Don DeWitt's Dreamin' Layouts
Last update: 10 / 7 / 07





 
Great Lakes and Atlantic Railway System
O scale
Train Movements:
 
 

Introduction

Layout Drawings
 



S
scale
 O
scale

S
scale
 O
scale


O Scale Adventures: Dreamin' History
(Return to Top)

No... you can't visit this layout, ... YET!

However, in the summer of 2008, I am planning to have the basement finished which means after 16 years of dreaming, I can start building the Great Lakes and Atlantic Railway System.

If you visit the S scale website, you can find my first dreamin' attempt at fitting a model railroad into my basement.  Now 10 years later, I have reduced the area available to allow for a work room and storage room, and of course have complicated things by moving to O scale.  However, I no longer have the problem of trying to use several large modules. They were in S scale and have been sold.

Below you will find version 11 of my dreamin' about the O scale GL&A. If you haven't read the S scale website, I have several prototype railroads that I enjoy modeling which complicates my life a bit.  I grew up in Michigan with grandparents in Missouri so I was focused via my brother, father and grandfather on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy (CB&Q) railroad.  When I move from Michigan to New Jersey/New York in the 1980s, I fell in love with the Erie and Lehigh Valley railroads. And of course, I am an imaginative fellow and I created my own railroad called the Great Lakes and Atlantic Railway which ties my midwestern life to my eastcoast life.

So what to do...?

My goal is to create a model railroad that has two railroads in operation at any one time.  The drawing below shows the Erie and Lehigh Valley version with an interchange with the New York Central (oh yeah... I like that railroad too!)  ha ha

I also plan to be able to say... today is midwestern day... and we are only running CB&Q and or GL&A. Or GL&A and Erie, etc etc.

Many modelers may roll their eyes and sigh... but hey... this is my fantasy world. I will be glad to visit yours sometime too and accept your premises.

Anyway.... on to the dreamin' ...


The Layout Introduction (version 11)






 
Great Lakes and Atlantic Railway System
O scale
Train Movements:
 
 

Introduction

Layout Drawings




S
scale
 O
scale

S
scale
 O
scale

Scroll down for O.

Goals:
    • I want multiple railroads running in realistic manners.
      • Result:
        • I have included single track mainlines for Lehigh Valley and Erie as the primary railroads. Connected to these include locomotive servicing areas for each railroad, four passenger stations (two per railroad), and a multitude of industrial areas for those operators who enjoy switching challenges. 
        • In addition there is an interchange with the NYC that is actually just a hidden storage tunnel.
    • I want to invite friends over for operating sessions between industries and between railroads.
      • Result:
        • I have added many sidings and industries.
        • Even though I have four stations, I do not plan to run long passenger trains... just two cars and a loco, or RDCs.  If visitors wish to run passenger trains they are welcome to but I will not have room for passenger storage yards. With each passenger car having a length around 21 inches, my layout will not be big enough.
    • I also want to run multiple trains while I visit with friends who just want to watch trains run.
      • Result:
        • I can run LV, and Erie trains simultaneously, so eastern folks should be happy.
        • Of course, sometimes I will just run my CB&Q trains just for fun!
        • Occasionally, a few GL&A or NYC trains may pass through.
        • Any other railroad equipment will always be welcome.
    • My primary focus is industrial / city railroading, with one area being mountainous with a big coal mine with the feeling that I have seen around Scranton and Wilkes Barre, PA.
The drawing of the layout shown below was created using EmpireExpress v2 on a Macintosh computer.

The first image is a 50% view to see just the general shape.  A second image is 100% and allows you to see the ideas more clearly.  You can access that image at FULL.

You may wish to download the image and print it. You can do so by clicking on one of the graphics below, wait until they load, and save the file for printing.  I am not sure how the webpages will print as it depends on your browser and the resolution of your computer screen.

TWO sizes are available: (HALF or FULL)

Scroll down to view the HALF size view.  Click on FULL to view the large image.

Half size view

Background colors indicate height of area above the floor ranging from 44 inches to 58 inches.
Grey areas are roads.
Purple rectangles and circles are buildings.
Dotted lines are hidden tracks in tunnels.

The upper mainline (MAIN 1) is Lehigh Valley, and the lower mainline (MAIN 2) is Erie.
There is an interchange with the New York Central near alternate control panel 1.  The NYC only runs left and right into hidden storage tracks underneath Krause station (left) and Marks Milling (right.)
 version 11.1
 
TWO sizes are available: (HALF or FULL)
Scroll up to view the HALF size view.  Click on FULL to view the large image.

Admissions:
  1. I fully realize that I still may be jamming too many things into the area that I have to work with.  Earlier versions had considerably more stuff. Once I get to building, more tracks and industries may disappear.  At present I have most of the buildings purchased except for the big ones which will need to be scratchbuilt.  If I have no room for some of the kits, then Ebay is always waiting... ha ha.
  2. I think I have left enough aisle space.
  3. Of course the main access to the layout requires a gate, which is somewhat terrifying.
  4. We shall see.
You can contact me at LINK.

Thanks for visiting!
Come back again to see if I have stopped dreamin' and started workin'!


 
Great Lakes and Atlantic Railway System
O scale
Train Movements:
 
 

Introduction

Layout Drawings
 



S
scale
 O
scale

S
scale
 O
scale