Cedar Grove Railway

Engineer: Doug Watson
Scale: 1:29
Power: Track

Situated in a grove of five large cedar trees, Cedar Grove Railway gets its name from the small town and environs displayed on the layout.
Cedar Grove is a fictional small community situated in the Canadian Rockies on the Canadian Pacific mainline during the transition from steam to diesel power.
It was a railroad town and a centre for three local industries, namely grain, lumber and canning and was known for freight trains specializing in serving those industries. In addition, its location on the mainline made possible a much more regular and prestigious passenger service than its small size would warrant, including the transcontinental “Canadian”.
Cedar Grove Railway has about five hundred feet of stainless steel track laid in a manner that allows trains to pass and to cross over each other. The layout is track powered with separately controlled blocks, with power supplied through a 25 amp power unit, sufficient to run three long trains at once. Construction began in September 2005.

Open for tour on Saturday, 31 August, 2019.
Handicap accessible.

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Columbia Gorge Railroad

Owner: Columbia Gorge Model Railroad Club
Gauge: HO
Power: Track

We are an HO scale club founded in 1947 and dedicated to the portrayal of the rail lines between Portland, Oregon and Wishram Washington.

Our 60′x70′ layout features examples of scratch built landmarks of the Columbia River area. Our models of Portland’s Union Station, Crown Point and the Multnomah Falls Lodge are fine examples of the art of realistic modeling. Check out our Lumber mill with a working Log dump and fiery Wigwam Burner. In the Maryhill area be sure to notice the accurate Stonehenge Peace Memorial recently produced by 3D printing. Pay close attention to the details and you will find boys riding soapbox cars, a raging forest fire, Native American fishing platforms, and of course be on the lookout for Sasquatch!

Our club members run both steam and diesel. They are quite adept at modifying engines and cars to portray actual rolling stock. With 3D printing we have a wonderful model of the Amtrak Cascades. And notice the fire boxes blazing away on many of the Steam Engines.

With waterfalls and forests, neon signs and trolleys, our layout has something for everyone who loves the Pacific Northwest and the history of Railroading.

Open for tour on Saturday, 31 August, 2019.
Handicap accessible.

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Lazenby Backyard Railroad

Hosts: Scott & Sandy Lazenby
Power: Battery with radio control

This 300-foot figure-eight railroad traverses a fairly steep backyard, which provided some engineering challenges, as well as a natural setting for a waterfall, and a good excuse for some trestles and bridges. The narrow gauge railroad represents the era when Oregon’s forests were being leveled in wild abandon; the train (including a portable sawmill) is pulled by a Shay locomotive that is very similar to the full-scale one parked at the Oregon Zoo.

In addition to carrying 1:20 scale logs (i.e., sticks), the railroad transports goods (maple seeds and dog treats) for the local populace (squirrels and a Corgi), and occasionally provides service for passengers (baby spiders, mostly). A village is under construction; Sandy started with a kit for a station, but then decided to design and scratch build replicas of the historic homes in the surrounding neighborhood. A broken arm (skiing) and a new grandchild have slowed construction. The landscaping has, however, earned a “Backyard Habitat” Gold certificate for its collection of native plants.

A special treat for conference attendees: free beer from a local craft brewery, as long as the supply in the kegerator holds out.

Open for tour on Saturday, 31 August, 2019.
Not handicap accessible.

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Nebraska Oregon Railroad

Chief Engineer: Mike Fisher
CFO: Randi Fisher
Power: Track

The Nebraska Oregon Railroad is a representation of the 1930s. At one end of the above-ground layout is the town of Huskerville, Nebraska, which is a small town near Lincoln. At the other end is the small town of Bates, which was a mill town at the end of the Sumpter Valley Railroad in Eastern Oregon. The name of the railroad was picked as these two places meant something to the owners. Mike was born in Nebraska, and Randi was born and raised in Eastern Oregon.
This line was started in 2016, but has been the dream of the owner for much longer than that. We wanted a layout that could show that a small intimate layout can be as much fun as a large one. A few buildings have been added and landscaping done since the tour last year.
Most all of the buildings have been designed and built by the Chief Engineer, Mike Fisher, with the landscaping projects being the design of the CFO, Randi Fisher. The railroad is still in the “construction” mode but we want visitors to see our love for the hobby of Garden Railroading. It is dedicated to having a great time and enjoying the fun the Nebraska Oregon Railroad has to offer.

