An Ops Moment

Last Sunday, I had another Ops Moment. I got a chance to operate on the NEW Arcadian Coast Eastern (ACE), built by my friend Sandy Eustice. Sandy's ACE is a prototype model of the 6th Maine 2-Foot Gauge Railroad. And if you are thinking that "Wait a minute, there were only five Maine 2-footers." Well, you should talk to Sandy because he has a sixth in On30.

Sandy's Map of the Arcadian Coast Eastern.

The ACE connects with the Maine Central in Hancock, runs along the coast past Sorento to a wye at Frenchman Bay. From there, the main continues along the coast to Winter Harbor at the end of the main line. However, a branch runs off the main at the wye at Frenchman Bay to the town of Tunk Lake. In essence, the layout is three major switching areas, coming off a single wye. It is a novel design, and it allowed Sandy to have a nice operating On30 layout in a spare bedroom.

Trains originate from Winter Harbor, and either run via Frenchman Bay and Sorento to Hancock, or via Frenchman Bay to Tunk Lake.

ACE #6 with the Winter Harbor engine facilities in the background.

Apparently, someone important is either departing from Winter Harbor, or arriving as there is a fancy car waiting at the station.

Sandy and I each took trains. On the first shift I ran a turn out to Hancock and back, while Sandy worked up to Tunk Lake. Trains are fairly short 5-7 cars, but they are just right for the towns. Hancock resides on a 16" wide shelf, which is not a lot in On30, but there is enough track to get the jobs done, if you think your way through it. Hancock is also the location of a highly efficient interchange with the Maine Central, that rapidly transloads cars between trains.

A GGYV&N box car takes on cargo from the Hancock Freight House and an REA Truck.

The Hancock station is a popular place.

After my run to Hancock and back, I straightened out the yard and spotted cars from Hancock in Winter Harbor. That allowed me to build the afternoon fish train to Hancock and the afternoon turn to Tunk Lake. Tunk Lake resides on the third peninsula of the layout room. Since there is no run around track in Tunk Lake and the grades into town are steep, the engine needs to push cars from Frenchman Bay to Tunk Lake. I first ran the Fish train to Hancock while Sandy handled a few RIP cars and was able to return in time to take the afternoon train to Tunk Lake.

The Hancock County Growers Association, an industry in Tunk Lake.

Tunk Lake is home to a large sawmill complex.

While I ran to Tunk Lake, there was one final run to Hancock and back to catch the evening connection with the Maine Central Calais Branch which Sandy took out. Returning to Winter Harbor, we put away the evening cars, and tied down the engines. Another day on the ACE had come to an end.

Car movements are governed by a 4-cycle car card system. There are a few modifications to the cycle to allow cars to be unloaded and reloaded in Hancock so that the town remains fluid, but the system works well.

Tunk Lake and its car card box.

A layout does not need to be large to be fun to operate, just well thought out, and the ACE qualifies as a well thought out layout that is a pleasure to operate.

Cameron Turner