The Penn Dixie Railroad

Atlas Oregon Pass Lines

I have been fascinated by the Oregon Pass Lines since I was about 13 (c1968). I have not had an HO scale layout since 1987 when I got into Live Steam. I did not have space for Oregon Pass after collage in 1980.

Depending on where jobs are, if I remain in Atlanta, I have a 2.5 car garage with a 9' ceiling available for a layout. I am using version 7.10.006 of 3^rd Plan It (3PI).

My three main interests in railroading are 1) Pennsylvania Railroad (many members of my family worked for the PRR), 2) Southern RR c1972 due to the steam excursions and the Southern Crescent, and 3) The D&RGW narrow gauge.

I have several goals for the layout. First is the PRR 4-track electrified mainline. Next is a Flying Junction. Next is Harrisburg, PA style trainshed (Mom's family is from Harrisburg). Forth is a place to run a Southern Railway style passenger train. Fifth is some Colorado style narrow gauge.

Several items that are desirable but not mandatory. Highest is to allow the layout to have a "railfan" capability. I find it mesmerizing to watch trains run.

Second is to have a shop with both turntable and a transfer table. Since my Lionel O-27 layout, I wave been fascinated watching these two special pieces of track.

Third was an operating through trains and signaling capability. Forth was a dual gauge area.

A narrow gauge point-to-point line with wild rugged mountains has always been fascinating. I want three stations along the narrow gauge with good switching.

And a last item of nice to have was a steam only Blue Ridge mountain style of mountains for PRR steam to tackle (no wires).

Penn Dixie Lines

This plan shows the expanded Oregon Pass layout. The overall size is 15'x16'. The lowest level is the PRR multi-track with flying junction aon the left and lext bottom side of the layout at 26" above the floor.

Penn Dixie Lower level - PRR

This view of the lower level shows the PRR multi Track mainline well.

The 6-tracks in the 90 degree curve in the lower right have radii from 22" to 32". The complex cross over arrangement along the right side captures the PRR complexity at towers (mainly due to size and not trying to be complicated) I tried to capture. It has a double crossover and a few double slip switches.

The lighter shaded tracks are hidden tracks. The tracks at the 26" level that are hidden are in tunnels. The double track forming the flying crossover is climbing to the middle level. It will hidden in a ridge line and then become part of the middle level. There is a 4-track storage yard for complete trains at the upper middle. There is a reversing loop below the double track line rising to middle level.

Below is a view of the visible track on the lower level.

Penn Dixie Lower level - Visable track only.

Penn Dixie lower level - Visable track only.

The transistion from lower level to middle level is a loop of track shown here climbing from 32" (at the end of the flying junction bridge) to 40".

These 3-D views are from an earlier version of the Penn Dixie. The asscent from the lower level to the middle level was altered drastically. However these two views give an idea of the transistion.

Penn Dixie lower to middle 3-D

Penn Dixie middle level

This shows much of the Oregon Pass Lines heritage. The turntable was moved to the outside of the curve in the upper left. The "hump yard" was made dual ended. With a larger mountain allowed by the moving of the turntable, one staging track was put at the summit (49") higest SG location.

The main yard is at the 42" level. An electric locomotive service area could be added to the lower right off the yard drill track.

The lower left is the two track passenger station with two additional tracks for cars that need to be swapped out (diners, baggage RPO, etc) The passing siding and switching area to the right of the passenger station is the dual gauge area. It is intended that city flats be behind these dual gauge tracks and the dual gauge will disappear into the city to get into the Colorado upper level.

The two passenger station tracks will be dual gauged. A dual gauge line will access the turntable.

The area above the turntable was hopped to be for the transfer table but there was only room for the table or the service buildings, not both.

The "wye" from the passenger station to the mainline is for easy access for passenger trains. The double track enterence to the passenger station is to be used more as a single track line with a single track arrival-departure freight yard. The "double" track from the PRR lower level to the pasenger station is electrified.

Some engine changes could be done on the mainline next to what was the Oregon Pass hump. The two double track lines meeting next to the freight yard ladder tracks has two double slip switches in it to allow maximum operating flexability.

The Appelachian maountain area is intended to look more like several single track lines with a siding in the middle.

Penn Dixie middle level - visable track

Finally for the narrow gauge only section, how's this?

Penn Dixie narrow gauge - transition and upper level

Penn Dixie narrow gauge upper level - visable

This is a very simple looking narrow gauge area. The hidden part contains the helix. As cab be seen, this level ranges from 63" to 70". There is hopefully plenty of room between the PRR passenger station and the narrow gauge above it.

These 3-D views are from an earlier version of the PD. The asscent from the lower level to the middle level was altered drastically. However this of the narrow gauge area is unchanged and shows the NG helix.

Penn Dixie narrow gauge 3-D

I hope you have enjoyed this little description of my layout.