This model railroad is based on SP's Cascade line in the 1950s. While it's not exactly freelanced, it doesn't strictly follow the prototype either. About two thirds of the scenery is finished and about one fourth of the trees are made and planted. A great many more trees must be planted before the layout begins to evoke an impression of the western slopes of the Oregon Cascades.

The layout has two levels built around the walls. The lower and upper levels are connected by a track that winds back and forth along a long peninsula. This grade has about 90 feet of 2 1/2 percent track with one 16 foot siding. There is a Y at the top so that helpers can be turned and return light to the lower level yard. There is also a hidden helix that provides a return path to the lower level. Entire trains can also be turned with reversing loops on both levels.

I deliberately chose a 2 1/2 percent grade so that helper operations would be mandatory for trains with steam locomotives and more than about ten cars. Since nearly all of the layout diesels are powered and I generally operate three or four of them together, diesel powered trains usually don't require helpers.

Please click on the links below to see some layout photos and read some articles about various aspects of the layout. Click the brochures to see them full size.

Click the YouTube logo to watch from YouTube's site.

More video on the next page.
Click here to see Part 2 through Part 6 videos

E-Mail

You are visitor number since Friday, March 5, 2010.

If you are a member of the Northern Colorado Model Railroad Club, click here to join the NCMRC Yahoo group.