Large S layout is nearly complete with mid summer generic east coast scenery. The mighty NYC dominates, but the WSLCo also has a lot to show. DCC, CMRI, and JMRI all work together to provide automatic signaling and dispatching on the mainline. The layout has appeared in Model Railroader, Railroad Model Craftsman, Mainline Modeler, Great Model Railroads 2005, Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette, Model Railroad Hobbyist, and PBS TV Tracks Ahead.

Founded in 1979, Silicon Valley Lines (SVL) is an HO Scale Model Railroad Club located in San Jose, California. In 1999, we moved to our current location where our new 23' x 72' layout is now in operation.

SVL operates trains using digital command control (DCC), which allows engineers to control locomotives independently on the same track. Our layout is constructed using some unique benchwork building techniques, with much of the layout supported by structural steel components.

Check out the club's own website at http://www.siliconvalleylines.com

San Jose in the 1930's: Steam with an emphasis on freight operations. Setting includes San Jose, Los Gatos, and Santa Cruz. This compact double-decked layout includes walk-around DCC, staging, reverse loops, and some partially completed scenery.

The replica of the Yosemite Valley RR fills a two car garage. Full scenery, exceptional detail prototype modeling. Recreates August 1939 on the Yosemite Valley RR with exact duplication of locos, rolling stock, buildings, scenes, and scenery. 90 scratch-built structures. The rolling stock is scratch-built, resin & styrene kits. Operating style is prototypical, and tightly structured, reflecting 1939 practices.

An HO and HOn3 club layout located in the old Agnew depot, which was built for the South Pacific Coast Railroad. The club runs steam through diesel, and dispatching is done differently according to era. The 1,000 feet of track represents California connections to the Pacific Northwest, Southeast, and East. There is a small narrow gauge section. The layout has been featured in Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman.

A beautiful re-creation in HO scale of the Western Pacific RR in the Spring or 1938. The area of the WP modeled is along the Feather River including the Keddie Wye and a small logging area. The fidelity to prototype of the scenery has been praised by old WP employees, who readily recognize the scenes. An interesting touch is the many sound modules included in the many detailed scenes. The layout has been featured in Railroad Model Craftsman.

Large S layout is nearly complete with mid summer generic east coast scenery. The mighty NYC dominates, but the WSLCo also has a lot to show. DCC, CMRI, and JMRI all work together to provide automatic signaling and dispatching on the mainline. The layout has appeared in Model Railroader, Railroad Model Craftsman, Mainline Modeler, Great Model Railroads 2005, Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette, Model Railroad Hobbyist, and PBS TV Tracks Ahead.

An Alaskan railroad that could have been, but was not built. This garage-sized two level layout, set in 1976, principal traffic consists of coal, copper and forest products southbound, with supplies and fuel northbound, including supplies for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Motive power is mostly 1st and 2nd generation EMD with some early ALCo power running out their last miles. Scenery is 20% complete. FRS radios. Easy DCC wireless throttles.

Union Pacific in the East Bay 1999. Parts of the Niles, Oakland and Milpitas Subdivisions. Features switching operations in Mipitas, NUMMI auto plant in Fremont, Centerville, Niles Canyon, Pleasanton and Radum (Kaiser Sand and Gravel).

Trains are controlled by NCE DCC with wireless cabs. Dispatching use Track Warrants over radio and a modern (computer based) CTC system is coming up.

This is an operations-focused layout, but scenery is well underway.

Baltimore & Ohio and Western Maryland both snaking their way though a 1200 square foot HO layout in its own custom-built room. Multiple levels provide huge staging yards below the mainlines. The benchwork and mostly hand-laid trackwork are complete. Scenery is roughed in and the beautiful backdrops by Mike Kotowski are being painted, and several landmark structures are in-place. With the era set to 1953, both railroads are in their steam to diesel transition, so both are seen in large numbers.

Founded in 1979, Silicon Valley Lines (SVL) is an HO Scale Model Railroad Club located in San Jose, California. In 1999, we moved to our current location where our new 23' x 72' layout is now in operation.

SVL operates trains using digital command control (DCC), which allows engineers to control locomotives independently on the same track. Our layout is constructed using some unique benchwork building techniques, with much of the layout supported by structural steel components.

Check out the club's own website at http://www.siliconvalleylines.com

West Virginia coal hauling railroad in a 10' x 30' space featuring mid 1950's C&O and related Appalachian railroads. Both steam and diesel locomotive power traverse the 135 feet of twice-around mainline. All locomotives are sound equipped. All track is hand-laid including a crossing, turnouts, 3-ways and double slip switches utilizing Fast Tracks tools and dies. The mainline and yard are complete. Some craftsman built structures with extensive sound effects. No scenery yet. NCE DCC.

