What's New

March, 2008: Signals, signals, signals ! Wiring, wiring, wiring ! Much effort has been expended getting ready for the cutover to Chubb for the run from Sacramento to the west side of the Altamont. Our topside crew has installed a forest of signals, even beyond the planned extension. And our moles have had the back-breaking work of pulling and connecting new wire and removing old under the layout. With the layout shutdown since January, the pace has accelerated to do work that could not be done while we were still running during the last few months of the year.

And not to be forgotten is training for the new system. A well-attended class on signals aspects was held in February and “hands-on” sessions in March. We may see some shaky running for the first few weeks of the new season until we gain familiarity with running under our new Automatic Block Signalling (ABS) system !

Scenery has not been neglected. Our master scratchbuilder, Jeff Robinson, is doing a phenomenal job on the buildings in our new town of Pleasanton. As an example, he has used 153 pieces of plastic to build and stabilize the peaked roof for Pleasanton Hotel. Two previous tries with less bracing warped in the winter cold of our building. We are holding our breath that trial 3 is it ! The roof has a cupola. Jeff used an additional 55 pieces just for that ! He is also scratchbuilding a model of Kolln Hardware – the portion above the main roof of its corner dome contains 140 pieces of plastic. These are models of contest quality – we are working on him to find a way to give the models appropriate exposure in the modeling community.

Work on developing the site for the new Martinez depot is progressing well. Background information and a photographic record of the stages of progress is documented here.

A long section of the dual track Mainline between Davis and Sacramento was ripped out and relaid to eliminate an annoying vertical kink at the Sacramento River bridge. This was a problem that was introduced inadvertently when the bridge was installed some 3 years ago and has defied the many small fixes attempted since then.

Benchwork has been completed for a new siding and switching area at Dixon. Though this area is “backstage” out of the public view, it gives the operators some further operating interest and ability to change the makeup of a train before it reappears for the public.

And another large area of basket-weaving scenery base for the Hill was covered – under Cape Horn just to the left of the large elevated cab above Sacramento. Progress, progress !

September, 2007: We have just completed a major update of the HO Section of the website with many new pictures that show the significant progress made since the last update. These pictures replace the old Photo Gallery referred to in the January 2001 news below.

SP's Cal-P line - along the public walkway - has essentially been completed. We are, however, considering a complete redo of the Wood Street area to improve trackwork and switching operability. The large Oakland Mole building , which was showing signs of age, was renovated - internal support beams and roof "glasswork" replaced. A large turntable was installed at the (railroad) west end of the Oakland Yard but the roundhouse is yet to be built - a major undertaking.

The competing SP and WP lines over Altamont Pass saw the addition of the new town of Tracy. A second, Pleasanton, is under construction, together with some industries along the back wall.

The Trolley layout underwent a major redo of the Havenscourt area along the back wall and updating of the control system. Narrow Gauge continues to work on track and control refinements. DCC control was implemented about 12 months ago

Our energies are now focused on scenicking the large Mountain Division - Roseville through Colfax to Truckee. Many authentic scenes have been painstakingly modeled but much remains to be done; however, the line is fully operational with trains climbing to a dramatic 12 feet or so above the public walkway to the large (hidden) staging yard at Truckee. Last winter, a major new engine facility was added to the (hidden) Roseville staging yard.

We continue to refine the computer control system currently implemented on the Mountain Division. This will be extended from Sacramento to the west side of the Altamont Pass this coming winter shutdown, with working signals to control train movements.

August 2, 2004: The tower exterior was completed – it will ultimately house 4 control cabs for Hill operations. Most of the 2000- 2002 projects were completed which added alot of urban and rural building and scenery details, operating functionality and added interest. Major eye catchers are the Yolo Causeway trestles and scenery, Sacramento River and the Sacramento intermodal yard and exquisite rockwork and scenery at American Canyon. Our Newark/Decoto area has really blossomed with many additonal building and scenery. Cal-P and Sante Fe branchlines are complete and have been operational for 2 run seasons.

