Experience

The pictures above show the upgraded building facade and a mural to the West exterior wall done by local artist, Jared Johnson. The mural scenes depict the original swing bridge over the Columbia River, the Kennewick Hotel, a teacher who traversed the bridge system for her work schedule, original strawberry crops and local workers.

 

A small retail operation is available and the new layout can be seen at our 11 West building. Items for sale include books, various structures, rolling stock pieces, detail parts, kits, T-shirts, mugs and other related (model) railroad items. All sales are on a final, cash-only basis. Also, please remember that we are a small organization and dependent on volunteer members being available for the above schedule.

 

The “Progress” section of this website contains photos of the new layout now under construction and as discussed below. Access to the layout’s design and schematic drawings are also provided below. To view initial train operations during a previous Saturday session, see YouTube of TCMR Operating Session.

 

Layout development is continuing. Trackwork is complete on all four levels of the layout, as well as two both helixes and the east and east wall extensions of Level B. Staging yards representing the SP&S in Spokane and Wishram, the NP in Spokane and Auburn, and the UP in Hinkle, OR are fully operational. In addition, a separate staging yard has been added on Level A for staging of TCMR member’s trains for informal operations. Continuous train operations are now in effect in all areas. In addition to free-form train operations during open-house on Saturday mornings (come watch the trains run), two formal Operating Sessions using switch lists generated by JMR are scheduled each month.

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Upgrading of the control panels and electrical control system to digital Layout Command Control (LCC) is nearing completion. This system provides a block occupancy video display for dispatching and allows trains to be controlled by the NCE Digital Control (DCC) hand-held throttles and by digital phones or pads. Personal digital devices can also control track turnouts.

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Scenery work is underway on levels. The signature scene (displayed at the entry of the front door) of the Columbia River lift bridge (constructed by renown model builder, Wayne Wesolowski) as well as the adjacent industrial scene in Kennewick and the roundhouse and locomotive service facility in the Pasco Yard have been completed. The scenery in the East Wall Pasco Lead industrial extension on Level B, as well as the scenery in the town of Easton on Level D have been completed. The impressive Stampede Pass Cascade mountain scenery between the town of Easton and the staging yard at Auburn on Level D is coming together. Major areas of scenery in the towns of Prosser and Kennewick are completed and scenery in most other areas on the layout (Umatilla Army Depot, Pasco Yard, Wishram, Prosser, Yakima, and Auburn), is in progress.

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Our design plan for this HO-scale layout reflects a hybrid “mushroom” configuration to maximize the size of the exhibit. To view the four levels of the layout design, click on the appropriate links below. The “Elevation View” file provides a composite depiction of all levels while the Layout Schematic drawing gives a linear view of how the levels’ trackwork is interconnected.

• Elevation View (pdf)

• Level A: Wallula and staging for Hinkle & SPS-Spokane (pdf)

• Level B: Pasco, Kennewick, City Lead, Finley/Wishram and NP-Spokane staging (pdf)

• Level C: Toppenish, Union Gap and Yakima (pdf)

• Level D: Cascade Mountains, Stampede Tunnel and Auburn Staging (pdf)

• Layout Schematic (pdf)

• Helix Design (pdf)

Our work on the new layout continues to be dependent on increased funding. CAN YOU HELP US? See the “Donations” discussion below for more information.