Layout visits are one of the most popular attractions at the convention's sponsor, O Scale West. No other O scale event in the country has as many layouts open for visiting. There are so many layouts open for visiting that it is not possible to see them all unless one uses all days available for visiting and plans their itinerary carefully. Lastly, extremely high quality maps are provided so that getting to the layouts from the hotel and from layout to layout is straight forward.

Approximately 57(!) layouts will be open for visiting. Most are 2-rail O scale. A few may be 3-rail hi-rail (scale rolling stock, speeds, and couplers). A few will be S scale. A few will be HO scale; these are world class layouts that have been broadly publicized in the model hobby press, and are well worth a visit, particularly if this is your first visit to O Scale West (which is combined with the national convention for 2010). A few will be live steam.

Note that the layout visits are drive yourself - no bus is offered. Some local layouts are several hours drive from the hotel; most of those layouts are scheduled for visiting before or after the primary convention days of Wednesday through Saturday.

If you are flying in to the convention and want to take several days touring and visiting layouts before your arrival at the convention, we have a suggested itinerary that you arrange yourself and that includes national parks, very large finished O scale layouts, preserved operating railroads, historic railroads being reconstructed, railroad museums, and over 1000 miles of driving. For more information, click here to access the Getting Here page, or click on the Getting Here link in the navigation bar on the left.

Map of This Page - each line below is a link to that section so you can click on the line and jump to that section
Link to the Photos Web Page
Update History of This Page
Categorization of Layouts: Tour vs. Local
How to Get Information So You Can Visit Layouts
Grand Tour Layouts
     Grand Tour Layout Schedule and Contact Information (link to a secure page)
     Descriptions of Grand Tour Layouts on the Route from Las Vegas, NV (includes a layout in Durango),
     Descriptions of Grand Tour Layouts on the Route from Seattle
     Descriptions of Grand Tour Layouts on the Route from San Diego/Los Angeles
Local Layouts
     Local Layout Schedule and Contact Information (link to a secure page)
     How to Get an Advance Copy of the Local Layouts Hard Copy Map Packet
     Descriptions of the Local Layouts Arranged by Owner Last Name

PHOTOS!

We put many photos of the layouts that will be open on-line for your viewing pleasure and to entice you to come to the convention. Click here to view the photos.

ATTENTION LAYOUT OWNERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BEING OPEN FOR VISITING!

If you have a 2-rail O scale layout, a high-rail 3-rail layout, a scale S layout, or a very nicely done layout in other scales, and are interested in being open for visiting before, during, or after (of course there are location considerations), we would like to know about it. 2-rail O scale and scale S layouts will be listed here and photos posted to the web album if you want to be open for visiting during the convention and you provide us with a description of your layout. Other layouts may be listed at our discretion.

LAYOUT VISITS UPDATES

12/21/2009: First publication of as much as we know about layout visits at this time.This page will change significantly as we determine improvements in presentation and organization, and of course as more information about layouts that will be open becomes known. If you are interested in this activity please check back often. Your feedback is important so please don't hesitate to pass your comments on to us so that we can be sure this page provides the information you need.

2/20/2010

A major revision of this section. Most layouts have been identified and information on the others is in process for addition to this page as soon as it is ready. Many photos are now available for viewing. Your feedback is important so please don't hesitate to pass your comments on to us so that we can be sure this page provides the information you need.

3/4/2010

This section is revised to add layouts and to show one cancellation. Many more photos are available for viewing. Your feedback is important so please don't hesitate to pass your comments on to us so that we can be sure this page provides the information you need. Please check back often that the layout visit information is very dynamic at this time and may remain so until near the convention time.

4/20/2010

Layouts have been added, and more photos are available for viewing. Soon we will start work on identifying the layout open schedules and making that information available to you. Note that you will have to be registered for the convention (click on the Registration link in the navigation side bar on the top left of this page) in order to view the layout open schedules. Your feedback is important so please don't hesitate to pass your comments on to us so that we can be sure this page provides the information you need. Needless to say, things will still change, so check back from time to time.

5/4/2010

Information on the map packet has been clarified to note that this packet is only for the local layouts. Instructions on how to obtain a packet in advance are complete.

5/6/2010

The schedule and contact information for the remote layouts has been made available. Minor information changes to it may occur but the schedule and contact information is not expected to change. To view the information you must be registered for the convention and be prepared to supply to the page's access control your registration number and your 5 digit zip code.

6/22/2010

Jim Dias has offered to have his well done and accurate depiction, including the Keddie wye, of the WP open. The layout is HO scale. Jim lives a few blocks from Jack Burgess, so getting to Jim's is straight forward. Jim's layout has been featured in several magazines including Railroad Model Craftsman and the e-zine Model Railroad Hobbyist. Jim's layout is a last minute addition to the maps packet, so those of you who have requested advance copies of the map packets need to be aware of this change.

6/24/2010

The hours for Markovich on the schedule and contact information secure page had an error. On the 30th Frank's hours are 5-8, not 1-8 as the secure page indicated. The secure page has been changed. The map packet is correct.

Categorization of The Layouts

To help clarify when layouts are open, we have categorized the layouts as "Tour" and "Local".

Tour

The Tour layouts are those that are open only before and/or after the convention. The most likely scenario for visiting those layouts is that the layout is visited while the visitor is either on their way to the convention or while returning home after the convention. Please see the Grand Tour page for more information. Click here to jump to the Grand Tour layout descriptions and information on this page.

Local

The Local layouts are those that are mostly local to the convention and that are open before the convention and, primarily, during and after the convention. There may be some overlap in open times for some Tour layouts and some Local layouts. Local layouts are included in the printed layout maps packet that is available for pickup during the convention. Click here to to jump to the local layout descriptions and information on this page, including information on how to get information needed to visit layouts that are open before the convention.

How to Get Information So You Can Visit the Layouts

Grand Tour layout information (schedules and contact information) is on a secure web page. A printable copy of that information is also on that secure page. See Grand Tour Layout Schedules and Contact Information below to access that secured page. The convention is not providing a printed hard copy of information about those layouts.

