The G & T is a hypothetical L & N (Family Lines) branch line in North Georgia. The layout is built on two levels with storage above and below and some staging below. The layout features point to point operation (reverse loop to reverse loop for open house). The grade change between levels is mostly exposed (with a passing track) on a peninsula. The railroad serves carpet factories, a paper mill, a marble yard and chicken feed dealers along with typical industries (most structures are not yet in place). Operations feature mill turns, locals, through freights and interchange traffic with other L & N lines, SCL and Southern Rwy. Scenic terrain and trees are mostly complete, track is ballasted, most cars are weathered, many locomotives have sound, much work yet to be done on structures. The layout features fall foliage. The creeks have sound (Cicada and bird sounds coming). Twilight/evening lighting on one section. Turnouts are mostly Tortoise powered with controls (some dual) with LEDs on the fascia. Yard control panels are in place and there is a large combination panel for the Coosawattee Yard/ Staging Yard towerman.
Scale / Gauge
N
Size of Layout
Around the walls in two basement rooms 16'x20' and 12'x22'
Prototype
Hypothetical L & N branch line running from Dalton, GA, to Gainesville, GA, with some Southern Rwy trackage rights.
Location Modeled
Runs East-West across north Georgia "Valley and Ridge" country connecting three L & N North-South lines and Sou Rwy to the Gainesville Midland
Era
Layout is set in fall of 1979 (more or less) during the colorful Family Lines era.
Style of Track Plan
Linear along the basement walls
Length of Main Line
240'
Benchwork
Plywood shelf tables
Roadbed Material
Cork
Track Manufacturer
Atlas
Turnouts
Atlas
Minimum Main Line Radius
16"
Maximum Grade
1.75 %
Scenery Techniques
Sculptamold & plaster, painted w/ ground cover, 8,500+ handmade wire armature trees, furnace filter weeds, creek has sound
% Scenery Complete
65 %
Backdrop
Painted hardboard with some styrene sheet for tight bends
Control System
DCC - Digitrax
Car Forwarding System
Switch List
Train Authority / Dispatching
Other
Operating Group
Chattahoochee Express Operating Group (CEOG)
Direction Comment
Beige brick two-story house on north side of Stone Mill Trail midway between stop signs at Lost Forest and Mark Trail. Pls park on north side of street.
Wheelchair Accessible
ADA Comments
Not wheelchair accessible. One step to enter porch and then threshold to enter house, 14 steps down stairs to basement. Note layout height (42' to 63").