Contact: Carl Izzo.
My HO scale layout is typical of PRR during the 1950's, but does not model any specific areas. It is the fifth HO layout built since 1947. Although it was not started until 1994, planning and layout drawings started in 1987 as architectural drawings for our new home were developed. According to conventional wisdom, when your children leave home you move into smaller quarters. It is well know that conventional wisdom does not apply to model railroaders. We built a larger home with a larger basement.
The train room is 24 feet by 33 feet. The four-track main line is on a shelf running around the room. The main line passes through a window into the shop and train storage area and out other window back into the train room. Zero elevation for the track is 48 inches above the floor. There is a duck-under with a removable bridge in front of the door leading to the rest of the basement. The 60 locomotives are mostly steam, Pennline, Bowser and brass as well as early diesels.
To avoid the cost and complexity of cab control wiring, I installed Digitrax DCC equipment. The system uses the Chief with three boosters and four throttles. I have decoders installed in only 8 locomotives at this time.
I am presently building a feeder line, loosely modeled after the New Haven & Dunbar, between the main line and two of the walls. It will be 55 feet long point to point; have a turning wye at one end; interchange with the PRR; and have a small turntable at the other. At the present time, it has the town of Claymont, coal mine, coke by-products oven and chemical plant, all built using Walther's kits. Adjacent to the chemical plant will be a row of scratch-built, abandoned, open, beehive ovens. The feeder line motive power rolling stock and RR structures use the CPI (Claymont, Poketa Interchange) lettering and colors from my last layout. We lived at the corner of Poketa and Claymont where the CPI, which just happens to be my initials, also interchanged with the PRR.
The existing classification yards, 9-stall round house and 18 inch operating turntable are leftovers from my last layout. After the CPI and its scenery are completed, a new 30-foot long classification yard and engine servicing facilities will be built incorporating the present round house and turntable.
After the new yards are built, I will build a branch line to the Walther's steel mill and other related structures. It will be a continuous "modified dog bone" loop coming off and back on the main line at a wye. The last branch will be near the planned passenger facilities. At that point, the model railroad will be complete; the train room will be covered by the layout; walkways will form a labyrinth; and it will be July 13, 2032.
Copyright 1996 - 2008
Last modified: November 23 2007.
Keystone Crossings has served 4893077 pages since June 1, 1997.