Nice 
Love those Alcos. Is that Aluminum or Stainless track ?
Ron,
Those are both fantastic trains!
Ron-
Considering your experience with your layout and climate, would you offer your observations on using either Aristocraft and/or USA diesels?
Thanks for showing more of your pictures. Our visit was well-worth the trip.
Wendell
Ron,
Your layout and trains make quite a masterpiece of model railroading…
Jon Radder said:I started buying Llagas aluminum track from Dave Goodson in 2006. Since I exclusively use battery power, the track is RELATIVELY inexpensive, and it is highly flexible, it has proven to be an excellent choice. I have several points along the line where I have merged some of the older brass track and switches with the Llagas track using blenders supplied by Goodson. This becomes obvious when examining some of the photos, especially those taken in the immediate vicinity of the model town of Cicely. These devices have allowed me to make good use of most of my remaining rail.
Nice :D Love those Alcos. Is that Aluminum or Stainless track ?
Ric Golding said:
Ron,Those are both fantastic trains!
Within the last year I concentrated my efforts on finding and acquiring locomotives and rolling stock that fit in well with my ALCANEX theme. I have built my ALCANEX system around trains that were once common around the Pacific Northwest and B.C. and have achieved relatively satisfactory results. Certain rail lines, such as the aforementioned Milwaukee Road but also the Burlington Northern heavyweight consist and a few others are rarely seen anymore. Thanks for the comment.
Wendell Hanks said:
Ron- Considering your experience with your layout and climate, would you offer your observations on using either Aristocraft and/or USA diesels?Thanks for showing more of your pictures. Our visit was well-worth the trip.
Wendell
Overall I believe that USA offers the better product in terms of smooth performance. When I run those SD Mac 70s together I seem to have an unbeatable combination that is particularly impressive to watch. However, I note that the Dash 9 and the E-8 have impressive pulling power and are also remarkably smooth-running locomotives (especially the E-8).
Andy Clarke said:
Ron, Your layout and trains make quite a masterpiece of model railroading…
Thank you for about the highest compliment I could receive regarding this layout. It is the product of years of trail and error. And every bit of its construction of necessarily unique due to local conditions and my lack of access to other people’s layouts so I could compare notes. I DO regret that, by the way. In any case, the layout continues to expand. And as it does I have honed my techniques, particularly when it comes to track-laying and track-support systems. I do spend a lot of time reviewing others’ layouts AND operations through sites such as this one. I also pay attention to any product reviews of both new and more-established model railroad items. It ALL helps. In fact, it is only recently that I have seen the possibilities in the world of model RR operations. THIS has significantly influenced my layout design. Nevertheless, my layout remains primarily a rather straight-forward passenger line set-up that is mostly a relatively simple point-to-point operation. Or it would be were it not for the increasing number of consists that have to be moved off of the mainline (especially when going through Cicely where I park THREE consists most all of the time) for some of the operations to take place successfully. [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/aaa-CicelyViews-g.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/aaa-CicelyViews-g-m.jpg)
[/url] ABOVE: coal cars in Cicely on the freight train turn-around BELOW: A view of the two AKRR SD Mac 70s on the track which goes through the center of the model town of Cicely. Click either image for a larger one. [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/002-1.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/002-m-1.jpg)
[/url]
Ron Simpson said:OK - I was thinking it was Stainless and that the bar business must be awfully good to afford that much SS track :D Still, it must be pretty good to support all those locos and cars.Jon Radder said:I started buying Llagas aluminum track from Dave Goodson in 2006. Since I exclusively use battery power, the track is RELATIVELY inexpensive, and it is highly flexible, it has proven to be an excellent choice. I have several points along the line where I have merged some of the older brass track and switches with the Llagas track using blenders supplied by Goodson. This becomes obvious when examining some of the photos, especially those taken in the immediate vicinity of the model town of Cicely. These devices have allowed me to make good use of most of my remaining rail.
Nice :D Love those Alcos. Is that Aluminum or Stainless track ?
Jon Radder said:
Ron Simpson said:
Jon Radder said:
NiceI started buying Llagas aluminum track from Dave Goodson in 2006. Since I exclusively use battery power, the track is RELATIVELY inexpensive, and it is highly flexible, it has proven to be an excellent choice. I have several points along the line where I have merged some of the older brass track and switches with the Llagas track using blenders supplied by Goodson. This becomes obvious when examining some of the photos, especially those taken in the immediate vicinity of the model town of Cicely. These devices have allowed me to make good use of most of my remaining rail.
