Espee Oregon Division: September 2017

Sunday, September 10, 2017

You Tube Vid - Layout Overview

Not much progress to report, as have been catching up on loose ends for the most part, along with a few operating sessions along the way.
While preparing for next weekend's Ops Sess, I figured catch some footage of Amtrak's eastbound Coast Starlight running across the layout, and post it as an overall progress report of the layout at this point. Shows lots of baggage that needs to be attended to, and a lot of temporary states of completion needed to get by, but still having a good time with it after all these years... its slowly beginning to take shape. :)
Grab an icy cold one and enjoy.

Layout Stats

Scale: N 1:160
Era: Circa Late 70's
Railroad: Southern Pacific
Layout Size: 16' X 20' plus isles
Location Modeled: Loose rendition of SP's Cascade Sub, Oregon
Track Configuration: Twisted Dogbone with In-line Staging
Layout Configuration: "G" shape, Double Deck, Integrated 2 / 2 / 8 Level Helix, Duck Under
Construction: Open Frame with 1/2 and 3/4" Plywood on risers, Masonite Fascias with combination Masonite / Styrene Backdrops, Storage shelving integrated under layout, Cork on ply roadbed
Finish: Drywalled Garage, Fluorescent Lighting, Black curtains, Black Fascias, Black Interlocked Cushion Flooring
Min Radius: 21 1/2", Klamath Northern Shortline 19"
Max gradient: 1.8%
Min track height: 44", Max track height: 67"
Rolling Stock: Layout supports approx 400 cars, each with detected LP wheelsets, ongoing body mount program
Diesel Fleet: Current stable of approx 40 locos in active service
Crew Comforts: Forced Air, supplemented by portable AC, RF throttles, HT radios, Cushioned flooring, Bar Stool Seating
Commenced construction: 1996
Turnouts: Most handlaid, #6 thru #10, all powered via Tortoise Motors, Dispatcher controlled with position sensing in CTC sections
Max Train Length: 50 cars
Helper Operations: Most westbound Lumber Drags require midtrain helpers using multi-crew assignments
Traffic Levels: Current Line-Up Sheet has over 20 trains that the DS moves across the layout in a 5-6 hr session.
Mainline: 10 scale miles of single track mainline using ME code 55
Sidings: code 40, minimum length approx 40 cars lengths
Yards, Spurs: Code 40
Staging: 10 track, varying 40 - 60 car lengths, Code 55, Matrix Ladder Controls, Yard Office boxes integrated into benchwork at Crew Change locations
Systems: Digitrax DCC w/ wireless throttles (also WiThrottle App), JMRI (Decoder Pro / Panel Pro), CATS, VoIP radio communications
Operations: Remote / Network Dispatched, CTC system, FRS radios, Clearance Cards with Sequencial Calls / Orders, Switchlists, Crew size 6-10
CTC Attributes: Approach Lit, Turnout Position Sense, OS Sections Blocked Seperately, Field Logic by JMRI Panel Pro, Control Logic by CATS (in addition to CATS' own attributes), Current of Traffic overlay for ABS sections, Fleeting, Electric Switchlocks, Dual Control Switchlocks, Spur Track Shunting, Lunar and Switching (Flashing Yellow) Signal Indications.....