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"Dutch" helps a visitor.
The club maintains two HO layouts: a permanent one in the clubroom and a
modular one used for public displays. Both have seen many changes over the
years. In 1993, wiring problems were discovered, the track was aging, and a new
demand by longer trains made the tight turns and short passing sidings
incompatible with modern operations. These and other requirements led the
members to the tough decision to dismantle the permanent layout.
Since then, the club's members have worked diligently building several
"test" layouts as they strive for the "perfect" layout that will encompass the
vision of all members. Each layout has helped the members grow in their
modeling skills, and has shown what will work, and what won't. Recurring themes
focus on interests in long mainlines, narrow gauge, and traction. That perfect
layout still looms on the horizon, though. One unique feature that remains is
the ability to connect with the modules to create a much larger layout. This
ability is regularly demonstrated at the club Open Houses.
The years and longer trains with longer cars had their effect on the
modules, too, and in 1994, most of the club's existing modules were rebuilt.
These new modules featured corners with six-foot radii, a new classification
yard, new mainline scenes, and hand laid turnouts.
Below are some photo's of the HO layout taken during the summer of 00.
As you can see there is a lot of work to be done. Keep in mind this layout is
less than three years old. The layout has three levels of track connected by a
helix and a long climb along one wall. At this time most all the track is in,
the only remaining track work is adding a crossover in one of the cities and
changing a couple of spurs. The main line crossovers all have Tortoise switch
machines installed as well as the upper staging yard. The layout is wired for
DCC with a Digitrax Chief system including; 1 DCS100, 1 DB200, 2 DB100. The
club also owns 1 DT100 and 2 UT1 throttles for members to use. With DCC we get
realistic control of each locomotive and still we're able to run one set of
standard wired locomotives (with out a decoder).
   
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