundry room area.

  • Personal throttles (except 400 type) can be used with permission, but are not required.

  • Layout room is tight, wait in the laundry room for your job to come up.

  • Give each other room to do their work.

  • Be gentle with ground throws and uncoupling cars and reaching into scenic areas.

  • Many switches in hard to reach areas will have a toggle switch on the fascia.

  • Maximum speed running trains is 35 mph, 10 mph in towns / yards / bridges / drop-ins, staging areas.

  • Sound units have a slower response time to throttle movement, patience is a must when switching and changing direction. Two-digit address located on Locomotive Card.

  • Radios are used as telephones at specified stations along with Train Registers which you must sign showing arrival and departure times.

  • Check your pockets and aprons for car cards and picks before leaving after the session.

  • OK to take pictures.

Crystal City Station

Oran, MO saw mill on MoPac Line

Bridge over Black Creek

Stock Pens at Farmers Co-op

Frisco/MoPac Crossing south end of Cape

Logging company

Loading dock