Chama NM ties traffic from a busy narrow gauge branch line into the D&RGW Alamosa-Durango mainline. It is fall and the Aspens have changed color up on the mountains as the stock rush is just getting started. Scenery is 80% completed. Easy DCC control system with Soundtraxx decoders providing the audio for steam engines. Water tank and stock loading sound effects are used to lengthen the run. Time-table and Train Order operation supported by a telephone system is used to direct traffic to handle car movements governed by the familiar car-card and waybill system.

The Colville, Republic and Palouse (CRAP) is a steam powered, all sound, point to points walk-in HO proto-freelance RR in Eastern Washington in the harvest season of 1944, running north out of Spokane to Republic, and south out of Spokane to Pullman. The CRAP ships concentrated ores, finished lumber, dressed meat, wheat, legumes and flour via interchanges with the NP, GN, UP, MILW, SI and Camas Prairie, and receives in turn coal, cattle, processed foods and manufactured goods from the outside world. All this in a 13' x 13' room, on a finished track plan that contains 82 track switches and 11 modeled town areas, on three decks and five levels -- possibly the biggest small layout in existence! Scenery is perhaps 40% completed.

The State Belt ran for 100 years along piers and into warehouses of the San Francisco waterfront. Bill has taken important elements like a car float, interchange at King St. (where the Giants play today), street running, and switching areas under Telegraph Hill and built them into a 12' x 12' layout using interesting modular techniques. Operations follow the prototype State Belt with 2 crews each working its own division. The railroad is totally functional with rudimentary buildings and scenery. Control is Lenz DCC with wireless throttles. The State Belt was written up in the April 2007 Railroad Model Craftsman.

An Alaskan railroad that could have been, but was not built. This garage-sized two level layout, set in 1976, principal traffic consists of coal, copper and forest products southbound, with supplies and fuel northbound, including supplies for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Motive power is mostly 1st and 2nd generation EMD with some early ALCo power running out their last miles. Scenery is 20% complete. FRS radios. Easy DCC wireless throttles.

The railroad is an HO scale rendition of the NWP between Petaluma and Willits in 1960. It is on two levels, connected by a helix, with staging underneath, and is partially scenicked. Operation is with timetable and car cards with a Lenz DCC system.

Union Pacific in the East Bay 1999. Parts of the Niles, Oakland and Milpitas Subdivisions. Features switching operations in Mipitas, NUMMI auto plant in Fremont, Centerville, Niles Canyon, Pleasanton and Radum (Kaiser Sand and Gravel).

Trains are controlled by NCE DCC with wireless cabs. Dispatching use Track Warrants over radio and a modern (computer based) CTC system is coming up.

This is an operations-focused layout, but scenery is well underway.

The Chicago & Mackinac Railroad is an operations-oriented layout in a 2 car garage. The C&M is a proto-freelanced bridge railroad, set in 1967, using the ex-PRR/GR&I line, running from Ft. Wayne, IN to Mackinaw City, MI. Our financial and operating partners, the PRR, the Soo Line and the Canadian National RR have helped us rejuvenate that deteriorating stretch of track, and turn the C&M into a viable rail system.

The C&M utilizes a multi-deck, partial mushroom design to generate a 300' single track mainline with numerous passing sidings. This allows for ample switching opportunities along with plenty of mainline passenger and freight trains. All track is in and scenery is progressing. CC&WB system controls all car movements, EasyDCC wireless throttles control the trains and the Dispatcher controls all movement on the mainline.

See the Chicago & Mackinac's own web site for photos and more details.

Baltimore & Ohio and Western Maryland both snaking their way though a 1200 square foot HO layout in its own custom-built room. Multiple levels provide huge staging yards below the mainlines. The benchwork and mostly hand-laid trackwork are complete. Scenery is roughed in and the beautiful backdrops by Mike Kotowski are being painted, and several landmark structures are in-place. With the era set to 1953, both railroads are in their steam to diesel transition, so both are seen in large numbers.

A fictional bridge route between Idaho and California that was laid in response to the discovery of Unobtanium in 1985. From the press release: Unobtanium (mineral U407) is currently only mined in one location in the United States. Because of the strange color of this ore in its natural state, the mine was named the "Pink Lady". This rare ore is processed into an isotope that is used in the production of numerous ointments, snake oils and healing salves currently on the shelves in your neighborhood apothecary or witch doctor's office. It has been hinted that this unobtanium isotope is also the secret ingredient in Diet Coke (tm) and the Big Mac (tm)

That is why this route is so important. Here is what you will see when you railfan this busy route. The PLSD is a point to point route that starts in a 5 track staging area, about waist height, called "NoWhIP" (No Where In Particular). It climbs to the West until it is high over your head and enters another 5 track tear drop staging area named IAB (Infinity and Beyond). While traveling the route you will go through 6 industrial towns, a major, just redone, 10 track yard and a two turn helix. There are numerous industries along the route that serve the community. During your tour you may see one of the many locals, a mine run, a passenger extra or just some of the many through trains that have found a faster route to the West over this subdivision.