Tour Details

Saturday November 21, 2026

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AM Tours

10am - 1pm

Doug Waite’s Pinetree, Kennesaw & Southern

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Freelanced design that is a combination of two Atlas Layouts - the reversing loop and left side of HO-12 (Up & Over Dog Bone) combined with the right side of HO 22 (Grade Crossing Deluxe). Two ovals are incorporated into the reversing loop mountain area to run HO Loco's that were manufactured in the early 1960's by Tyco and Bowser. There is also a switching layout using Atlas HO-26 (Southside Connecting) and then a freelanced extension that incorporates Gordon Odegard’s switching puzzle called the Portage Potpourri Challenge (Model Railroad Magazine January 1991).

City: Kennesaw
Scale/Gauge: HO
Doug Waite

Tim Taylor’s Akron & Barberton Beltline

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This layout is designed for maximum switching and train assembling in a minimum space. It is basically a unidirectional twisted oval that runs around the room twice to complete one lap. It includes a main yard for putting trains together and several industries/destinations for drop-offs and pick-ups. Train composition and instructions are randomly generated by a custom computer program. The layout uses Bachmann DCC to run up to 10 trains at a time, which is more than adequate. Note: The layout contains structures but very little other scenery.

City: Hiram
Scale/Gauge: HO
Tim Taylor

Carter Dau’s CR TRAINS

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The original train layout, 4x8, was constructed as a fold up layout in 1978. The layout would grow to 8x12 in the 90's before expanding to fit a standard bedroom with the layout hugging the walls. After deconstructing the layout in 2001 to move to Georgia, only the 8x12 section would survive the move and 20+ years of storage. During the summer of 2023 the layout would again be placed horizontal and become the cornerstone of the new layout. Benchwork was completed on the newly expanded layout in September of 2023 and since then, over 300 feet of track has been laid. We have followed and visited the majority of layouts that have been on the Piedmont Pilgrimage over the past 10 years and are excited to finally welcome you to ours.

City: Kennesaw
Scale/Gauge: HO
Carter Dau

PM Tours

1pm - 5pm

Howard Goodwin’s Great Cypress Lines

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City: Acworth
Scale/Gauge: HO
Howard Goodwin

Mark Bridgwater’s Canton Southern

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My freelanced HO layout is based on prototype design and operations, consisting of a modern Class-1 mainline interchanging with two modern short lines that were previously branch lines of the Class-1 railroad, sold to private investors and former railroad executives. Mainline track is owned by the BNSF, and per modern prototype practices, allows run-through traffic from many other railroads. The short lines reflect well-maintained and well-run railroads, complete with sharp looking unique paint schemes. The mainline will be fully signalled and dispatcher controlled, while the short lines will be ‘dark’ without signals, given only one train will be working the out-and-back line at any one time. Several large customers support the short lines, and many other industries will keep switching crews busy for most of the operating session. The layout occupies approximately 3,000 sf, including a crew lounge, dispatcher’s office and restroom. The single-track mainline is approximately 640 lineal feet including two helices, with multiple dispatcher-controlled passing sidings. The staging yard consists of 13 tracks, while the classification yard includes 8 tracks plus 3 arrival/departure tracks, supported by full engine servicing and maintenance facilities. Each short line is in excess of 200 lineal feet, serviced by dedicated morning and afternoon daily local turns. Interior basement walls and initial benchwork started while my home was under construction, with layout construction officially starting early in 2025. I’ve been helped immensely by my dedicated crew, for which I am truly grateful. We look forward to your visit during the Piedmont Pilgrimage to see our progress!

City: Canton
Scale/Gauge: HO
Mark Bridgwater

Kevin Stemple’s Blue Valley Railroad – New Layout for 2025

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Moved in early 2025 and the dimensions of the room required a that a new layout be designed and constructed. Benchwork was started in June with the intent to have the mainlines up and running by the pilgrimage. Design of the new layout is a double folded dogbone for the mainline with a yard off to on side. The inside of the dogbone's will be industrial spurs, The Blue Valley Railroad will still be what might have been a rural town in Pennsylvania in the 60's.

City: Holly Springs
Scale/Gauge: HO
Kevin Stemple

Perry Lamb’s Utah, Colorado & Western Railroad

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The UC&W Railroad is an operations-oriented, modern-day, Class 1 railroad. The railroad interacts with CP, CN, CSX, UP, BNSF, and VIA Rail. The railroad owns NS and all Amtrak operations in North America except for the NE Corridor and the Amtrak lines in California. The modeled portion of the railroad features sections between Salt Lake City, Utah and Seattle, Washington. Operations feature mainline freight, commuter rail, main-line passenger, steam excursions, and local freight. Scenery is about 70% complete, with the major remaining features including two town areas, an industrial area, and select industries. Visitors will notice that the layout owner has a sense of humor.

City: Kennesaw
Scale/Gauge: HO
Perry Lamb

All Day Tours

10am - 5pm

Jamestown and Turtle Creek Interchange

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This is a freelance railroad located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland. It is a single track mainline with multiple passing sidings which services many industries and business along the way. Jamestown is the main town with Akersville being the mining community. The layout has a large yard which services both East and West bound trains and has a large servicing center. More to come as we progress toward the completion of the Jamestown and Turtle Creek Interchange. This railroad is a product of the members of the North Atlanta Rail Barrons (NARB)

City: Cartersville
Scale/Gauge: HO
James Travis