Nicholas & Ashley Creek Ry

• Nicholas & Ashley Creek Railway - Original Blog

• N&AC Operations

• N&AC Track Plan

• Signals on the N&AC

For about 30 years I've wanted to attempt to build a turntable from scratch.  I read an article by Bob Hayden where he built a narrow-gauge turntable for Dave Frary's layout using a 1/4" phono plug as the pivot, and I thought that was a great idea.  It's taken me several decades to get to it, but I'm finally giving it a go!  I'm documenting the story here, rather than in an article, because it's really Bob's idea (thanks Bob) and because I have no idea how this will turn out!  Wish me luck.

My main focus is my HO Scale Nicholas & Ashley Creek Ry.  But my wife likes to garden, and during the Summer months I like to be outdoors too.  Recently I've gotten a more receptive response to the idea of a small Garden Railroad, so, I've been playing with ideas.  My plan for this blog is to explore G scale and develop ideas that I might use in the future.  Suggestions and insights are welcome!

I designed and built the Nicholas & Ashley Creek RY to be operated either by myself or with a crew of up to 4 people.  I am several years into construction now and the trains are beginning to run.  I haven't started formal operations yet, but I'm exploring ways and means to get there. 

This blog will chronicle developing operations on my railroad.  I hope to show what I'm doing and discuss operating ideas with others.  Hopefully this blog will be useful and interesting to those thinking about how to operate their model railroads.

I can't believe I'm even considering this, but I am thinking of altering my track plan.  Well, I love track planning, so that's no surprise.  So, I thought I'd better start this thread so I can get opinions as I change my mind a million times over the next 15 years or so.  

My general Blog on the N&AC has some preliminary information on my signal system.  I am using C/MRI with two S-MINI nodes, DCCODs, and Oregon Rails signals.  I am driving all of that with JMRI Panel Pro.  I am also using Digitrax DCC, but the signal system is separate and would work with any train control setup.

The TwoHats Lumber Company (THLC) is the logging branch on my Nicholas & Ashley Creek RY.  It started out as an independent logging railroad to server the TwoHats Lumber Co. Mill in Angela's Landing.  But the N&AC purchased it and it became a wholly owned subsidiary of the N&AC.  Now the N&AC is in turn owned and operated by the C&O.

I've been working on my HO Scale Nicholas & Ashley Creek Railway for a couple of years now, but really started in earnest over the past few months.  Since my efforts include many topics discussed on these forums, I thought it would be fun to chronicle my building here.  If you read further, enjoy!

I recently acquired a logging caboose for my freelanced logging line, the Two Hats Lumber Company, from Emmett at loggingcars.com. It was the first car I got from him, and it's a terrific model. I also got a water tank car, and the detail is wonderful. The cars come fully assembled, but unpainted, raw wood. I removed the trucks, and spray painted and weathered the caboose. The base color is caboose red. I then repainted the detail parts. Finally, I lettered it with custom decals and weathered it with an air brush.