Gregg Fuhriman modelmaker
Gregg Fuhriman modelmaker
Gregg Fuhriman modelmaker
Gregg Fuhriman author
Gregg Fuhriman modelmaker
Gregg Fuhriman archer
Gregg Fuhriman kung-fu
Gregg Fuhriman climber
Gregg Fuhriman home
Gregg Fuhriman author
Gregg Fuhriman archer
Gregg Fuhriman kung-fu
Gregg Fuhriman climber
Gregg Fuhriman modelmaker
Gregg Fuhriman archer
Gregg Fuhriman kung-fu
Gregg Fuhriman climber
Glen Frazer Free-mo Module - East Switch section
The East Switch section is where the passing siding joins the main track. Featured is a small bridge
carrying the tracks over a narrow lane connecting to Franklin Canyon Road, which continues from the
Derail section as does the paralleling creek overgrown with trees. The scenery profile transitions
from a grass-covered fill supporting the right-of-way to a fill-and-cut where the tracks curve around
a wooded hillside held back by a timber retaining wall. Target signals protecting the turnout and
detailed utility poles--PG&E repair crew and all--lining the road are trackside highlights on this section.
Below: Westbound freight enters Glen Frazer at the East Switch section. The creek is on the right, hidden among the trees.
At the center is Franklin Canyon Road at the base of the fill supporting the right-of-way. The train is hiding the wooden
retaining wall supporting the hill to the rear. A target signal is barely visible above the trees at the left end next to the green
boxcar. The wooden shelf attached to the fascia provides a safe place for operators to set down throttles, uncouplers,
tools, drinks, etc. instead of on the scenery. Note the oval handholds for moving the section during transport and setup,
and the DCC throttle jacks. At the left end is a recessed DPDT pushbutton that controls the turnout for the siding.
Below: The original signal arrangement is visible here - only the
mast-mounted target and the ground-level dwarf (barely visible
next to the locomotive's snow plow) were present.
Below: The small bridge over the country lane is a highlight of the East Switch section. Modified Walthers
abutments and wing walls support a scratch-built structure made from plastic I-beams and strip-wood flooring
and safety rails. Beneath is a drainage culvert next to the lane. Note the bank of mailboxes, scratch-built.
Below: The road spanning the East Switch and Derail sections provides a place to display vehicles I've built over the years. To give the
module more "life", a PG&E crew was added in the act of repairing a transformer mounted to one of the detailed utility poles made from
extensively modified Walthers products. And there's a mail carrier with a custom-built mail Jeep delivering junk mail to the mailboxes. The
road surface is real asphalt made from composite roofing shingles, crunched a bit to add cracks. The striping was masked and hand-painted.
Below: Additional research at the real Glen Frazer site revealed a
third signal, which was added to the module later - it's the "dwarf
on a block" that is lit up green, between the track and the wall.
Below: Action on the East Switch section.