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The Roundhouse => Layout Tours => Topic started by: KentuckySouthern on March 15, 2026, 09:52:41 PM

Title: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: KentuckySouthern on March 15, 2026, 09:52:41 PM
The Kentucky Southern Railway...

RS36 No 360.jpg
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: Rick on March 16, 2026, 07:33:52 AM
Karl, nice to see you starting this thread.
I will be happy to follow along as you make progress on your layout.
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: Larry C on March 16, 2026, 08:06:52 AM
Karl great seeing you starting a layout thread; count me in for the ride.
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: Vietnam Seabee on March 16, 2026, 08:08:06 AM
I'm here Karl. i've got a bag of donuts and coffee to share ...let's do this
terry
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: ACL1504 on March 16, 2026, 08:48:20 AM
Karl,

Okay now, off we go! Glad you decided to do the layout thread. I'll be following along as well.

Tom
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: deemery on March 16, 2026, 09:48:30 AM
I like the two different 'liveries' on the KS locomotives.

dave
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: Jerry on March 16, 2026, 09:55:46 AM
I'm in Karl.  Glad you started a thread on your RR.

Jerry
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: elwoodblues on March 16, 2026, 10:09:29 AM
Karl,

Glad you started a thread on your RR, I will be following along.
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: PRR Modeler on March 16, 2026, 10:53:57 AM
All Aboard! ;D
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: friscomike on March 17, 2026, 08:02:19 AM
Howdy Karl,

Thanks for starting this thread. 

Have fun,
mike
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: Bernd on March 17, 2026, 10:09:26 AM
Nice color scheme. That dark green almost looks like it's got some gold mixed into the color.

Bernd
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: Pennman on March 17, 2026, 11:19:05 PM
Nice RR Karl, I will follow you on this too.

Rich
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: GPdemayo on March 19, 2026, 11:32:38 AM
I'll be checking in too Karl, looking forward to seeing your progress..... :)
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: Yannis on March 19, 2026, 02:36:01 PM
Same here! Looking forward to seeing updates.
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: KentuckySouthern on March 20, 2026, 08:24:29 PM
Welcome everyone. Thanks for the encouragement.

A little background. Years ago, before the construction of Interstate 75.  My folks would take a trip, usually Spring Break time to deep deep South Georgia, to the maternal grandparents farm. The first night out was usually spent in Corbin, KY within earshot of the Louisville & Nashville yard. That's where I'd develop a fondness for the Alco diesels we'd hear throughout the night.

I developed a fondness for the green scheme, I have at least 3 variations, based on the Southern Rwy Green. Just so happened to be the school color with white at Michigan State University where I eased into adulthood.

The basic idea of the Kentucky Southern utilized by my initials KS as a fictional line from Corbin, called Carbon on my world to Loyall, aka Royall, in the East Kentucky Coal fields much like the L&N EK line.  Coal is king.

The layout occupies 2/3 of my basement ~25' x 35'. It is approximately 2 1/2 times around multi level no helix main line still under construction.

Most recently I've been working on building a first thing you see as you enter scene that will incorporate a trestle. It's an area I'd let sit undeveloped since starting the project longer ago than I remember.

As this goes on I'll delve into the project and show some shots of what I'm doing. 

Before...
IMG_3161.jpeg

Karl :D


Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: Jerry on March 20, 2026, 11:34:16 PM
Thanks for starting this Karl.  it looks like you have a very nice empire underway.
I'll be happy to follow along.

Jerry
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: Rick on March 21, 2026, 07:55:34 AM
Karl, thanks for the background on the layout and RR.
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: elwoodblues on March 21, 2026, 10:44:15 AM
Karl,

Thanks for the background and it looks like you have quite the empire started.  This is going to be fun to follow long.
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: ACL1504 on March 21, 2026, 03:55:21 PM
Karl,

Thanks for the info on the layout and the KS name. As a gator, there was no way I'm painting a diesel in Orange and Blue.

 My A&S diesel is Green with White lettering.

This is going to be a great thread. Thanks for starting it.

Tom
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: Larry C on March 22, 2026, 08:21:55 AM
Karl very nice start on your little empire; glad you decided to share it with the rest of us and I'll be checking in and see how you're progressing. Have fun with this endeavor.
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: Philip on March 22, 2026, 09:51:01 AM
Bout time! 8)
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: friscomike on March 23, 2026, 02:34:43 PM
Howdy Karl, 

Wow, that's a layout!  I see many years of work ahead. Good luck with the trestle. The background story was enjoyable to read.  Thanks.

Have fun,
mike
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: KentuckySouthern on March 25, 2026, 07:25:42 PM
Over this winter I decided the entrance to my layout needed a finished scene to see up upon entering instead of sticks and plywood strips.

I extended the layout by
~7 " to build underpinning for putting in a trestle instead of the bland looking unfinished look. I built a web base for the area being planned. I also cut the roadbed before the curved section and moved it out.
IMG_3161.jpeg
IMG_3163.jpeg

Using a jig saw I cut the roadbed to follow the outside edges of the ties.

Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: PRR Modeler on March 26, 2026, 07:12:48 AM
Karl you have a larger layout than I thought you did.
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: KentuckySouthern on March 26, 2026, 09:22:04 AM
Quote from: PRR Modeler on March 26, 2026, 07:12:48 AMKarl you have a larger layout than I thought you did.

Photo showing 1/2
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: Rick on March 26, 2026, 09:26:33 AM
Karl, thanks for the update.
How's the bridge construction going?
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: Jerry on March 26, 2026, 09:32:08 AM
Quote from: Rick on March 26, 2026, 09:26:33 AMKarl, thanks for the update.
How's the bridge construction going?
Yes Karl how is the bridge doing?

Should be a really nice layout once you get to the scenery.

Jerry
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: elwoodblues on March 26, 2026, 10:36:24 AM
Karl,

That is a huge empire your building there.

You know, we need a bridge update.  ;D
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: Larry C on March 26, 2026, 02:26:41 PM
Karl that'll keep you busy for awhile. Have fun.
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: friscomike on March 26, 2026, 03:38:07 PM
Howdy Karl,

I like the idea of finishing the part of the layout that people will see first.  You have a lot of nice benchwork to build on.

Have fun,
mike
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: KentuckySouthern on April 02, 2026, 10:23:57 AM
I've done a little test fitting of trestle elements. Much scenic work and fine tuning to go.  Much.

IMG_3447.jpeg
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: elwoodblues on April 02, 2026, 10:31:05 AM
Karl, it's looking great, you have the makings of a very dramatic signature scene there. 
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: Rick on April 02, 2026, 10:37:31 AM
Karl, that's shaping up very nicely.
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: friscomike on April 02, 2026, 11:02:29 AM
Howdy Karl,

The trestle area is looking great.  It is going to be an eye catcher.

Have fun,
mike
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: Yannis on April 02, 2026, 12:54:01 PM
Impressive trestle there!!! What mike said... a real eye catcher.
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: Larry C on April 02, 2026, 02:30:32 PM
Karl great job what is shaping up to make people stop and take notice.
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: PRR Modeler on April 02, 2026, 06:34:54 PM
That looks great Karl.
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: KentuckySouthern on April 03, 2026, 11:14:57 AM
IMG_3451.jpeg

New angle...been shimming up foundation of bents.  Lots of fussin' to do.  [/b]

IMG_3453.jpeg
Title: Re: KentuckySouthernRailway...
Post by: ACL1504 on April 03, 2026, 02:11:59 PM
Karl,

That is one nice looking trestle and will be a nice focal point for visitors.

Well done to this point.

Tom