Central Indiana Division - Midwest Region - NMRA

Central Indiana Layouts...
Last updated 10/20/2009

Central Indiana Division NMRA
and Noble of Indiana Dream Team build
“Barry's Dream Layout”

Noble of Indiana in Indianapolis serves Adults and Preschool age children who have a developmental disability. One of the activities or services from Noble is the “Dream Team” that seeks to make Dreams come true for some of the people who attend Noble of Indiana services. Barry is a 53 year old adult who has participated in Noble of Indiana programs for 30 years. He has an interest in model trains and is able to talk in a very knowledgeable manner about model trains and real trains. He has saved up money to purchase some model train cars and locomotives, but just like many model railroaders he did not have a place to operate them.

Tom Cain, Manager of Noble Intake, and Superintendent of the CID knows Barry very well. Tom says, “Barry has a love of trains equal to mine.” “He comes by my office daily and before he goes to his program activity or work we have to look at something about trains on the computer.” It might be freight cars or it might be steam locomotives. He knows his stuff. I ask him” “What is a 2-8-2?” And he says, “That's a Mikado.” “What is a 4-6-4?” He replies, “That is a Hudson.” “What is NKP?” He says, “Nickel Plate Road.” “What about SLSF?” He says, “Frisco.” Barry knows fallen flags better than today's railroads. Tom's favorite model railroad is the Santa Fe, but Tom has no powers to change Barry's allegiance from the Union Pacific, but how could anyone blame Barry. He is so impressed with the power and the magnificence of those Union Pacific Challengers and Big Boy locomotives. Barry also asks Tom each day if he finished his layout last night, and so Tom tells him about any recent progress.

This “Dream Team” project had two purposes. It was a demonstration layout that illustrated to the public at the September 2009 Great Train Expo (GTE) what could be built in two days. And it became Barry's dream come true layout. The funding for this layout came partly from the CID/NMRA and partially from the Noble of Indiana “Dream Team.” A local hobby shop, HobbyTown USA also donated the track, switches, and roadbed to help with the costs. The layout consisted of the layout table, track, switches, powerpack, and some scenery.

For anyone who attends Central Indiana Division model train shows, they will notice a striking resemblance to the portable layout that is always brought in by Keith Clark from Bloomington, IN. That resemblance though is not accident. Keith used the same design plans for this layout in how the table was built and adapted his layout design for the same space. You will see Keith in the pictures building the layout. The layout was started at 10:00 AM at the GTE on September 26, 2009. The frame and base for the layout was done by lunchtime and the track laying started right after lunch. The cork roadbed was secured to the foam board with a special panel construction adhesive that was specifically chosen, as it would stick to the foam base without melting the foam. The cork roadbed was held in place with straight pins while the adhesive was drying. Barry was very helpful in spreading the adhesive and pinning down the roadbed. Next another layer of adhesive was put down to hold the track. Finally before going home at 4:00 PM, ballast was spread and glued down on about half of the layout.

On the second day, the first CID members who arrived cleared out ballast that had gotten into the flange ways and guardrails on the turnouts. Some repair needed to be done. On this second day, the wiring was routed under the layout and some scenery ground foam was added to part of the layout and ballast was laid on the other half of the layout.

The layout didn't go straight to Barry's house, as it needed time to let the second application of ballast to set up. So it was taken to the home of CID Superintendent Tom Cain. On Tuesday, September 29, 2009 it was delivered to Barry's group home. Barry was standing out at the curb waiting for the arrival of the layout. Once the table was set up, Barry placed a train on the layout and demonstrated to his residential staff and housemates how the trains worked on the layout.

The layout as it now exists is somewhat like Tom Cain's layout in that it has some unfinished areas and room to grow. It still needs more buildings, scenery, and accessories. Now Tom is able to ask Barry, “Did you finish your layout last night?”

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