Clarion Model Railroad Club HO Layout – Clarion – 2008

NAME: Lake Erie, Franklin & Clarion Railroad

SCALE: HO

SIZE: 34’ by 25’

PROTOTYPE/THEME: Based on LEF&C Prototype

LOCALE: Clarion to Summerville, PA

PREIOD: 1975-1985

STYLE: Double-deck multi-level, w/Continuous run on Conrail Lowgrade Line, Point to Point on the LEF&C

HEIGHT: 34” – 55”

LENGTH OF MAINLINE: 450’ of single track main with passing sidings (850’ total)

BENCHWORK: L Girder, Open Grid & flat areas(yards)

ROADBED:  7/16 OSB (wafer board)& 3/8” plywood w/Homasote & Cork.

TRACK: Code 100 Flex. All switches are hand ground throw.

TURNOUT MIN: #4, #6 and some hand laid.  About 75 switches

MIN RADIUS: 24” or greater main line, 22” industrial sidings

MAX GRADE: 2.5%Main Line

SCENERY CONSTRUCTION: Combination of plaster and foam, trees from weeds. Scenery is about 80% done

BACKDROP CONSTRUCTION: Painted 1/4” Cardboard and painted Plasterboard.

CONTROL: Digitrax with radio, IR and walk around memory throttles.

OPERATIONS:  Car operations using the Modified Pin System.

COMMENTS: This layout was designed in 1993 with DC walk around memory control.  Layout converted to Keller Onboard in 1996 and then to Digitrax Radio DCC in 1999. View blocks were installed to isolate the operators from each other.  Car control uses the modified pin system. Kadee couplers are hand un-coupled without the use of magnets.  Work continues to update the track and Club cars.