John Armstrong's "Main Line Through the Mountains" MR April 05

[Anonymous]

I am a huge fan of SP and John Armstrong and this article showed the best of both. This is a dream layout. Everything fits, no duck-unders (o.k. a few nod unders), and this layout looks like a great operating layout. Pleeeeeease give us more of this layout.

[AggroJones]

I wi***hey'd shown more photos. I've been waiting for somtihng like that to come out in MR. Right time period, right geographical location, right railroad. But only two pictures of the layout itself? I hope a real tour of Otis's layout will be in a future issue.

[dknelson]

If memory serves, I think John Armstrong did some layout plan books for Atlas some years ago, in which case there would very likely be Armstrong layouts that fit almost any space.
Dave Nelson

[davekelly]

Although I have yet to see an Armstrong layout that fits my space, prototype era etc, I've enjoyed every one of his track plans. The thought that he puts into each one so that it fits what the owner is looking for is fantastic. It's always fun to trace along the route with my finger while reading the text and see how it all fits together. I can only hope that there are bunches more "as yet unpublished" plans that we can read about in the future.

[jfugate]

Of course, I'm a big fan of Otis's layout because it's a mushroom design and it's SP. Otis gave me a tour of his layout-a-building about 6 months before they started operation.

One thing I really like about what Otis is doing is he's doing everything carefully and thoroughly. Truly a first class layout in every sense of the word.

Yay, Otis! Glad to see your project made it into print, and John did a great job on folding your desired prototype into the room!

Here's a link that works fine for me to the web site:
http://www.spshastaroute.com/

[CBQ_Guy]

Mr. Armstrong is truly the "Dean of layout design" in my opinion. I love to study his track plans even if I don't always get it. He comes up with concepts and ideas I don't on my own track plans!

[Anonymous]

It is a great article & from what I've seen at the website, a great layout.

I had no trouble connecting, though I'm using a back-up computer with a very slow dial-up after a major system crash on my main one. Can't wait to install a new network card tomorrow so I can enjoy the site & what looks like a terrific layout.

John Armstrong certainly will be missed and the article in the current issue of MR is a good example of why.

Wayne

[PASMITH]

I was amazed at the creativity of John's track plan for modeling SP's Shasta Route and for Otis Mcgee's courage to build it. I am building a very small potion of this route ( Cascade portion) between Weed and Grass Lake as it was prior to 1926. I intend to travel to this area in June to continue my research. I am having difficulty getting to and remaining on Mr. Otis's web site "www. spshastaroute.com". ( As pbbished in MR) is anyone having the same trouble?

Peter Smith, Memphis