Page updated on Monday, May 14, 2026
Latest work completed:
Had issues connecting to the server that hosts my website, so I didn't post
any updates - I changed my password and forgot to update it in Filezilla when making the connection.
Work on the layout was still progressing though.
Started working on the steel mill area.
Arranged the blast furnace and coke ovens then layed track around the structures.
Arranged buildings in the industrial area and layed track there.
Built the rolling mill for a backdrop building.
The sides of the rails were painted brown to look weathered.
Next work to do:
Add lighting to the rolling mill.
Start working on scenery from the back to the front of the still mill area.
Overview of the Layout
It took several attemps, but I was able to arrange the buildings to look correct as possible
and also allow track to access each structure.
With all the switches, there was a lot of cutting and soldering of track to.
This is the area west of the steel mill. I wanted it to look very industrialized.
Again, the tracks were layed to access all of the buildings.
For the background behind the steel mill, I wanted to make a large rolling mill.
It actually didn't cost much money to make - it was made out of half-inch foam
board, aluminum foil for the siding, and sand paper for the roof.
All the details were parts left over from other buildings.
This is the west end of the rolling mill.
This is the east end of the rolling mill. The total length is 97 inches long.
I have to fix the light getting through underneath the roof.
Because the mill stretches between McKeesport and Pittsburgh on the layout, I didn't want to
name it National Tube Works, or Edgar Thompson Works. I will use the more generic
United States Steel - Mon Valley Works.
The sign was taken from an actual photograph found online.
Here you can see the weathered sides of the rails.
From the back to front, you have the Chessie mainline, tracks one and two. Then in front, the Union RR mainline.
The finished steel coils come out at this end into the industrial area.
Layout Specifications:
Mainline Length:
Track 1: 177.5 ft (2.93 scale miles)
Track 2: 181.5 ft (2.99 scale miles)
Minimum Walkway Width: 35"
Minimum Subroadbed Height: 44.5"
Maximum Subroadbed Height: 48.75"
Minimum Radius: 30"
Curve Easements: 18" transition, 0.5" offset
Super Elevation: 0.030"
Atlas Code 100 Flex Track and Switches
Tangent Track Center to Center: 2"
Curved Track Center to Center 2.25"
Yard Track Center to Center: 2"
Mainline Maximum Grade: 1.5%
Mainline Crossovers: #8
Spurs off of the Mainline: #6
Yard/Industrial Switches: #4
DCC: NCE Powerhouse Pro System with 3 power districts
JMRI Software
Track charts showing the location of switches, tunnels, bridges, elevation, grade, and the interlockings and blocks.
Some of the track is not totally accurate due to space, but all the tunnels and bridges are properly located.
Train room dimensions along with the approximate dimensions of the layout.
The size changed a bit as I was laying out the track. The room is approximately 755 sqft.
A photo from my old layout in Maryland (2001 - 2019).
The town of Hyndman, PA. There was a lot of activity in this small town.
The baseball field will be moved to another town on the new layout due to available space.
I am a member of the following railroad historical societies.