For the Local layouts that are open before the convention and before you can personally pick up a hard copy layout maps packet at the convention, there are two choices. One choice is to have us send you a hard copy of the layout maps packet; see Advance Copy of the Map Packet below for more information. The other choice is to view the schedules and contact information that is on a secure web page. See Local Layout Schedules and Contact Information On-line below to access that secured page.

For the local layouts that are open during and after the convention, you can use the hard copy of the layout maps packet that will be available for pick up at the convention.

Grand Tour Layouts

The Tour layout owners have agreed to be open for visiting in a time frame such that a convention attendee who is on their way to or from the convention can stop to visit as part of their trip to or from the convention.

Here is how the visits will work. The prospective visitor will call the owner to make an appointment for a visit on the day(s) the layout owner has agreed to be open. The days the owner will be open along with their telephone number will be provided on a secure page; to access that page one must be pre-registered for the convention as the access key to that page requires the visitor's registration number (emailed when the pre-registration is processed) and the zip code of the visitor's address that was given on the pre-registration form.

Below are that layouts that have agreed to be open. Layouts in the same general area or that are on a prospective route to/from the convention are grouped together; see the Grand Tour page for more information. More information will be supplied as it becomes available.

Grand Tour Layout Schedules and Contact Information

You must be pre-registered to view the Grand Tour schedules and contact information. This is to protect the layout owners from casual web snoopers being able to get their telephone number, and so those snoopers can't determine when the owner is unavailable for visiting and therefore possibly out of town and thus a candidate to be burglarized. The generosity of those owners is very great, and we would be remiss to not do the most that we can to help protect their property.

There is no map packet for the grand tour layouts. The only contact information is that which can be viewed and printed as instructed below.

To view the Grand Tour layout schedules and contact information, you must be prepared to supply your convention registration number and the 5 digit zip code you used on that registration. If you are pre-registered and provided an email address, you received an email message containing that number. If you cannot find that message, please call Rod at the number on the Contact Us page and he will give you your registration number; Rod may ask a question or two to satisfy himself that you are who you say you are. Note that the registration number in the email you received was given as, for example and not a valid number, 20109999; sometimes the registration number has been presented as 2010-9999. When you key your registration number, do not include the hyphen, e.g., key 20109999.

Read the next paragraph. Then click here to view the information.

If you do not get access from your first or subsequent attempts to enter the User Name and Password, press the cancel button and a window will open with complete information about what information you must provide. When you are ready to attempt again, press the Page Reload button (this varies from browser to browser) to try again. If you decide to give up and seek help, select the Back button (this varies from browser to browser) to return to this page. If you did not include your zip code in the registration information you sent to us, we have not added you to the access list; please send us your zip code via email and will add you to the access list.

Layouts on Routes from Las Vegas, NV


Duane Danielson, Durango, CO: GN and NP fans shouldn't miss this layout! So you gotta start from Denver and go through the scenic beauty of the Rockies, and by preserved, some operating, narrow gauge railroads to get to it...; The layout room is 86x 45 ft- shaped like a L. The layout represents the NP and GN during the steam to early diesel era just after WW ll. Some of the pictures taken early on show early stages of scenery - now the layout is approximately 85% finished and will be at least 90% done by convention time. Conversion to DCC is in progress. Many of the engines are custom modified or scratch built as well as the rolling stock. Duane's layout was the cover photo and centerfold in the Nov/Dec 2009 O Scale Trains. To see photos of Duane's layout click here.

Then you can move on to Jim Harper in Santa Clara, UT.

Jim Harper, Santa Clara, UT: Jim's layout is Proto:48 and is very nicely constructed, sceniced, and detailed. A must see if you pass through that area (including Las Vegas, NV). Jim's layout is available for visiting both before and after the convention.To see photos of Jim's layout click here.

Guy Krivanek, Tehachapi, CA: For those traveling to/from the 'O' Scale National Convention June 27 through July 4, 2010 one of the layouts to visit is located at ARRT INDUSTRIES, 303 East 'H' Street Tehachapi, CA located approximately 7 miles from the famous Tehachapi railroad loop and two blocks east of the rebuilt Southern Pacific station in downtown Tehachapi. At this location can be seen 'O' Scale traction in operation, many pieces of railroadiana including lanterns, switch stands, drawings, pictures, etc. Also at this location are 'O' Scale layouts built by past craftsmen such as Bob Mazzi's LA Railway narrow gauge traction layout (Pacific Terminal Lines), Bob Hegge's scale model P-48 Traction layout (Crooked Mountain Lines), Bill Clouser's 1968 model P-48 traction layout, Sy Simonton's beautiful curved trestles from the Squander Plenty Lines, and the traction layout built by Bill Cotton which ran at the Citrus Empire model railroad club at the Pomona Fairplex from 1974-2004. While there you can browse for Railroad and antique related items in the adjacent store. Please call ahead for an appointment as Guy Krivanek will only be available prior to the convention Monday June 28 and Tuesday June 29 and after the convention Sunday July 4 and Monday July 5, 2010.

Jerry Guth, Gardnerville, NV: Jerry's layout is a complete 24 foot by 60 foot layout depicting the Southern Pacific in the mid-late 1950s.Spectacular scenery and many accurate scratch-built structures. The layout was designed to emphasize way freight operations. Jerry's layout was further described in the Jan/Feb 2010 issue of O Scale Trains. To see photos of Jerry's layout click here.

Bob Jakl, Mariposa, CA: Bob's 34 foot by 80 foot layout has its own purpose-built building. The layout represents 1950-1970 mainline railroading. ATSF, MKT, and CB&Q diesels operate on over 2000' of hand laid code 148 and 125 steel rail. There are multiple mainlines, mountains with spectacular bridges, a large classification yard, a 7 track passenger station, an industrial switching district, and a large tower overlooking the layout from which Bob can operate. Aisles, walls, and benchwork are all beautifully finished. Scenery is over 90% complete. Bob has many of Lorrel Joiner's former buildings on the layout. The layout was most recently described in O Gauge Railroading April 2010.

Dave Viale, Mariposa, CA: Dave's 30 foot by 70 foot layout has its own purpose-built building. The layout loosely represents the SP frm Sacramento to Sparks in the pre-1955 era. There is an extensive collection of steam engine models of the SP, ATSF, and Sierra Railroad. The 2000' mainline is hand laid and in full operation with 84"minimum radius curves. It runs through mountainous terrain with mountains towering over the trains. Also included is a large engine servicing facility with turntable and roundhouse. Scenery is now 70% completed. Dave's large layout was most recently described in O Gauge Railroading June 2010. To see photos of Dave's layout click here.

