Layout Tours & Operating Sessions

QwikLinks to Layout Owners

The layout is set in the East Bay Area in 1999 in a 400 sq. ft. purpose-built room. The railroad models the former Western Pacific San Jose and 1st Subdivisions, now the UP Niles, Oakland and Milpitas Subdivisions. The railroad is a branch line which supports an auto plant (NUMMI) and a number of smaller industries. The Yard Clerk controls car movements using Switch Lists while the Dispatcher’s computerized CTC screen (CATS software) shows occupancy and controls turnout and routing status. FRS Radios. NCE DCC.

Western Maryland and B&O in Cumberland, Maryland in 1953. The layout is single layer in a 1200 sq. ft. room with Mole staging. Backdrop closely follows the prototype. Half scenery with some structures. Both railroads are coal dominated. The WM service to on-line coal mines will be featured in this Op session. The B&O focuses on coal train marshalling at Keyser, WV. The op session may involve elements of both railroads, depending on crew. Telephone communications. Digitrax DCC. http://dpcw.borail.net/

Freelance transition era railroad set in the Mount Shasta region of California. Almost completely sceniced. Three level layout with 24 train staging. Industrial and yard switching jobs. Through manifest freights are switched in the yard. Mail and/or passenger trains have express cars for setout/pickup. Cars are “interchanged” via trackage rights between an ore drag turn of empties coming east from Roseville and returning with loads. A logging turn uses skeleton cars and the logs are transferred to gondolas. Digitrax DCC with optional smart phone via WiThrottle. First time PCR op session.

The HO scale layout is T-shaped, maximum dimensions 14 x 14 feet. It models the Southern Pacific in 1953, in the form of an imaginary branch off California’s Coast Line near Santa Maria. There is a mainline interchange, but local switching predominates. Most scenery is complete. Featuring car forwarding with Tony’s unique design for prototype waybills. NCE DCC.

Freelance transition era railroad set in the Mount Shasta region of California. Almost completely sceniced. Three level layout with 24 train staging. Industrial and yard switching jobs. Through manifest freights are switched in the yard. Mail and/or passenger trains have express cars for setout/pickup. Cars are “interchanged” via trackage rights between an ore drag turn of empties coming east from Roseville and returning with loads. A logging turn uses skeleton cars and the logs are transferred to gondolas. Digitrax DCC with optional smart phone via WiThrottle. First time PCR op session.

The HO scale layout is T-shaped, maximum dimensions 14 x 14 feet. It models the Southern Pacific in 1953, in the form of an imaginary branch off California’s Coast Line near Santa Maria. There is a mainline interchange, but local switching predominates. Most scenery is complete. Featuring car forwarding with Tony’s unique design for prototype waybills. NCE DCC.

Proto-freelanced 1970s era. WP from Eugene, OR to Klamath Falls, OR. Heavy mainline, WP w/SP trackage rights, BN, Santa Fe run through trains. 280 ft. double decked mainline in an L-shaped, 22' X 34' room. Track-work 90% complete, scenery 10% complete with some structures. Track Warrants Operations. Car Cards and Way Bills control car forwarding. NCE wireless DCC. NOT ADA accessible.

An 1800 sq feet HO freelanced double deck national railroad with a minor HOn3 branch. There are 19 control blocks and several large staging yards. Diesel era freight hauler with numerous steam engines held over from an earlier period. Many thru freight and passenger trains support a number of switching locals and trains hauling commodities required by on-line industries. Operations are controlled by dispatcher with computer generated switch lists. A large central yard can be used to support block transfers and classification for locals. The nearby passenger terminal has 4 through tracks to support a variety of passenger trains. Touch screens augment route control. FRS radios and NCE DCC. Website: http://www.siliconvalleylines.com/home.html

Jim's layout is freelanced and occupies a 21 by 17 foot separate building. It is based on the Pink Lady Mine (PLM) in the Warner Mountains, located in the extreme North Eastern corner of California. There are three decks of track that follow the walls and a central peninsula with a mainline run of 250 feet. The subdivision includes 5 towns, 4 passing sidings, a ten track yard, a two turn helix, the Pink Lady Mine and numerous industries. The train line-up has a full complement of locals, drags, expedited through traffic and various extras as required. The layout is 30% sceniced featuring Bragdon foam scenery with mock-up buildings in industrial areas. FRS radios. (5 channel radios are used if there are insufficient FRS radios, so bring both if you have them). NCE DCC.

A freelanced California-based mainline railroad placed "somewhere in the West" with the San Francisco Bay Area, Northern and Southern California, the Pacific NorthWest, and Arizona/Utah all represented 'seamlessly'. The 400ft mainline includes five towns in a folded dog bone with two reverse loops for staging. Dual-gauge branch-line. Fully sceniced with beautiful backdrops painted by railroad artist Mike Kotowski.

Operations include passenger trains and through freights that set out blocks of cars at on-line yards. Additional assignments include a high traffic branch-line, locals that switch on-line industries, a dispatcher, 2 major yards and a smaller yard that support the mainline trains and also local industries - and the branch-line interchange.

The layout is housed in the historic Agnew depot built for the narrow gauge South Pacific Coast in 1877. The SPC was later acquired by the SP - and the depot is right on the active Coast Line mainline. DCC (Digitrax) wireless control, telephone communications, track warrant operations, fast clock, car card and waybills used for freight car forwarding. Cover layout of the February 2000 Railroad Model Craftsman and February 1988 Model Railroader. http://www.calcentralmrc.org/

The C&O main line extends from Alleghany, Virginia to Prince, West Virginia, with staging representing Clifton Forge, VA and Handley, WV. There is a branch line off the main at Prince leading to the town of Raleigh, WV, with three coal mines to work and some industries in the town of Raleigh. Mainline industries include a large power plant, limestone quarry, produce distributer, lumber mill, lumber yard, and coal dealer. Most online towns have a freight station to work. 5 passenger trains operate during a session, as well. Main line completely ABS signaled. NCE DCC.

