Canton Division

Layout Description
27 October 2005

The Canton Division Model Railroad will be a prototypical freelance model railroad located somewhere in the midwest....mainly, sort of :)

GOALS
To create an enjoyable model railroad layout that provides entertainment in prototypical operations while still providing that toy train fun when wanted (hey that is what got me started back in the day).  The layout will provide a large amount of switching operations, local and wayfreigh runs and of course, those beautiful long unit trains.  The primary railroad of the layout is BNSF.  The Union Pacific will operate some trackage on the lower level and has trackage rights on BNSF track.  The Canadian Pacific has trackage rights on BNSF and UP tracks and operates through freights.  Amtrak provides passenger service to every town/city on the layout along with some BNSF and an occasional UP excursion train.

Construction
Construction has been delayed as more planning is required for the "Super" Layout.  Also, I am in the phase of rapidly expanding my rolling stock with much of the current focus on increasing my locomotive roster.  Construction of the "Super Layout" may begin in June 2006.  Funding is one of the major hold backs on this project as my choice in benchwork and track is certainly not the cheapest choice available.  However, I am looking at this project as a long term project.  I plan on working on this layout for at least the next 20 or so years.  We are in our final home unless some kind of disaster moves us.  So time is in no short supply for this layout (in the long run that is).  The overall goal is to have the benchwork in place and the main level operational trackwise by the end of 2006.

Planning
As stated above the planning process for the Canton Division is still underway.  Most of the planning for the main level is complete and is available for viewing on this website.  There will be some additional minor changes but the 90% solution is complete.  The lower level planning has just been started as has a long ways to go before it will be posted here.  The staging level planning has not begun as of yet.