ETMRC HO Scale Layout

At the Gym — Location Number 5
Evolution of Dexter and North Dexter

Newsletter February 2020

Dexter Grows — There are many new buildings in what was the tiny town of Dexter on the north end of the main layout. Besides the new yard in the top far right corner, are numerous buildings formerly in other areas of the layout, with more to come. The white markers just beyond the red and green building is the site of a new icing platform under construction by Ron M.

Bob T Photo 14 September 2019

Webmaster note — North Dexter Yard installed.

Webmaster note — Ballasted version of 3–way turnout.

Webmaster note — Engine house within wye, and warehouse flat on spur behind right hand wye track.

Webmaster note — Back side of Dexter and farm.

Webmaster note — Dexter school, by Ron M.

Webmaster note — National Guard Armory at Dexter. Paul F and Bob A in background working on Roy King Layout.

Webmaster note — Dinosaur Park at Dexter.

Webmaster note — Lake and campground at Dexter.

Newsletter April 2019

Webmaster note — the newsletter picture has been sustituted for a better one. Bob T photo March 23, 2019

Dexter is growing – In the top photo,The new yard (far (background) and wye (foreground, right) are in the finishing stages.

In the lower photo above, the new yard wye will fit in the far right corner against the background wall all the way to the corner, and the new yard will replace the temporary one in the upper right of the photo. Elsewhere are the new buildings new locations for most of the older buildings, so now the town covers most of the peninsula. The town is small no longer.

In January of 2018 Bob T started a redesign of North Dexter to add a "wye" to turn locomotives. The redesign and build is documented here.

Rob D's Blog 13 November 2018

Here we have a section of the layout opposite Dexter Yard being updated. Dave G worked on the scenery here as well as others and for him it was one of his first attempts in the scenery area. His work looks as good as the rest that was done in the scene. Webmaster comment — Ron M built the schoolhouse.

The motel has been relocated from the other end of the town.

Rob D's Blog 20 July 2018

Ron is still working on a road near the station site.

Rob D's Blog 17 June 2018

Here is a photo taken from a place I have never been before. On Sunday Paul and I made the opening for the access hole larger. The hatch was large enough as was the perimeter of the hole, however running through the middle of the opening was a mass of braces tying layout tables together. This layout was moved from a building that was being demolished. The tables were saved and put together differently and a new layout built on top of them.

Proof that a large man can now fit inside the access hatch. Those of you wanting to see a picture of me got your wish. When removing the old bracing nothing shifted. We installed some new bracing in different positions to tie everything together with out running it through the access opening. Why that cramped hide remover was allowed to stay as long as it did is beyond me.

Rob D's Blog 11 June 2018

This one was always a head scratcher to me. An access hatch with L girder bracing in the middle of it! I am strongly campaigning to change it. I will build some new bracing in place and take this load of crap out of the access hole. Why normally intelligent people would put a beam in the middle of an access hatch is beyond me. Now there are a couple of guys that can worm up through that thing in our club, one of them is 10 years old.

Rob D's Blog 03 June 2018

As can be seen the Dexter area is being readied for a remodel.

I brought this up in the meeting. This is an access hatch. It was built for someone very small say 40 suit jackets and smaller. The top is bigger than the open area inside as there is bracing in the way. I suggested that if we are moving braces in the area and the chance to make the opening larger we do so. Right now I think Paul, Ron, Bob A and Nick who is ten years old can fit through the opening.

Rob D's Blog 27 May 2018

Before Ron M left for the day I talked about some updates in the town of Dexter. In unprototypical fashion the lawns are in ahead of the house and foundation work. This area used to have the motel and now it will hold the three houses in the back ground.

Ron is pointing out some areas that will still need some improvement and the temporary resting place for the houses.

The relocated motel which will also see some reworking to get it to fit the scenery. That car crash has not been moved in six years and that woman is still hanging that same sheet!

Rob D's Blog 05 May 2018

Nick is running a train and testing some track for the club.

Updates are planned for the city of Dexter as well. Things are being redone as we speak.

Another little mini scene on the layout, in Dexter.

A few with a bit more distance that puts the scene in perspective. It is amazing how the additional details can change the look of a scene.

Here is a view of the back side of Dexter, the coal tower is in the area the wye will be located to turn steam engines.

Rob D's Blog 22 April 2018

Ron and Tom M decided that the ground under the motel did not look right to them. So they ripped out some stuff and then put in new ground to level out the area under the hotel.

The new site for construction is still going to need work and some other things are being worked on as well.

In January of 2018 Bob T started a redesign of North Dexter to add a "wye" to turn locomotives. The redesign and build is documented here.

Rob D's Blog 08 January 2018

Now Dave has a consist of 2 SD 24s pulling 30 cars that are all heavier than the NMRA standard by one to two ounces up a grade that peaks at about 3.5 percent, The grade varies from about 1.5 percent and has a few curves in it. The peak is right at the highway crossing. I commented that it seems to be running much better now and pulling better and he said it is but those are your cars too.

Rob D's Blog 06 March 2017

Tom M has been building some very nice looking trees. He has installed several around the perimeter of the Dexter Peninsula as well as other places on the layout. You can also see the clear protective barrier that is in use to prevent leaning on and breaking details near the edge of the layout.

