I have been somewhat of a lurker here for several weeks, and have learned a LOT. I have looked at a lot of layouts, magazines, and catalogs, and have determined it is time to jump into the breech (as it were), and see what you all think of my plans. Please don’t be too polite, I am ready for the helpful criticism that I know will emanate from this learned group.
I live in Santa Clarita, California (Los Angeles County). My prototype is the Spokane International Railroad from about the late 40’s (Diesel Era) up to and including the late 70’s. I am from Spokane, and had in-laws that spent their entire RR careers on the SI (later the U P) lines. I have yet to decide the final name for the road, but for sure a portion of it will include the Spokane International Southern Division. Since I have spent the past 40 years in the Sand & Gravel Quarry business, with 25 of that including a Ready Mixed Concrete Division, I HAVE to have a mine/quarry in the system somewhere. That portion will be narrow gauge, and use a small steam type locomotive for moving mine and ore cars.
I have the luxury of a large yard area to work with. The initial piece will be about 16’ wide by about 60’ long, and will be elevated for convenience. The plan for that area is a switchyard with RR offices, along with support buildings, and a small town center. I have a “Google Earth†view of the old SI yard in Spokane, and have a friendly draftsman tracing that into Autocad for me. I plan to roughly emulate that yard layout, most likely deleting the turn table and round house for obvious reasons. I plan to have all the plans in Autocad, a program with which I am marginally proficient….
Following that is a three to four foot drop to a large (60’ X 100’) relatively flat area which is now grass. Plans for that area include a through freight line that will allow LONG trains, of the type brought into Spokane by the SI, to have long runs and WIDE turns to enjoy. Possibly a passenger line can co-exist in that large an area. Along the way are to be two towns, named after my grandkids. Tyler will have “Tyler Townâ€, and her brother Kaden will enjoy “KadenVilleâ€. “Tyler Town†will be ‘girly’ in nature of course, with brightly colored buildings fit for a young lady’s enjoyment. “KadenVille†will be the mining town, and will have trucks, tractors and loaders, just like at “gampa’s workâ€.
I am still a little ‘on the fence’ about control. Given the layout will be fairly sizeable, I am leaning toward Radio Control. I am truly open to suggestions on that front especially. The elevations changes will allow some nice trestles and bridges, and various landscaping features will include mountains to tunnel through and water to cross. As this plan matures, I will undoubtedly change my mind a thousand times, but isn’t that part of the fun?
Diesel power will be Alco RS-3’s because I can’t yet find RS-1’s which were the engine of choice on the SI. A proper era U P passenger train will evolve, along with some ‘borrowed’ U P switchers to work the yard and mill site. I recently joined the Santa Clarita Garden Railroad group and look forward to their advice as well. There you have it… let me know what you think, and don’t worry I have fairly thick skin……
:lol: 
