The Redwood Empire District is home to an impressive collection of operating layouts—and you can be part of the action! If you’re interested in participating in layout operations, register now to attend the convention. All registered convention attendees are eligible to sign up and will receive a signup form.
No experience? No problem!
All skill levels are welcome, and we’ll be there to guide you every step of the way.
Have a layout you’d like to share?
If you’re interested in hosting operating sessions on your layout during the convention, please contact Denni or Cliff Baumer at chair@pcr2026.org.
Layouts
The layout owners listed below will be hosting operating sessions. Addresses and additional information will be provided at the convention. If you need information in advance, please email Denni or Cliff Baumer at chair@pcr2026.org.
Oregon I-5 Corridor – Bill Horstmeyer
It is a contemporary road running between Portland and Klamath Falls Oregon. The main line is about 400 feet with 8 passing sidings. There are 3 branch lines – the Portland and Oregon, the Central Oregon and Pacific, and the Modoc Northern. Both mainline and switching operations are featured along with branch line activity.
Scale: HO
Number of Operators: 8
Control System: CVP easy DCC
Dispatching Method: Track warrant
Miles from Convention: 35
Website: Click Here
The layout will also be open for tours (Click here)
Northwestern Pacific – Ed Merrin
The goal of this HO scale layout is to capture the look and feel of the late 1950s Northwestern Pacific Railroad. The 13×17-foot layout features two visible levels, with a third level below for staging, all connected by two helixes. The lower level depicts scenes in Sonoma County, including the towns of Petaluma and Santa Rosa, and on the upper level are parts of Mendocino County, including the division point at Willits.
Scale: HO
Number of Operators: 8
Control System: Lenz DCC, CVP wireless throttles
Dispatching Method: TT & TO
Miles from Convention: 9
Website: Click Here
The layout will also be open for tours (Click here)
California Western Railroad – Gus Campgna
A three-level representation of the railroad from Willits to Fort Bragg. Track complete with scenery on lower and middle levels. The HO scale CWR has 270′ of mainline track. The Willits portion is 50′ long and connects to staging at both ends. The layout is in a 31′ x 25′ garage, with a connecting 10′ x 25′ crew lounge. Train operations are steam and diesel and most locomotives have sound installed.
Scale: HO
Number of Operators: 8-10
Control System: Lenz DCC
Dispatching Method: TT & TO
Miles from Convention: 5
Website: Click Here
The layout will also be open for tours (Click here)
Santa Cruz Northern – Jim Providenza
The Santa Cruz Northern is a point-to-point double deck layout with 260’ mainline, set in 1971. It is a proto-freelanced model of a joint WP-Santa Fe subsidiary from San Jose to Santa Cruz. The SCN is 95% scenicked. Trains move under Time Table and Train Order authority using a 4-1 fast clock. Car routing is vis waybills and switchlists. Positions include a dispatcher, two agent-operators, a yardmaster and two person train crews.
Scale: HO
Number of Operators: 12
Control System: NCE
Dispatching Method: TT & TO
Miles from Convention: 30
Website: Click Here
The layout will also be open for tours (Click here)
