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A brief
description of the layout for inclusion into your program.
The layout depicts an
area of Ohio but has not been modelled on any particular place. Its purpose
is to demonstrate how American modelling can be enlightening as well as
enjoyable. Initial built in 3 months for Wycrail 05 it has been added to and
super detailed to what you see today.
The AT&SF known as the
‘Santa Fe’ is the major train operator. Purchased by the Burlington Northern
it is now bears the name of the BNSF and newly painted locos can be seen
passing through the town. Other Railroad companies, such as Canadian
Railroads, the Union Pacific, the L&N and the Southern Pacific Railroads
have trackage rites to operate a through service..
The town of Hamilton is a
small community comprising of Main Street with a small industrial area at
the east end of town and the grain storeage silos near the river at the
western side of town.
The railroad has served
this part of Middle America since the late 1800’s as this was great farming
country. Hamilton is a division point where the tracks divide going east
serving smaller farming communities and the mainline heading farther east
towards Chicago. The approaching tracks from the west, cross fertile plains
following the river kriss crossing it as it enters the town finally passing
through a lattice truss bridge that traverses the main highway as well as
the river. A small chantey town flanks the side of the tracks and a camp
fire surrounded by dropouts and hobos can be seen in the woods. The Depot is
a modern structure built in 1989 replacing the original structure that
unfortunately was destroyed by a tornado the previous year. The same tornado
created a lot of damage in the town and a new bank building can be seen
together with a fast food outlet where stood an early 19th
century bank buildings and similar properties. The fire station serves a
large part of the community. The town centre has a thriving group of shops
and offices that surround the town square.
The railroad serves
numerous businesses such as an animal feed and farm machinery supplier, a
small oil storage and supply depot and a furniture factory. One of the
tracks has a loading area known as the ‘team track’. Here trucks reverse up
to the railroad wagon to load or unload their goods as they are not large
enough to support their own direct tracks.
The baseboard
construction is of the tried and tested 'L' girder method promoted by Lin
Westcott, editor of Model Railroader during the 60s and 70s in the USA.
Although the construction is heavy it has served its purpose well making it
transportable but strong.
Locomotives are from a
variety of manufacturers but most are Kato or Atlas. Rolling stock is also
from a wide manufacturer’s base with KD couplers being standardised
throughout.
Electrics have been
simplified as much as possible as nobody wanted to do wiring in the N scale
group. Train control is by GaugeMaster panel mounted controllers, points are
switched with Tortoise motors conventionally wired. The next step to
simplifying the wiring is to go DCC but that decision is yet to be taken.
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