The MRR in the Attic - Blumentritt's Build Thread

The MRR is slowly taking shape, time to give a summary.

MRRLayout2025v3.jpg

Overview
The Manila Railroad Company (MRR) at around 1938. At that point, the prototype MRR operated one of the best railway networks in Asia, which subsequently was heavily damaged during the second world war. Unfortunately, the railroad never recovered. And today (2025), the successor Philippine National Railroad (PNR) has not a single train in operation.

Further, there is a small MERALCO tranvia. Before the war, the tranvia system in Manila was one of the largest in Asia. It was destroyed during the liberation of Manila and unfortunately never rebuilt.

Finally, there is a Christmas section without any prototype.

This model railroad is obviously still under construction. And similar to most model railroads, will never be completed to the end.

Track Layout
Similar to the prototype, Tutuban Station, which today serves as a shopping mall, is the center of the MRR. Here, the North and South Main Line terminate. This was realized in the form of a dog bone, with San Fernando La Union Station located at the northern loop and the South Pole Station at the southern loop.

In front of Tutuban Station is a double slip switch to connect to Tutuban Yard and Tayuman Yard. Tutuban Yard has a turn table (Heyn), similar to the prototype.

There is also a yard at San Fernando, where the track plan follows the Inglenook sidings to allow for shunting puzzles.

Inside the South Pole loop is a small track circle for a small, lonely Christmas train. This circle has not track connection to the main dog bone track.

The tranvia track is also not connected to the MRR track.

Technology
The locomotives of the MRR are digitally operated. The protocol is DCC, using a Maerklin Central Station 3 (CS3) with two boosters.

The tracks and switches are Code 332, nickel-plated brass, by a variety of manufacturers (Thiel, Trainline45, LGB, Heyn, etc.). All switches are manually operated, using switch lever by Heyn or Thiel.

Rolling stock is mainly by LGB and Bachmann, all with metal wheels and with couplers by Kadee (gauge 1, type E, body mounted).

The Tranvia is operated analog with a shuttle automatic by Massoth.

Buildings are illuminated using LED’s, powered by four transformers, strategically located at four different positions.

That’s it for now. Here a teaser for things to come at this space.
 
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