Lori and Peter Thomas's Dawson Shortline (HO)-Lori's Cothran Valley Gardens (G)
Peter's HO Scale:
Module 1 (60 by 30 inches) is a simple passing loop station in Dawsonville. Module 2 is a wye. Modules 3 and 4 are staging.
|
Scale |
HO |
|
Size |
12’ 6” x 10’ |
|
Prototype |
L&N to Southern connector |
|
Locale |
Dawson County |
|
Era |
Spring mid 1920’s |
|
Style |
End to end modular layout |
|
Len. of Mainline |
10 feet (really – the layout has just started) |
|
Layout Height |
tabletop |
|
Benchwork |
modular |
|
Roadbed |
cork |
|
Trackwork |
Atlas code 83 |
|
Turnouts |
Atlas no 6 |
|
Min. Radius |
22” |
|
Maximum Grade |
None |
|
Scenery |
50 % |
|
Backdrop |
None |
|
Controls |
DCC - Digitrax zephyr – jmri – engine driver (on phone) |
|
Wheelchair Accessible |
Yes – but no grab bars in restroom |
Lori's Garden Railroad:
What do you do when you can't get grass to grow in your front yard? You build a garden railroad, of course! Inspired in March 2017 by a display of G-Scale trains by the Georgia Garden Railway Society at the Piedmont Division Model Train Show, Lori and Peter set about planning and building the Cothran Valley Garden Railroad.
This railroad travels back to late 1960's on a fictitious short line running through rural North Georgia mountains. The railroad features a 60-foot oval of track surrounded by farmsteads, a small train depot, and a magical village on the far side of the mountain. The rolling stock showcases iconic billboards of the era. The railway is nestled into existing gardens and includes scale plantings.
|
Scale |
G |
|
Size |
21’ x 14’ |
|
Prototype |
Freelance |
|
Locale |
Dawson County |
|
Era |
1960’s |
|
Style |
Single loop |
|
Len. of Mainline |
60’ |
|
Layout Height |
Ground level |
|
Benchwork |
None / not applicable |
|
Roadbed |
ballast |
|
Trackwork |
LGB |
|
Turnouts |
LGB |
|
Min. Radius |
4’ |
|
Maximum Grade |
2% |
|
Scenery |
100 % Combination or planting and models |
|
Backdrop |
The garden !!! |
|
Controls |
DC - Digitrax zephyr |
|
Wheelchair Accessible |
Yes |
Directions
From Atlanta take Georgia 400 north and approximately 3.5 miles after the Premium Outlet
Mall, turn left on GA 136 toward Dawsonville, then in 1.8 miles turn left onto Cothran Road.
Travel 0.8 miles and we are on left.
