Page 5 - January February 1997

CHRISTINEVILLE & PETERSAM JUNCTION DIVISION
...of the Southern Pacific BY PAUL DOGGETT
followed - rock faces at Summit were made with cork, not the small "model shop" pieces but large pieces from garden centres - much cheaper that way. The rest of the layout was scenicked using a variety of methods; 1/2" chicken wire covered in plaster-soaked flannel blanket; hot-glued cardboard strip lattice covered with strips of old nappies soaked in B&Q all-purpose filler (for rough grass areas); rocky areas made of kitchen towel soaked in the B&Q filler; rock castings using crumpled kitchen foil as a mould.
The ground was painted with a base colour, matt magnolia mostly. Woodland Scenics and Jervis Scenics (Stockport) ground cover was sprinkled liberally. The latter's materials are good for rough cover and go a long way.
Trees are mainly twigs covered with Woodland Scenics materials. The creek took several tins of varnish - rough water is clear plastic with touches of white paint. The “names” come from family and friends.
Structures are mostly kits. The 2 stall roundhouse was kitbashed from two Dapol/Airfix engine sheds by Robin Harrison. The main top section is a folded dogbone, which might not suit everyone, but suits me fine. Whilst the layout is basically finished, there is always some- thing to do on it by way of extra scenery,
wiring up more signals etc. etc.
The SP predominates by about 2 to 1
in this 1945 to ’56 era layout. Steam still rules, 2-6-0 to 4-8-8-2 “cab aheads” on SP freight, 4-6-2’s to 4-8-4’s on SP pas- senger, mail and express. Santa Fe rosters 2-6-2’s to 2-10-4’s on freight, again with Pacifics to Northerns on passenger/mail/express duties. The SP, like the prototype, operates just one RDC. Two diesel switchers help out the 0-6-0 S12 at Christineville - the 0-6-0 is perma- nently based there while the diesels change with each other regularly. The ATSF has but one diesel, an SW9. This will be used on a new layout being built below the storage board level. All ATSF stock will then move to its own layout leaving the high level to the SP. Freight stock will interchange via an 0-5-0 man- draulic switcher!
Operation is by a variety of con- trollers. Main line is on a Fidelity con- troller from New Zealand - it is the best I've ever used, providing superb control. Christineville Yard is run from a Modelex unit which is good for switching. The stor- age yards are served by a good old H&M Powermaster.
We work a card system for main line trains, with way freights run as needed - one each session usually. The way freight brings up about 8 cars, then the switcher
Paul Doggett’s 18' x 8' HO Christineville & Petersam Junction
Grades on visible layout are 1 to 1.5%
Numerals on plan equal track height in inches
above datum
KEY
bd Burns Dispatch
p Loading Platform sk Sunkist
a1/2 Argonaut Press
w Water Towers
DE Down to East Yard DW Down to West Yard
J Junction Crossover, for continuous running
on high level wh WH
FEBRUARY 1997 5
sets them out and picks up empties and loads waiting for the way freight. This is worked with small cards, one for each car used in way freight service (a pool of about 50 cars).
Each card bears the names of indus- tries etc. where there are to be pick-ups or set-downs. This is indicated to the opera- tor by placing a paper clip over the desti- nation on the card. At the end of the ses- sion there should be a way freight ready to leave for the main storage yards.
The loops are used for meets, and to allow fast trains to pass slower ones. Main line trains run round twice, about 6 scale miles. We run at scale speeds, usual- ly about 45-50 scale mph, and 15-20 for freights.
To operate the layout on running nights it is best to have two people - one on the Christineville switch and one on the main line. I am lucky in having two regular helpers (one each night) - Robin Harrison, an excellent 7mm modeller who likes switching (“Harrison” was named for him), and Andrew Burns, a N&W/NS fan who likes to run main line trains, and switching. “Burns Dispatch” is named for him. Andy's only problem is we have N&W behemoths on freight drags - all good fun!
(Well, Model Railroading IS fun - they tell me! Ed.)