I saw this plan in your layout book. I am in the process of having the benchwork built at a local cabinet shop. Are there any pictures and anymore details on this plan?
Welcome to the MR forums.
Yes, you are on the Model Railroader Magazine forums, but your question is directed to Atlas about one of their layout designs. You might want to go to www.atlasrr.com and look for their question section. I had a question and they gave me a prompt answer.
If you have any questions on the actual building your layout, making scenery or other model railroading questions, these forums are a wonderful place to get answers.
Good luck,
Richard
The GG&N was published in Atlas layout books back in the '60s (possibly late '50s?), and has been featured ever since (currently in the 7 layouts book). The original trial layout was built in that era, so I don’t imagine there are any unused useful pictures laying around of the original.
There have been numerous attempts to build copies of the GG&N. And photos might have been taken during construction. But Atlas wouldn’t likely have those photos.
You said you have already had the benchwork on order at a local cabinet shop, which says to me you are pretty well committed. I don’t know your experience or what attracted you to the GG&N. But like all layout designs, the GG&N has its pluses and minuses.
Most (but not all) of the Atlas layouts are set up to maximize display running, with relatively little opportunity for switching. The GG&N is no exception. The yard cannot be switched without tying up one of the two figure 8 lines. Which is no problem since there are only 2 throttles if you use the Atlas wiring plan. There is exactly one industrial spur - two if you give up the turntable.
The GG&N is designed to be operated as a double figure 8, with each figure 8 operating a train independently - can be in either direction on either track. The suggested scenery has mountain, bridges, and tunnels to make the up and over display running more interesting. There are 2 cutoffs to move the train from one figure 8 to the other - without any reversing.
The minimum radius is 18", so operation of 6 axle diesels, big steam, and full length passenger cars or 89ft freight cars is not going to work real well.
If you want what the GG&N of
My name is Craig Horwitz, Highland Park, IL. I built this plywood two piece structure for this layout many years ago, made laid the track, etc. My parents will sell their house this month, and I thought maybe someone woould like the plywood structure, remove all the tracks and scenery and redo --but save hundreds if not thousands in time and money in buying thre plywood two piece structure.
if you have not taken ownership of this Atlas HO-28 Granite Gorge and Northern layout plywood structure, e-mail at hhco@flash.net, call my office at 312-337-3500. I have photos, plywood in perfect condition, made in two pieces for easy in moving.
Craig Horwitz
[quote user=“fwright”]
wayles3:
I saw this plan in your layout book. I am in the process of having the benchwork built at a local cabinet shop. Are there any pictures and anymore details on this plan?
The GG&N was published in Atlas layout books back in the '60s (possibly late '50s?), and has been featured ever since (currently in the 7 layouts book). The original trial layout was built in that era, so I don’t imagine there are any unused useful pictures laying around of the original.
There have been numerous attempts to build copies of the GG&N. And photos might have been taken during construction. But Atlas wouldn’t likely have those photos.
You said you have already had the benchwork on order at a local cabinet shop, which says to me you are pretty well committed. I don’t know your experience or what attracted you to the GG&N. But like all layout designs, the GG&N has its pluses and minuses.
Most (but not
Craig- Welcome to Trains.com! [C):-)]
The John Armstrong book Track Planning For Realistic Operation (available on this site) has a modified version of the GG&N that with more offers more operating potenional. The main change is that it adds reverse loops so is a little more complicated ton wire. The benchwork is unchanged.
The Granite Gorge & Northern, HO-28 layout is most recently featured with DC & DCC wiring options in Atlas HO Scale Book #13, titled Seven Step-By-Step HO Railroads. Chapter 6, pages 30-41 of this publication gives detailed instruction for building this 5’ X 9’, skill level 3 “cookie cutter” layout.
A side note: This publication also has a Yard Layout (Southside Connecting, HO-26) that can be easily added to the GG&N layout if you have a little more room to accommodate it. The layout measures 10’L X 15"W, and can be easily modified if necessary.