The Layout

The layout is built in N Scale (1:160) and is point-to-point, that means: no circle, no loop - just as it usually is in reality. The distance between East and West staging yards is 115 metres, it usually takes 15 to 20 minutes for a train to get over the line. (Much longer during operating sessions because of frequent meets and a few derailments here and there)

It's an American-style layout and that means operating as an engineer. European layouts usually have to automate many aspects if they are huge and the operators work the yards and not the trains. I just find the idea that you could be engineer fascinating which is quite realistic when using walk around control. And since the signals are operable the engineer better walks with his train or else he might miss a red signal.
And that is another big difference to European style: you would have to automate the signals, too- every train encountering a red light will have to be brought to an automatic stop, oftentimes with sophisticated ways to achieve a realistic slow approach and a soft start. No need for that here! Since every train is operated by human intervention, it is the human that is responsible for stopping.
Of course, we had a few sideswipes in our sessions but no really bad accident.

There are 7 sidings and one yard, from east to west:
East Portal, Montana
Roland, Idaho
Adair
Kyle
Avery - the only yard. The yardmaster here is the most challenging job on the railroad - not for the faint of heart!
Ethelton
Pocono
Calder

and of course, the two 18-track staging yards.

When the lighting is finished somewhere 2011, the last huge project will be the extension of the line in bith directions, which will bring the total length to over 200 metres. This is scheduled for 2011/2012, albeit it well be a challenge to make this work without interrupting the monthly sessions too much.

The turnouts are operated manually, except the entrances to the sidings and the yard. For those I'm using Fulgurex (PFM) and stall type switch motors (they are more quiet).

I scratchbuilt 50 signals and installed them on the layout, driven by two SE8c controllers from digitrax. The signals work as ABS. When I get to the programming of JMRI it will be (almost) real CTC operation. (That is the current project)