The layout is a 2-rail/3-rail hybrid freelanced model railroad and the time-frame is roughly 1956-1999. The layout has elements of the PRR and most of the equipment is Pennsy. However, at any given time you can see Penn Central, Conrail, or any of the Eastern coal haulers on the rails. Most of the motive power is diesel with a growing fleet of steam(mostly Pennsy). The layout is spread across two rooms. The main room has two separate levels, a double track mainline (lower) and a branch line (upper). The main room also features a 4-track classification yard, a coal tipple, a steel mill, and two small towns both at various levels of completion. Both towns are reminiscent of small towns in or in close proximity to the Ohio Valley. There also is a small farm area that travelers pass as they are going into town or to work in the steel mill or tipple. The structures are scratch-built, kits that have been modified or enhanced, and built-up models. Between the two rooms there are nine bridges of various styles and five water features. The road system, structures, and scenery are at various levels of completion.
A hole was cut into the wall to connect to the adjacent room. This allows trains from the branch line, in the main room, to "go somewhere". The second room, with autumn scenery, features a small 2-rail O scale layout in an 11' X 12' room with the 3-rail system making an appearance three times. The 2-rail layout features a turntable and 3-stall roundhouse, a small 3-track yard, and a small town. The layout is a single track oblong oval with two short sidings. With limited space this layout utilizes several industrial and residential shallow relief structures. The layout also has a turnout that leads to a small switching area in a 4' X 8' closet.
The 3-rail layout is controlled with the MTH DCS system and Lionel Legacy Command Control. The 2-rail layout utilizes the NCE system. This tour will give visitors the opportunity to see a layout that is about 65% complete but still a work in progress.
Scale / Gauge
O
Size of Layout
25' X 15' (room #1) 11' X 12' (room #2)
Prototype
Freelance with elements of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Location Modeled
Northeastern Ohio, West Virginia Panhandle, and Western Pennsylvania
Era
transition-1999
Style of Track Plan
Other
Length of Main Line
200'
Layout Height
32" mainline 41" branchline"
Benchwork
Wood frame deck
Roadbed Material
Cork
Track Manufacturer
Atlas
Turnouts
Atlas
Minimum Main Line Radius
31.5"
Scenery Techniques
Scenery includes hills and tunnels created from wooden framing with cardboard strips covered with plaster cloth. Rock work is created from a resin based material and rock molds. Heavier rock work is created by carving plaster and/or plaster in rock molds and supported by insulation foam shaped and covered in plaster cloth covered with sculptamold. A number of scenic materials such as Woodland Scenics ground foams, various static grasses, natural materials such as real dirt, and materials from Scenic Express are used. Many of the trees are built from readily available materials from various vendors, natural materials, and ready-made trees from various vendors are used as background trees. Water features are created from poured resin.
