Main line is approx. 100 feet of code 332 Piko brass with Hillman
clamps. One spur goes to Red Cat Timber Company and one to
Spenser’s Gem Mines. Minimum radius is 4 feet. It is backwoods,
narrow gauge set in mid 1955. With two tunnels, a pondless water
feature, and several bridges. It uses track power and is mostly
1:24 scale equipment. Structures are a mix of scratch, kit, and
pre-assembled. The first FE Line was MUCH larger, and moving to
this neighborhood presented the challenge of building a railroad
in a small yard without making the railroad look too cluttered.
The railroad pays homage to our cats past and present. The
example, Maggie’s Gas recalls our long-gone flatulent kitten and
Tripod Photography is a remembrance of our little three legged
Persian. Our Guiding Code: Railroading is supposed to be
fun. Rivet counters will be promptly escorted from the property!
Gardening Tip: When pulling weeds on the layout, if it
comes out easily it was probably an expensive plant.
Began construction in June of 2005. I stopped between 2008 and
2013 but resumed in Sept. of 2013 and am continuing at present.
The track length is constantly growing. How far the main line
reaches by the WCRM depends on how hard the Gandy Dancer works.
The Alpine Railroad is a free lance railroad that is located
somewhere in Colorado during the late 1930’s and 1940’s. The
mountainous valley is rich in lumber, agriculture (in a mountain
railroad? It’s fictitious, remember) and silver ore. The main
obstacle to building, besides lack of time, is the grades in the
yard. It slopes in two directions at 12% and 18%. The railroad is
battery powered. I use the Airwire battery power system.
Presently there aren’t any plants on my railroad, just track,
ballast, rock and dirt. Oh yes, and trains. There may be a water
feature by the time of the meet. It just depends on how much I
get done by then.
Rock Valley Railroad is a 1950’s setting on the Southern Pacific
system with steam and diesel power. The railroad has
approximately 300 feet of main line generally in two
interconnecting loops with wide radius curves on a level yard. We
have mature landscaping with Alberta spruce, boxwood, elms,
cedars, myrtle, a waterfall and creek. There are several period
buildings (scratch built, kit and purchased) with many signs and
scenes that enhance the landscape. Lincoln has lots of rocks – we
used every one in the yard. Generally, equipment is 1:29 and 1:32
scale with some narrow gauge locomotives. This is a running main
line railroad with little switching along the line other than the
main staging yard located along the side of the residence.
Begun in 2002 we have about 400 feet of track. Represented are
the Southern Pacific Railroad and the Virginia & Truckee Railroad
(passenger and freight trains) during their active years
including steam and diesel. The layout includes a 360+ loop,
tunnels and a water feature. It all fronts on open space that
gives it the appearance of a larger layout. We are all track
power. I have overcome many difficulties to get six trains to run
at one time without any direct control. There are many small
plants and trees, hand built buildings copied from the original
and hand carved figures to fit into the scenes.
The Maple Rock Garden Railway is 6 yrs. old. It has 900 ft. of
aluminum code 215 track and is modeled in F Scale: 1:20.3. The
railroad was designed to be interesting and plausible, with a
mixture of hills, valleys and open area scenes, while avoiding
the “running in circles” look. The railway was built by Earl
Martin. The era is 1930’s in California’s Gold Country and
represents a small narrow gauge railway serving a gold mine, a
logging operation, 2 visually separated small towns and a
mountain lodge. The railroad is basically a loop with a climb up
the mountain and a return loop. It is run with radio controlled
locomotives powered by on board batteries with sound. Operations
are typically mixed trains with both freight and passenger cars.
Occasionally, visiting live steam locos power trains. The
railroad includes both valley and hills with grades up to 4% (but
no tunnels). Out and back trips are about 5 scale miles, climbing
and descending 300 scale feet (15 vertical feet). The railroad is
part of a 300 acre garden with extensive planting and water
features, including Bonsai and other dwarf plants to fit the
scale of the railroad. About 30 tons of rock were added to the
railroad area. There are picnic acres and the railroad is
adjacent to a working organic farm in Zone 8.
