GSC Layout Garden State Central
Model Railroad Club

Proposed 25' x 75' Room Layout

Version 15j - 08/01/17

We've been making changes to the original plan from 2013, and we will also have to opportunity to expand the layout into an adjoining room in another year or so, when it is no longer needed by its current occupants. The Bethlehem committee has finalized their track plans, while the Mauch Chunk (Jim Thorpe) and Wilkes-Barre committees are still finalizing theirs. Since so much has changed since the old plan, we thought it was about time to update the plans online and let everyone know where we're heading.

We've been doing our preliminary design work in a Windows program called SCARM (Simple Computer Aided Railway Modeller).
Here's a link to the SCARM file. Right click on the link and choose "Save Link As"

Just in case you want an evaluation copy of the software, here's a link for the last free version of the SCARM software (0.9.33) Right click on the link and choose "Save Link As"

  

   Layout schematic thumbnail
Click on image to enlarge

  

   Here's the overall schematic of the layout (version 15j). The building hallway would be at the bottom of the picture (Jersey City), and the windows would be at the top (Bethlehem).

We start on the bottom right at Jersey City. That track would be at 0 inch height, and there is a hidden loop under the Wilkes-Barre roundhouse on the right. The loop goes from behind the Jersey City Terminal to the right side of E-Port yard. It's really there for show running, but could be used as a lead track for the yard.

From Jersey City we head left past the dumper, car floats and dock. After passing through the rocks that make up "Coke Mountain", the railroad goes through Easton Station. This section is on a slight grade to raise the tracks up 3/4 of an inch.

Next up is the Bethlehem Reading Union Station and Bethlehem Steel, with all it's in-plant switching. We then go through the Lehight Gorge in the new addition of Mauch Chunk (Jim Thorpe). The tracks that go around Mauch Chunk are on a long 1-1/4% grade to get us to our final track height of 5-3/8 inches.

Following that is Ashley, PA. The Ashley Blue Coal breaker in on the aisle side to supply coal for the dumper in Jersey City.

The tracks then go into Wilkes-Barre, which is set up for lots of local switching.

Finally is the Wilkes-Barre yard and the D&H roundhouse. The roundhouse and Wilkes-Barre loop trackare over the Jersey City loop track.

  

3d Views of the Layout

3d view of the layout thumbnail
Click on image for a larger .pdf version

This is a 3d view of the layout from the hallway side of the layout.

   3d view 2 of the layout thumbnail
Click on image for a larger .pdf version

This is a 3d view of the layout from the window side of the layout.

  

That's about all for now. We'll be updating this page when we have more changes or sections get finalized.

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