LDJ-62 THIRD QUARTER 2018 (FULL-COLOR, 40 PAGES)

Issue 62 of the Layout Design Journal (Third Quarter 2018) presents a diverse collection of design ideas centered on urban switching, sectional portability, historical prototypes, and lessons from regional conventions. A common theme across the issue is how layout designers adapt real-world railroading into accessible, operationally engaging models, whether through compression, sectional construction, or creative space use.

Cal Sexsmith’s exploration of Canadian Pacific’s Esquimalt & Nanaimo trackage in Victoria, BC highlights the challenges and opportunities of modeling dense industrial districts. His three HO track plans balance Albion Yard, West Yard, and Store Street industries, emphasizing switching variety and the compromises necessary in limited space. John Brennan’s article demonstrates how sectional benchwork allowed his freelanced Chicago, Peoria & Western Railroad to survive relocation intact, underscoring the value of modular construction and thoughtful wiring.

Carlos Rodriguez offers a historically rich N scale design of the Northern Pacific’s Rocky Mountain Division during the Mullan Pass Tunnel collapse of 1949. His multideck, nolix-based plan highlights helper operations, staging density, and the complexity of mountain railroading compressed into a manageable basement. Jeremy Dummler transports readers to the logging lines of New Hampshire’s White Mountains, showing how small logging railroads provide inspiration for compact yet operationally rich designs. Finally, Don Winn distills design ideas from the 2018 Kansas City NMRA convention, illustrating how peer exchange and collaborative critique continue to refine layout planning.

Together, these articles reflect a balance of prototype fidelity, freelanced creativity, portability, and operational emphasis. The issue highlights a trend toward layouts that serve as both personal creative expressions and accurate operational theaters, with a strong undercurrent of learning from history, space, and community exchange.

Table of Contents

Features
Switching Victoria, BC on the E&N – Cal Sexsmith – p.4
   Albion Yard anchors three HO versions set in 1960
Moving a Layout – John Brennan – p.11
   Sectional construction and a similar space allow quick rebuild
Northern Pacific’s Rocky Mountain Division 1949 – Carlos O. Rodriguez Jr. – p.17
   Historical tunnel collapse sets stage for multideck design
Logging in the White Mountains – Jeremy Dummler – p.30
Design Ideas from Kansas City 2018 – Don Winn – p.40

News and Departments
Getting There – Byron Henderson – p.3
Rarin’ to Go – Ron Burkhardt – p.3
Call for Board of Directors Candidates – p.3
Board of Directors Election Report – p.29
LDSIG 2018 Annual General Meeting Minutes – p.39
Upcoming Events: New Jersey; SF Bay Area – p.39

Detailed Article Summaries

Switching Victoria, BC on the E&N

Author: Cal Sexsmith
Railroad Modeled: Esquimalt & Nanaimo (CPR subsidiary)
Layout Scale: HO scale
Layout Size: 10’ x 10’10” plus closet (three versions)
Techniques: Urban switching, staging via closet, industry spurs, yard design

Cal Sexsmith presents three HO-scale design variations based on the Canadian Pacific’s Esquimalt & Nanaimo operations in Victoria, BC circa 1960. Anchored by Albion Yard and Store Street industries, the designs emphasize switching variety and industrial density. The article details how industries like Lucky Lager Brewery, Victoria Foundries, meat packers, grocery warehouses, and propane dealers created traffic diversity. West Yard, with roundhouse, shops, and car float, adds further operational interest. Sexsmith compares versions with different aisle arrangements, trade-offs in yard capacity versus industry representation, and balance between prototype fidelity and model practicality. The designs highlight how crowded urban prototypes provide rich switching potential in modest spaces.

Moving a Layout

Author: John Brennan
Railroad Modeled: Freelanced Chicago, Peoria & Western
Layout Scale: HO scale
Layout Size: Original 30’ x 45’ basement; rebuilt 35’ x 45’ metal building
Techniques: Sectional benchwork, modular wiring, Digitrax DCC, steam-era ops

John Brennan recounts the relocation of his Chicago, Peoria & Western layout from Illinois to Florida. Built with sectional benchwork and modular wiring, the HO layout was carefully disassembled, transported 1,350 miles, and reassembled in a new custom outbuilding. Brennan describes labeling, cutting, and bundling track sections, as well as storing locomotives, cars, and structures to avoid damage. Once reassembled, the layout resumed operations, modeling 1940s Illinois with steam power, live coal loads, and timetable/train order operations. His story underscores the benefits of sectional construction in preserving years of effort during relocation and how planning ahead enables continuity of operation even across major moves.

Northern Pacific’s Rocky Mountain Division 1949

Author: Carlos O. Rodriguez Jr.
Railroad Modeled: Northern Pacific Rocky Mountain Division
Layout Scale: N scale
Layout Size: 16.5’ x 22’ multideck
Techniques: Nolix, helix staging, mushroom peninsula, helper ops, prototype-inspired operations

Carlos Rodriguez offers an ambitious N scale design recreating the Northern Pacific’s Rocky Mountain Division in 1949, the year the Mullan Pass Tunnel collapsed. This historical event forced NP to reroute all traffic over Homestake Pass, creating intense helper operations and detour traffic through Butte. Rodriguez’s plan uses a mushroom peninsula combined with an around-the-room nolix helix to provide over nine scale miles of mainline run. Extensive staging, helper districts, and interchange with Union Pacific, Great Northern, Milwaukee Road, and the Butte, Anaconda & Pacific create a dense web of operational opportunities. His conceptual plan balances mountain railroading drama with practical construction, providing inspiration for modelers drawn to big-time operations in a home setting.

Logging in the White Mountains

Author: Jeremy Dummler
Railroad Modeled: Logging railroads of New Hampshire
Layout Scale: HO scale (conceptual)
Layout Size: Small to medium sectional spaces
Techniques: Logging operations, scenic emphasis, shortline design, staging

Jeremy Dummler highlights the logging operations of New Hampshire’s White Mountains as inspiration for model railroads. His article examines how small logging lines, with their rugged terrain, short trains, and specialized equipment, provide engaging themes for compact layouts. Dummler emphasizes operational realism, from log camps to sawmills, and shows how selective compression can capture the flavor of backwoods railroading. He also notes the strong scenic opportunities provided by mountainous terrain, bridges, and trestles, making logging lines both visually striking and operationally rewarding.

Design Ideas from Kansas City 2018

Author: Don Winn
Railroad Modeled: Various (design convention ideas)
Layout Scale: N/A
Layout Size: N/A
Techniques: Peer review, convention-inspired design strategies Don Winn distills design insights gained from the LDSIG’s activities at the 2018 NMRA National Convention in Kansas City. His article compiles lessons from clinics, layout tours, and discussions, highlighting themes such as effective use of staging, optimizing aisles, and balancing prototype inspiration with achievable home layouts. The piece serves as both a report from the convention and a design toolkit, encouraging modelers to adapt proven concepts to their ow

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