Rob D's Blog 26 February 2017

Tom M, Bob A, and Ron preparing to work on the scenery at the dexter penninsula of the layout. Spray glue is being applied and static grass will be added to the area.

The area gets frequent quality control exams by the guys involved. More applications follow and eventually clear plastic panels were attached to prevent some of the leaning on the layout that takes place.

Rob D's Blog 19 February 2017

Tom is removing the ground cover from the sock and one of the edges of the Dexter section of the layout can be seen after being updated.

Above and below more of the Dexter peninsula after some updates to the scenery.

As can be easily seen the rest of the work along the edge of the layout really adds to the looks of the area.

George is testing out one of his first switchers and discovering some issues with the locomotive.

Rob D's Blog 30 October 2016

Here it is running up grade with more than 100 cars to the rear of our test subject. It will be subject to pulling heavy loads as well as having slack run ins from the nearly mile long down grade it will be hitting soon. Webmaster comment — At Dexter with Pump Jack behind the diesels.

Rob D's Blog 26 June 2016

Here we have the train passing through the town of Dexter with the locomotives just visible in the distance, behind the church steeple and the caboose not yet in view. This is heavy duty railroading, long trains, big power, and grades and curves to contend with. Once the train gets over this grade it is downhill to Williamsburgh but that does not mean the crew can relax. they have a down grade of 2% to deal with while maintaining control of the train and then navigating the tracks through town that start at the bottom of the grade.

Rob D's Blog 27 September 2015

How did that coal train get on the layout? We did have some folks become quite surprised at the length of the train. One intrepid youngster was able to come up with an accurate count of 103 cars.

Bob T performing his duties as a co-host of the morning session. One of the neat things about Bob is his very detailed knowledge of the entire operation and his ability to keep facts accurate. He is also able to provide the level of detail each person desires so he does not end up telling them how to build a watch when they ask what time it is. A very good skill to have.

Leroy target in sight is approaching another guest and Bill one of our members is looking at my models and hastily built display case. Bill is very soft spoken and I tease him about it calling him the Train Whisperer. He repeatedly asked about getting me to build one for him, I am not sure if he was kidding or not, as I was not that impressed with the thrown together nature of it. Doing something similar with better materials and more careful construction would yield a much nicer item. I was surprised at the favorable comments as it was rather crude looking to my eye.

Paul and Leroy appear to have the family surrounded and caught in the box canyon just like in the old westerns! In reality our group is very friendly and enjoys visiting with our guests, this particular guest is moving to town and has lots of boxed up trains and is looking forward to a layout in his future. We may see these folks again.

Rob D's Blog 13 August 2014

I will post a few pictures of the improvements made to our HO scale station at Dexter by Ron M. He is very meticulous and has been working on the station foundation, platforms and surrounding landscaping as well as adding the busy look that comes from business being conducted.

As can be seen from the photos the little station serves two tracks and there is a fair bit of activity in the area. Just off the picture to the right are some industries and a small yard. The structure looks better in person than my quick IPhone photos indicate. Ron spent a great deal of time till he got the look he wanted with the bricks and adjusting the foundation of the building so the station would be at the proper height and level and not have any of the floating slabs one sees on so many structures. I think he said he still has a bit more to do before he will call this one done. I think it looks like it belongs and is a nice looking station, what do you guys think?

August 2013

Dexter mainlines southbound. PF&O left, EM&I right. Motel center top. Lot behind motel will become the Armored Museum. Bridge signals red, controlled by Dispatcher Panel in top right.

Dexter mainlines northbound. Dexter staging yard on right.

Newsletter April 2013

Relocating — LeRoy H experiments with new building locations along the newly straightened and repaved main road (the gray stripe forward of his hand) through the village of Dexter.

Newsletter December 2012

Going up the grade – President Paul’s rework to the Dexter incoming track reduced the maximum grade from a bit over 4 percent to about 2 percent, but the change meant fairly extensive changes to the scenery,which are still in process. Here Rob D’s Broadway Limited Pennsylvania Railroad J-1 2-10-4 climbs the grade with about 50 cars, proving not only that the grade is less severe, but that a steam outline locomotive model can pull a long train. The new scenery profile in the background is roughed in and painted, but more is to come.

Newsletter July 2012

Amazing what 35 hp can do.

Newsletter June 2012

Beware of Raptors – The new dinosaur park was planned and completed in less than a month by Ron M and Bob T.

June 2012

Dinosaur Park, a mini-scene at Dexter.

December 2009

Dexter North Yard. From right to left, PF&O Siding 1, PF&O Siding 2, PF&O Main, EM&I Main, EM&I Siding 1, Grain Elevator Spur. Turnouts now have dwarf signals.

September 2007

Dexter North Yard. From right to left, PF&O Siding 1, PF&O Siding 2, PF&O Main, EM&I Main, EM&I Siding 1, Grain Elevator Spur. Turnouts do not have dwarf signals.

North Dexter Trailer Park.(Note – This covers an access hole in the benchwork.)

North Dexter track view from highway crossing.

August 2007

Dexter and Berry Ranch before completion. Armor Museum is still an idea.

May 2007

Dexter Grain Elevator, with Ron M and KCS White Diesel.

Dexter Grain Elevator, with Frisco Grain Car. Ron M examining couplers on KCS locomotives.

Ron M cleaning EM&I main track at North Dexter. Staging tracks under his arm.