Mainline Model Railroads

[Bering]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anybody knew of any layouts similar to Mike Danneman's Moffat tunnel.  Mainly how it is a mainline mountain railroad, without switching or smaller sidings.

I am asking because I have gone down the rabbit hole of researching my dream model railroad.  I have long been a fan of Donner Pass, and reading about Mike's railroad was a watershed moment for me.  It was everything I had ever dreamed of in a railway.  The sweeping scenery with a ribbon of track snaking its way through.

Thanks for the help and happy New Year.

[ATSFGuy]

Try typing in HO Scale Tunnel or HO Tunnel Design on google and see what you get.

Happy New Year!

[NWP SWP]

If you like SP four books you should get, 1 Tehachapi: Santa Fe, Southern Pacific John Signor, 2 Donner Pass, John Signor, 3 Rails in the Shadow of Mt. Shasta, John Signor, and 4 Southern Pacific's Shasta Division, John Signor... all great reads about mainline mountain railroading!

[mbinsewi]

I just checked out Mike's layout.  It is excellent, complete with winter mountain railroading.

I Googled Mike's name, and found lots of links.

His layout was also featured in the Dec., 2011 MRR.

Mike.

[riogrande5761]

Being a D&RGW fan of the 1970's and 1980's, I've always enjoyed Mike's very lovely Front Range scenery on his Rio Grande layout.  I grew up in northern California so Donner Pass has always been a favorite of mine; in fact if I hadn't made trips to Colorado in the 1980's, I might still be modeling the SP, but Rio Grande fever took over.

As it happens, I'm planning a mainline layout in my new basement which is not huge but should allow me to build bigger than my last 10x18'.  I'm shooting for the desert mainline in Utah to Grande Junction CO.  The real mainline is of very limited industry so I may have to cheat a little but in GJ there would have been some.

I like what Rob Spangler did which was to protolance the WP, so his is a very believable layout but is fictional as to allow for desired operations and industries and make for more interest than the prototype may have allowed.  Food for thought anyway.

[7j43k]

If your inclination for modeling Donner Pass leans towards cab-forwards, consider that the Nevada County Narrow Gauge connected to the SP at Colfax until 1942.  Well, I suppose "connected" is not quite the proper term.  Anyway, that railroad would need servicing off the line over the pass.

 

Ed

[riogrande5761]

Cab Forwards are very cool.  I don't even model Donner Pass but had to have one anyway.  I'm slowly building up a fleet of PFE ice reefers to pull.

[caldreamer]

My mountain layout which represents the BNSF in Northern California has a fifty foot long 2.64 percent grade up to the summit of the mountain.  I will be running multiple diesels on the front with DPU helpers.  Long trains of twenty or more cars will be the norm.

[7j43k]

riogrande5761

Cab Forwards are very cool.  I don't even model Donner Pass but had to have one anyway.  I'm slowly building up a fleet of PFE ice reefers to pull.

 

Same here about the cab forward.  Just snapped one day.  No regrets; it's a beauty.  Also got a nice SP caboose.  Some pFE reefers.  And I'm expecting an Atlas SP Alco switcher.  Oh, NOOOOOOOOOO.....I'm becoming an SP modeler. NNOOOOOOOOO..........

The good news for me in my version of a "fleet" of PFE cars is that I DO model UP.  With all that that implies.

 

Ed

[doctorwayne]

caldreamer

My mountain layout which represents the BNSF in Northern California has a fifty foot long 2.64 percent grade up to the summit of the mountain.  I will be running multiple diesels on the front with DPU helpers.  Long trains of twenty or more cars will be the norm.

 

I have a 45' long grade, at 2.5%, on my layout, which represents a secondary branch line.  Power is all-steam, usually doubleheaded and sometimes with pushers, too.  While it's a challenge for the locomotives, I'm modelling it as a hill, with nothing too spectacular in the way of scenery, as it's simply the only way to get trains to the partial second level.
 
Most trains will be 20 cars or less, as it's not meant to represent big-time railroading, although I've run in excess of 70 cars up the same hill, simply to see if it could be done.

 

This recent photo is of a downbound train.  Not part of any regular operations, it was run simply to take the cars to one of the lower-level staging yards, where they could be returned to their respective boxes beneath the layout.... 

 

 

There's also a much shorter uphill grade to that yard, also at 2.5%, behind me near the area from which the photo was taken, so two helpers were sent out to assist the sole locomotive shown.
If I recall correctly, there were 41 or 42 cars in the train shown.

 

As you can see, the scenic parts of the hill are yet to be added, so train crews likely have the sensation of being suspended in mid-air, high above the concrete floor.

 

Wayne

[Bering]

Thanks for all the help guys!

I was looking at those books you sugested, mostly Donner Pass by John Signor.  Unfornatuly they seem to be quite pricy, if anyone knows a cheaper place to buy one i would greatly appreadiate it.

I first saw Mike Danneman the the magazine too! He has also had some stuff in N Scale publications.  Even a small article about how he does that wonderful snow.

I am actually more of a diesal fan when it comes to Donner.  Mainly tunnel motors though the high nose EMDs have a special place in my heart. 

That is a beautiful bit of railroad that you have there DoctorWayne.  Would you have any other photos of it?

[NWP SWP]

Yes sadly that is the pitfall of those books, they can be pricey... Look on eBay you might find one for good price, look for Best Offer and offer about 50% of the Buy It Now and go from there...

[doctorwayne]

Thanks for your kind words, Bering.

There's a layout room tour HERE, and some further pictures, about page 3, I think, showing some of the partial second level which was added more recently.

Wayne

[7j43k]

Bering

I was looking at those books you sugested, mostly Donner Pass by John Signor.  Unfornatuly they seem to be quite pricy, if anyone knows a cheaper place to buy one i would greatly appreadiate it.

I am actually more of a diesal fan when it comes to Donner.  Mainly tunnel motors though the high nose EMDs have a special place in my heart. 

 

 

Does FREE work for you?

After recovering from your rejection of cab forwards and narrow gage (sniff), I got to thinking.  First time this year!!!!  Hooray!

 

I was wondering if there's any industry today one could switch while modeling the Pass.  And, since the narrow gage met the SP at Colfax........

So, Google maps.  And satellite.  (That's the FREE part).

I hovered over Colfax, and could see where the narrow gage yard used to be.  And I could see EXISTING tracks (though NOT narrow gage, sniff).  And I could do street view, and examine shipping pallets and trash.  All from my comfy chair.

Since industries tend to be in towns, and since roads go through towns, you might consider following the tracks and I-80 over the hill using Google, and see what you see.  Sadly, there is street view, but not rail view.  (another sniff, here)

One thing you can see is the VERY interesting (non-industrial) bridge at Auburn--one of my faves:

Also somewhere nearby is the world's shortest tunnel--about 4' long--depending mightily how you measure it.  If you follow the SP tracks from above, you can't miss it.  Well, actually, you can.  'Cause it's short.

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/59852/

 

Ed