Tom Davis, Mariposa, CA: Tom's layout is a 24 foot by 36 foot 3-rail layout running scale proportioned equipment was most recently described in O Gauge Railroading April 2010.

John Houlihan, Fresno, CA: Here is John's description of his layout:; "As you enter the family room, a PFE reefer rebuilt in 1922 is the wall paper and its insides are the ceiling. Just ahead is the railroad. A swinging gate (electrically interlocked to stop the train) lets you into the room. Straight ahead are the downtown Fresno ATSF yards, behind you the tracks rise up from the valley floor towards the summit of Tehachapi. To your right the packing sheds of the valley are represented with a little bit of Visalia Electric / Sacramento Northern flavor. Off to the left is the roundhouse area.

"The layout is Digitrax DCC, signaled with Railroad & Co controlling the logic. Most freight cars have resistor wheel sets for detection. Turnouts are controlled with Tortoise machines, route logic is programed into Digitrax DS-64's. Only one button has to be pushed to throw the many turnouts needed to get through an area. The computer can also control the turnouts. The signals are made by Irish Tracklayer and include single and double head searchlight signals, one semaphore, several dwarfs and a 9 head signal bridge.

The flavor of the railroad is Santa Fe for territory and SP for locomotives."; To see photos of John's layout click here.

Gordon Briggs, Nevada City, CA: Gordon's 20 foot by 30 foot Timber Creek RR models the SP in Proto:48. To see a video of Gordon's layout click here. Here is a link to Gordon's web site about his layout.

John Bridges, Nevada City, CA: John's layout models the railroads in Colorado's mountain mining districts. John has won several O Scale West contest prizes for scratch built structures, freight cars, and a D&SL 2-6-6-0. There is extensive hydrocal-based scenery; the scenery is 80% complete. The layout size is 13 x 36 feet.

To see photos of John's layout click here.

Layouts on the Route from Seattle, WA

Seattle, WA area: Lee Thwaits. O scale, standard gauge, freelanced double deck layout with Southern Pacific theme. All steam. Layout is in 42' x 26' daylight basement. Only access down stairs. All trackwork in and operational. Over 50% sceniced. Operations primarily way freight oriented. DCC control using EasyDCC wireless throttles. About 2/3's of locos with Tsunami sound.

Sherri and Gary Jordan. The layout is the Gilpin Tram circa 1915. It is On2 and On3 on a 5' x 15' main deck with a helix to an upper level of 1.5' x 15'. The real Gilpin Tram ran between Blackhawk and Central City, Colorado from 1888 to 1918. It was built to transfer gold bearing ore from the mines above Central City to the mills in Blackhawk and, via the Colorado and Southern, Golden or Denver. Our layout encompasses a portion of Blackhawk on the lower level and a few mines on the upper level. There is an interchange with the C&S 'broad gauge' that allows material and supplies to move in and out of Blackhawk. The Tram is operated with Digitrax and Soundtraxx electronics and a card order system described by Malcom Furlow in MR around 1987. Motive power for the Tram is 3 heavily rebuilt Overland Shays. A Balboa mogul and a Precision Scale Shay move the C&S equipment. The layout is complete with the usual amount of detailing and 'fine tuning' left. No handicapped access and no smoking. To see a photo of the layout click here.

Richard Garberson. Dick's layout, the Quarter Q, is a 90' long standard gauge O Scale railroad on 3 levels. Two rooms, (15' x 20' and 12' x 12') comprise the first level. The track spirals around these two rooms to rise 34" to the 2nd or attic level which is 13' x 50'. From the attic a 10' long bridge 9' above the entry rises to the 3rd level, a 12' x 15' room above the garage. The track loops around that room to a second bridge over the entry and ends in a hidden yard on the attic level. There is a loop on the first level, a 10 track freight yard and a 17 stall round house. The attic level has two main line loops, two small yards, a turntable and a 6 stall roundhouse. The 3rd level room has a passenger terminal. A traditional 12 volt block system is used with variac throttles and two solid state throttles. Motive power is steam and early diesel CB&Q with some NP and GN locomotives. Scenery is about 25% complete.

Mike O'Connell. Mike's P:48 layout is 10% complete, with only 1200(!) feet of track down. The layout is a fictional depiction of a route from Tacoma, WA to Spokane, WA, and is called the Pacific Railway and Navigation Co., which is a real railroad that existed in the early 1900s. There are two 4 x 50 foot dioramas. A high point is the exact replica of the of GN Spokane depot that was built in the 1960s by a father and son team who took 5000 hrs to complete it and it is awesome. A tour of the Chooch development and manufacturing facility may be possible by advance arrangement.

Bob Stivers. Bob's 36' x 22' layout models the SP in 1952. Oakland, including the pier and passenger yard, freight yard, and engine terminal comprise one end of the double track main line which runs from Oakland to Martinez, where the lines to Sacramento-Ogden and San Joaquin Valley-LA diverge and continue out of sight to staging. There is a small engine terminal and turning facility at Port Costa, and a branch line leaves the main there. There are 10 industries between Oakland and Port Costa. 30 trains are run during ops sessions including way freights, the San Joaquin Daylight complete with dome car, locals to Sacramento, San Joaquin Overnight freights, and a freelanced San Joaquin Lark. The layout loosely embodies the "If I Had A Million" layout in an old MR where trains run through separated scenes. The main line is 2.5 scale miles long. Control is variable DC, so guest locos don't need any special electronics to run. Bob is in the process of installing an interurban line that will run around the room and interchange with the SP at Berkeley.

