Here's a
aerial view of are newly expended HO scale layout. This is also the site map.
Were still in process of completing the diorama, it's a work in progress that
perhaps will never fully be finished. We expanded our previous
layout to take over the whole room. We've gone from two main line
loops that literally passed over themselves and a third "end to end"
Shay line, to two full mainline loops with a third full Shay loop. We also
included bridges, trestles,
and a small yard with a turntable
and roundhouse. This larger layout allowed us to explore some aspects
of model railroading that we had always wanted but never had the room. Additionally
this layout is DCC controlled using a Digitrax
Empire Builder II set with Digitrax, TCC, and Soundtraxx decoders. We
intend to exploit the lighting and sound special effects where ever we
can.
We're aiming
for around a 1950's era but we aren't to particular so you'll undoubtedly see
period errors. We're in this just for fun so if it's a choice of doing
what's historically correct vs. doing what we like, we'll always chose to do
what we like.
You'll see most of our engines and much of our rolling stock is
C&O/Chessie. The BL2 started us off on this road name. We liked
the colors...what can I say. We're not sticking exclusively to
C&O/Chessie but do tend to choose that road name if we can. Some of
our non C&O engines will end up getting repainted...I have already
airbrushed the work crane, and a snow blower to the C&O/Chessie road
names. CSX is undoubtedly going to find it's way in our roundhouse
too.
I'll let the layout explain it the rest. I've made
"hot spots" on the picture below that will take you to close up
pictures.
This is the whole layout - Click on the labels and they
take you to more detailed and close up photos!
This gives a nice overhead view of the whole
layout. It's actually 6 digital photos that have been carefully edited
together to make one large photo. Thanks to my photo & WEB wizard
daughter, Alycia, (aka Dragon)
who did the photo editing for me on this picture and the animation of the
bridge! Periodically I'll update this photo as the layout progresses.
Sign My
Guest book
