Well, at the request of Tehachapi Dave, I decided to post some pictures of my home layout. Although I plan to try to make the mountain scenery look like it could be the Tehachapis, the layout is not based on any actual locations. It is a table-style layout that has been built in two sections. The older section was originally an HO scale layout that I converted to N a few years back. I since added the second section that will have a hidden staging area. Overall layout size is 6' X 17' and I my curve radii is around 20" minimum on the mainline (9 3/4" on the branchline). The layout has been built with all lines running in a contiuous loop, however it takes about 7 or 8 minutes for a (mainline) train to return to the same point after travelling through my "bowl of spaghetti" design. I designed it like this because I prefer to just turn trains on and watch them run vs. a lot of operational involvement. These three lines can run independently and continuously without interruption. This shot shows the original HO layout and how it attaches to the newer addition. The HO track used to run on the rear wyed track (in town there) and then entered a tunnel where the mountain is now ripped open. Also somewhat visible is a wooden HO scale bridge that I have not yet removed (running to a mine area)... Here's an overall shot that shows the newer addition and the future lower (hidden) staging area. The branchline in the foreground was a recent after-thought and allowed for the third train... Out of view to the left of the picture above is my future port area, which is seen here. I've also started work on the container ship that will be docked here.... This bridge is along the branchline that was a recent addition to the layout. Trains need to move slow on this line and the tight curves limit the size of rolling stock and locos... My most recent project was adding the second track to the mainline. Here's a shot that shows an Atlas 8-40BW (with re-worked lights) passing an area just before it was double-tracked... A UP train passes through an area that I had to widen before it could be double-tracked. In the background is a (modified) Walthers bridge... The UP and BNSF train meet at the summit tunnel. This tunnel marks the top of the double-track helix that allows trains to drop to the lower level of the layout.... An all-warbonnet consist leads a train through a deep canyon where double-tracking was recently completed. The train is just about to enter the lower portion of the helix on the left. If you look up and through the truss bridge in the foreground, you can see the Walthers brige where the UP engine had crossed over in a previous picture... That's it for now. Obviously, I'm a slacker when it comes to scenery! I figure another 30-40 years and it will be done! Russ
Russ, Your layout is brilliant and I would love to see a track plan. As for scenery you are joking, your scenery is first class. I'd love to see more pics of the layout
Thanks, guys! I used my Fujifilm FinePix 1300 digital camera for these shots. As far as a trackplan, can't do right now (does not exist!). I've changed this so many time since the original trackplan (it was actually HO at first!). I would need to draw one up from scratch for it to make any sense to anyone. Russ
Boy can I relate to that! Funny thing is I'm ending up very close to my original scetches Great looking Layout, switching from HO to N has probably made it a lot easier to capture the feel of wide open southern California.