Portland, OR Area

Jim Kennedy in Astoria, OR. Jim's O 2-rail layout is around the wall 24 x 46 feet, 50% is visible and is sceniced. All the track in the twice around track plan with a 300 foot run for one lap is new AtlasO flex track and turnouts. The minimum radius is 6 feet. Control is Aristo-Craft wireless throttles, turnouts are manually operated. The "light" mainline models the Feather River Railway 1940-1950, the "heavy" mainline models the SP. There is a 36 inch turntable with a full 8 stall roundhouse and 8 stall garden tracks, with 3 lead tracks coming in. There is a small staging yard at one end, and 3 passing sidings. Jim says there is a lot to see in Astoria if you want to spend some time sightseeing. Santa Maria Valley 2-8-2 #101 is being restored downtown, there is a 2.5 mile long trolley operating along waterfront with a $1 fare, an NP combine is also being restored downtown. The movie Kindergarten Cop (Schwarzenegger) was filmed down the street from Jim's house, and the movie Goonies was filmed the other way down the street from Jim's house. There are more sights to see; Jim will alert you to them so that you can spend up to a day enjoying the area.

Vic's Hobbies in Portland, OR. Vic's has a large O 2-rail layout in the basement. Operation on the layout is Saturday 11-3;, on other days (Monday-Saturday) call the hobby shop to verify availability for visiting (need two clerks present, one to stay upstairs while the other escorts the visitors to the basement), best hours are 2-5PM. The layout is a free-lance bridge railroad up in the mountains, which is why multiple railroads can be seen, the era is mostly mid-50s, the layout is L-shaped, 55 x 40 feet, the recently installed second main line is only part of the layout that isn't sceniced. Look for Leo Vilstrup's 11 car UP streamliner, about 1/2 the cars are extensively modified and upgraded Kemtron kits, the more recently added cars are completely scratchbuilt.

Chiloquin, OR Area: Chiloquin is the location of the world-famous Train Mountain live steam railroad with 25 1/4 real miles of track. Here is the information we have about the railroad's status around the convention dates: "That is one of our work weeks and our operations meet where we run the railroad like a scheduled working road. We have a lot of fun doing it. Anyone who wants to visit should give the office a call and talk to Alma at 541-783-3030. We should have trains running to take folks for a ride. They will be required to sign a release and may be charged a nominal fee since there will be a meet going on."

Yreka, CA

Duane Johnson will have his layout open for visiting both before and after the convention. Here is Duane's description of his layout:

"I would be happy to have my layout open for those traveling through Yreka to the convention and then for their return trip. The layout is still a work in progress with much yet to do on both the O-scale and HO-scale.

"The O-scale was an inheritance from my father with many items he collected throughout his lifetime. The layout is basically an exercise track around the room at about 65". I have several working Lobaugh steam locomotives including the Challenger.

"The HO-scale is modeled after the Southern Pacific Railroad from Sparks, Nev. to Carlin, Nev. I also model the Western Pacific from Portola to Carlin. The HO layout is DCC controlled using Digitrax Super Chief radio system. I worked for the SP during my college days from 1959 to 1964 as a locomotive fireman on the Salt Lake Division out of Sparks."

Yreka is the home of the Yreka Western Railroad, which according to the web site has put its tourist operations on hold. Duane may be able to provide more current information on the YW's status when you see him.

Weed, CA Area: Dave Scott's S scale, standard gauge layout represents Southern Pacific from Dunsmuir, through Cantara Loop, toward Weed. Layout is approx. 25' X 30' in a room over the garage. Only access is up stairs. All main line track (over 180') is in and operational, and all but a couple of yard tracks at Dunsmuir are operational. A scale 126' turntable at Dunsmuir is also operational. Scenery has just been started. The lower staging yard representing Reading can accommodate 5 trains of 50 cars each, and the upper staging yard representing Weed can hold at least 4 trains on 80' of track. Eastbound trains leaving Dunsmuir traverse a 2.2% ruling grade to gain to about an actual 2' of elevation when arriving Weed staging. This layout has been a community effort with his friends from the area and outside the area.

While at Dave's layout be sure to get driving directions to Bill Young's layout (next one below) if you are visiting the day Bill is open. The two layouts are approximately 10 miles apart.

Mt. Shasta, CA Area: Bill Young's S scale layout represents the Southern Pacific in the Mount Shasta area. The double track mainline is around the wall in a 9' X 24' room off the garage. A third mainline track interfaces with the double track mainline at Dunsmuir, and then climbs a grade to follow the double track mainline, but at a higher elevation around the room until it goes down grade into the Dunsmuir. The scenery on the layout is completed with a spectacular back drop of Mt. Shasta painted by a local area professional artist. The number and different types of bridges on the layout are many and expertly scratch built. Prior to retirement, Bill owned a bridge contracting company. Entrance to the layout is through a three track scratch built operating Bascule bridge complete with sound. This Bascule bridge took first place in structures during the 2007 O Scale West model contest. DCC is used extensively through out the layout for locomotives, switches, and signaling. Bill's layout is open June 29, 9AM to 5PM. Dave Scott will provide driving directions to Bill's. Note: the layout is just outside the town of Mt. Shasta, minutes from I-5.

Redding, CA Area

Richard Jayne of California Roadbed, manufacturer of Homabed, invites you to drop in and see his operation. Here is a link to his web site.


Layouts north of San Francisco Bay, CA Area: Peter Hess in Corte Madera (see description below); Steve Skold in Santa Rosa (see description below)

Layouts on the Route from San Diego or Los Angeles, CA

Vern Hill, Wofford Heights, CA (northeast of Bakersfield, about an hour from Tehachapi).: This O-scale layout measures 13’ x 21’. Track is mostly hand laid to Proto 48 standards. The basic track plan is an over-and-under folded dog bone with a storage yard extending from a junction into the adjoining garage. Minimum radius is 58”. All track work, with the exception of an engine service area and industrial spur, is complete along with about 85 percent of the scenery.
: The layout represents generic Southern Pacific, circa 1955, with a mix of steam and diesel. Most modelers are aware that SP had what nearly amounted to an Eastern Sierra line from Klamath Falls, Oregon to Mojave, including the SP narrow gauge from Keeler to Laws and north over Mt. Montgomery Pass. In my historical “imagineering”, that section was standard gauged. In addition the line through Susanville, California, intended to be the main line to Klamath Falls, was built as planned, following roughly the present BNSF (former WP/GN) Inside Gateway. The layout represents a section of that fictional scenario.
: Rolling stock includes some brass (Rich Yoder), Intermountain, Red Caboose and Atlas equipment. The locomotive roster includes models from Glacier Park, Sunset and old Atlas/P&D rebuilds. All have been converted to Proto 48 standards. The layout controls are standard no-frills DC as are the controls for the signal system (target and semaphore). A sound system remains on the wish list. To see photos of Vern's layout click here.

