Columbus
Scioto Valley Lines » Columbus Club
Scale: HO
Prototype Inspiration: unknown
Power System: DCC
The Columbus Club was established in 1934 making it one of the oldest model railroad clubs in the United States. The Columbus Club will be celebrating its 75th anniversary during the Convention. The present layout was started in 1968 and is the Club’s third home. The Club membership is about 45 persons and is made up of people with various backgrounds. Many members are retired. The layout is forty feet square.
Running between Portsmouth and Sandusky, Ohio, the Scioto Valley Lines is a single track point to point railroad with a mainline of about 650 feet. Two sections of double track and six passing sidings permit trains running in opposite direction to meet. Engineers run their trains by signal indications controlled by Centralized Traffic Control (CTC). Two large double ended yards are kept busy switching trains at the end of their runs, Typical freight trains lengths are 25 to 35 cars, passenger trains lengths are 6 to 10 cars.
The Scioto Valley Line have six yard operating positions, one train Dispatcher and about seven engineers during operating sessions. The number of trains run on the main line depends on the Dispatcher’s experience. The layout has a complete solid state track detection and signal system. The Club uses a Digitrax DCC control system. During the Thursday night Operating Session, The Scioto Valley Lines will set up to “run trains” from end to end.
