Junctions on the M&K
Don CasslerDescription
A unique feature of Don Cassler’s M&K layout is the multitude of junctions. In this video, watch the operation of the M&K and follow along as Allen Keller questions Cassler on the intricacies of his model railroad.
The model’s major junction, the HA, features a tower that was modeled after an actual tower in West Virginia. It can route all trains in every direction, and is the scene where the main train routes overlap each other. A distinctive feature of the junctions on Cassler’s layout is that every junction on the M&K layout has working signals. These signals were purchased from Integrated Signal Systems who aided a helping hand in making them functional on the M&K.
Organizing junctions, or the location where the direction of two trains must be controlled on the system, can be the funnest part about operating a model railroad.
This is HA Junction, the major junction on our railroad. We can route trains in any direction here, and all the main routes cross over each other. The tower name is Hardman, and HA is the telegraph sign for it. It's an actual tower in West Virginia, we went down and took pictures of it and came home and scratch-built the model. Why do you have so many junctions on the layout, and what do you get out of that? And you sort of have a philosophy of junctions, don't you? We've called our brand of model railroading junction model railroading. Any place where you have to control the movement of two trains is a junction in our mind. The only difference between us and the prototype is that we may have what we call a junction where you don't go anywhere else, you just change tracks. Those are the control points where you have to control the entire operation. We think that's the most fun in operating a model railroad, and that's why we have a lot of junctions. We need 'em to accommodate our long trains and move eastbound and westbound traffic. Now, junctions require signals. All of yours work, that's truly something special in my opinion. How did you do that? I don't think I would have ever done it if it had not been for a fact that a manufacturer of signals happened to come down here at an open house one day and say, "I've got something you might be interested in." They were prototype B&O signals, together with the electronics that make them operate. So we bought some of them, and we started putting 'em in, and we found out that the electronics was something that was really gonna be tough for us, but we've worked on 'em for about two or three years now, and we're just coming down the home stretch. They work well. We're really pleased. Who is the manufacturer? It's Integrated Signal Systems from Rochester, New York, it's Walter Peter. He's given us an awful lot of help on getting 'em to work. Do you actually use the signal aspects during an operating session? We sure do, you better not run a red signal, or you've got big trouble. You're gonna have to answer to the dispatcher. You have a dispatcher? Sure do. CTC board? You're sitting right beside it. All right, I sure am! I didn't even notice.
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