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DENNIS GRIGASSY’S Model Railroad My NEW
“Old Orchard & Southern Railway” is now under construction in
a second-story room inside my home. The OO&S is using much of the trackage, rolling stock, controls, and
computer programming from my now-demolished Waterside Railway. Located on the second floor of my home in a 12'x18'
room, the Old Orchard & Southern Railway is being built for
"operations," runs modern equipment, and so far has two 4-track
staging areas, two towns w/switching, a turntable/roundhouse area, and an
around-the-room loop for continuous running. The railroad is "operated" as
point-to-point with the turntable serving both "ends" of the run,
uses wireless EasyDCC for control, and RailOp for computer-generated train manifests. The RailOp
"dispatcher's" option is used for real-time scheduling of trains. The layout is still under construction and a second
loop with one or two more towns for switching is being added. Near future
plans call for an around the room hidden grade to raise the main line to a
complete second level, with 3 or 4 additional switching locations (towns). While not a "large" layout, even in it's
infancy it can keep 2-3 operators busy for several hours. CLICK HERE
to see photos of the OO&S Courtesy
of Frolin Marek Click your
“Back” button or arrow to return to this page. Updated 11/17/08 |
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I
invite you to see what the WRY used to be like … Enjoy! The Waterside Railway The HO Scale Waterside Railway was being constructed in an air-conditioned room at the rear of my garage. The layout consisted of the main line with several hundred feet of track, and numerous turnouts, spurs, sidings, and yards. The railroad used Digital Command Control with wireless throttles from CVP Products/EasyDCC. Waybills and switchlists were generated by computer using RailOp software.
The railroad has about 80 freight cars, three passenger cars, seven diesel
locomotives, and three steam locomotives. Trains operate from the six-track
main freight yard in the town of There are three "interchange" tracks and a two-track "staging" area. Color light signals are being installed at several locations along the right-of-way. Running the model railroad through a typical "day" in prototype fashion, with setting out and picking up freight cars at the various industries in the towns as dictated by the waybills, will keep three or four serious "operators" busy for several hours. The railroad can also be run in a round-and-round mode to just show it off to non-model railroad visitors. The three-turn "helix" was constructed in the un-air-conditioned garage adjacent to the railroad room. (A helix is a stacked spiral of track that allows trains to ascend or decend vertical heights within a minimal space.) My helix is not meant to be part of the "visible" railroad, and has enabled me to build a complete "second level" within the railroad room about 12"-14" above the original layout. Below is a photo taken as the first train enters the lower portion of the helix on its way to the upper level.
No scenery yet, but soon ... I hope!. Last updated - March 23, 2006 |