8/15/2009

Charlie Hanson and I setup this layout for the 2009 Heartland of America Garden Railroad Show (HAGRS - www.hagrs.com ) held in Overland Park, KS. 

The star of the show was Charlie's recently converted (to MTH DCS) USA Big Boy.  A great amount of attention was paid to the sound setup on the engine and without any doubt was the best sounding largescale engine I've ever heard.  We were actually asked to turn the volume down as some vendors were loosing their voices trying to talk over it.  Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures or video of it running but one was posted on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk07hujEdFU@fmt=18 .

We deployed just over 1000ft of track. (all brass, AML straights with Aristocraft curves, split-jaw direct-to-rail clamps at all joints)  Two outer loops were 20ft diameter curves and the three inner were 16.5ft. 

We have to give many many thanks to everyone who jumped in to help get this together!  (Steve Goade, John & Robbie Hanson, Wayne and others)

The following engines made their appearance: (All engines are MTH DCS Protosound 2 equipped)

• 1 - USA Trains Big Boy
• 5 - MTH Big Boys
• 5 - MTH Triplexes
• 1 - USA Trains Hudson
• 1 - Accucraft K4 Pacific
• 1 - MTH GS-4 (American Freedom Train)

Rolling stock:

• 120 - Bachmann coal hoppers (in two - 60 car coal trains)
• 50 MDC coal hoppers and misc freight cars
• 10 - MTH Passenger cars - (American Freedom Train)
• 5 - Aristocraft Heavyweights

Photos of the setup:

Steve Goade(left) Charlie Hanson(right)	Almost finished.

During the show:

All loaded up:  (Not sure how we fit it all in these three cars)  Charlie's truck is not pictured.

				I can't thank these gentlemen enough for their help.

Other photos:

This incredible creation was made by Martin (w/Mesa Grande) using his new plastic rail.

HAGRS 2009 Videos:  

(Right-click and save-as the video before you play and it will run smoother.)

                                              Click the Link to play video

-  Video #1  - 1:12 mins  - - YouTube

-  Video #2  - 1:34 mins  -  - YouTube

-  Video #3  - 2:14 mins  -  - YouTube

-  Video #4  - 2:06 mins  -  - YouTube

-  Video #5  - 4:12 mins  -  - YouTube

-  Video #6  - 1:47 mins  -  - YouTube

-  Video #7  - 2:57 mins  -  - YouTube

-  Video #8  - 3:51 mins  -  - YouTube

-  Video #9  - 2:03 mins  -  - YouTube

-  Video #10 - 4:30 mins  -  Note the kid in the red shirt at 2:24min- YouTube

-  Video #11 - 4:34 mins  - - YouTube

-  Video #12 - 2:30 mins  - - YouTube

-  Video #13 - 1:22 mins  - - YouTube

-  Video #14 - 4:34 mins  - - YouTube

-  Video #15 - 4:34 mins  -  MTH Big boy pulls all 120 coal cars- YouTube

-  Video #16 - 3:38 mins  -  Aristocraft Dash-9 pulls all 120 coal cars - YouTube

-  Video #17 - 2:24 mins  -  Martin's Continuous Welded Rail Train   - YouTube

                             You can find additional videos on the Garden Railroad Videos page:    

                                   http://www.rayman4449.com/Garden_Railroad_Videos.htm  

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Read about the modifications done to this engine at the Modification link below.

Garden Railroad Modification, Repair & Maintenance

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Return to Garden Railroad 2006 page.