After lurking for many years, posting rarely, getting lots of good information, it is time to post something I suppose. I grew up in Oroville, California so I don't have much choice in terms of what I could model. Since I was born in '81, I only very vaguely remember the Western Pacific myself. My boss of a few years, at my first job, was an engineer for the WP and later the UP until he had an unfortunately run in with a logging truck on the high line. I knew other individuals that had worked for the "Wobbly" and have gleaned information casually over the years. I am by no means an expert though I feel like I have a personal connection to this fallen flag. While I enjoy modern era layouts (and have a few intermodal/coal unit trains...), I personally decided on modeling the early 1980s because there is a large fondness for the WP and a small fondness (small...) for the UP so I could run both. Lots of four axle powered geeps with some six axle SD40-2s to roam the rails. I am into operations, more switching the better! I like running too and I feel my layout will give me a good balance. When I bought my home, in 2009, I very specifically wanted a fourth bedroom, for a layout, which my wife agreed to. She can have the rest of the house except the garage - her, our big Labradors, and the cat. I have held my ground to date. It has been a tough battle with many casualties along the way. I did build the layout, using the domino method, so layout removal would be possible without complete destruction. All construction, except for four legs - two on the helix table, and two on the peninsula, are mounted to the studs in the wall. This keeps the footprint off the floor and room for bookcases and storage, and even a computer desk. I also wanted lightweight so I went the route of 2"+ foam mounted on top of 1x2 framework which is then sitting on metal brackets that are screwed into the wall. I don't ever plan on standing on the layout so this is fine. I have randomly tested it to 50+ lbs with no much bending and realistically, even close to that will never happen. The single aisles is kept to 3 or more feet - I've learned from other layouts that you do NOT skimp on this! All track is within a 2.5' reach so in some ways this may classified as a wider shelf layout. The helix is an Ashlin Designs with 15-16" radius curves that I have modified to be a few turns taller. I laid the flex track in it as I built and it seems to be pretty sturdy. I have ran very long trains up and down it without a hiccup. Lighting is being done with a track lighting system I got from Home Depot. I am very happy with it so far though I am finding some brands of CFLs don't like being in enclosed spaces and are overheating. I'm finding the more expensive ones tend to work just fine - guess I shouldn't be surprised! Lower level lighting will be done by 5050 SMD LED strips that I got off that auction site. Hasn't been a priority to install it yet. Digital Command Control will be via my Digital Zephyr though I know I will have to likely upgrade this. It may fly for a while as I can only have three people maximum anyways due to the way the yards are positioned and available space. I have two UT4Rs though I do have control via my Android and Apple devices thanks to JMRI and Locobuffer. I am planning on two power districts, one for each level. While I would love to do signaling and block detection, those are big money drains in my limited hobby budget. Major compression is in effect! The upper deck (Portola to Oroville) I am largely happy with. I have completely omitted Keddie/Wye (because everyone models that!) in favor of Williams Loop. Highline trains can originate from the small staging yard that is next to Portola. I would like to have more Feather River Canyon scenes, but this will definitely do. At the exit/enter point of the helix, the track that goes to the Honeymoon tunnels drops 2.5" so there will be some vertical separation from those tracks. The lower deck represents Oroville to Stockton, with the Oroville yard being a big focus. Sacramento will hopefully have a very tiny rendition of the Haggin yard and a portion of the Central California Traction. Sadly, the Sacramento WP yard/shops are completely omitted. Stockton is mostly there for switching - there is a lot of modeler license is taking place here. Closest yard is may represent is the Flora St yard connection to the Stockton, Terminal, & Eastern. Staging for Stockton is the same as the Portola staging. I have no solutions for reversing trains, at this time. Oroville is at the lowest point, with track gaining 3-4" between the GP mill, by the Oroville yard, and the Haggin interchange. Track from Stockton actually will enter the helix at about 4" higher than the lower track. While my bench work and design are largely completed, to my liking, I am sure there are things that could be improved and comments are definitely welcomed. If you do look at the layout plan, please keep in mind that while I used sectional track in Xtrkcad, the actual layout will be Atlas Code 55 flex. I AM doing easements and all that good stuff. In a nutshell: Western Pacific Railroad Stockton to Portola, 2nd and 3rd subdivisions Early 1980s Track: Atlas Code 55 Minimum Mainline Radius: 15" Minimum turnout size: #7 DCC: Digitrax Layout height: 42" & 59" Thanks for looking! Dustin Yates West Sacramento, CA
Yep, what Jerry said besides he needs a little competition to keep him going. I'ma a strong advocator of the WP and have my own version of it growing in my Train Shed. You are off to a good start, with a great plan and and from the pictures I can see a great location. Edited add on: I just checked out your helix...awesome! The best of luck.
