Hill's Country

 

 

 

 

 

First outing at the  N Gauge Society’s 35th annual show.

 

 

 

 

 

Click here for Hill's Country Photo Gallery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Details

 

 

Scale :

N gauge

Area modelled :

Colorado

Period modelled:

1960 - 1970. The time of year is around early autumn.

Layout dimensions

6.30m * 3.0m (~21ft * 10ft) - L shape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 boards 1500 mm deep giving a

7 Boards (900mm wide) along the front

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

total;depth of 3.0 m

Insurance value

£5000 including stock

Number of operators

Minimum of 3 (1 day show) - 6-7 for a 2 day show.

Power supply

1 * 13 amp socket : maximum power requirement 3 amps

Tables

None

Chairs

2

 

Track Plan

 

Programme notes


The overall concept behind the layout was to have a reasonable scenic depth. The layout uses 8 1500mm * 900mm baseboard. excluding the helix and fiddle yard. A 3 track return loop runs along behind the back scene. This has enabled the layout to have a scenic depth of 1350mm (4'6"). The layout is not based on any particular location and the idea of putting the town at the base of the L was taken from a layout published by Model Railroader. For ease of orientation the town is placed on the North side of the river which flows from the west to the east.

 

Hill's Junction is set in the foothills of the Rockies somewhere in Colorado in the nominal time period of the late 60s. The town grew up round the railway and the Junction is used for changing train crews when they are operating on Out and Back Duties. The main operating companies are those that made up the Burlington Northern. However both the UP and the Sante Fe are also seen. The operating practice is that of the Burlington Route.

 

The layout divides into two halves, the country and the town. The town is located at the junction of two single track "main" lines, the high and low lines, coming from the west. As the high line going to the north climbs at approximately 1:30, the trains need all the help they can get. In practice this means that the single headed trains with a SD7 pulling it is limited to 10 trucks.

The low line runs along the river valley and has fewer operating restrictions.

 

The yard area in the town has 5 roads and an additional two road for through running. Each road is able to hold at least 15 box cars with the longest able to hold trains with 30 cars. The line through the depot is able to hold 10 coach trains. As the town is used as a change-over point there is a large motive power department. A significant proportion of the stock is fitted with Micro-trains couplings which should enable reliable remote uncoupling.

 

The town built a significant amount of industry on the back of the railways. Although with the dieselisation of the 50s has caused a decline in the railway workshops and its associated industries, the town is going through a period of redevelopment. The industry is still supplied by rail.

 

Based on our experiences at the 35th N Gauge show and at Colchester there have been modifications to the trackage behind the back scene to increase the train frequency.

Currently the layout is wired for conventional control, with up to  3 trains moving at the same time. If there are sufficient operators available then the town / industrial area can also be used. 

If very intensive operation is required then we will need a full crew of 7 to operate the layout.

 

Operational requirements & costs

The layout is deigned to be viewed along the two outer sides. Access to the operating area is required from the back of the layout. A further 2 foot is required to give access behind the Helix and fiddle yard. (i.e. a total area of 21ft * 12ft. If the layout backs onto a wall then an extra 1ft 6in (0.5m) is required.

Currently charges are based on the costs for of the hire of a Luton Transit van + 1 car for the additional operators.

 

Last updated :January 29, 2003

 

Contact

Back to Top

Back to railway home page