Model Railroading > My date with Sue last weekend

This is a kiss and tell violation of privacy yet I am in love.

Last Saturday I went with a group to Shreveport to operate on the Sue Line,
a wonderful operators layout in service since the 80's.  The layout owner
Sr Richard Kamm passed away not too long ago and his widow lets the
group still operate at her home, though that probably won't last much longer.

Its a big layout representing the ArkLaTex area and is not for the roundy roundy
group - this is a layout for ops.  Lots of power, lots of freight to deliver to lots
of industries.  Here is a sample of home road power.

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This was my work area for 8 hours.  This yard is one end of the layout.  I made up trains to take
out on the road by others, and broke down trains at the end of a run.  That stool saved my feet
from collapsing as the day wore on.  At the far end was a printer and thenDS would constantly
send me a list of cars to make up a train, and I would report back to him once a train was ready 
to take out into,the layout.

The second photo is my yard power

The third photo is engine house where I would pull power for a train once cars were blocked and
assembled for each train and caboose added.  

 

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Here are a few foreign powered trains that would up in my sphere of influence.

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Like grain elevators much ?  There are come big 'uns on this pike.

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More foreign power out on the line.

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Bridges figure prominently in the ArkLaTex area.

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Here are a few shots of guys working other parts of the layout.

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More eye candy.

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Back to my workspace, this is my desktop for the work I was tasked for 8 hours.

Sue asked me to come back.  I think we are a good match.

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Neat place. A lot of creativity shown. I like the large elevators.

WrongWayMurphy Wrote:
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> Like grain elevators much ?  There are come big
> 'uns on this pike.

Sikorsky helicopter? Do you recall what it was lifting off the elevator?
(Middle picture of elevator post.)

So much to see. I bet just being there was fun.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/15/22 12:45 by Lighter.

Probably one of the best Photo-threads ever. This is one layout I never made it too.Wish I had. Very very cool. 
luved the mondo grain elevators. loved the foreign line power,

Great photo shoot. Thats a nice looking layout and obviously a life's work. It was very nice of his wife to have visitors over to enjoy his work while its still in place. Sad to know that time is running out for it.

I remember seeing this RR in magazines years ago.
Wonderful that it has survived so long.
Thanks for posting.
Bill in Ft Worth

Amazing looking layout. I see some very famous model railroad power there in a couple of the pics. I have some V&O and AM freight cars ,but no power. Think they are Fox Valley. 
Regards,DK

What an outstanding layout. Thanks for sharing. Nice pitch for Caddo Perish on the elevator.
JB

There is a Johny Cash song in there.

Love the CH54 flying crane.  Flew those in the Pa National Guard. Nice layout too.
john

SeaboardMan Wrote:
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> Love the CH54 flying crane.  Flew those in the Pa
> National Guard. Nice layout too.
> john

Erickson Air Crane flies a bunch of them in the heavy lift, heli-logging and fire fighting roles.
Matter of fact they like them so much they started building new ones to the original design but with about 4000 modifications!

The SUE LINE simply has to have 100% lawyers on the Board of Directors.
One of the most fun, imaginative, and high quality layout tours seen on TO I think.
Model Railroading is Fun they say.