The Sunset Route HO Scale Model Railroad

 

Layout room construction began in 1989 in a 70’x 30’ block building with a 10’ height, we added 3-airconditioner units to keep the complete railroad at 78 degrees, grid ceiling w/ 48”lights. Phase 2 construction of the Los Angeles area began in 2005 extending the layout 30’x 40’ including a crew lounge featuring a 8’x 22’ passenger train display, display cases with steam and diesel locomotives and a big screen to view railroad videos, also we added a work shop with a large spray booth, over 40’of work bench.

The layout construction after the basic track plans where made started with the bench work, the bench work construction was made using 2”x 3” studs, 1/2”plywood and 1/2”homasote, track laying was next using code #100 and code #83 flex track over cork roadbed, #10 switches on the main line, #8 & #6 yard switches, and #6 & #5 switches in the industrial areas then the track was painted and finally ballasted. The switches are controlled using manual and electric machines, the mainline curves are at a minimum of 38” radius. The layout in currently being converted to DCC control.

The layout features a 30’x 3’ hidden staging yard, dispatcher’s panel, passenger and freight operations will be the highlights with the capability of 14-16 operators. The focus of scenery and details are added with long scenic views from orange groves to the lonely desert and urban details with huge city scenes in Phoenix 5’x 16’ and Los Angeles 3’x 30’