OK - I was thinking it was Stainless and that the bar business must be awfully good to afford that much SS track
Not really. It gets rather scary around here at times because business becomes so slow. The last of the workers from the local tourist hotel–the 84-room Copper River Princess Wilderness Hotel–were in yesterday. Although I don’t get that many tourists–relatively speaking–I do benefit from the hotel workers who show up here over the course of the summer season. Next year that season for Princess Tours will be shortened an entire month–taking in ONLY June, July and August. I began the model railroad project for the Copper Rail Depot two years before I even bought the place in 1996. My layout has been ongoing (with a couple of notable breaks due to lack of business a few years back) ever since. In that time I have probably laid about 1400 feet of track–modest compared to my longer-term plans. I have accelerated purchases of rolling stock with the assumption that much of what I wanted would not be available for long. Except for a very few limited number of pieces, the rolling stock acquisition phase is over. I have not yet developed a plan for the next season, which means that development is likely to be minimal. This is a reflection of the economic times. My longer-range plans, however, are still on the board. Of these, the most notable are the commencement of the three-town Klondike Mines Railway line and a lengthy extension from the existing rail network across my driveway and up to the river dike, placing the model railroad within striking distance of the Klutina River. [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/035-2250.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/035-m.jpg)
[/url] A mixed passenger-freight consist headed by AKRR 4102 on the East Loop. in the background is the driveway that will eventually be crossed. My line is now within three feet of the ground, but arriving at the driveway from that point will probably by itself require another 300 feet of track. ALL of it will be on supports EXCEPT for the track that is closest to the driveway. On the other side the track will go back to supports again.
Ron,
Your layout in it’s location is just too cool! Alaska is on my bucket list!!
You also have an Amtrak material handling car …even cooler!!! I want a couple real bad but not paying current crazy prices for them 
Ron.
I enjoy the pictures of your railroad.
I’ve also really enjoyed the history you’ve shared with us in past articles.
Ralph
As we approach winter, I made a decision to install lights both inside and out the model town of Cicely because it has been becoming increasingly difficult to view as we continue to rapidly lose daylight. [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/000.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/000-m.jpg)
[/url] As a result I am now able to bring to the public views of the model that were never available on line before because now I can take half-way decent pictures through the south-facing window, which is the principle way by which the general public views the model. These are all never-before-seen views of the carnival area along the southwest part of the model town–all the pictures were taken at about midnight. Click any image for a larger view: [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/026-1.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/026-m-2.jpg)
[/url] [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/013-1.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/013-m-2.jpg)
[/url] [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/014-1.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/014-m-2.jpg)
[/url]
Even the inside views taken at night take on a wholly-different look, largely because the distracting outdoor background is now absent: [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/027.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/027-m-1.jpg)
[/url] The bus yard also includes two 18-wheeler models I acquired while visiting a collector in Spokane: The Carrs truck represents an Alaskan chain of grocery stores that was bought out by Safeway. The airstream is one of two 1:24 RARE models I have on the site. I also have those four British-style buses (can’t get American ones), of which three are the familiar double-decker type. I use them on this layout as tourist buses. [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/028.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/028-m-1.jpg)
[/url] click either image for a larger version.
You can look everywhere throughout my Cicely layout and see rare collector items. [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/030.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/030-m-1.jpg)
[/url] Of course, only large-scale modelers will be likely to realize this. But they ARE my favored group. The idea, of course, is to provide as UNIQUE an experience through this model railroad layout as possible. That is the reason why so many different road names. If one is to come this far, one does not need to see another stateside-style model railroad. One definitely won’t find that here ! Thus I have taken great pains to find or build items that make this model stand out. As a result, the real cost is NOT in the track or even in much of the rolling stock. It is in the DETAILS. It is the details that make a model. I learned that from working with a professional diorama-builder years ago. It really WAS the detail work that made his models outstanding. [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/019-1.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/019-m-2.jpg)
[/url]
Here is another view through the window, looking down “Second Street” toward “Pennsylvania Avenue” (I have not yet changed the names from the ones that exist at the Northern Exposure filming site of Roslyn, WA). It is very difficult to get good pictures through glass, but you get the idea. [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/012-1.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/012-m-2.jpg)
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Great pictures Ron. Thanks! In this one…
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/028-m-1.jpg)
is the brown die cast car behind the Airstream trailer a Studebaker Hawk??
Jon Radder said:
Great pictures Ron. Thanks! In this one…(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/028-m-1.jpg)
is the brown die cast car behind the Airstream trailer a Studebaker Hawk??
It is a 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk–either Franklin Mint or Danbury Mint. I cannot recall which one anymore. I’ve had it around for over a dozen years. [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/002-2250-2.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/002-640.jpg)
[/url] [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/001-1500.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/001-640.jpg)
[/url]
Cool… This is the only one of me ever made me posing with a 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk, one of 4,071 ever made
Jon Radder said:
Cool… This is the only one of me ever made me posing with a 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk, one of 4,071 ever made
By an interesting coincidence, here is a Studebaker Golden Hawk currently on Ebay
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/StudebakerGoldenHawk.jpg)
