Modeling potential of Oklahoma City

[Anonymous]

So I was downtown today ( Oklahoma City ) with my friend and my Grandpa ( we were going to the downtown library ) and realized the potential of modeling Oklahoma City. i have been planning to model the Farmrail and AT&L on a rual branch in western OK, but I am changin to OKC for these reasons:

1) with the major roads be UP and BNSF, I wont have to custom paint anything until i am ready.

2) Amtrak runs a small train ( the Heartland Flyer: 3 superliners and a loco at each end ) out of OK, so things could get interesting.

3) I can easly access the area, so things can be very prototypical.

Now, I just need to do some odd jobs, draw a plan, go to the hobby shop, and start building. does anyone have some suggestions on modeling OKC. i am thinking of modeling downtown, but is there a better location. I am still tight on spcae, so I need a place that gives the most in a small area. Thanks!

[Jetrock]

Are you planning on modeling the modern era or the past? If you are modeling an earlier era you will probably find lots of help via local historical societies or museums.

I'm doing the same sort of thing (modeling the same city where I live) but setting my layout about 50-60 years back, because there were even more tracks around town, including electrics!

[Anonymous]

You could try to model the Arkansas-Oklahoma RR (AOK) in the OKC area. I read that they provide switching for the GM plant. And a few GE's (B23-7's I believe) in a Rock Island inspired scheme would look good, rubbing shoulders with modern UP and BNSF equipment. Haven't been to OKC in about 10 years and have never railfanned there, but may try to soon.

[RedSkin]

Well Just a thought from a fellow Okie, When I was growing up in Tulsa, I used to do a little Railfanning at the BNSF yard they have there I don't know how much room you have to model with, But maybe a point-to-point from OKC to Tulsa. There was a small switching area a couple of miles from where I lived that was ran by UP even had a caboose that they used from time to time. I've also done so inadverten rail fanning of Farmrail down in Kiowa County. That area is rather flat and the only things along the line was Grain Elevators and a few other industries. Like the last Post I haven't been to the rail areas in The City, so I'm not to familiar with that. Just wanted to throw an Idea out at ya.

Brad

[Anonymous]

Great Idea. I don't really want to custom paint the AT&L either, but I made up my mind that I'll have to. If you decide to model OKC though, you have to include the stockyards. They're probably the only thing Oklahoma has that is the biggest in the world[:)]. So when do you have to go back to school? I have to go back the 3rd, but the break has been nice, got a lot done! We worked 50 head of cattle yesterday, and have been working on building a new corral, that's about ready to use now.

Well, I better go, got things to do,
Greg

[RDG1519]

When modeling OK City don't overlook "Brick Town". You have the elevated main with station, than the industrial area that is very extensive. Look at your Sanborn Maps, compare to existing buildings, walk the streets where the railroad used to be with a camera, etc. A lot is still there.

Come to think of it, we all should do this for our favorite areas. I have been using Sanborn maps and a camera walking the old Reading Company right of ways in Philadelphia. Each year something is torn down or burned down.

Walthers, Kibri, DPM and others have great brick industrial buildings that can work here.
Thanks, Chris

[Anonymous]

Hello from an X-Okie. Grew up in Bristow. My layout is freelance, set in the 30's oilfields and boom towns. Okla. was serious oil country then. Until the pipelines were laid, the railroads transported the majority of the crude oil to refineries, and brought the equipment and supplies for the oilfields and boom towns. If I remember right, there is, or at least used to be a well right in front of the capital building. Most people seem to forget about how important the railroads were to the growth of the oilfields. In fact, the early oilfields were regulated at least in part by the railroad commisions. Alot of the railroads in Okla. were built specifically to service the oilfields.