Denis Dunning has an On30 layout and is about 1/2 mile from Vern Hill (see above). Here's Denis' description of his layout.

"This is a small but very highly detailed On30 railroad. Housed in an old garden shed measuring 8’ x 12’ it represents a short line somewhere in the Sierras of California. The period is 1934 and the Patrick Coast Tramway provides a thriving freight service and has a daily passenger train. The Equipment is solely Bachmann On30 while the structures on the layout are primarily scratch built with a few kit built structures. The scenery on the layout is complete and includes a photo backdrop, taken with a digital camera in various areas of California and Nevada."

To see photos of Denis' layout, click here.

Wayne Aichroth's layout in Torrance, CA was passed on to us as a scale layout. It is mostly tinplate and HO. Wayne's description follows:

"I can run 7 trains(3 ho/4o gauge} at the same time. they each have their own oval so they are powered individually. I have a wide variety of engines and cars one dating to the 1930 era. The layout is very compact (6 x 13 feet) with lots of different scenes. The layout has been a work in progress over the last 20 years."

The Bitter Creek and Western live steam railroad in in Arroyo Grande, CA.

The railroad is 7.5 inch gauge live steam. Visitors are welcome anytime during daylight hours July 1-4 as the 4th of July Meet will be in process. Wear your convention ID/badges to get admission, and you will have to sign a release. Park on the street and walk down the driveway, maybe a hundred yards. There is one train car that works well with handicaps - it has regular automotive seats so as long as one can get off a mobility device into a seat they will be fine. Here is a link to a video of the railroad; on that page are links to many more videos of the railroad.

John Hoffman's Hi-Rail layout in Long Beach, CA. Here's a description of John's layout:John Hoffman's Hi-Rail layout in Long Beach, CA. Here's a description of John's layout:

The layout is a 3-rail hi-rail using Atlas track. It is set in the East Coast during September 1956 with the colorful change of season in the late steam diesel transition era. The layout is 18'x16' and is located in his garage. To view photos of John's layout click here.

Local Layouts

Some local layouts will be open for visiting before 3pm Wednesday, June 30, which is when the layout map packets can be picked up at the convention. To enable you to visit those layouts and/or to plan your visiting of the local layouts, we offer two aids. One is the posting of local layout visits schedules and contact information on a secure web page. The other is an offer to mail you an advance copy of the layout visit map packet.

Local Layout Schedules and Contact Information On-line

You must be pre-registered to view the local layout schedules and contact information. This is to protect the layout owners from casual web snoopers being able to get their telephone number, and so those snoopers can't determine when the owner is unavailable for visiting and therefore possibly out of town and thus a candidate to be burglarized. The generosity of those owners is very great, and we would be remiss to not do the most that we can to help protect their property.

To view the local layout schedules and contact information, you must be prepared to supply your convention registration number and the 5 digit zip code you used on that registration. If you are pre-registered and provided an email address, you received an email message containing that number. If you cannot find that message, please call Rod at the number on the Contact Us page and he will give you your registration number; Rod may ask a question or two to satisfy himself that you are who you say you are. Note that the registration number in the email you received was given as, for example and not a valid number, 2010-9999; sometimes the registration number has been presented as 2010-9999. When you key your registration number, do not include the hyphen, e.g., key 20109999.

Read the next paragraph. Then click here to view the information.

If you do not get access from your first or subsequent attempts to enter the User Name and Password, press the cancel button and a window will open with complete information about what information you must provide. When you are ready to attempt again, press the Page Reload button (this varies from browser to browser) to try again. If you decide to give up and seek help, select the Back button (varies from browser to browser) to return to this page. If you did not include your zip code in the registration information you sent to us, we have not added you to the access list; please send us your zip code via email and will add you to the access list.

Advance Copy of the Map Packet

If you want an advance copy of the local layout visits map packet, please send postage for a Priority Mail 9.5 x 12.5 flat rate envelope to us at the address in the CONTACT US link to the left; at this writing the rate for this envelope is $4.75 if bought on-line, $4.90 if bought at the post office. The map packet will be mailed in mid-June. As the convention approaches, be sure to check LAYOUT VISITS UPDATES below and the on-line schedule and contact info (see above) for last minute changes to the layout visits program. You must be pre-registered to receive this packet in advance. Do not send a business size envelope - the packet is too large and too heavy for a business size envelope.

The Layouts

Alf Modine: Chicago and Northwestern & North Shore Line: Also includes other Chicago interurban and CSL street cars. 16' x 13' in a 2 car garage. Loaded with prize winning models featuring the heavyweight C&NW "400" from the July 1986 Model Railroader. Layout is still under construction with all trackwork done and operating. Work is still underway on the overhead catenary, but some of the trolleys will operate from 2-rail power.
Restrictions: No smoking.

Bill Fleisher: In a 34' x 37' room is an O/On3 layout modeling the D&RGW from Alamosa through Chama to Durango. One branch line models both the Farmington and Silverton branches. The period is 1950 to 1968. The lowest of the three levels is used by the standard gauge with a dog bone arrangement serving the dual gauge Alamosa Yard. The eastern loop is hidden storage representing the rails through Walsenberg, to Colorado Springs and Denver. The second and third levels are On3 including Lava Loop, Toltec siding and tunnel, Cumbres including the snow shed, Chama with the stock pen, station, oil rack and small wool warehouse, Gato, Willow Creek, Monero, Carbon Junction, and Durango. The branch has industries (and separate service ) for Farmington and Silverton. The layout is fully operational and all of the scenery is in place, except for the continuous activity of adding detail. To see photos of Bill's layout click here. Bill's photos are in Folder 1.

Bill Gallagher: A Northern Cal. Collection of O Scale Trains: Bill's train collecting started at age 13 with a Lionel set of ATSF Warbonnet F-3s in 1953. His Lionel collection grew enormously & he became an authorized Lionel service station. He traveled the West Coast as a dealer for 20 years before being bitten by the 2-rail, detailed O Scale bug. Now his garage is devoted to many shelves and display cases of the finest O Scale models from C&LS, Glacier Park, Key, Lionel, Lobaugh, MG, USH, PSC, Westside, and many more. 90 locomotives, 500 freight cars, and 75 structures represent the ATSF, D&RGW, SP, UP, WP, NWP, and Cal-Northern.
Restrictions: No smoking, call ahead if you can't make the times the display is open, handicapped access to the garage is only via the driveway.To see photos of Bill's display click here. Bill's photos are in Folder 1.

