Facts and features
Name: Hudson, Delaware & Ohio and Trenton Northern Transportation & Light Co.
Scale: HO (1:87.1)
Size: 40 x 40 feet (phase I), 60 x 80 feet (phase II, under construction)
Theme: freelance, inspired by Eastern Class I railroads
Locale: northern New Jersey and Pennsylvania
Era: steam-to-diesel transition (circa 1955)
Style: multi-level walkaround
Mainline run: HD&O (40 x 40-foot section), 9.86 scale miles; Trenton Northern, approximately 2.75 scale miles
Minimum radius: HD&O: main, 72″, branch 48″; Trenton Northern, 9″ Minimum turnout: No. 8 (HD&O), No. 4 (TN)
Maximum grade: 2.75%
Benchwork: open-grid rack system and L-girder
Height: 30″ to 42″
Roadbed: 1⁄4″ pine on 3⁄4″ particle board subroadbed on 5⁄8″ plywood base
Track: handlaid
Scenery: various (hardshell, plaster cloth on screen, etc.)
Backdrop: hand-painted on walls
Control: Digitrax Digital Command Control
This layout reminds me of the old epithet “can of worms”, meaning one that has track on almost every available space. And a main line that wanders round and round. How does an engineer follow his train? Up and down lots of stairs? Spectacular, though.