Don’t miss the latest Model Railroader staff project layout series, beginning in the January 2017 issue. The staffs adds the Snake Track branch to its popular HO scale Milwaukee Road Beer Line layout. Get highlights of the new addition, including a look at the various trackside industries and structures, with associate editor Eric White.
Tour the Model Railroader staff’s HO scale Beer Line addition
By Angela Cotey | December 19, 2016
| Last updated on January 11, 2021
The Model Railroader staff's new project adds on to the popular HO scale Milwaukee Road Beer Line model train layout
Very nice work guy’s, great layout ,and nice size one
Hello Stefan,
The model running on the layout in the video is mine. It is from Kato, and I bought it when it came out in 1999 or early 2000, before I came to MR! I checked Kato’s site, and they don’t have a listing for it in their locomotive offerings.
The models surface from time to time on eBay, but they tend to be pretty rare. I was always sorry I didn’t buy the Soo Line version of it too.
Good luck with the hunt!
David
David and Stefan,
I know where there is one used (at least it was abound a month or so ago) for sale at my local hobby shop here in Georgia. Call Trainmaster Models in Buford GA. They are listed in the Hobby Shop listings in the back or MR. If I remember correctly, it has a SAL paint job. Good Luck!!!
I really like the cement plant and the trucks. As I studied the two articles though, I wondered – how do the materials flow through the process? For example, the cement warehouse received bagged cement in box cars until they were replaced by hoppers. How are the bags of cement moved from the warehouse and where are they loaded into the mixing plant? Where are the discharge points for the mixed aggregate and cement? Where and how is water added? How is the mixture discharged into the mixer trucks? Where is the fill point on the trucks in the article? Many trucks have a hopper type device at the top rear to receive the mix from a discharge tube. I don’t see any of this on the model.
Please know I’m not nitpicking, I really want to build a plant like this but it seems like some realism related functional points were not addressed. The reason I want to build this is it’s very similar to one in my childhood hometown that always fascinated. It was on a street corner, bisected by the railroad into a wedge-shaped lot. Besides being a great personal memory, it will be a great focal point on my layout.
Thanks for your time.
Michael
Like the realistic variety and the trash along the way.. Thank you
For Todd Walton: In ALCO terminology, an RSC3 has A1A trucks. An RSD3 has C trucks. Both are RS3’s with different trucks for different work. The RSC3 was for use on lighter rail with about the same tractive effort as the RS3. The RSD3 was for when 4 powered axles wasn’t enough. Too be more correct about it the RSC3 and the RSD3 are listed as RSC4/5 and RSD 4/5; the difference between the 4 and 5 is basically battery box location. Atlas did make an RSD 4/5 and Kato an RSC4/5.
Stefan Vanhumbeck, the locomotive in the video is an Alco RSC3 which stands for Road Switcher C truck, (or 6 axle) 3rd generation. This model was produced by Walthers Proto series and Kato. I’m not sure which one offered the Milwaukee Road scheme shown in the video. Both are no longer in production so you will need to scout eBay or other HO for sale sites to find one.
Hi Todd,
The addition doesn’t change the flexibility of the Beer Line, except that it makes it 5 feet longer.
The new section will always slot in between Humboldt Yard and the end section with the curved track, the old Model Railroader offices, and the Walthers showroom.
For added operational flexibility, it would be nice to have a tail track after the Ben-Hur Freezer Co., ideally with a runaround track.
And to Charles – the switcher is a WalthersProto Fairbanks-Morse H-10-44.
I’m very curious to know which model manufacturer made the 6 axle alco switcher you see at 00:35 seconds into the video. As I have been trying with out much luck to find the even spaced six axle Alco’s.
Hi folks, I’m enjoying the Beer Line extension build, but I have a question.I’m curious how the new section will affect the flexibility of the layout. One of the most interesting and innovative features of the Beer Line is the fact that it can be reconfigured in different ways to accommodate different spaces. Having built the new extension as a larger piece, has any consideration been put into the design to avoid losing the flexibility? It looks like the extension could be built as 2 pieces similar to the others. I hope you consider doing a follow-up video explaining that, also perhaps do a track plan showing how the new section, “as built” can be added to the previous configurations. One of the features that drew me to the Beer Line is the versatile part of the plan. I can think of at least 2 layouts that I’ve seen that have been inspired by the Beer Line, but I’m sure there are a lot more.
Eric, You seem to be gaining comfort in front of the camera. Great piece.
Hi Brandon,
I asked Steven Otte about the bakery building, and this is his response:
“That’s one of the buildings that I found already assembled under the MR&T and repainted and decorated for the Beer Line. It was originally a Design Preservation Models kit, now sold by Woodland Scenics under the name ‘Pam’s Pet Shop.’ “
Pardon my ignorance, but what kind of road switcher is making the rounds? I had never seen one like that.
I love this layout!It’s so Urban/Industrial,exactly my prefence in Model Railroading.You can have your scenic mountains or your desert plains,but this route has so many Industries that can be switched from.Kinda like a Lance Mindheim style of layout,but in the 40’s.I really like how close the different industries are to each other.No wasted space,and it looks Cool.
Looks very good. I like the era that it is in.. You guys do good work. Keep it up.
Very nice; a great tour of a really cool addition. Thanks!
Your cement plant is outstanding. Great job Eric.
Very interesting industries on the layout. Will we see articles on building them in future issues of MR?
The New Haven gondola is incorrect. They were black and numbered in the 60000’s.
terrific new addition. Other than it is curvy, is there another explanation for the name “Snake Track Branch”? Finally, how did you construct the MILW style turnout indicators? best regards, andy chandler
Great job as always. I’m in On30, there are a lot of structures on this layout that would fit really well into my 1940’s layout.
Keep up the great work you guys do at the magazine and on MR Video Plus.
It’s nice to see some inner city industrial modeling with those interesting structures, spurs, Alco and Fairbanks-Morse locomotives, and all the switching possibilities.
I’ve long thought the Beer Line was your best project layout ever. Great to have you back at it. On the original section of the layout, there’s a very narrow building just identified as ‘bakery’. It’s in photo 9 of the new issue of the magazine. Does anyone know what kit that was?
great stuff guys!
Fact: Model Railroaders’ like beer!
This is a layout that has a lot of bang in a small space.