The Nicasio Northern Railway is a freelanced 1920s North Bay railroad with freight and passenger operations. Bayside is an active port, with a ferry schedule to SF and lots of boat traffic to Bay ports. 30% sceniced, The NNRwy is HO, all steam, with Soundtraxx sound and Digitrax DCC. TT&TO, switch lists, and fast clock. It is 12’ by 21’ under the garage. 28” aisles. Not disabled accessible (stairs). 5 operators, comprising yardmaster, two switching jobs, and 2 road crews.

The State Belt ran for a hundred years along the piers and into the warehouses of the San Francisco waterfront. Bill has taken important elements like the car float, the interchange at King St. (where the World Champion San Francisco Giants play today), the street running, and the switching areas under Telegraph Hill and built them into a 12' by 12' layout using some interesting modular techniques. The operations themselves follow the pattern of the actual State Belt with two crews each working its own division. The railroad was and is controlled by switch lists to simulate the ATSF, SP, WP and Northwestern Pacific railroad’s car forwarding system. Steam and Alco diesel with sound. April 2007 Model Railroad Craftsman. Lenz DCC with CVP wireless throttles.

Santa Cruz Northern from San Jose to Santa Cruz. Fully sceniced. Very sophisticated timetable and train order operation. Double decked in a garage. Sound, helpers and agent/operators using train order boards. Operations closely adhere to prototype practices with through and local freights, a unit train, passenger operations, yard and interchange. Dispatcher works with two Agent/Operators, a Yardmaster, a Trainmaster and train crews in a fairly disciplined, but enjoyable atmosphere, replicating the teamwork inherent in railroading. May 1996 Model Railroader, Nov 2002, Dec 2002, and Nov 2011 Railroad Model Craftsman, December 1999 Railmodel Journal, Great Model Railroad Volume #35. Telephone communications. Lenz DCC.

This 11' x 15' HO layout, modeling a 1955 SP branch line, is a point-to-point bi-level pike with a reversing loop on each end. A long incline runs along the back of the layout connecting the yard area on the upper level with the switching area on the lower level without using a helix. Track work is completed; sub-roadbed dressing and ballasting are in progress. Landscaping varies from plaster with ground cover to largely completed. Several towns are near completion.

Current interests lie more in scenery and structures. Operations will come as the layout progresses. The layout continues to provide opportunities to explore new (and old) techniques for enhancing the visual and operational aspects of model railroading. Control is by NCE DCC.

Photo by David Epling. Used with permission.

The Black Diamond Lines is an HO scale layout that occupies approximately 1500 square feet of space. Track elevation ranges from 46 to 82 inches above floor level. All track is hand-laid on wooden ties, and all turnouts and crossings are hand made in place.

The Black Diamond Lines Model Railroad Club began in July 1981 as a group of model railroaders who gathered in the back of a local hobby shop. Later that year, they incorporated as a non-profit organization and in December began work on their first layout, located in the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds. In December of 1985, the fairgrounds decided not to renew the club's lease and they were forced to move to a location obtained through the City of Antioch in May 1986, where the layout remains to this day.

The Agassiz Basin is a proto-freelanced bridge railroad in HO scale, based upon Canadian National practices of the late 1950s at the very end of the steam era. It is set in summer 1959, when the last steam engines ran in Western Canada. I grew up watching the last of the steam locomotives as I walked to and from school and wanted to capture that memory in model form. The layout room is 16' x 24' in my (rare for California) basement. It is a twice around the room design, where the track passes through each scene twice. Once as a focal scene and a second time as background or mostly hidden trackage. The "twice around" design allows lots of running time between towns and a mainline of about 225' point to point. There are 2 staging yards. One represents North/South (Winnipeg/Thompson) off layout traffic and the other East/West (Swan River/Saskatoon).

Operations is my main interest and the layout is intended to run according to the practices of the late 50's in Canada, which is Time Table and Train Orders. The layout is still very early in its construction. I used CAD to design both the layout and the benchwork. The benchwork is complete and is all made from ¾" birch plywood ripped to dimensional sizes. Both staging yards are on "sliders" that allow me to lower the yards 18" down for maintenance or repairs. Track laying has begun and trains are beginning to roll.

The layout is controlled using Digitrax DCC. If you are looking for a beautifully scenicked, fully operating railroad, this is not your place to stop! But if you are interested in the design approach I used, the unusual staging yard design, or other aspects of construction or design, I'd enjoy sharing my experiences with you!

The LVL is a 1000' mainline railroad connecting 4 levels. Level 1 is a concealed storage yard (capacity 150 cars). Level 2 is the main level containing a 200 freight car capacity; steam terminal with roundhouse; a diesel facility (24 engines) and a large passenger terminal (7 tracks 20'). Level 3 is the industrial operations area with 15 rail-connected businesses. Level 4 is a fictitious link with the HOn3 narrow gauge serving a talc mine and a logging company. All levels are linked by a 9-level helix, featuring a depiction of the Keddie Wye bridge. The industries are associated with Bay Area agriculture.

The LVL, based on a Bay Area 1950s-era Southern Pacific line, interchanges with Western Pacific operations. The track work is 98% complete; scenery is 70% complete on the 2nd and 3rd levels. The LVL is privileged to have a diligent crew working weekly to complete this vision. LVL is a great operations venue as well as a place for loop runners. Control is by DCC.

