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Country & Highland Railway

Since I was not yet in Canada around 1980, I do not remember what the CPR looked like back then. If you have any information you wish to share, that would allow me to capture the flavour of the CPR on my layout, you are encouraged to do so, by leaving me a message.
Particularly useful are track side pictures around that time.

An older version of my design can be found here.
I was not happy with the amount of track stuffed in the helixes. And I also thought it would be better to scale it down a bit.

Thus I increased my layout space! It is (to be) build for operations in an L-shaped space of 7 by 5 m. The current concept has 2 levels. Staging and Interchange yard at 95 cm. Upper deck at 148 cm. It will be a walk-in layout and both levels are connected with climbing track. A mountain will allow for a semi-helix (one and a half turn).

To negotiate the extra space, access to the window was required as is for access to the electrical panel.
Minimum curve radius is 80 cm for visible tracks. Track is code 83.

Control will be by Digitrax DCC Zephyr.
Layout design is on 3rdPlanIt software.

I envision it will mostly be operated by myself, but since I joined the Guelph Model Railroad Society , I will have no problem finding co-operators.
A yard operators, and 3 road crews and a staging mole would probably be the limit.
I'll be using a car card system based on a describtion by Tony Koester.

• HO scale with small squares of 20 cm and large squares 100 cm.
• L-shaped layout room 500 x 725 cm.
• Industries are only posible options. (Suggestions are welcome.)
• Top right corner remains clear for access to electrical panel. Therefore it is planned behind a backdrop.

• Bottom-right industry is a paper mill.
• At the top is a station with a passing siding.
• With an interchange to the PW and ACR in the far right.
• The left side will be unsceniced behind a work bench.
• Left-bottom the track will slope down to the lower level.
  
• A lumber industry is envisioned with a branch track to
• A Forestry operation. (Served by the ACR)

Yard level is at 96 cm.

• From the bottom-centre the main line spirals down till it reaches...
• A passing siding with two industries.
• It then decends behind the bench till it reaches...
• The main yard at centre-top.
• On the left side you'll find an engine terminal and RIP track.
• And a local freight industry.
• At Delina Divide (far right) is a Y planned.
• Here merges Chessie System (from staging) into the main line and can go both East and West.
• Bottom-right a brewery is planned.
• Where the East main line goes into staging.

This is the 3rdPlanIt file of my plan. And a demo version of 3rdPlanIt can be downloaded to view it.

Operations will include local trains going East serving East Elianna and West serving Phillips Passing point-to-point.
CP mainline trains running from staging comming from East, to the main yard and continue West to the upper level.
They'll interchange with PW before going to Staging in the upper loop.
An East bound CP will work in reverse order.
An ACR local will run from the upper loop via the interchange at Meta Meet to Valerie Ville and then onto the branch to the Pine Pitt. And then back to the interchange with the loaded logs.

Train lengths of 18 cars should be possible with passing tracks of 370 cm.

Trivia facts:

My name is Chris and my wife's is Heather... coincidentally C & H... She is from Canada and I'm from Holland... I like CPR's bright colors (as opposed to CN's black color scheme) and Heather likes the Chessie kitten. And we both like the Algoma bear!

Train stuff