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James Peterson Operations

Layout Name: Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway, Dallas District

City: Coppell

Scale: HO

Size: 25' x 38'

Jobs: 9 Operators: Stage Manager, Yardmaster, 2 Yard Switchmen and 5 Road Operators in 1 or 2 man crews.

Car Forwarding: Car cards and Waybills

Operations: All switches along main tracks and CTC controlled sidings are powered by slow motion switch motors such as Tortoise or Switch Master, as are yard and spur switches located in hard to reach areas. Industrial spur switches near the aisle are manually controlled. NCE radio cabs control the GCSF through an NCE DCC command station and several CVP Products boosters with Zone Master circuit breakers.


Description:

The HO scale Gulf Lines is a model of the Santa Fe Railway in Dallas in 1960. Actual Santa Fe plans have been used to accurately depict the railroad from mile post 44 in Oak Cliff, through East Dallas Yard, to mile post 53.4 near the Texas State Fair Grounds. Selective compression reduces this mainline to approximately 250 feet or about four scale miles. The layout is single decked with wide aisles. Three large staging yards represent Cleburne, Gainesville, and Dallas Union Terminal.

The layout is located on the second floor in a purpose-built room above the garage. Enter through the front door and up the stairs. The layout is not accessible to those who are mobility impaired.

Operators having any level of experience are welcome to contact us for an invitation to participate in an operating session. Please note, however, that most switch jobs will handle dozens of cars to be spotted as well as dozens of cars to be picked up at several industrial zones. Yard crew members will classify up to 200 cars in each yard during a single operating session. Operations on the GCSF run much more smoothly when the crew members have significant operating experience.

For those operating with us during the NMRA National Convention in August, 2023, please note that the sessions will begin at 5:30 PM. Please plan to arrive at the layout by 5:00 PM for orientation. We will operate for about 90 minutes, then break for dinner, which will be provided. Please have cash available to contribute to the cost of the meal. Operations will resume after the dinner break and should conclude by about 10:30 PM. The layout is only a 15 minute drive from the convention headquarters hotel.



Click to enlarge Photos.
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