Photo by Mike Blumensaadt

The HSA&P is built on a 36' x 4' platform with a 4' x 3' peninsula. The track height is 44 to 55 inches and scenery is 95% complete. The layout is set in western United States, depicting the steam to diesel transition era of 1948 to 1960. Mike’s main interest is the streamlined passenger trains of the SP, UP, ATSF and WP. The layout is a freelanced design, with continuous running capability. There is a small yard at one end and a staging and passenger yard at the other end with engine servicing facilities on the peninsula near the passenger yard. Mike’s layout was featured in the May 2011 issue of Model Railroader magazine.

Civil War Diorama on Display in the Contest Room
The date is July 1861; we are at Manassas Junction, VA on the Manassas Gap Railroad near the junction with the Orange & Alexandria Railroad. Confederate commander P. G. T. Beauregard is marshaling troops and supplies near the crossing of the two railroads and Bull Run Creek. He hopes to bring Joseph E. Johnston’s army from Winchester, VA, including Thomas J. Jackson’s brigade of Virginians, to Manassas Junction before Union troops under Irvin McDowell can threaten the important railroad junction. All things are as they were then, but you are there.

The 52” X 35” N scale diorama represents Beauregard’s camp and supply depot just before and during the First Battle of Manassas. The battle resulted in several important milestones. It was the first time in the world troops were brought directly to the battlefield by train. The Union was defeated in the first major battle of the Civil War. General Thomas J. Jackson would be known as Stonewall Jackson from this day forward.

My SP Vasona Branch layout models the Santa Clara Valley — now Silicon Valley — in the early 1930s. I aim to reproduce actual track arrangements, buildings, and scenes along the prototype San Jose - Los Gatos - Santa Cruz branch. I've used Sanborn fire insurance maps, railroad valuation maps, and historic photos to recreate lineside buildings and scenes, and researched the local fruit industry to help me understand the operation of the industries and likely traffic.

The layout is a double-deck 10' x 14' HO layout in half of a two-car garage, arranged as a point-to-point layout, with staging yards on each end. Trackwork is complete, and the layout is 50% scenicked. Operations is heavily skewed towards switching, with two-man local switch jobs handling the canneries, packing houses, and other industries along the line. Occasional commute trains keep the crews watching the 2:1 fast clock. Some trains also make the scenic run over the hill to Santa Cruz.

Layout control is via EasyDCC wired throttles. Motive power is provided by small steam engines, as was seen on the actual branch. Most locomotives are sound-equipped, and crews are encouraged to use the whistle and bell prototypically. Much of the layout runs in "yard limits", but automatic block signals and informal timetable and train order dispatching controls the track over the hill, as on the prototype. Switching is done using computer-generated switch lists.

Website: www.vasonabranch.com/railroad/vasona.html

Bob's "Tuolumne Forks" is a 28' x 28' On3 Sierra logging and mining RR, highly detailed and completely sceniced layout set in the Roaring Twenties. Included are 3 sawmills, a stamp mill, a resort hotel and lots of scratch-built structures. He recently added a Victorian O gauge section with a big hotel. Many of Bob's prize-winning models are incorporated into the layout.

Bob is editor and publisher of the Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette. Bob also has the On30/O standard gauge Shoehorn Mining Co wharf and mine layout, an On30 Lime Kiln shelf layout, and a garden railway. There is also an extensive collection of models from the hobby's pioneers of 50-70 years ago. DCC.

Photo by Jack Burgess

The layout duplicates the prototype Yosemite Valley Railroad in August 1939. The layout features handlaid track and turnouts with slow-action motors (some with working switchstands) and NCE radio-controlled DCC throttles with SoundTraxx decoders in all locomotives. All of the locomotives and equipment are correct for 1939. Scenery is 100% complete and duplicates prototype topography and vegetation. There are approximately 100 scratch-built structures on the layout, all of which duplicate actual buildings on the prototype. Rolling stock is a combination of scratch-built models and prototypically-correct resin and styrene kits. Operation is via TT/TO using prototype-based forms.

Jack's Yosemite Valley Railroad has been featured in numerous articles in Model Railroader, Railroad Model Craftsman, Model Railroad Hobbyist, Great Model Railroads, and most recently in the 2013 issue of Great Model Railroads.

Website: www.yosemitevalleyrr.com

A freelanced California-based mainline railroad placed "somewhere in the West" with the San Francisco Bay Area, Northern and Southern California, the Pacific NorthWest, and Arizona/Utah all represented 'seamlessly'. The 400ft mainline includes five towns in a folded dog bone with two reverse loops for staging. Dual-gauge branch-line. Fully sceniced with beautiful backdrops painted by railroad artist Mike Kotowski.

Operations include passenger trains and through freights that set out blocks of cars at on-line yards. Additional assignments include a high traffic branch-line, locals that switch on-line industries, a dispatcher, 2 major yards and a smaller yard that support the mainline trains and also local industries - and the branch-line interchange.

The layout is housed in the historic Agnew depot built for the narrow gauge South Pacific Coast in 1877. The SPC was later acquired by the SP - and the depot is right on the active Coast Line mainline. DCC (Digitrax) wireless control, telephone communications, track warrant operations, fast clock, car card and waybills used for freight car forwarding. Cover layout of the February 2000 Railroad Model Craftsman and February 1988 Model Railroader. http://www.calcentralmrc.org/

Double deck proto-lanced railroad depicting West Coast steam in the 1950s. Scenes along the line are taken from the Sierra, Southern Pacific, Western Pacific, Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite Valley railroads. Ops based track plan with inventive staging and helix design. Layout features lots of super detailed and weathered rolling stock. Hardshell is 80% complete, overall scenery completion is 40%. Duckunder at 60”. Control is by CVP DCC.

Website: thewilloughbyline.com/

Photo by CMRS

This HO layout loosely models the area from Oakland, CA to Sparks, NV, which is a segment of the route of the old Southern Pacific Railroad portion of the original Transcontinental Railroad. The timeframe is from the 1950s to the present, thus allowing both steam and diesel locomotives to be operated.

