Model Railroad Layouts: HO & N Scale
HO Scale Overview
The Club’s HO scale layout takes up most of the floor space in our 11,000 square-foot facility. It has now been under construction for over 40 years. Like the building it’s housed in, the layout is being built in phases as time and money permit. There is no formal timetable for completion but there is a basic track plan and a general sequence for construction. Work is expected to continue for many years to come.
The HO Railroads
The layout includes three fictional railroads:
- Class 1 Hudson: Delaware and Ohio
- Trenton Northern: an interurban and traction line
- Rahway River: a short line
Each railroad interchanges with the others but has its own operating crew and procedures.
The Hudson, Delaware and Ohio (HD&O) Mainline
Upon completion, the Hudson, Delaware and Ohio (HD&O) mainline will run from Hoboken, NJ to Pittsburgh, PA, where it interchanges with the Baltimore and Ohio RR. There is a branch line which runs from Summit, NJ to Gladstone and other branch lines are also planned. Interchanges with the Trenton Northern are located in both Jim Thorpe, PA, on the HD&O main, and Bernardsville, NJ, on the Gladstone Branch. In Jim Thorpe there will be another interchange with the Mauch Chunk Terminal Railroad which is still under construction. In Summit, the railroad links up with the Rahway River RR.
Trenton Northern Transportation and Light Company’s Line
The Trenton Northern Transportation and Light Company’s line runs from Trenton, NJ to Northhampton, PA. Branches run to Jim Thrope and Bernardsville with the previously mentioned connections with the HD&O. The Trenton Northern also has an interchange with the Rahway River in Allentown, PA.
Rahway River
The Rahway River is an independent short line that begins in the small town of Kenilworth, NJ and runs to Allentown, PA, with a short branch to Summit, NJ.
HO Railroad Operations
Prototypical operations is an important facet of the hobby for us. We have regular operating sessions every Tuesday evening from 7 to 10 PM. We also occasionally hold special operating events for guests.
We do not utilize a fast clock, although we have discussed introducing a fast clock in the future. Instead, we use a Time Conversion Table, where 8 operating hours is compressed into 3 actual hours. Hence, it takes 3 operating sessions to complete an operating day.
We use a variation of the tab-on-car waybill system for car routing. We have found this to be the best system for our weekly operating sessions.
N Scale Overview
The Club’s N scale layout showcases model railroading in a compact scale 1:160, allowing for long mainline runs, expansive scenery, and detailed operations within a smaller footprint. The N scale layout has been built and refined over many years by dedicated members and continues to evolve as time, funding, and member effort allow. Following a long-term vision, new sections, structures, and scenery are added as the layout grows, ensuring there is always something new to discover with each visit.
