The Division officers are working on an update of this information. Here is the content that was on the old website. Please send changes to layouts@gatewaynmra.org.
Mike Peters, Wyoming RailLink
2000s modern railroading on the BNSF Casper subdivision is modeled as if it was sold to a new railroad, the Wyoming RailLink. This “L” shaped 33’x54’ HO railroad is designed for operations using a dispatcher with a working CTC panel and signals. Walkaround CVP RailCommand throttles control the 24 to 30 trains that run in a typical operating session (card cards, waybills, switch lists, and 5-channel radios). The line is single track with passing sidings, and includes BNSF and UP run-through trains.
Brian Post, Sierra Nevada and Indian River Railway
This railroad was formed by several men already in the railroad industry. They purchased abandoned and low usage lines from several companies, towns and mergers providing excellent service equal to that offered by BNSF, UP and NS. The SN&IRR services grain elevators, the lumber industry, chemical plants, and provides warehousing and cold storage. Some years ago an agreement was reached with Amtrak for passenger service in the valley. The consortium also supports all forms of tourist and excursion trains as well. The layout covers an area approximately 40’x25′ in the timeframe 1980 through June 2000. All track is code 83 Micro Engineering with the main line using concrete tie flex track and the branchline with wooden ties. All hidden track is Atlas code 100 and the turnouts on the mainline are thrown using a Digitrax throttle while the branchline uses hand throws made by Caboose Industries. Operations use Digitrax DCC, with over half of the engines featuring sound. The layout was designed from 4 to 10 operators using a switch list. All mainline trains must use two or more locomotives while the branchline runs with one locomotive and a maximum of six cars and a caboose.
Jerry Prott
Description not available.
Quincy Society of Model Engineers (QSME), Chesapeake & Lake Erie
The theme of the CL&E is a 1958-era single-track bridge route in North Central Pennsylvania featuring a mixture of diesel and steam traffic. Seven scale miles of hand laid track, heavy freight traffic, the large yard at Keating, narrow-gauge coke operations, and more await the visitor in the 16’x70’ train room. The layout, and the Quincy Society of Model Engineers, were featured as the cover story in the April 1989 issue of Model Railroader. The QSME has approximately 40 members who have regular operating sessions on this completely sceniced railroad, using a combination of DCC and radio-analog control with computer generated switch lists.
Dave Reed, Southern Pacific Donner Pass
SP Sacramento Division fills an “L” shaped room 11’x13’x17’. The layout, when complete, will have three levels with east and west bound staging and continuous running. The layout models Donner Pass 1979-1988. See helpers work their way through Colfax to Norden/Tunnel #41 (the big hole). The route covers Colfax, Long Ravine, Cape Horn, Gold Run, Emigrant Gap, Yuba Pass, Butte Canon bridge/Shed #10, Soda Springs, and Norden (and tunnels 41, 33, 34, 35, & 36 along the way).
Curt Regensberger, The Streator Connection
The Streator Connection models the connecting point of the Santa Fe and Conrail railroads at Streator, Illinois. This 30’x32’ HO scale layout has 32″ minimum radius curves, a maximum 1.3% grade, and is a loop-to-loop design with two independent mainlines. The layout features a large freight yard, an engine terminal, a 3-track intermodal facility, a steel mill, and passenger facilities.
Don Reineri, Chesterfield & Eldon
The late 50s are represented on this fine 31’x25’ Lionel layout featuring multiple trains operating on interconnected main lines. The layout is designed in five sections and displays a large collection of Lionel equipment and accessories including a turntable, logging and coal operations, an airport, towns and various industries. Scenery includes a freight yard, kitbashed and scratchbuilt buildings and structures, in addition to the automated Lionel accessories. Trains are operated by Command Control and include sound.
Dave Roeder, Webster Groves & Fenton
The Webster Groves & Fenton RR is a fictional short-line railroad serving as a connection to local industries for the Burlington Northern RR in St. Louis County, Missouri. On the WG&F, a switching layout connects the industries of Valley Park, Missouri, via the BN main line from Springfield, MO. There are two yards to service the layout. Lower level staging sends and receives trains during operation sessions. The Burlington Northern operates in Valley Park moving grain, rock, petroleum and manufactured goods. The Bussen Quarry is another feature from St. Louis County that is represented on the layout. The real quarry ships by truck, and so does the scale version located in the center of the exposed helix and “wye” on the Webster Groves & Fenton.