The majority of the layout is a double track mainline, constructed in three levels with two large helixes on opposite corners of the layout to provide a connection between levels. The layout is a “mushroom style” with a narrow, but long tabletop space that is stacked like bunk beds. An elevated walkway allows access to the top level. This design provides the most linear track space without having the tracks unrealistically twist back and forth.

This 14’ x 26’ layout in its own purpose-built room is a late steam, early diesel branch line of the SP in the San Francisco Bay Area. Trackwork is complete and scenery is completed and the "night time lights" in the towns and buildings are very effective. The Vargas Brothers have worked their magic to make things come alive! The mainline is flex track with hand laid turnouts. Most of the rolling stock is either scratch built or kit built. There is a duckunder to get into the layout space.

Enter the front door, go up the stairs, and straight ahead to the layout. Restrictions: No smoking, no handicapped access.

Proto-freelanced 1970s era. WP from Eugene, OR to Klamath Falls, OR. Heavy mainline, WP w/SP trackage rights, BN, Santa Fe run through trains. 280 ft. double decked mainline in an L-shaped, 22' X 34' room. Track-work 90% complete, scenery 10% complete with some structures. Track Warrants Operations. Car Cards and Way Bills control car forwarding. NCE wireless DCC. NOT ADA accessible.

A two level layout (Virginia & Truckee on upper level and Sierra Rwy. on lower level) connected by helixes. Interchanges with HOn3 West Side Lumber Co.(lower)and Carson & Colorado (upper). Built in half of a single car garage. Scenery basically complete. All prototype equipment fit for 1929 with numerous scratch-built prototype structures.

Also will have Fn3 Garden Railway operating, inspired by West Side Lumber Co., weather permitting. Relaxing garden setting features an 8' waterfall, scale models of the Bourland and Little Reynolds Creek Bridges (Trestles), scale plantings and numerous scratch built and craftsman kits of rolling stock used on the West Side in the 1920s - 1930s. Motive power is Bachmann geared locomotives re-worked to better replicate specific West Side equipment.

Dave's layouts have been featured in Railroad Model Craftsman in May 2000 and Model Railroader in May 2004.

The double deck 19½' x 13' layout attempts to depict the Ocean Shore Railroad's Northern Division as it was in 1919. The railroad ran from Mission Street in San Francisco to beyond Half Moon Bay at Tunitas Creek. Current trackage is laid from the Mission & 12^th Street station, ending at Saddle Cut past Devil's Slide. Occupancy detection is installed and turnouts can be controlled by computer so trains can be run with automated scripts. There is no scenery at present and prototype rolling stock is minimal.

Control is by NEC, LocoNet, JMRI

A beautiful re-creation in HO scale of the Western Pacific RR in the Spring of 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 June 1996, July 2000, March 2011, Railmodel Journal May 2000, Model Railroader Sept. 2001 and Model Railroad Hobbyist May-June 2010.

This 16' x 22' around-the-wall and island layout has two towns, saw mill, gold mine, railroad shops with roundhouse, set in the 1950s Central Coast Sierra foothills. The freelanced Southern Pacific and Sierra Railroad layout is 100% complete and features fiberglass hard shell scenery. Control is by NCE DCC and/or DC.

Last public model railroad in San Francisco, built in 1961, DCCed in 2012. Layout has been opened to the public every Saturday, but the Randall Museum will close for remodeling on June 1st, as will the Golden Gate Model Railroad Club. We will not open again until September 2016. We will be open especially for NMRA on Friday, May 15th from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

This completed HO scale layout is 100' x 30' and represents varied time periods, with mountain and valley routes, as well as several yards. Be sure to visit the website to view their videos and photos.

Website

The Golden State Model Railroad Museum houses the three gigantic layouts (O, HO and N scale) built and operated by the East Bay Model Engineers Society. The three displays cover 10,000 square feet. Our highly-detailed model train layouts represent prototypical scenery in Northern and Central California.

Scenery and operations are representative of those seen throughout California. For example, the Tehachapi Loop area replicates prototype operations of the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe Railroads with long freight trains passing over themselves to gain elevation. We operate equipment ranging from the last great steam locomotives through to the most modern and powerful diesels pulling long freight and passenger trains.

The Bull Horn Flats is an N scale layout around-the-walls in 2 rooms 12' x 30' and set in the 1965-1980 era. It is about 75% complete. Control is by Digitrax DCC.

The layout is located upstairs in a church attic. There is no wheelchair access.

The Benton Group is a “what if” HO scale 16' x 19' railroad set in the Mount Shasta section of northern California. The layout features three levels connected via two helixes that are being sceniced, and is designed to represent the last of steam and early diesels. The upper and lower levels are used for staging and can hold 24 trains. The scenery on the middle level is nearly complete.

Two switchers are utilized to service the middle level, serving approximately 20 spots and interacting with road engines passing through with their trains. Normally, two road engine tricks are run at the same time and represent manifest freights, drag freights, reefers, mail, express, and passenger trains. Occasionally, a Climax shows up to set out some log cars. It is a layout to be run and enjoyed. Control is by DCC.

John's 20' x 20' HO/HOn3 layout depicts a California narrow gauge railroad interchanging with the Southern Pacific in the 1940s thru 50s. It is a series of scenes, each with its own theme. The fantastic scenery features very fine rockwork and effective use of scenic dividers, with freelanced depictions of Los Angeles, Westside Lumber, and a gold mine/mill complex. The layout is operated by radio cab control and has been featured in Railroad Model Craftsman and in Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette. Partial handicap access.)

There is also an Fn3 garden railroad, depicting a California narrow gauge railroad, about 8' x 52' in size and uses a great deal of natural stone.

