Monon Route
The layout depicts a proto-freelanced version of the Monon Railroad in central Indiana in the mid-60’s in HO scale. There are two towns modeled, Monon and Monticello, along with the Yard at Lafayette (also known as “Shops”) that has perimeter services for the railroad yard and a power plant. There are staging tracks at each end of the layout to provide staged trains and interchange switching during the session.
There are up to 8 trains to run which are dispatched in sequence. Each turn crew will have 3 switching jobs to perform. There is an AM and a PM turn for both Monon and Monticello, plus a Stone Train that works the stone crusher in Monon, and an extra to work the industries adjacent to the Lafayette yard. The trains for the AM turns are preset in the yard, ready to depart. A through train from staging is brought to the yard as the AM turns are starting. The yardmaster will receive the through train and work the NKP Interchange to assemble the Lafayette extra and the PM turns. A PM through train is run to the yard with cars for the yardmaster to spot at the Lafayette industries.
The room is approximately 11.5 ft. by 13 ft. and will accommodate three operators, a yardmaster and two turn crews. The minimum aisle width is 24”. The layout runs around the walls with the two towns on the long walls, and a peninsula with the Shops yard and associated industries. There is a removable bridge that crosses the doorway and provides access to staging tracks and the availability of continuous running. Operations will run point to point with staging and interchange tracks at each end.
The DCC control system is NCE Power Pro with a wired cab bus. Wi-Fi throttle support is also available. I have a TCS UWT-100 that can be used, mainly intended for the yardmaster.
Car movement is accomplished with car cards & waybills.
Outside the yard, train control is verbal coordination with the other turn crew.
All turnouts are electrically operated from the facia except for the bridge, the yard ladder and Shops industries. Signaling is being added with temporary masts and is about 50% complete.
Trackwork is 95% complete and scenery is about 5% (more to come).
| Owner | Chris Thompson |
| Location | Mesa, AZ |
| Prototype | Monon |
| Scale | HO |
| Locale | Central Indiana |
| Forwarding | Car Card / Waybill |
| Control System | NCE DCC |
| Size | 11.5’ x 13’ |
| Style | Around the walls with a peninsula, removable bridge crossing the doorway |
| Communication | Verbal, visual track rules |
| Access | Stairs – Second floor bedroom, 24” aisles |
| Pets in home | 2 cats which you will not see (fraidy cats) |
| Smoking | No |
| Website | No |
| Crew Size | 3 |
| Jobs | 1 Yardmasters |
| 2 Road crew |