Track plan at a glance
Name: UP’s Daneville and Donner River Subdivisions
Scale: HO (1:87)
Size: 11′-6″ x 22′-0″
Prototype: Union Pacific, with Burlington Northern Santa Fe trackage rights
Period: present
Mainline run: 59 feet (excluding staging)
Minimum radius: 33″
Minimum turnout: No. 8 (main) and no. 6 (sidings and yards)
Maximum grade: 2.6 percent
Name: UP’s Daneville and Donner River Subdivisions
Scale: HO (1:87)
Size: 11′-6″ x 22′-0″
Prototype: Union Pacific, with Burlington Northern Santa Fe trackage rights
Period: present
Mainline run: 59 feet (excluding staging)
Minimum radius: 33″
Minimum turnout: No. 8 (main) and no. 6 (sidings and yards)
Maximum grade: 2.6 percent
Originally appeared in the November 2006 issue of Model Railroader. Also appeared in 102 Realistic Track Plans.
Click here to download a PDF of this track plan
Click here to download a PDF of this track plan
Thanks to the MR Staff for all the articles and videos showcasing Pelle’s modeling, he has created truly one of the iconic layouts of today. I was blessed to be able to spend a good many wonderful days with my Dad, who had been part of the Army EOD unit tasked with “daylighting” the collapsed tunnels over Tehachapi after the ’52 earthquake, roaming over the line between Mojave and Bakersfield (we had literally walked 2/3s of the route). So when I saw my very first picture of a train taken on Pelle’s original layout I knew exactly where it was taken before I read my first line of copy. What surprised me was where he was. But I guess it shouldn’t have as over the last 50 years I have met people from all over the world on and around the Tehachapi Loop. I have also been a modeler during those 50 years and Pelle’s work never fails to impress and inspire me and if I ever make it to Denmark, Mr. Soeborg, you can expect a request from me to see your layout in person.
Thanks for all the Great articles about Pelle's Layouts.I have all his books and feel he is one of the best and talented modlers around.I've been driving through Mojave all my life and Daneville is a great representation.Hope to see a Blue-Ray video and many more articles.
Strange effect. After touring the Tehachapi Loop area we headed south for Los Angeles. We were talking quite a bit when all of a sudden I looked around at what seemed to be a familiar sight. I was sure I seen this place before even though I was never in this part of the country. Then it hit me. I was driving through Pelle Soeborg's Daneville layout. In reality it was the main street of Pelle's layout modeled after Mojave California. It is weird to drive-into a model railroad layout, but thanks to Pelle's fine modeling effort, that's exactly what I did. It was sort of a HO Deja Vu' experience. Wish I could drive-into an area called Gorre and Daphetid!