Bob Brown: Tuolumne Forks: 28' x 28' On3 Sierra logging & mining railroad. Highly detailed layout is 90% sceniced & includes 3 sawmills, a stamp mill, a resort hotel, & many scratch built structures. Many of Bob's prize winning models are incorporated into the RR. Some earthquake damage from 1989 has been left visible. Layout is DCC controlled. Bob is the editor of the NG&SL Gazette and can show visitors where their magazine is put together. He also has an extensive collection of models from pioneer narrow gauge modelers from 56-76 years ago on display. Bob's On30 Shoehorn Mining Company layout is complete, as is a new On30 tourist line.
Restrictions: No smoking, no handicapped access.

Bob Dupont: Tall Pine Timber Co.: O/On3 fully sceniced 17' x 19'. Features 30 car freights, super-detailed work trains, & a circus train (which will be run by popular demand). Featured in RMC, MR, The Gazette, OSN, OGR, OST, NMRA Bulletin, Coast Dispatcher, PCR Branchline, & Great Model Railroads. Bob started model railroading in 1956, started this layout in 1976, and held many NMRA offices, including National President, and has chaired two National NMRA Conventions.
Restrictions: No smoking, no handicapped access.

Bob Jakl: This huge 34' x 80 layout fills is own special building. It represents main line railroading in 1950-1970. ATSF, MKT, & CB&Q diesels operate on over 2000' of hand laid code 148 & 125 steel rail. There are multiple main lines, mountains with spectacular bridges, large classification yard, 7 track passenger station, industrial switching district, & a large tower overlooking the whole layout from which Bob can operate. Aisles, walls & bench work are all beautifully finished & scenery is over 90% complete. Bob plans to have many of Lorrell Joiner's building on his layout this year. Bob's layout has been featured in O Scale Train Run #7, Mar/April 2003. Bob understands it will also be covered in the next two issues (this is written in mid-January 2010) of 48/ft., O Scale News.
Restrictions: No smoking, no handicapped access.

Bob Plageman: Southern Pacific: Welcome to the SP, a two level layout built in a 17' x 18' garage. We ran trains for the first time in December 2002. The upper level has a double track main line, industrial switching, and a passenger yard. The lower level is single track that services holding tracks and is connected to the upper level. Scenery has been started on both levels and some electrical work remains to be completed. Control is by "Train Engineer" by Crest Electronics.
Restrictions: No smoking and limited handicapped access.

Bob Roach: Great Northern and Union Pacific RRs: Exquisite steam and diesel locomotives of the Great Northern and Union Pacific railroads alternate each year providing power of Bob's 25' x 30' O Scale layout. Even years are GN, odd are UP. 40 car freight trains run regularly along with a large assortment of passenger equipment. Scenery is mostly completed. This layout was featured in the 1999 issue of "Great Model Railroads" published by Kalmbach. To see photos of Bob's layout click here. Bob's photos are in Folder 2.
Restrictions: Visitors limited to layout room only.

Central Valley O Scalers: The CVOS layout has been under construction for about 10 years. This is the first time the layout has been open to O Scale West/2010 Convention visitors. Note that John Houlihan is also in Fresno and that Fresno is about 1.5 hours south of the Mariposa layouts. Since this layout is open only on July 4, you might want to visit it first before going to the Mariposa layouts, which are open on July 4 and 5.; The layout is within walking distance from the airport. The layout is 32' X 75', with 650 feet (or so) of mainline and features the scenery magic of Joel Bragdon. Approximately 75% of the scenery is finished. There is lots of parking, though very limited handicap accessibility, due primarily to the height of the layout and the viewing platform steps.

Chris Holombo: Clear Creek Lumber Company: Standard gauge lumbering railroad in a 22' x 26' room above the garage. The track plan is point-to-point and represents lumbering operations from woods to mill. Steam's reign is being challenged by diesels, but still exists. Track is hand laid code 100 with turnouts built in place. Scenery is mostly in except on the new extension, and structures are being added. A new mainline interchange is being built. Featured in the 7/94 Model Railroader. Youtube videos of Chris's layout can be viewed here and here.
Restrictions: No smoking and no handicapped access.

Dave Adams: D&RGW - Durlin Branch: 19' x 27' On3 freelanced branch line connecting Chama, NM to Durlin, CO. Layout features EASY DCC with radio throttles, water tank and train order board animation, staging tracks for Alamosa & Durango, compressed scenes of Chama, Cresco, Navajo, and Toltec Tunnel on the San Juan Extension along with freelanced locations of Carrumba, Durlin, Flint, and Fritz Park. Partially double-decked with all hand laid track and switches. Scenery is 70% complete. Featured in Model Railroader May 2000 and the 2003 Narrow Gauge Annual.
Restrictions: No smoking, no handicapped access.

Dave Viale: Southern Pacific: A huge 30' x 70' layout in its own building. Loosely represents the SP from Sacramento to Sparks in the pre-1955 era. Features an extensive collection of steam engines from SP, ATSF, and Sierra RRs. The 2,000' mainline is hand laid and in full operation with 84" minimum radius curves. It runs through mountainous terrain with mountains towering over the trains. Also included is a large engine servicing facility with turntable and roundhouse. Scenery is now 70% completed. Youtube videos of Dave's layout can be viewed here and here. To see photos of Dave's layout click here.
Restrictions: no handicapped access, no smoking.

Don Harper: Harper Valley: A beautifully detailed and sceniced Sn3 layout in a 13' x 20' room. The lower level is mostly mainline D&RGW but has a sprinkling of RGS, C&S, etc. The second level is mostly Westside Lumber Co. Don builds what a likes and builds it well. His layout has been featured in RMC and Great Model RRs. It is loaded with scratchbuilt structures, many with intricate interior detailing. The rolling stock is equally detailed and runs great.
Restrictions: No smoking, no handicapped access.

