Tennessee Pass & Eagle River

[unittraincoal]

I am currently building a layout based on the top approx. 3 miles of Tennessee Pass along the headwaters of the Eagle River.  This is a rail-fan layout, not operations.... Actual distance and train size has been reduced to approx half the prototype at 1/160.  So a 100 car coal train will be 50 cars, and etc....75 car trains will be 33 and etc... You operations guys will find this layout very boring, there will not be one visable switch on any of the scenic ed 50+feet of visible  mainline. The grade is 3% compensated with 21" minimum curves...

I am at the point where I will soon have the backdrop printed and I am looking for a printer. I put up a post on the the regular discussion forum, looking for a printer. If anyone knows a company that print 40x300" on photo paper with UV coating and etc. It would be appreciated for pointing me in the correct direction  This is a 100"x40" test photo to get dimensions correct for the Kindig Curve scene at West Mitchell...

[unittraincoal]

Here is the prototype scene of this side of the pennesula. The other side will depict the Mitchell Curves....

[James Costello]

Cool, it's a great prototype to model. Can't wait to see more photos!

[davefoxx]

As a generally roundy-round guy, I can really appreciate what you're doing.  That picture you posted versus the photo photo looks like a match!  Kudos!  I can't wait to see more as your layout develops.

DFF

[unittraincoal]

The Photo of the layout, is actually based on  this perspective, but since it is not my prototype photo, I will just post the link....

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/264605/

[unittraincoal]

This is looking at the Mitchell s from the same direction as the prototype photos, obviously a different perspective than the prototype photos.... back drop will be on the left.... I do not have the risers or benchwork completed. I'll be getting to work in a few minutes 

[unittraincoal]

Last pics for now, time to get to work...

[Caleb Austin]

This is great! You're doing a wonderful job of replicating those scenes.

Caleb.

[jagged ben]

Anyone who thinks that running a 'railfan layout' with helpers is boring ... They have not tried it!   

Looking forward to seeing more.

PS:  Nice MPI locomotive.

[Scottl]

This looks great!  I have a soft spot for Tennessee Pass and my first foray into n scale was a simple diorama layout depicting the east(south) summit portal.  I am looking forward to seeing more of this.

[unittraincoal]

Anyone who thinks that running a 'railfan layout' with helpers is boring ... They have not tried it!   

Looking forward to seeing more.

PS:  Nice MPI locomotive.

A good friend of mine runs rear helpers on a 2% grade, 18" with zero problems. He only has one powered truck per helper. He uses cookie cutter wheels with no body mounted couplers.

I'm going to try it with all powered trucks at first. My curves are slightly wider at 21" . I also will not push against anything but body mounted couplers... My wheels however will be low profile...

I'll make it work one way or another 🤞

[tefsom85]

Do you have a trackplan you could share?    This looks very promising!

[unittraincoal]

I'll get one up soon!

[GaryHinshaw]

Very cool.  It looks like you have a great space to work in.  I look forward to seeing your plans and your progress!

[unittraincoal]

The total room is 20x40 feet.  This layout takes half the room, I also only have lighting up in one half at this point. What I do with the other half is up in the air ... Soldier Summit or  South Boulder Canyon? I also have a thing for Milwaukee's Pipestone Pass... One thing at a time I suppose....