Cwwrman - Perhaps! You only missed me, in my rambling, saying that Keddie and the Keddie Wye because it seems like every WP layout has that. I know of several people in Sacramento that model the WP and have the Keddie Wye on their layout. You very rarely see other landmarks modeled that are in the canyon including Williams Loop which I am doing. Modeling the double bridges at Pulga, Indian Creek trestle, Clio, etc etc would have been awesome too. I would have loved to have Keddie and the Wye, but space does not permit it, at this time. Since these pieces are somewhat modular, I can add it later. Bigger house required...
The area just east of Quincy is the home of the Williams Loop. No where near famous as others....But it is right next to HW 70, The crossover is visable from HW 70 bridge...and you can fish and watch trains at the sametime.Great modeling idea.
Williams Loop is a great scene to showcase. I would also do the desert, and model Arnold Loop off of Silver Zone Pass. It's so remote, so unknown, and full of scenic interest.
A little progress... Thanks for the kind words everyone! It has been two years of planning and I'm glad it is finally falling into place. I am still a little unhappy with Stockton and still need to tweak it. Thankfully, that's many weeks away from construction so I have time. Feel free to send me suggestions if you have any. While the glue dries, I figured I would post an update. I have the Pulga siding in and operational. I am beginning to work out the Tobin scene roughly on the foam, at this time. I suspect this may take more time than just plunking down a siding since it is a little more known and is very visible from highway 70. You may notice that I have a Kato Mikado out there. While it runs well like a Kato typically does, I have been told to use your most finicky engine to test track work so that's what I am doing! So far it is passing so I am happy. I know it doesn't fit the 1980s, but on my WP, they saved a steamer, just cause. On a side note, regarding the Mikado - since I converted it to DCC eons ago, it's had this funny issue. The Digitrax Z scale decoder I put it will operate on DC just fine, but it kills the front headlight LED everytime. I put it on a DC layout yet again a while ago and blew the LED so it needs to be replaced. Another project for the future, grrr.
Quincy... Track laying is going slower than I had hoped and as of now I have only reached Quincy Junction. I have begun preparations for Williams Loop and I feel this may be difficult to "get it right" even with just dealing with trackwork. It's one of those things where I wished I had more room (to add Keddie as well) to make the Loop look better. Alas, it will have to work with 18" radius curves with 2% grade. Also have started wiring the bus using 16 awg wire and 20 awg for the feeders every 5 feet or so. I may add more later though I am having such small insignificant voltage drop in the middle I may not have to. I am soldering most of the track, but leaving some selected turnouts unsoldered. If anything, these rails may be candidates for additional feeders to be attached. I am not soldering strategic turnouts because of previous experience in having to replace a turnout that was soldered in - it was not good! Also started playing with the LED lighting for the lower deck and have confirmed what I suspected. The cool white has too much blue and like my overhead lighting, I may need to put some warm/soft white light generation in as well to make it look better. Course, some of the lighting techniques some people are doing with RGB LEDs is downright awesome. The full spectrum of light at the turn of a switch... Perhaps later!
This looks awesome cannot wait to watch the layout progress... As for your lighting, have you looked at "rope" lights, they then to have the yellowish warmth that LEDs lack.
A guy I know up here in Seattle is building the WP and he has Williams Loop included in his layout. His layout has been featured a couple times in N Scale Railroading.
Mark Bridgwater's Feather River Route? If so - that is an awesome layout, from what I've seen. I hope maybe one day I can see it as it has been a big source of inspiration. One of my model railroad friends, Kent Williams http://www.ownry.com , helped him build that layout over the years. I kind of wonder if the WP stuff I've acquired from him hasn't run up there on Mark's layout.
Up to Williams Loop now... I haven't worked a whole lot on my layout lately though when I have, it has been to slightly change a few things. The track work up Williams Loop is nearly finished and then we "reverse" back towards the helix/Portola. The switch to the Sloat siding will be just beyond the end of track and the Sierra Pacific mill will be there. Another thing to think about is once I get the additional 2" of foam added for the 'high line', on the back of the shelf, is to put the backdrop in. I'm still undecided on just how to do this... I apologize for the photo quality - the iphone is a lot more convenient sometimes than dragging the big camera out.
Update... After being out of town all last week (for work), spending time with the Mrs, etc, I decided it was time to get some work done in the train room. There's that saying that "it looked good on paper..." definitely held true for the Portola yard leads. I had a difficult time getting it to where I wanted it and ended up changing a few components on the fly. In the end, I managed to finish the main on the upper level of my layout. Just another small stepping stone in the grand scheme of things...
