The Roanoke Valley Model Engineers (RVME) relocated in the fall of 2006 to the Virginia
Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, VA. The HO and N gauge layouts from the previous
location were broken down and re-
A group of the modelers who were interested in On30 began construction of a narrow gauge layout in a 19 x 20 foot room. They formed a subdivision of the RVME called the Narrow Gauge Union. Since then the layout has been under construction, several new members were drawn to the group, and a narrow gauge meet called The Colossal Narrow Gauge Meet at the Great Eastern Continental Divide was instituted. This web site was developed to encourage Narrow Gauge Modeling and to serve as an information and idea exchange.
The design parameters for the layout are still evolving. We wanted to accommodate the ideas of those who would be working on the project. However, we decided that the layout would represent a rather prosperous enterprise serving the mountains of the Eastern United States. Placing it in the late 1950’s would allow us to use a variety of contemporary and older locomotives and rolling stock. It serves back woods communities where good roads have not yet arrived. The major industries are coal, timber, small manufacturing, and related businesses.
The main line is a loop with several passing sidings which permit running trains in opposite directions. To make the greatest use of the space, a peninsula which extends from one corner of the room. was constructed. Main line minimum radius is 26”. Main line switches are #6’s. This 1st stage of construction contains over 75’ of main line rail.
Conventional “L” girder construction was used with risers to support ½” plywood roadbed. For simplicity of installation, we elected to use HO gauge commercial track with every other tie removed. Grades on the mainline are under 5 %. The bench work is set at 48 inches and the lowest level of trackwork is 56”. We tried to maintain a 36” isle way .
Construction begins in earnest after the room was cleaned and painted.
The panels over the windows will provide a background for a branch line.
The wife of one of our members has begun background painting.
A drawing of the first stage of the layout can be seen on the back wall.
Working with plaster is a messy job. The rock formation was constructed from blue foam and carved with a wire brush to represent a layers which were thrust acutely upward. The formation was modeled after a similar rock face in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Here the first coats of thin plaster are brushed on. After these first coats were dry, a heavy thick plaster was trowled on with a putty knife and the layers of strata were carved as the plaster was applied. After the plaster set more firmly the knife was drawn across the layers. When the plaster became firm a dry brush was used to knock off the rough edges and remove the nubs of plaster resulting from the carving.
Sullivan’s Cut
Anderson Trestles
Rick Anderson built the two trestles complete with several hands full of #16 nbw’s. Both trestles are built to a 26” radius curve and a 4% grade. The rock castings were placed after the trestles were built but before they were permanently fitted into place. This area is the top of a stream bed. A waterfall is planned to be placed on the right face of the gorge just behind this trestle.
The stream bed for the lower gorge is thin plaster poured after the rock castings were put into place. Water was then liberally sprayed onto the wet plaster to make the surface run to the lowest level. A waterfall is planned for the end of the canyon where the plaster rock appears near the center. Another water fall is planned for the dark area just behind and to the left of the white rock.
Rick Anderson is working on the timber abutments. The gorge is about 80’ deep at this point. The longest bent is 18” or about 72’. All scenery work will be completed before the trestles are finally fitted into place.
The rocks were painted with Woodland Scenic's stains. Black, umber, red, yellow and green stains were sprayed from a pump sprayer (like Windex).
