The St. Marshall Subdivision is a proto-freelanced HO scale layout representing a contemporary Union Pacific route somewhere in Illinois. Elements of the layout focus on modern day trains, details, and operations in the PTC-era.
The layout is 5 1/2 x 15 feet, and located in a corner of my unfinished basement. Construction was started in March of 2024, with the first train looping the main track 2 weeks later. For the electronics, the layout uses Digitrax DCC. A DCS210+ 8 amp command station is the brains of the layout. A UR93 provides duplex throttle connectivity. A single BDL168 block detection board, and SE8c signal driver board provide the necessary hardware to drive the CTC signal system.
The layout track plan includes a continuous single track mainline (approx. 33 feet long), a single stub-ended visible staging track, a passing siding that doubles as a yard lead, a 3-track stub-ended yard, turntable, engine service track, Shoving Platform (a.k.a. caboose) track, 2 local industries, a track representing an interchange to a shortline railroad, and an intermodal yard.
Operations are designed around 1 or 2 people running trains, though up to 4 could be accommodated if a conductor and dispatcher wish to participate.
A typical operating session would see the "Road Crew" come on duty, take control of the manifest train currently tied down on the visible staging track (representing Chicago), verify their consist, and run the train looping the main track until directed to enter the yard.
A "Yard Crew" would come on duty at the same time, sorting any cars left in the yard from the day before. The yard crew would inform the dispatcher when they could handle the pending manifest train.
The dispatcher, using the modern CAD (computer aided dispatch) interface, would route the manifest train into the yard using the CTC system. CTC stands for centralized traffic control, a system of software, hardware, and rules that allow a line-side signal system and remotely controlled switch points to route trains more efficiently.
Upon arriving at the yard, the road crew would double over any cars that wouldn't fit on the siding, then spot the power on the service track. The yard crew would spend time sorting the newly arrived cars into 2 different local jobs. While the yard crew is sorting, the road crew would take control of the intermodal train at the Global 5 Intermodal Facility and run the main track.
When the yard crew is finished building the locals, the road crew would run the 2 local jobs, switching the Greene County Co-op, Brenntag Pacific, and the shortline interchange. While busy with that, the yard crew would sort the remaining cars in the yard into blocks bound for staging. Upon finishing the local switching and returning to the yard, the yard crew can build the outbound manifest train, which will return to the staging track.
My Personal Model Railroad
