Greg Wright
Consolidated Republic Mining Railroad

Welcome to 1935. You're an engineer on my 1:32 scale narrow gauge mining railroad! Think Gilpin Tram in Washington State. Large mining structures tower over the viewer, trains run at eye level. Work five specific mine structures and 2 mill structures plus engine house and water tank. The railroad's sole function is to move ore and supplies between the mines and the mills. Sounds easy but, with trains limited to 4 or 5 cars due to steep grades, sharp curves and a single track mainline, you are in for a difficult work day that is sure to entertain and challenge even the most experienced operator. See nearly 100 scale figures, many with hand painted detailed faces and twenty-five period accurate vehicles as you work the road. I'll even pay you at the end of the shift; company script redeemable at the company store or Gustin's Bar.

All structures, locomotives, and rolling stock are either scratchbuilt or heavily kitbashed and the layout is 99% sceniced. All of the unique geared steam locomotives are sound equipped. Background sounds include the mines and mills, water fill sequences, wheel and brake squeal, ore dump, rattle snakes and more.

Published sources:
Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette seven times: May/June 2000, Jan/Feb 2003, May/June 2010, March/April 2011, May/June 2012 (machine shop), May/June & July/August 2013 (2-part article on preparing your layout for guests). Also in the Dec. 2008 Railroad Model Craftsman and Sep. 2014 Trackside Model Railroading.

Basic information:
A. Scale: 1/32 narrow gauge. Large scale, indoor railroad using small tramway equipment, think Gilpin Tram in Colorado.
B. DC or DCC: Digitrax DCC wireless
C. Dispatching/control method: Trains call dispatch via phone for clearance to use single track main that is protected by flags set by dispatcher (flags are automated from dispatcher's panel). Face to face cooperation between engineers in yard limits - no radios in 1935
D. Car control: switch lists for freight cars, individual mine slips for ore cars
E. Mainline: 60' single track connects Division, North Ellensburg and Olson Pit with central yard at Millburg
F. Room size: 14' X 22'
G. Percent sceniced: 99%
H. Handicap accessibility: not appropriate for wheelchair due to height of layout
I. Maximum number of guest operators: 4

Click for photos (copyright Paul Scoles, used with permission)