Bill Hamilton’s Katy Ft. Worth Division, Waco-Hillsboro, c.1950

This approx. 30’x35’ HO layout is under construction and is about 20% complete and operating. The layout depicts the Katy from 18th St. in Waco to the line split in Hillsboro, set in about 1950. The 35’ operating Waco segment depicts much of the industrial and depot district along Jackson Street from the 18th St. viaduct to the Brazos River bridge and includes well-known industries and landmarks of the time such as the Waco Creek bridges, Geyser Ice Co., Crawford Austin Manufacturing, O-K Paper, Brazos Valley Cotton Oil (“The Silos”), The Shear Co., Katy Park (home of the Minor League Waco Pirates), Humble Oil Wholesale Distribution, and the Katy freight station. The Katy passenger station, Railway Express and mail buildings are full scale. The station area includes an operating wig-wag signal. Bellmead Yard and the Tower 21/144 area (SSW interchange) are currently beginning construction. Structures are scratchbuilt or, in a few cases, generally extensively kitbashed. Operation is networked DC throttles with provision for plug-in DCC power districts.