The 5' x 12' eye-level walk-in layout depicts the Virginia and Truckee Railroad's venerable line to the famous mining town of Virginia City, Nevada. Now reduced to a quiet western branch line, the layout depicts the declining mining district as it might have appeared in the mid-1930s. Virginia City, Gold Hill and the Crown Point trestle are featured highlights. The layout has many scratchbuilt and kitbashed historic structures and is finished with natural materials collected on-site in Nevada. This layout is in an enclosed room constructed in a typical California garage. The layout was built as a demonstration project for the NMRA 2000 National Convention in San Jose. Control is DC with blocks.

This 12' x 18' switching layout was inspired by the Lehigh Valley's small "Black Tom" terminal, which jutted into New York Harbor. The year is 1944, and the terminal is busy with war material bound for the European theater. My track plan appeared in the February 2007 Model Railroader.

Over the past 10 years, I have modeled 4 of the 5 "signature" scenes of this area. Most structures are scratch-built (ie: a large brick warehouse, a very long corrugated freight shed, a terminal grain elevator). I also like to build boats, and so far there are 5 of them on the layout. The layout does operate, but I am more interested in building what I hope is a realistic rail-marine diorama. My previous layout, the Arvern Bay Terminal, was twice featured in photo spreads in Model Railroader.

Control is by NCE DCC.

Pictures are worth many words. Click here for a video from the TRACKS AHEAD television show: http://sscale.org/best-of-s/ed-loizeaux/. Over 300 feet of double-tracked mainline with working DTC/ABS signaling in both directions, working semaphores, wireless control panels for the main yard, working turntable, computerized remote dispatching, a working 1950s-era telephone system and about 90 SwitchMaster-powered turnouts. Primary scenic features of this 20' x 30' layout include a 6' tall waterfall, a cut stone viaduct over 10' long, rain storm with flashing lightning and loud thunder, a large deck truss bridge, Mike Kotowski's professionally-painted backdrop, dozens and dozens of beautiful pine trees and billions of grains of ballast.

Control by wireless NCE DCC, CMR/I, JMRI, and DC.

This is NOT your father's American Flyer train set. It is genuine S scale model railroading. Visitors are encouraged to run a train while here. It's more fun per minute than watching TV! Caution: Crawlunder to enter layout room.

Website: http://sscale.org/best-of-s/ed-loizeaux/

The 23' x 39' R&D Railroad 3.0 has its own building and is an upgrade from the previous temporary layout. It will model the same area, Gilroy to Salinas mainline and the Monterey branch. Double-ended staging will require no re-staging between OP sessions. R&D 2.0 had it's 104th and last operating session on June 11, 2014. Target date for the first session on 3.0 is June 2015. Control is by NCE DCC.

A freelanced-prototype railroad in Alaska, based on a route that was proposed and surveyed, but never built. The route runs north from port facilities on the Pacific Ocean to the Yukon River and serves various resource areas. The principle traffic consists of copper, zinc, coal, forest products and other minerals southbound; supplies, fuel and manufactured goods northbound. The modeled section of the line represents the south end of the railroad, featuring a helper district as the route crosses the costal mountains into a resource rich wilderness area. The era is August 1976, during the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.

Motive power is mostly 1^st and 2^nd generation EMDs and some early ALCo power. The layout is built in a 19' x 22' garage, is a point-to-point, with a ten track stub end staging yard at each end. Walk around style, full double deck, around the walls, with a center peninsula. The 300' mainline has five towns, plus a passing siding between the two end staging yards. There is also a short branch line. A helix connects the two levels. There is a nod-under to enter the layout. Ballasting and basic scenery is about 20% complete. Mountains and structures are still in the mockup stage.

Traffic control is by Timetable and Train Order (Classic single track, full rules and forms). A 3:1 fast clock is used, resulting in a four hour session, representing a twelve hour half day. Each session has 5 scheduled trains plus another 8-12 trains run as extras. Train orders are issued by a dispatcher located outside the layout room to a single 'system' operator located inside the peninsula of the layout. My goal is to create a highly plausible fictional prototype railroad which operates in a serious prototypical manner. Within this concept prototypical practices, movement control, traffic flow and management decisions are all based on what a real railroad in this environment would do.

The entrance to the layout room has a 51" high nod-under; the width at the entrance is 21". There are a couple of steps. Not handicapped accessible.

This 20' x 16' On3 layout represents what a logging line might have looked like in the Twain Harte, California area. The railroad is loosely based on the West Side Lumber and Pickering Lumber Companies, along with other logging railroads in the Sierra and was featured in the December 2011 issue of Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette. The era modeled is the late 40s to early 50s.

Geared locos dominate the landscape, but there are a few rod-driven engines, all with sound installed. The layout highlights trains running through the forest and over several scenic streams, including a mill area with engine storage facility. There are lots of trees and structures, including more than 15 scratchbuilt structures, as well as several bridges and a large trestle. Water tanks are located every 10 scale miles.

Website: http://www.frankmarkovich.com/Twain Harte Sonora Pass.htm

A freelanced railfanning layout built for Jack to watch his trains run while working at his desk. Measuring 24’ x 8’ at the widest, the double track folded dogbone loop allows continuous running of two trains, with a third train operating on a branch line serving a lumber camp and a mine. The era is variable from 1930 in one area to 1980 in another. The scenery is complete and highly detailed. The layout was designed and built by Rick Fortin.

The layout is in a building behind the house with entry through a wide gate to the left of the garage. Restrictions are no smoking and limited handicap access.

The Mill Valley Lumber Company is a freelance railroad located somewhere in northern California at the turn of the century. The railroad tells the story of logging from the woods to the mill. Predominantly scratch built structures, scenery and equipment. Locomotives are Shay and Climax geared brass imports. Control is by PFM.

