Staging Yard
The staging yard can be seen through the connecting levels
Staging Yard
The staging yard can be seen through the connecting levels
Layout
The layout took approximately four and a half years to build. The design was the brainchild of myself,
Wolf Lope and Glen Anderson, with John Burkhardt assisting on the DCC design. Between Wolf and Glen most of the issues
regarding gradient, reverse loops and Helix’s were quickly resolved based on their vast knowledge and hands-on
experience of the hobby. Wolf is an expert in building Helixi’s and his carpentry and scenic skills are also
worth mentioning. Glen is an expert in laying track and scenery.
The layout is operational and scenery has commenced with section being worked on at present.
The layout is housed in a room of 10 x 12 meters, with 1033 meters of PECO code 100 track, 211 Turn-outs and
16 meters of code 83 track laid. The layout is divided into two sections, American and European.
The layout has, in places, three levels where a large Helix connects the bottom and top layers. The 3rd layer
is a branch line and its only connection to the main line is via a zigzag. The main Line length is 135 meters.
It takes about 15 min to run at prototype speed one length of the American mainline. The European main line takes
about the same time. This is if you do not stop at all the stations/sidings/passing stretches of track. Scenery
is in progress and a number of buildings have been built. The thinking and design has been done and work will commence
shortly.
Definatly European !
This beautifull stucture with its painted facade is settling in on the European part of the layout
American & European parts
There is no specific era for the American part of the Layout and with so many interesting trains available it
was impossible to decide on a set era and period. I am running a combination of UP, SP, Southern, BNSF, Burlington,
Sante Fe, Cheasepeak, in both steam and diesel. The era ranges from early 1930 until present.
I run both passenger and goods with the California Express, Empire Builder, Daylight express, Hiawatha Express,
Super Chief, Amtrak and some older 1930 heavyweight coaches being the primary passenger trains.
The European side of the layout is larger than the American side, running double main line in most places.
It is a continuous main line running between top and bottom layers via long gradient runs and two helix’s and is
planned to implement overhead wiring for the mainlines with signaling. The main line length is 240 meters.
The ERA is the same as the American, 1920 till present.
BR52 Kriegslok
The European side can boast about its own DRG BR 52 Kriegslok with a Wannen Tender
Collection / Brands
American:
Loco’s = PCM, Broadway, Proto 2000, Rivarossi, Athearn Genesis, Bachmann Spectrum, Concor, Stewart Hobbies, Kato,
Mantua, Trix, Atlas and Proto 2000 Heritage: 120 in total
Rolling Stock = Athearn, Walthers, Roundhouse, Accurail, Mantua: 386 in total plus 51 passenger coaches.
European:
Loco's = Fleischmann, Roco, liliput, Trix: 56 in total
Rolling Stock = Roco, Rowa, Rivarossi, Lima, Marklin, Mehano Prestige and Trix : 130 in total plus 114 passenger coaches
Trix # 22510 V 32 Druckluftdiesellok
A very unique and rare V 3201 Diesel Pneumatic in DRG livery made its appearance
DCC
The system comprises a DCS100 as the main system, six DB150 boosters that each power a PM42 that are wired as
short circuit managers. A DCS50 is also connected as a booster and powers the Main Yard and staging area. Eight AR1’s are
used to manage all the reverse loops. The Loco Net is wired as two networks, LAN (A) being the control for all the DCC
throttles and LAN (B) being the network between the boosters and the DCS Controller. The reason for this configuration is
because of the confusion caused in the DCC system when you are running trains using the DCC throttles and a short
circuit occurs. The layout is divided into 20 short circuit zones from five PM42 connected to the DB150’s.
A single DB150 manages the Steam Engine Maintenance Yard with its Turntable. If you have too many QSI sound equipped
loco’s in the same short circuit district and a short occurs, the only way to resolve this problem is to remove the
locos’ from the track so that the DB150 can reset. As many Loco’s as possible are sound enabled. Some older locos were
purchased but are not feasible to be sound equipped due to space constraints. The Lok Sound and Soundtrax decoders
are the better decoders in my opinion. The quality of the Loco’s also makes a big difference in operation. The older
Athearn loco’s do not give you the quality required for DCC operation. Some of the older Fleischman loco’s have metal
base plates on the motor so they are difficult to convert.
Big Boys, Challengers & Cab Forwards ...
... all waiting patiently to get a run - each with its own DCC info card