The Chubb system which controls operations on The Hill - our Roseville to Truckee Donner loop - was completed and operated during the 2003 season. A major rebuild of the Roseville Yard ladders, tie-ins to the branchlines and rebuild of the control panel with tie-ins to Chubb - was completed in Spring 2004 -this added much operational flexibility. Our large yard at Truckee at the top of the Hill - high above the main layout level - is close to being operational. We are currently focussed on continuing the extensive job of completing hardshell and scenery on the very large Hill area. And we are set to plant a few thousand trees !

The basic trackwork for a lumber line winding along the slopes of the Hill has been laid. The plan is to have this operate automatically, with one loaded and one empty train shuttling back and forth between the logging area and sawmill complex.< /p>

Narrow gauge has seen many improvements. The run to Elvas was eliminated and replaced by a Helix which providesa second loop up to Colfax. Extensive rewiring was done to improve operations and activate the helix loop. It is now common to see four narrow gauge trains operating simultaneously on Narrow Gauge, all controlled by just one operator. A rebuild of the control panel is in the works, as is some additional trackwork to add sidings for operational flexibility.

April 13, 2002: We have started a super-detailing program which includes both interior and exterior lighting throughout our urban areas (Oakland, Newark, Davis and Sacramento).

January 20, 2001: We have posted a large number of photos in the photo gallery section to show the tremendous progress we have made on scenery and details in the last year.

August 20, 2000: We have almost completed the CHUBB system on the Mountain Division. It should be up and running soon. We have begun installing scenery on the Mountain Division, we are currently working at American. The sanding facilty has been installed at the Oakland Engine Facilty. Newark Davis scenery is nearing completion. Roundhouse scenery is being installed. Radum, Hearst, and East Pleasanton scenery is nearing completion. The elevated tower has most of the exterior work completed. Interior work will begin soon.

Coming projects for winter 2000/2001: Installation of Yolo Causeway. Shoo-fly removal, branchline completion. Truckee yard completion. Colfax scenery completion. Completion of local panels which will allow full use of local switching at Newark, Radum, Hearst, and East Pleasanton. Installation of Sacramento intermodal facility. Roundhouse scenery completion. Completion of American scenery and starting at Auburn, Cape Horn, and Long Ravine. Installation of Narrow Gauge yard at Sacramento.

February 14, 2000: Work continues on Newark, it should be nearing completion by May 1. We are working toward completion of the town of Davis by May 1. We are continuing wiring work for our Chub computer control system for the Donner Pass Division. We have started construction of the elevated cab for the Donner Pass Division - it will resemble a switching tower. We have started construction of the Oakland yard roundhouse and the ferry boat for our Oakland ferry terminal (Mole).

September 2, 1999: Work on Davis continues. On the website, we have added trackplans for each division.

June 4, 1999: The town of Davis has arisen is rapidly being populated by railroads, buildings, people and vehicles. Work continues on many other aspects of the layout.

April 2, 1999: Come see trains straining up the Donner Summit grade to Truckee. While our Mountain Division is not yet fully operational, we will be running trains "up the Hill" for the first time. There is new and more complete scenery on several portions of the layout. The Oakland Mole building now is nearly complete and the Key System trackwork to the Oakland 16th Street Station has appeared and soon should be operational. The Oakland Roundhouse turntable will be turning an assortment of finely detailed steam engines - from Moguls to Cab Forwards - for service when we feature steam or transition eras. On modern days the layout features a number of intermodal hot freights. More passenger trains will be featured. It is a great sight to see a California Zephyr, a SP Daylight or a Santa Fe Chief departing the Mole and headed for points east. A variety of AMTRAK equipment operates when we feature a modern theme.

January 8, 1999: More work on scenery for the upcoming photo-shoot.

December 4, 1998: The focus has been on completing detailed scenes in preparation for the January visit from Model Railroader magazine. The hill is operational with one train in either direction.

October 3, 1998:Work continues on the Oakland Mole building as skylight panels are being added. Work on the Chubb system will slow for now, while members concentrate on getting the big hill operational and scenicked. The target is to have a train run up and down within a few weeks. The electrical team is also working on organizing the wiring to isolate systems for ease of maintenance and additions.

September 4, 1998: The ferry slip at Oakland Mole is progressing as details are added. Scenery at Newark and structures at Colfax have been updated. The track is laid on the "hill" and wiring and testing continues.

Back to HO Home Page

GSMRM Main Page © 2008 by GSMRM comments to info@gsmrm.org

nbsp;