The second layout (in progress) represents the South Pacific Coast RR in the late 19th century. Passenger and freight cars are scratch built, per Carter Brothers practice and plans. Scenery and structures are freelance. Locomotives are modified to represent specific SPC engines. Powered by battery, controlled by RC, with Tsunami sound.

A few steps are required to access both layouts.

Photo by Unknown

Rich Melconian's HO layout models the contemporary Santa Fe and also has some steam and Chief passenger trains. The single track mainline and sidings are laid with code 83 rail and #8 switches. The sidings can accommodate trains consisting of twenty-five 50 foot freight cars. The two yards have code 70 rail and #6 switches. There are numerous industries with sidings using code 70 and 55 rail. The layout landscape reflects the foothills of California with the mainline elevating to a mountain crossing and descending to a valley area. The scenery is about 70% complete.

A “proto-influenced” part of the B & O, spanning from Brunswick, MD, to Cumberland, MD, sometime in the fifties. The layout is still under construction, with a major portion of the deckwork in place. There is a double track main that has branches to Winchester, Frog Hollow and Berkeley Springs. The layout is 44 ft x 14 ft, in the shape of a Z with a fat middle with two decks and a 240’ mainline run with plenty of staging. There is an elevated walkway that provides a panoramic view of Harpers Ferry, with plans to include the Salty Dog speak-easy. There is also a separate 22 ft. “cave” with 9 tracks in the Martinsburg yard and features a swing-out bridge. NCE DCC.

Photo by Seth Neumann

The layout is set in the East Bay Area in 1999 in a 400 sq. ft. purpose-built room. The railroad models the former Western Pacific San Jose and 1st Subdivisions, now the UP Niles, Oakland and Milpitas Subdivisions. The railroad is a branchline which supports an auto plant (NUMMI) and a number of smaller industries. The Yard Clerk controls car movements using Switch Lists while the Dispatcher’s computerized CTC screen (CATS software) shows occupancy and controls turnout and routing status. FRS Radios. NCE DCC.

Models the Boston & Albany division of the New York Central circa 1952 – double track code 83 main with steam and diesel. The current phase I is a 16’ x 25’ walk-in around the walls. (Phase II will eventually add another 400 ft² with a mainline run of 200’). Track work is 95% complete and scenery is 50% complete, including 100s of SuperTrees representing eastern hardwood forests.

The layout is built in large modules - up to 2'-8" x 21'-0". Homabed™ roadbed on plywood construction Gypsum board backdrop with coved corners. 200 feet of mainline run with loop staging at end points when complete. “Nod under" 56 inch clearance entrance. Mostly kitbashed structures closely imitate the prototype buildings in towns along the line. NCE DCC. Not ADA accessible.

Photo by unknown

Western Maryland and B&O in Cumberland, Maryland in 1953. The layout is single layer in a 1200 sq. ft. room with Mole staging. Backdrop closely follows the prototype. Half scenery with some structures. Both railroads are coal dominated. The WM service to on-line coal mines will be featured in this Op session. The B&O focuses on coal train marshalling at Keyser, WV. Telephone communications. Digitrax DCC. http://dpcw.borail.net/

The Lone Pine and Tonopah is an imaginary railroad operating during WWII. Motive power of steam and early diesels run on a single track mainline with reverse loops at both ends and there is a logging branch line.

Kermit is the master of animation and lighting effects which have been featured in the October 1999 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman, and March 2011 Model Railroad Hobbyist. Some of his animation and lighting features include ballroom dancers, a fireworks display scrap metal loading and logs dumping into a millpond.

Kermit also has a Museum of Technology and a Garden Railway for visitors to enjoy while waiting their turn in line for the HO layout.

The 12' x 23' layout starts at SP's milepost "0", Third and Townsend Station, where SP's "Daylight" and "Lark" have arrived/or are ready to depart, along with the Peninsula "commute" pool. Trains roll by at the foot of Potrero Hill and pass Mission Bay roundhouse and yard where the last of SP's steam fleet can be seen yet, among the new diesel/electric "upstarts". Continuing (unrealistically for the SP) toward San Francisco's waterfront along the piers of The Embarcadero and past the Ferry Building at the foot of Market St. (as well as #65 Market - SP's headquarters building), the trains roll under Telegraph Hill and Coit tower on their way to "The Redwood Empire" and the NWP, using their "trackage rights" on the mighty State Belt Railway!

In San Francisco, the State Belt, along with the WP, AT&SF and SP, "ply" the waterfront piers and old warehouse districts. (Join them for "beans" or a cup o' joe at Red's Java House at Pier 30!) Continuing "SP railroad East", the road reaches the NWP "northbay" communities of Tiburon (its ferry slip and awaiting AT&SF carfloat, pushed by WP's tug, "Hercules"), Petaluma and Healdsburg, all presented (with much "modeler's license") on one side of the layout's peninsula.

Into a tunnel and around the end of the peninsula, the road makes its way to the Eel River canyon portion of the NWP on the other side of the layout's peninsula. Passing the Pacific Lumber Company mill at Scotia, the road continues on across the trestle-work at Scotia Bluffs and disappears north (railroad east) toward Eureka. (whether trains have ever made it that far is unknown because somehow they end up back on SF's waterfront!)

While the management continues to ponder a "line extension" (to a possible lower level) to serve the northern SF peninsula (the towns of Daly City, Colma, "South City" and San Bruno) they have also been advised that while this was, in reality, the SP's "original" main line into The City, it appears that the Bay Area Rapid Transit district has "squatted" on the property and will have to be dealt with. (So we continue to ponder for now... that being our excuse.) (But something has to be done with our eastbound traffic leaving SF! They can't all be leaving by ferry to parts north!)