The Coyote Pass Railroad is 11 yrs. old and was built in a
rugged, rocky area following the natural land contours. The
railroad depicts a standard gauge mountain division line with
narrow gauge characteristics. Motive power ranges from kit bashed
steam relics to late steam and diesels of the 1950’s and 1960’s
and a completely out of place GG1 for the gold mining and lumber
settings. The railroad main line is comprised of 700 ft. of
Llargas Creek code 250 rail, bent for broad curves. The ruling
grade is 2%. There is also a 90 ft. short line with sharp curves
and a 6% grade that services a lumber camp. A 5-track yard with
100 ft. of track is housed in a low car barn. A connected off
shoot of the railroad is a large live steam track that can be
used as a wye for main line operation. The railroad uses both
battery and track power. Features include a 35 ft. elevated water
flume powering a sawmill, trackside signals, sound and an
extensive locomotive repair and maintenance facility and
turntable. The over 100 buildings, bridges and trestles are
mostly scratch built and include animated features for the
coaling tower, lumber mill and steam donkeys. Most of the
buildings light up for nighttime operation.
The Atchison, Topeka and Sante Fe, LOP Division railroad (2 main
lines) was started in 2010 and reflects the 1940’s-1960’s era.
This is a main line railroad which passes through mountains,
desert and a water feature where the main lines are supported by
a 13 ft. bridge. Main line #1 is 520 ft. and #2 is 502 ft. laid
out in a three circle figure 8. There is a crossover with a
tunnel and an at grade diamond. There is also a 185 ft. wye point
to point as well as an independent 190 ft. loop called The Thomas
Loop. Also included are 2 passing sidings, 1 spur, a 3-track
yard, 2 tunnels, 5 Eaglewings built bridges, and 6 trestles
totaling 97+ feet made from painted PVC. Other features are an
oil refinery and a water tower and propane tank that hide pop-up
sprinklers. Track is all Aristo-Craft stainless steel and curves
are 16.5 ft. to 20 ft. diameter. Locomotives are powered with
battery and track power. Rolling stock is Aristo-Craft, USA, LGB
and Bachmann.
The D & P Lines began construction in the summer of 2004 with 30
yards of dirt dumped into a 24 ft. by 60 ft. frame that would
contain the railroad. Built on a gentle slope (1″ drop per foot),
the walkway that surrounds the layout provides eye-level
perspectives as well as bird’s eye views. Trains run on one
continuous 550′ loop that doubles over itself four times,
traveling through 9 tunnels and crossing 14 bridges. The route
begins at Dublin City on “Level 1″ climbs to Pfozen (a German
village) on “Level 3″, then descends to the starting point. Even
though it is 10 years old, the D & P is NOT COMPLETE! We faced a
major adjustment of tunnels when freight trains began hauling
double-stacked shipping containers! More structures are still
needed. We add new plants regularly, and always seem to need MORE
ROCKS! In between runs, trains live in a special “train shed”
adjacent to the layout, with fold-down bridges for entry and
exit. Trains run on battery power with Airwire 900 controllers
and all switches are pneumatic, controlled from the elevated
Control Tower in the center of the layout. (Yes, you are invited
to visit the Control Tower. Cameras welcome-good shots are
easy!!)
Only a stone’s throw from the original transcontinental railroad
in the Sierra foothills above Auburn, visit a compact 5 yr. old
garden railroad reflecting 1950’s steam and diesel operation.
Nicely detailed rural and urban scenes feature a four car Napa
Valley Wine Train with authentic FA Units. Enjoy an uncomplicated
example of fun garden railroading.
History: The Mistiridge Railroad started as a standard gauge in
1992 and evolved from a 1:22.5 scale railroad using primarily LGB
equipment to a 1:29 scale railroad using USA and Aristo-Craft
equipment with some Bachmann 1:20.3 rolling stock. In 2006 the
Mistiridge Railroad started to convert to a 1:20.3 all narrow
gauge railroad.
Layout: There are two separate layouts. One is the original on
the ground layout. The other is an elevated table type layout.
The on the ground layout has a 350 ft. main line run with a total
of 550 ft. It features a 20 ft. deck girder bridge and an 8 ft.
steel truss bridge plus several smaller bridges. The elevated
layout has a main line run of 240 ft. with a total of 420 ft.
Rolling stock: Western theme steam locomotives, passenger and
freight cars. Both battery powered electric and radio controlled
live steam locomotives. The locomotive roster includes K-28,
K-27, C-25, C-19, Mogul, 2-6-6-2 articulated locos and several
shays.
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