Ed Loizeaux: The New York Central System's Valley Division represents an upstate New York locale during the transition era. Almost fully sceniced, the 20' x 30' S scale layout has a 305' long double-track mainline which traverses mountains, waterfalls, huge steel bridges, and a stone viaduct over 10 feet long. Featured in Tracks Ahead (PBS television program) Segment #705, Model Railroad Hobbyist e-zine October 2009, Model Railroader November 2008 page 74, and Great Model Railroads 2005 page 28, the layout is only two traffic lights away from Bob Brown's On3 layout of GAZETTE fame. A youtube video of Ed's layout can be viewed here.
Restrictions: No smoking and no handicapped access.

F John LaBarba: Sonora Pacific & Southern Pacific: A 20' x 20' HO/HOn3 layout depicting a California narrow gauge railroad interchanging with the Southern Pacific in the 1940s thru 1950s. It is a series of six scenes, each with its own theme, set apart effectively by scenic dividers. It features very fine rock work, & fantastic scenery. There are freelanced depictions of Los Angeles, Westside Lumber, & a Gold Mine/Mill complex. Operation is by radio cab control. Sound effects are continually being added. Featured in RMC and in NG&SLG. A youtube video of John's layout can be viewed here. John's photos are in Folder 2. A Southern Pacific semaphore and misc. full size railroad relics are on display.
Restrictions: No smoking, and limited handicapped access.

Frank Markovich: Frank's Twain Harte and Sonora Pass layout is a logging theme layout built in On3 and is set in the early 1940s. Trains can run loop to loop and point to point. Locos are small steam and are equipped with DCC sound. The layout is fully sceniced, and has over 100 pine trees on it. Dave Biondi painted the backdrop. The 19 feet by 16 feet layout is under the main level of the house. The layout is accessible for wheel chairs with some effort. To see photos of Frank's layout, click here. Frank's photos are in Folder 2. Here is the track plan.

Here's an update from Frank: Dave Biondi painted the backdrop for me. I have completed most of the scenery - one or two areas need more plant life but there is no open areas just areas that need a bit more attention. The main loop runs well and I will be running 2 trains continuously during the open house. I have fascia and skirts (they will go up the day before the show).

Gary Schrader: ATSF & SP: O Scale, 20' x 40', 1947-1951 timeframe. Double track mainline and large yard, Union Station, 14 stall roundhouse. All track is handlaid. About 50% of the scenery is done including a large curved timber trestle. All engines & cars are highly super-detailed. Control is by NCE radio control DCC. Some engines now have Soundtraxx Tsunami sound, stunning sound in O Scale. Check out the complete, accurate 14 car Daylight and 11 car Super Chief with lighted drumheads. Youtube videos of Gary's layout can be viewed here, here, here, and here. Gary's layouts have been the subject of articles in 48/ft,O Scale News in 1987 and 2000.
Restrictions: No smoking, no handicapped access.To see photos of Gary's layout click here. Gary's photos are in Folder 1.

George Solimine: Southern Pacfiic: This is a shelf layout around the perimeter of a 20' x 24' garage. It is currently about 50% sceniced. George models the late steam/early diesel era, and various SP steam engines and a few "Black Widow" diesels are featured. The curves are 60" radius. The garage is shared by several old automobiles-another hobby George enjoys. He started in HO scale in 1950 & entered O Scale in 1984. Check out George's beautifully redetailed, great running Max Gray AC-9.
Restrictions: No smoking, but wheelchair access is OK.

Golden State Model Railroad Museum: Formerly the East Bay Model Engineering Society, the Club features multiple scale layouts. The vast and impressive O Scale layout includes many scale miles of track and magnificent mountain scenery, as well as a large city and seaport. 55 foot long sidings allow running long trains representing the last 50 years of railroading. The On3 layout displays mining and logging operations in the West, featuring large mining structures, impressive trestles, and even a hydraulic mining operation. Amateur videos of the GSMRM can be viewed here, here, and here. Here is the GSMRM web site; more info on the GSMRM can be found here.

Guy Cantwell: Willoughby Line: Double deck HO layout with peninsula & helix in 22' x 13' room. Features West Coast steam in early 1950s. Control is CVP Easy DCC wireless. Staging yard on the lower level is accessible from both directions. Both levels have continuous running. Track plan is operations oriented & features a short line between several mainline RRs. Lower level is WP/SP in Modesto (Willoughby Yard). Upper level is based on Sierra, Hetch Hetchy, & Yosemite Valley. Both mainlines are operational, and scenery is progressing.
Restrictions: Handicap access limited due to duck-under, no smoking. To see photos of Guy's layout click here. Guy's photos are in Folder 2.

Howard McKinney: Denver Rio Grande & Western RR: On3 running between Victoria and Notell, Col in late 1930s - early 1940s in 7' x 19' with a 5' x 6' extension. There is no mining, but lush pine forests provide timber for the mining industry. Engine facilities exist at Victoria & Notell. C&S & RGS equipment operates. Geared loco trains move logs to the mill. All trackage is complete and operational. Scenery is 70% complete. Many major structures are in place. NCE DCC and Soundtraxx sound are used.
Restrictions: No smoking and poor handicapped access.

Jack Burgess: Yosemite Valley Railroad: Jack models the Yosemite Valley RR ca. August 1939. The layout features handlaid track & turnouts (some w/working switchstands) and NCE DCC with Soundtraxx decoders. All locos are correct for 1939. Scenery is 100% complete & duplicates the prototype topography & vegetation. There are about 100 scratchbuilt structures, all duplicates of actual buildings. Rolling stock includes scratchbuilt, resin, & styrene kits. Operation is via TT/TO using prototype forms. Featured in MR, RMC, RMJ, GMRR, and a Keller video. Here is a youtube video featuring Jack's layout.
Restrictions: No smoking and poor handicapped access.