Jim's layout is freelanced and occupies a 21' x 17' separate building. It is based on the Pink Lady Mine (PLM) in the Warner Mountains, located in the extreme North Eastern corner of California and was designed with operation in mind. There are three decks of track that follow the walls and a central peninsula with a mainline run of 250 feet.

The subdivision includes 5 towns, 4 passing sidings, a ten track yard, a two turn helix, the Pink Lady Mine and numerous industries. The train line-up has a full complement of locals, drags, expedited through traffic and various extras as required. The layout is 30% sceniced, featuring Bragdon foam scenery, with mock-up buildings in industrial areas. FRS radios. Control is by NCE/System One DCC.

The RBRR is a freelance HO scale railroad located (theoretically) on the West Coast (Northern California/Southern Oregon). The time era is two years in the future (if you come, ask me why). The physical room is 11.5 ft. by 21.5 ft. Mostly hand laid track about 35% complete. A large sceniced urban area. Long custom designed truss bridge. Double decked with a connecting helix. There is a five-track hidden staging yard at each end of the railroad. The lower level will be a port city, half of which is done and mostly sceniced. The upper level is just getting started. Control by Lenz DCC.

The San Leandro Historical Railway Society operates the historic 1898 Southern Pacific San Leandro Depot. Located in one room of the Depot is a railway museum and in the other room is the large HO scale display layout. This layout was designed by the legendary layout designer John Armstrong and was featured in the March 1998 Model Railroader magazine and depicts the Southern Pacific Railroad during the late steam to diesel transition era.

There is over 4,000 feet of track on 3 levels, dozens of switches, and miles of wiring that have been installed by SLHRS members. It takes about 45 minutes for a train to travel the entire length of the display at scale speed.

The HO scale display represents the Southern Pacific Overland Route from here in San Leandro, through a variety of cities along the way to Reno/Sparks, Nevada. This route can be followed today by taking Amtrak from Oakland to the station in Reno. Of special note, represented centrally in the display, is the icing platform in Roseville that was used to supply the cars for the Pacific Fruit Express trains, the Alameda Mole, and the Snowsheds of Donner Pass and Emigrant Gap.

In the Depot's outside backyard is the G&O Railroad, a freelance garden railroad designed by Nancy Norris, and features both G and O scale trains with many interesting scenes and a large water display. Also included is a hands-on train operating area for children.

Website: www.slhrs.org

Mike's Sn3 13' x 22' layout freelanced Colorado narrow gauge is set in the post-Depression to early 1950s era. Bridges are based on Rio Grande Southern prototypes, while structures follow the RGS and Denver & Rio Grande Western. The beautifully done realistic scenery uses many rock castings convincingly colored and blended with each other. The layout design is walk-in with walkaround DCC control and is operated with a car card system. A staging yard just outside the room supplies traffic. No smoking and limited handicap access.

Photo by unknown

Founded in 1979, Silicon Valley Lines (SVL) is a freelance HO scale model railroad club located in San Jose. Construction of the current layout began in late 2000 and is located in the basement of an industrial building near downtown San Jose. The railroad occupies a 23' x 72' space, and is a multi-level design, built using commercial steel C-channel as a benchwork system with over 600 feet of mainline. The upper level is a single-track division, while much of the lower level is double tracked. The layout features two large operating yards, as a well as ample hidden, yet accessible staging.

Basic scenery is about 33% completed with painted backdrops and some key structures in place. Scenery construction, tuning operations, and refining the electrical control systems of the layout are now the top priorities for the club.

Realistic operation has always been a key focus in the SVL club. Throughout construction, members have been operating monthly on the layout to ensure that the railroad is built to create an enjoyable experience for our members and guests. Generous aisles provide ample space to support up to 8 simultaneous train crews and we are capable of running more than 20 trains on a good night.

Just like the former Southern Pacific, SVL utilizes Direct Traffic Control (DTC) to keep trains moving on the railroad. Crews use radios to obtain authority from a dispatcher, and engineers are given switchlists which describe the work. Switchlists for each session are generated using a new software system (Spar) developed by one of our members.

The club was an early adopter of command control, starting with the Keller Onboard system in the 1980s, and quickly transitioning to Digital Command Control in 1995. Layout control is by NCE DCC, with support for both plug-in and wireless throttles. Recently, the group has built a system to control the layout using touch screen computer systems.

Website: http://www.siliconvalleylines.com/home.html

This is a shelf layout around the perimeter of a 20’ x 24’ garage. Scenery is currently about 50% complete. George models the late steam/early diesel era, and various SP steam engines and a few “Black Widow” diesels are featured. The curves are 60” radius. The garage is shared by several old automobiles; another hobby George enjoys. He started in HO scale in 1950 and entered O scale in 1984. Check out George’s beautifully re-detailed, great running Max Gray AC-9.

Restrictions: No smoking, but wheelchair access is okay.

Photo by Robin Gilstrom, with Dave Grenier's Nikon

The SBHRS operates HO and N-scale layouts in the historic Santa Clara Depot (opened in 1864), across the street from Santa Clara University. Both layouts include extensive signaling. Like many model railroads, they are works in progress and are undergoing constant change. Both layouts have many handcrafted scenes, such as a winery, dam, two helixes, row homes and a yacht harbor (N-scale) and meat packing, lumber mill, oil storage tanks, plus a replica of the San Jose Southern Pacific Depot, ca 1950 (HO-scale). Scenery is about 90% complete on both layouts. Handicapped access ramp on track side of depot. Control on both layouts is by Digitrax DCC.

A large and varied collection of historic railroad artifacts is also on display in the Edward Peterman Museum of Railroad History located in the Depot. One artifact of particular note for this convenion is the CTC board from the Newark Tower, located on the former SPCRR. (See Newark - A Railroad Town From the Beginning on this website. Also on display, is the Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation business car #184, which was loaned to the Museum and placed on the siding on June 26, 2009.

