Layout Tour: Saturday 9:30am to 3:00pm Sunday 9:30am to 3:00pm Host: In the Timetable

At a Glance Scale: HO Prototype: UP, GN and freelance Era: Steam Diesel Transition Completeness: Track 100%Scenery/structures 85% Layout Size: 18' by 25' Handicap Accessible: Limited, requires three steps

I am fascinated by the variety of equipment used by prototype railroads. I have chosen Union Pacific as my prototype railroad because they seemed to have some of everything. The layout is an attempt to integrate heavy mainline railroading, a branch line, and narrow gauge into a credible transportation system. The mainline is based on Union Pacific and Great Northern during the steam-diesel transition. The Todd Mill & Wildcat Creek is a free lanced branch line which branches off the UP and GN at Cheyenne. The TM&WC is standard gage to the town of Slab fork. Slab fork is a dual gauge town, and the TM&WC continues west out of Slab Fork as a narrow gauge. Operations include several industries on the narrow gauge branch. Freight must be transferred to the standard gauge Todd Mill & Wildcat Creek at Slab Fork, and it is shipped out on the mainline Union Pacific or Great Northern at Cheyenne.

Layout Tour: Thursday 3:00pm to 7:00pm Sunday 9:30am to 3:00pm Host: In the Timetable For Thursday, email convsuper@midsouthnmra.org

At a Glance Scale: HO Prototype: Western Maryland Railway Era: Steam To Diesel Transition – Late 1956 Completeness: Track: 100% Electrical: 80% Scenery/Structures: 0% Layout Size: 32’ by 40’ Handicap Accessible: Limited - One 27 Inch Aisle and Raised Floor (4 Steps)

A freelanced, prototype of the Western Maryland Railway that runs from Baltimore, MD to Connellsville, PA. It includes city, rural, and mountain railroading in late 1956. Transition era steam and diesel locomotives run passenger, fast freight, local freight and switching operations. The 320 foot mainline climbs 18 inches between two large staging yards. The maximum grade is 1.5%. Arduinos provide route control for throwing turnouts, directional indication using LEDs, and frog polarity with relays. A single pushbutton aligns as many as six turnouts. The dcc system is radio controlled and has WIFI connections for cellphones and tablets. The layout is in a building in the back yard.

Layout Tour: Friday, June 21, 2024, 12-4PM Saturday, June 22, 2024, 12 Noon - 4PM Host: In the Timetable

At a Glance Scale: HO Prototype: Southern Railway between Chattanooga, TN and Memphis, TN Era: 1970s Completeness: Track: 100% Layout Size: 335 sq. ft. Handicap Accessible: Yes

Our club has just celebrated our 30th anniversary. We have a 335 sq. ft. HO scale layout with about 150 feet of continuous loop mainline and over 400 feet of secondary and yard track. Our layout loosely represents the Southern Railway in the 1970's between Chattanooga, TN and Memphis, TN. The basic purpose is switching the industries located on the railroad. Commodities shipped include grain, lumber, coal, cement, chemicals, scrap metal, coil steel and other materials. Highlights of our layout include: -Scratch built models of the Tuscumbia depot, "Ivy Green" (Helen Kellers birthplace), "Fame" Recording studio (hundreds of "hits" were recorded here) and a 1970's era McDonalds. -A painted backdrop of Chattanooga and Memphis -A thunder and lightning storm -A Detailed representation of Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Muscle Shoals.

Layout Tour: Sunday, June 23, 2024 3:00 pm - 8:00pm Host: In the Timetable

At a Glance Scale: HO Prototype: Proto-Freelanced Era: 1954 - 1956 Completeness: 40% Layout Size: 10X14 Handicap Accessible: ?

The Hocking Valley is a Proto-freelanced interpretation of what was at one point the largest railroad inside the state of Ohio. While in reality, the Hocking Valley was eventually absorbed into the Chesapeake and Ohio in 1930, I chose to model it as if they had remained independent. The layout is meant to emulate the feel of a major regional coal hauler with plenty of steam power while hosting a healthy amount of overhead traffic between Detriot Michigan and Charelston, W.Va. The locale represented is the mainline portion from Logan to Nelsonville Ohio, and a condensed Monday Creek Branch up to the mining town of New Straitsville, Ohio. Run through trains from the V&O are also planned. Around the walls design with a central peninsula and lift-out gate for room entry. Control is Digitrax DCC with plug port, WiFi, and radio control options. Backdrops, valance and fascia are painted hardboard. Track is a mix of code 83, 70, and 55, with the code 70 turnouts built using FastTrack jigs. The layout is meant to be an operations-based layout and will be set up for day/night operations and full CTC signaling with four operators and a dispatcher.

Layout Tour: Friday, June 21, 2024, 10-6PM Saturday, June 22, 2024, 10-6PM Host: In the Timetable

At a Glance Scale: G Prototype: Freelanced Era: None/Eclectic Completeness: 100% Layout Size: 100'X80' Garden Railroad Handicap Accessible: Yes

The Grant Funk Railroad is a garden layout that is a just for fun railroad. There is no era or theme. The railroad runs both steam and diesel locomotives from the last 100 years. It features a stream of running water, villages and figures as well as an assortment of bridges. The Grant Funk is is a well planned and constructed layout that is more than worth the trip to visit.

Layout Tour: Friday, June 21, 2024, 10-6PM Saturday, June 22, 2024, 10-6PM Host: In the Timetable

At a Glance Scale: HO Prototype: CSX, Norfolk Southern Era: Today Completeness: 100% Handicap Accessible: Limited, narrow aisles and a duck under

Built by members of the Mid South Division this layout depicts modern day Decatur in the area of the Depot. Because the Tennessse River lift bridge is shared by both railroads, the layout features both CSX and the Norfolk Southern. The Tennessee River lift bridge is featured as well as the trackage in the area of the Depot, including the switching yard adjacent to the depot.

Layout Tour: TBD Host: In the Timetable

At a Glance Scale: HO Prototype: Nickel Plate Road Era: Transitional Handicap Accessible: Stairs in front of home

An end to end loop dedicated to freight movement

Layout Tour: Thurs 5:30-8pm Sat 5:30-8pm Sun 9:30am – 2pm Host: In the Timetable

At a Glance Scale: HO/Hon3 Prototype: Freelanced Pennsylvania or other Era: 1950’s Steam to Diesel Transition Completeness: Track – 80%; Scenery – 15% Layout size: 24x14 Handicap Accessible: No

This currently unnamed model railroad was started over 15 years ago as a few modules. Built to be a permanent style layout in a spare room but designed to be portable and modular it is an around the room design with one peninsula and it consists of HO Modular compliant and non-compliant parts. Set perhaps in the Eastern part of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, this freelanced railroad is a package of parts. Some parts are made to stay in the train room while others were made to travel. Single track mainline dominates the right of way with occasional passing sidings. Incorporated as one of the initial dog-bone ends is a 4 ½ x 9 foot brass track layout built with my young son at the time shows how old and new can work together. The two most linear portions of the railroad are HO Modular compliant 24x48 or 30x48 sections that can be removed or placed as the need arises and allows the owner to take parts of this layout on the road to shows and exhibits. It also allows for the changing out of industries and the track plan to suite different railroading. A dense city scene, a rural winding mainline, heavy industrial or even a 10 track yard can be the options depending on what modules are inserted. Did I mention there is some Narrow Gauge and Dual Gauge incorporated also!

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Last Updated: Thursday, May 2,2024