Jim Vail: Jim's Glenwood & Black Creek RR is *HO scale*. It is 14 X 33 with a couple side alcoves, about 98% sceniced, 250 or so structures. Most of it comprises the freelanced Glenwood & Black Creek narrow gauge running on DCC, with a Westside Lumber Company branch. There is also the Central California Coast standard gauge patterned after the Southern Pacific but it is just a loop through the scenery still running on DC. I run around 450 narrow gauge cars - scratch and kit built, about 70 engines (around 30 now converted to DCC) almost all steam - mostly painted brass. Era is the late '40s to early '50s. 240 feet of mainline winds through spectacular scenery and realistic towns. Trains require helpers to get up the grades. There is also a logging branch. The layout is designed for operations and sees a lot of it. A youtube video of Jim's layout can be viewed here. This layout is well known to "Gazette" readers since Jim wrote a column for the magazine, so photos of the layout appeared there quite often. The layout was featured in Model Railroad in 2000 before the NMRA convention. A few photos of it appeared in Railroad Model Craftsman in 2004 in an article in conjunction with the National Narrow Gauge Convention that was held in Santa Clara.; Restrictions: No smoking and no handicapped access.

John Houlihan, Fresno, CA: Here is John's description of his layout:; "As you enter the family room, a PFE reefer rebuilt in 1922 is the wall paper and its insides are the ceiling. Just ahead is the railroad. A swinging gate (electrically interlocked to stop the train) lets you into the room. Straight ahead are the downtown Fresno ATSF yards, behind you the tracks rise up from the valley floor towards the summit of Tehachapi. To your right the packing sheds of the valley are represented with a little bit of Visalia Electric / Sacramento Northern flavor. Off to the left is the roundhouse area.

"The layout is Digitrax DCC, signaled with Railroad & Co controlling the logic. Most freight cars have resistor wheel sets for detection. Turnouts are controlled with Tortoise machines, route logic is programed into Digitrax DS-64's. Only one button has to be pushed to throw the many turnouts needed to get through an area. The computer can also control the turnouts. The signals are made by Irish Tracklayer and include single and double head searchlight signals, one semaphore, several dwarfs and a 9 head signal bridge.

"The flavor of the railroad is Santa Fe for territory and SP for locomotives."; To see photos of John's layout click here.

Neil Chichizola: Southern Pacific: This 14' x 26' layout in its own specially built room is a late steam, early diesel branch line of the SP in the SF Bay Area. Trackwork is complete and scenery is about 1/2 done. The Vargas Brothers have worked their magic to make things come alive! The main line is flex track with hand laid turnouts. Most of the rolling stock is either scratch built or kit built. There is a duck under to get into the layout space. Enter the front door, go up the stairs, and straight ahead to the layout.
Restrictions: No smoking, no handicapped access.To see photos of Neil's layout click here. Neil's photos are in Folder 1.

Peter Hess: Peter's very nicely constructed layout depicts Toledo Ohio in December, 1935 in a 44 foot long room. The trains run through nicely scratch built scenes. This layout is one of the 3-rail layouts that the convention has selected to be open because we felt the convention attendees would enjoy them. Travel time from Santa Clara to the layout is about 1.5 hours. Peter has created some on-line photo albums of his layout: click here for an overview of the train room; click here to see some examples of his scratch built structures; click here to see scratch built bridges; and click here for a tour of his Downtown Deco Labor Temple.

Pleasanton Club: Alameda County Central RR: The 15' x 110' O Scale layout shares a 36' x 120' building with an HO layout of the same size. There is 550' of 'O' mainline track, 350' of On3, and 100' of trolley. The scenery is 95% complete and features spectacular floor to ceiling mountains. All track is hand laid with code 148, 125, and 100 rail on the main line, and code 100, 83, and 70 rail on the On3. Near the club building as 12"=1' WP 0-6-0, #165. The club is open every Fri 8PM-11PM. 'O' Operates on the 3rd Friday. Note: this time of year is when the Alameda County Fair is in session (the layout is located on the fairgrounds). Good news is that per agreement with the Fair, the layout is open the same days and times as the Fair, which is quite often. The bad news is that during the Fair there is an $8 charge to park and an admission charge to the fairgrounds ($10, $8 senior, $6 ages 6-12, under 6 free). The admission charge is $2 less if tickets are purchased before the Fair opens. See the Fair's website for information on the Fair's attractions, schedule, and costs. To see photos of the layout click here.
Restrictions: None.

Rich Melconian: AT&SF Railroad: Rich is modeling the contemporary Santa Fe in HO, but is throwing in some steam power for interest. The layout closely follows the AT&SF in the foothills of the Tehachapi Range, including the Cajon and San Bernadino areas, with multiple long trains running. Code 83 rail is used on the single track mainline with passing sidings, and code 70 rail is used in the yards.
Restrictions: No smoking and no handicapped access.

Rod Miller: Great Basin Lines: 15' x 48' Southern Pacific transition era layout. On3 D&RGW will be added later. Designed for operation using staging loop to staging loop scheme. Staging loops are stacked and most of the main line is double decked. Mainline, staging loops, continuous run connection completed, branchline, and interchange yard are complete and operational; scenery is about 25% complete.
Restrictions: No smoking, no handicapped access, no parking in driveway. To see photos of Rod's layout click here. Rod's photos are in Folder 1.

Steve Skold

Steve's On3 Whiskeytown & Shasta. To see photos of Steve's layout click here. Steve's photos are in Folder 2.

Tom Davis, Mariposa, CA

Tom's layout is a 24 foot by 36 foot 3-rail layout running scale proportioned equipment was most recently described in O Gauge Railroading April 2010.

Wes Swift: Yosemite Valley Railroad: HO Scale re-creation of the Yosemite Valley Railroad in the late 1930s. The layout is double-decked and uses laminated roadbed. It features very realistic, actual prototype scenes. Mainline Kadee uncoupling ramps are swing up permanent magnets. Control is by NCE DCC using Soundtraxx decoders. The layout has been featured in Railroad Model Craftsman. The high level of modeling realism compares favorably with the famous Yosemite Valley RR by Jack Burgess.
Restrictions: No smoking and poor handicapped access.

West Bay Model RR Association: West Bay Model RR Assn: One of the oldest clubs in the country dating back to the mid 1940s. Quartered in an old SP freight station. Features a combination of HO, S, & O gauges, both eastern and western prototype lines plus private road names. If you live in the SF Bay Area & need a place to run your O Scale equipment, you might want to consider membership. Contact any club member during the tour, or write to the club and a member will contact you. Videos of the West Bay Club's layout can be viewed here, here, here, and here.
Restrictions: None specified. Enter layout through the front door.

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