St. Charles Model Railroad Club
The 60’x80’ layout depicts a line running from St. Louis to KC during the 1940-50s. Two extensive yards produce lots of traffic. Main features to look for include the extremely large over and under figure eight configuration and the steam engine facility. This railroad was on display at the Gateway 2001 National Train Show.
St. Louis Lionel Club
This railroad is an O scale, 3-rail layout roughly 12 ft wide by 30 ft long (on the lower main level) with a connecting throat center section about 3 ft by 20 ft. There is also a new upper level about 10 ft square. The two levels utilize Lionel sectional track, with assorted Lionel switches on the main level. Power is supplied by three Lionel ZW transformers which may be used for conventionally powered engines or for Trainmaster command equipped engines by using Lionel’s Handheld Controls. The main lower level is configured with a double track main line that loops the entire lower level tables. Train may be run simultaneously on each track. There are sidings off the main lines that run the length of the layout and may be used as passing or storage tracks. The center throat section is linked to the main lines and provides several staging tracks. At one end of the center section there is a small separate circle with a self-reversing trolley. There is an assortment of industrial and commercial buildings as well as some residential structures on the lower level.
Mike Satke, Union Pacific Railroad
Mike Satke’s N scale 1964-era model of Union Pacific in northern Utah is an “L” shaped layout with a 50-foot mainline run. This beautiful layout features a large scratch-built bridge, many detailed structures and scenes.
Cliff Saxton, Cochran Valley Scenic Railway
The centerpiece “White Sulphur Springs Division” is a 20’x18’ American Flyer S-gauge layout filled with memories from the 1950s & 1960s (including a three-screen drive-in theater) and featuring original AF accessories and buildings, as well as lots of rolling stock. Four trains operate along a double-track mainline which, at one point, parallels a Plasticville main street and a residential area served by a working trolleybus line, then a mountain loop and on through an agricultural valley. Other divisions (companion layouts) feature smaller N-scale and two-level Lionel operations. A Schucco Disneyland monorail encircles the fully animated 30-ride “Laura Highlands” HO-scale amusement park, with its Z-gauge kiddie train.
Lawrence Sayre, St. Louis & Rolla RR / Sunshine Railroad
A visit to this layout will afford the visitor a chance to see TT scale in action! Not just TT, but also TTn31/2 on this “F” shaped layout. The narrow gauge Sunshine RR is a steam and diesel operation that accesses a transportation museum and a time treatment plant with its dual gauge load track. This line also passes in from of a 15’ mountain (a scale 312’ high and 1,800’ long!). The SSRR consists of 165’ of trackage including a yard with dual gauge track conversion operation. The SL&RR is a standard gauge line with passenger terminal and freight yard in 65’ of track. The layout includes a zoned sound system – the factory hums, a house is under construction, birds chirp on the mountainside, and more.
John Schindler, St. Louis Junction Railroad
St. Louis Junction Railroad focuses on late 1990s era local and industrial switching, including Granite City Steel, in the metropolitan St. Louis area. Interchange and through traffic between the major railroads rounds out the operations. Seven different railroads are represented: BNSF, UP, NS CR, CSX, TRRA (Terminal Railroad Association) and the St. Louis Junction RR (local switching railroad). Digitrax DCC; DTC operation with 5-channel radios, car cards, waybills and switch lists.
Ron Schlueter, San Jose Southern
The SJS is based on the Denver & Rio Grande Western standard gauge line from Miniturn, Colorado, to Tennessee Pass set in the 1950s. Heavy manifest freights, passenger service, a local, helper locomotives with 3% grades, and the Rocky Mountains provide the setting. Twenty-two miles of railroad torture. Walkaround design with lower staging level, the layout features 140’ of seamless aluminum backdrop of prototype scenes painted by Greg Gray. Digitraxx DCC, HO 13’x44’, 145’ mainline, code 83, 70 and 50 rail.