Open for tour on Saturday, 31 August, 2019.
Handicapped accessible.

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Partytown and Farmdale Railroad

Owner: Shannon Pratt

This is an indoor whimsical no 1. scale (1/32) railroad, with lots of lights, sound and animation. It is a tourist and freight railroad, serving the raucous Partytown, the quieter Farmdale, and the recent extension to Vineyard Village, aptly named for its vineyard and wineries. Residents and visitors cover a wide gamut, including Alexander Graham Bell. Sherlock Holmes and Watson, Laurel and Hardy, Popeye and Olive Oyl, and Jack and Jill. This year the carnival has come to Partytown and the circus has come to Farmdale.

Open for tour on Saturday, 31 August, 2019.
The sidewalk on the right side of the house allows people with wheelchairs to enter the lower level to view the layout.

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Staver Locomotive

Visit Staver Locomotive in Portland, OR. His web site is at Staver Locomotive.

Owner: Larry Staver

Housed in a 16000 sq ft warehouse on an acre of land in the heart of industrial NW Portland, Staver Locomotive was built to showcase Larry Staver’s collection of live steam locomotives. Featuring both indoor and outdoor loops, the track itself is dead level, with broad curves on super elevations. The layout is a classic form used in the smaller scales, a folded dog bone, forming 3 circles for steaming, operations or just viewing. The track is all hand built and at waist height. It can accommodate any scale, self-powered locomotive running on 45mm track. The track is non-powered, made of steel bar, 1/8 by 3/8 by 12′, and the ties are made of cedar, notched to the correct gauge. The switches for the tracks are also handmade and manufactured in house. The landscape is minimalist to highlight the movement and function of the engines. The warehouse itself boasts a number of additional facilities to fabricate, and showcase their latest projects, inventions, and designs. It has become a growing resource for the Portland train community to collaborate, inspire, and share their love of trains. In the spirit of his father’s love of hosting events, Staver Locomotive has also been hosting spring and fall steam up for the small scale live steam community for the past 12 years in addition to more recent operations sessions with RCGRS members.

Open for tour on Saturday, 31 August, 2019.
On-site Restrooms available. Handicap Accessible.

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Swiss Flats Railroad

Engineers: Jan and Rae Zweerts
Power: Track

Welcome to the Swiss Flats Railway (SF Ry.) a small Pike with a huge water feature. The SF Ry. can be multi-modal with short headways, intense rail traffic, 2 major junctions using air drive switches with up to 4 train operators fighting over the right-of-way controlled by 1 harried dispatcher. Or the SF Ry. can have 3 trains loop lazily each in its own circle of solitude. Or 1 train can traverse all 3 loops which is very handy for cleaning track.
The SF Ry. is loosely based on travels in Switzerland on the Rh B and other narrow gauge railways. Steam, diesel and electric motors may be seen negotiating European close quarters scenery with mountainous grades and overhead catenary.
The SF Ry. is built upon a 16′ x 48′ float attached to a member’s floating home on the Columbia River at North Portland Harbor. All manner of transportation may be seen here as the SF Ry. is within sight of the BNSF swing bridge (MP 8.8 Fallbridge Sub), I-5 Road Bridge with historical ships moored across the channel.

Open for tour on Saturday, 31 August, 2019.
Visiting the SF Ry. will require parking outside the Jantzen Beach Moorage (JBMI) gated community, walking down a 20% grade ramp, and along 800 feet of floating walkways. Please wear comfortable shoes, secure your car keys, cell phones and other valuables because the water is deep and divers are not standing by.

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