Dan Goins' Santa Fe - HO Scale Railroad
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My version of the Santa Fe railroad during the late 50's and early 60's, representing New Mexico, Arizona and part of Colorado, is in a 35' x 15' room. The layout is walk around with Hogger hand held control. There are 8 local control panels for take over control at these points. There are 5 cabs overall with only some available at various panels. The layout can be operated by one person and up to 7 for a full operating session. (This has not been done to date.) The double track main line, a basic oval, is 220 feet with about 45 feet as hidden return and 6 train staging on a lower level. There is a branch line, about 85 feet long, that was once the old single track mainline.
Layout construction is basic L girder with both open grid work and table top in the yards. The track is code 83 for all of the visible track. The hidden return and staging is code 100. The track is on cork roadbed over Homasote and plywood. The "0" elevation is 49 inches above the floor with the highest track at 59 inches on the branch line. The lower level with the return and staging track is 42 inches. The lower level is reached by 3.5 percent grades at both ends. One end is on a curve and the other has a spiral to reach the lower level. The lighting is 24 shop lights and 10 GE light sticks.
The scenery is basic western sedimentary rock and little water. The rocks are made of broken ceiling tile with some kitty litter for boulders. Woodland Scenics materials are used through out with some natural materials used here and there. The backdrop is a combination of dry wall and vinyl floor covering over wood paneling. The bench work is high enough so that with the rocks and mountains view blocks are created and you never see the same train pass through a viewing area twice.
The structures are mostly kits. Many structures are of the craftsman type and a few are shake-the-box with modifications as needed. Several buildings have detailed interiors. Most of these were built when there was no layout to run.
The rolling stock is about 80 percent Athearn the rest are by various manufactures. The locomotives, nearly all diesels, are also mostly Athearn although Atlas and Kato have now begun to show up. A recent acquisition has been a brass Hallmark 2-6-2 and a complete set of brass Hallmark el Capitan hi-level passenger cars. A typical freight train is between 30 and 45 cars and 4 powered engines. The passenger trains range from 10 cars, the el Capitan, to 15 cars for the Super Chief.
Dan
