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Our GGN layout is inspired by the
prototype GN Railway in the Pacific Northwest, and has the appearance of a class
1 railroad back in 1959. For those who operate here, however, it takes on
the flavor of a busy, prosperous short line switching lots of industries.
Without exception, all trains - even passenger trains have switching to do.
Jim Long's random generated computer program is used for car forwarding
with easy to understand paper work. Traffic control is handled by verbal
train orders using a phone system, order boards in every town, and role
playing as station agents. A session consists of 19 trains run in
sequential order, but without a time clock. The layout has three aspect
(ABS) track side signals, but most likely will disregard them and operate
as if in dark territory. The railroad is powered by Dynatrol,
(PSI) analog carrier control. The GGN layout is built on two levels of benchwork connected by a double track helix. During
operating sessions, the outside helix track is the Mainline, and the inside
track is used for two staging locations. (During open house running, the
inside helix track is part of a folded over itself 500' dogbone
show loop for continuous running.
The GGN was featured in the 1993
annual issue of Kalmbach's GREAT MODEL RAILROADS.
The upper logging end of that track plan, 15 years ago, was changed to
provide a 6 track staging town of Alpine (also a division crew change
point). Many other changes have been made to optimize operations. The
layout is in what was once the living room, dining
room, entryway, and hallway of our home. The tracks are laid out to
maximize distances between towns, thus it is not linear or sincere. An
engineer on his first trip across the railroad needs a little guidance.
That's not a problem because there are lots of helpful signs. East and west
railroad directions are posted at each town's control panel, and a system
map is on the back of each clipboard that you will be carrying (with your switchlist). There are 16 staging tracks to go along
with one yard (Seattle) to provide trains that service the 9 towns (with
switching) along a 475' GN mainline and 75' of branch lines and other
railroads. Scenery is 99.9% complete. The Hydro-electric plant,
and a few more details are still to be added. Directions to the GGN on
request. Contact me, Don_Bozman@att.net
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