I don't know whether or not this is the right site to do this, but since I'm new here, it was suggested that I show some pictures of my layout. The Yuba River Sub (HO) is a 'protolance' layout that assumes that the Rio Grande built its own California Extension from Salt Lake City to Oakland via the Yuba River watershed in the northern California Sierra Nevada. The layout is in my garage (California Basement) and is constructed on a foam base on 1x4" framework. The layout is DC with blocks, with a minimum radius of 34" and an average gradient of 2%. The setting is anywhere between 1939-53 and late October of any year. The roster is 95% steam. The country represented is the Yuba River watershed of the western slope of the Sierra Nevada between elevations of 3,000--6700 feet. Here's a few shots: Engine terminal at Deer Creek, where "Valley Power" is changed over to "Mountain Power". Short section of 2.4% grade out of South Yuba Canyon past Champion gold mine Wagon Wheel Gap, separating South and Middle Forks of the Yuba River Sierra Buttes and Yuba Pass with Sierra City below Just a 'touch' of the Yuba River Sub, but I hope you like it. Tom
Tom, you did a handsome job on that layout. BTW, the real Wagon Wheel Gap was near Creede, CO in the SW part of the state. Can we get a better shot on that compound in picture #3?
LOL! It's actually the San Juan ridge between the two forks of the Yuba River, but Wagon Wheel Gap just sounded better to me. More 'romantic', I suppose. One nice thing about both the Colorado and California mining areas--they had very colorful names. I like that little PFM compound 2-6-6-0, it's a real little powerhouse. I'll try and get a better picture of it. Thanks Tom
Thanks, guys. I appreciate the comments. Here's a few more: The Bullard's Bar bridge over the reservoir formed by the Middle and North Forks of the Yuba River: East side of Yuba Pass: Deer Creek Viaduct--two ME tall viaduct kits on a 36" radius--excuse the unfinished scenery: Two 2-8-2 rear of train helpers working a freight out of South Yuba Canyon--yes, they were actually running. And yes, I can do it on DC, LOL!: Tom
Very nicely done. You have some outstanding scenes on your layout. What is the size of the track plan?
Love that Bridge over the reservoir! Very Impressive! 4 questions: 1. By any chance, could you post some pics of any of the bridges while they were under construction...especially pre-scenery pics showing benchwork/framework where you made the transitions from shelf surface to the bridge structure, itself. 2. Along with a track plan, would it be possible to see an overall picture showing how the layout fits into the layout space? 3. There were certainly a lot of well-sceniced areas. How long have you been working on this layout? 4. It is obvious you have invested time, energy, and expertise into the modeling and scenicing aspect of model RRing. But some of the scenes also looked like they were set up for operations. Are you into railroad ops, too?
Tom, I love the steam and the Double header on the bridge was really something. I’m a big steam fan my self . You have a really nice layout there, way to go!
Thanks for the comments, guys. Unfortunately, I don't have an actual track plan that I can show, but it's a double-folded 'dogbone' with non-parallel double track somewhat like the SP Donner Pass route between Newcastle and Colfax. The layout is about 24x20', and takes up about 3/5ths of a double-car garage. Future expansion includes a staging yard on the unoccupied side of the garage. Though the layout is pretty much designed for continuous running, there is a medium-large yard at Deer Creek where I can make up and break up trains. Deer Creek is also the point where locomotives either change from 'Valley' to 'Mountain' power, or helpers are added for the climb from South Yuba Canyon to Yuba Summit. Even though the MR is DC operated, quite a few of my brass locos are geared so similarly that I can run double-head or with rear-train helpers (very carefully on the rear-train helpers, LOL!). Again, thanks for the comments. I really appreciate them. Tom