Ohio & Little Kanawha RR is a West Virginia coal hauling railroad in a 48' x 13.5' space featuring mid–1950s C&O and related Appalachian railroads. Both steam and early diesel locomotive power traverse the 220 feet of twice–around mainline. All locomotives are sound equipped. The majority of track is hand–laid including crossing, turnouts, 3–ways and double slip switches utilizing Fast Tracks tools and dies. The mainline and one of two yards are complete. The second yard is close to being finished. All structures are craftsman built and some include sound. NCE DCC.

The 14' x 14' HO layout with a T-shaped peninsula models the Southern Pacific in 1953, in the form of an imaginary branch off California’s Coast Line near Santa Maria. Power is mostly steam. My freight car enthusiasm is responsible for a well detailed, accurate and weathered set of rolling stock. There is a mainline interchange, but local switching on the branch predominates. Industries include bulk oil dealers, packing houses, wineries, a wholesale grocer, stock pen, and others.

About 90% of the track is complete, along with about 80% of the scenery. Full waybill operation has been implemented, utilizing NCE DCC. Most of the industries are complete. Not handicapped accessible. See the link below for a more complete layout description.

Website: http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2014/02/my-layout-description.html

The TCSME's HO and N layouts are both in progress with enough working track completed to run trains, but not operations. They are located in the former Southern Pacific Freight building and the former Southern Pacific Passenger depot in the Niles Town Plaza, 37592 Niles Boulevard, Fremont, California 94536. The Niles Depot RR museum will also be open when the layouts are on view and again from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Sunday.

The layouts are based on Niles and the surrounding communities of the Bay Area. Attention is being given to accuracy and detail in both the track plans and surrounding scenery. The modeled era is the mid-1970s, but all industries and towns are being represented as they were in their prime.

The HO scale layout features the Southern Pacific mainline from Niles to San Jose, with the many industries in Niles, Newark, Union City and other intermediate communities, as well as both Southern Pacific and Western Pacific lines through Niles Canyon to Pleasanton and Livermore. San Jose Cahill Street Station is featured as the model railroad’s large passenger terminal. A section will also feature the BART line through Fremont.

The N scale layout features the SP and WP mainlines from Niles to Oakland, with intermediate communities, such as Decoto, Alvarado and Hayward.

We are seeking new members to help construct our HO and N scale layouts. You are invited to become a member of the Tri-City Society of Model Engineers and help with all aspects of modeling the area railroads. Experienced modelers, as well as enthusiastic newcomers with an eagerness to learn, are encouraged to help with the new layouts. If you have an interest in layout planning, benchwork, wiring, track laying, scenery, or railroad operations, we welcome your participation as a member of the TCSME.

Website: http://www.nilesdepot.org/niles/modelrailroads.html

The Mystic Mountain Railroad is a backcountry shortline, loosely set in the early 1900s, consisting of 1200' of code 250 nickel silver track. The railroad can be run as a single large loop or two smaller loops, with several passing sidings. There are two small yards, 22 spurs, two wyes for turning trains, and many tunnels and bridges. The Mountain Division runs over rugged mountains and deep canyons, necessitating many steel bridges, tunnels, and a large helix.

A scratch-built turntable/roundhouse facility is located at the North End yard in the Mountain Division. Trains can also be run point-to-point between the two yards for realistic operating sessions. Trains are battery-powered radio controlled using Revolution and Train Engineer with SoundTraxx sound systems.

The most recent additions are the 5½' long Global Wizard Mfg. (G-Wiz), the sawmill complex, the Acme manufacturing plant (“Everything for the wily coyote”), and the wharf and Mercury Cannery Co. at North End. The scratch-built 4M Mining Company (“One better than 3M”) is cast concrete and weighs 120 lbs. One unique feature is the use of concrete rock wall castings painted with acrylics.

A panoramic view of Silicon Valley serves as a natural "backdrop" to the railroad. Another unique feature is a 4-way pointless/frogless turnout for access to train storage. A separate whimsical fairy garden with its own Fairy Train will also be on display. Both railroads are lit for nighttime operation.

Website: http://www.mysticmountainarts.com/MMRR/

This layout is imagined in the '30 to 50s era, possibly running east into the Sierra foothills from the California Central Valley - but with some definite Colorado scenes. The layout depicts about ½ of the mountain division of a 2-division railroad. The second ½ of the mountain division and the valley division are both represented by hidden staging. The layout includes a West Side Lumber Company branch and another significant mountain branch. Mainline is about 240' long.

There is also the standard gauge Central California Coast that is merely a large loop running through the scenes - about 60% hidden. There is extensive narrow gauge staging in an adjacent room. The layout includes over 400 structures, 8 or so major towns, 30+ bridges, 450+ narrow gauge cars and more locomotives than needed - most are Colorado prototypes.

Transition era layout in the Bay Area "Proto lance" developing an operating system. Layout in MR several years ago.

The West Bay Model Railroad Association was founded in 1947 and is constructing a new two-level DCC HO layout in the former Southern Pacific baggage building in Menlo Park. Layout construction began little more than a year ago and progress has been steady. The benchwork and helix are complete, track has been laid on the upper level and the main line and wired so that trains may now run in a loop. The upper level is perhaps 20% scenicked with more details added every week. A large trestle is under construction over a gorge on the lower level.

Two staging yards are also progressing nicely in a room adjacent to the layout. The theme is roughly transition era and later, with a western United States setting. Operations will be a focus for the club once the layout reaches an adequate level of completeness.

Anyone interested in helping to build a layout or run trains (prototypically or otherwise) is encouraged to inquire about membership.

Website: http://wbmrra.ning.com/