Welcome to the Southern Pacific and Nevada County Narrow Gauge, a 23’x23’ three-level model railroad of Dave’s two favorite railroads.  The Southern Pacific is on the lower two levels and the Nevada County Narrow Gauge on the top level.

The purpose of operating trains on the model railroad is to move freight and passengers, connecting industries and passenger stations with each other, as well as the rest of national rail network that is not modeled.  The model railroad serves as a stage, the trains and their operators are the actors, each with their role to play as in a multi-player role playing game.

Trains move the cars on the model railroads with a purpose, with the script provided by each car’s Car Card and Waybill.  A Car Card describes the car, and the Waybill describes the commodity and destination.  Train crews carry the Car Cards/Waybills for their train with them.  When a car reaches its destination, the Car Cards/Waybill is placed at the industry and the waybill changed to the next destination.

Both railroads are powered and controlled using Digital Command Control (DCC).  In the past, model trains received their power through the track and were controlled by changing the voltage and polarity.  With DCC, power is still received through the track, with the system also sending digital commands through the track to a small decoder in each locomotive, that in turn controls the speed, direction, lights, and sound.  Train crews operate their trains using wireless radio throttles or their smartphones over a dedicated Wi-Fi connection.

Work in the train room started in 1998 with construction of the darkroom and a two-level NCNG-only model railroad.  In 2009, with my son's growing interest in trains (Amtrak and double-stacks), the decision was made to build the current model railroad.  After a year of design work, construction resumed in 2010.  Both railroads are still under construction and will continue to evolve over time.​

Model Railroad One-Line Diagram