"The Transcon Four"
An HO scale layout that spans the nation
The Operation
"Transcon Four" HO layout - An Overview
This is a point-to-point railroad and when completed this layout will feature a transcontinental network stretching from Philadelphia to Seattle via Chicago. This includes the PRR from Philly to Chicago, the Belt RR of Chicago in Chicago, the Burlington from Chicago to St. Paul, and the Great Northern from Minneapolis to Seattle. This will be a double-deck layout with an elevator between levels. I estimate the total final mainline trackage to be about 700 feet.
Present Status
The railroad is currently built from Paoli (Philadelphia), PA on the Pennsy, through Chicago, and out to Sand Point, ID on the Burlington and Great Northern. I have about 1800 feet of track laid. One Hundred and Sixty Four locomotives power 55 staged trains, 6 yard jobs and 1 transfer job. I have 985 pieces of rolling stock on the layout besides the locomotives.
Operating Layout
I designed the layout for operation. Our large operating group operates the Transcon Four every quarter. This group involves anywhere from 12 -18 people. We start at 0900 on a Saturday morning and finish-up about 1200.
The central point of activity is Chicago where trains are yarded, broken-up, cars interchanged, and cars spotted at industries. I have six yards in Chicago: The 12th Street Coach Yard, Pennsy's 59th Street Yard, Burlington's Cicero Yard, Belt's Clearing Yard (East and West) and Jacob's Yard (RPO's Annex). I have a two-track Union Station which also acts as the room divider in Chicago and Dearborn Station with six stub-end tracks. There are about 18 industrial spots adjacent to all of the freight yards in Chicago.
Other industries and all staging yards are located outside of Chicago. Roughly 80% of the operation is freight, and the remaining 20% passenger. Dispatching is done by one Pennsylvania Railroad dispatcher and one Burlington Railroad dispatcher. These dispatchers also run the two tower operators - one at West Pullman, Chicago (PRR) and one by Aurora Tower, on the Racetrack (Burlington). The Pennsylvania Railroad is governed by signal and verbal track warrant. The Burlington is dispatched entirely by verbal track warrant.
The Pennsylvania dispatchers are remote: Athens, Georgia, Columbus, Mississippi and Katy, Texas. They control signals and switches on the Pennsy via internet technology.
Scenery
I have sixty five percent scenery down presently, excluding the ballasted yards in Chicago.
Specs
-About 36 X 53 feet
-Atlas flex track and switches, all code 100
-Digitrax DCC system with three boosters
-Most mainline radii are between 30 and 36 inches
-From 36 to 60 inches high
-I have been working on this for 22 years
Future Operations
About nine tenths of the upper level is complete. The upper level runs around the entire perimeter of the basement. I have yet to build the staging yard in Philadelphia but that should be coming in late 2026.
My Modeling Philosophy
-KISS. Less can go wrong.
-The most rewarding part of this hobby is building friendships.
-Promote the hobby at all costs. I have belonged to the NMRA for a long time - over 25 years.
-It’s all about operating groups.
-Like most others in this hobby, I am reliving a part of my past.
-Once a part is dropped on the floor, it is gone forever.
-Never be too busy to help someone.
Bidding on Jobs
I have identified several key jobs that are what railroads call “assigned-by-bid” jobs. These include:
-59th Street Yard Job
-Clearing East Yard Job
-Clearing West Yard Job
-12th Street Coach Yard Job
-Cicero Yard Job
-Jacob’s Yard Job
-The Belt’s Transfer Job
People who hold these jobs hold then for life, except when:
1. They voluntarily give the job up
2. They miss 2 out of 3 operating sessions
3. They “Bid Off” the job, onto another job
When any of the three circumstances above occurs, the job vacated will be offered to a select group of people I think can handle the work. Some people just cannot switch, or, do not like to switch, and there is no sense offering this type of job to an individual who will be miserable in that position.
When a job is “bulletined,” it calls for people interested in that job to submit their bid. This is easily done via email. I will give a date by which the bid must be received. I will look at all the bids and determine who will be awarded the job. This is based solely upon seniority.
Seniority is based upon two criteria:
1. How long the person has been in the operating group, and
2. How often the person comes to operating sessions
Hence, it is possible to award a job to a newer person to the group, but who comes just about every time rather to a long-term member who rarely shows up to sessions.
I think these are the most fair ways to award jobs.