Raton Past

I decided to build this small layout last year while I was contemplating my much larger Raton Pass layout. I wanted to have something portable and well-finished to take to train show or meetups to show off Z scale and my collection of ATSF equipment. I titled the layout “Raton Past”, a little play on the words.

It’s small, sure, but that’s the point. Of course running smaller trains will appear more realistic, but let’s face it, a loop of track is never realistic anyway.

The layout is 36” by 20” with 9” radius curves. The layout depicts Raton Pass in the 1950s. The benchwork is open grid with plywood and brass roadbed. I used a brass channel core to support the bridges, so all of the track work is extremely solid. The scenery base is plaster cloth with hand-carved hydrocal rocks. The layout stands almost 50” so it’s tall. It sits on very smooth caster wheels and the legs are removable.

The tunnel portals were cast from hydrocal molds that I made using scale drawings of the portals. The large bridge was necessary for a hero scene and is a scaled-down, single track version of the bridge over Canyon Diablo in Arizona. I simply moved it a couple hundred miles east… Some modelers license…

I wanted to convey 4 different scenes on the layout, and I used the scenery as a partial view block for this purpose. This way the layout appears less roundy-round, and I feel I’ve done well enough in this regard.

The barn at Wootton Ranch is scratch built board-by-board. The balance of the small structures are commercial kits.

The layout has many different lighting and sound features. In the top of the shadow box, I’ve built a diffuser that has lighting for morning, afternoon and night. At night, a campfire can be seen burning near the tracks as two rail fans look on. The most interesting light feature is the thunderstorm with lightning and thunder. I’ll be sure to make a video of these features soon. If you’ve spent any time in Raton, afternoon thunderstorms are more common than not.

Sound includes background ambient sounds of birds and insects which really sets the scene. Background, far off train sounds play as well, giving the impression of distance.

This little layout has been a lot of fun to build, and I have some plans for some more additions as I begin sketching the room sized layout to come. In the meantime, I have an AZL ATSF mikado on the bench, rebuilding her as a 3100 class oil-burner. More to come on that project soon. I’m no stranger to scratch building steam locomotives in small scale, so it should be of interest when it’s finished.

Video of the 1956 ElCap on Raton Past.

Thanks! I’m certainly glad you did! I have the add-on set as well for the ElCap Max, and I have the SC add on set on order. I’ll pick up the full SC set soon. Also have the alco PA ABAs as well, so with that combination I can model *most* of the ATSF name trains. I know it’s probably not feasible, but if the full-length domes ever became available… we’d almost have it all…

After the new SC cars arrive, I’m going to start looking into the cars I need for the Fast Mail.

The El Cap has always been my favorite name train, it just looks impressive and the ATSF was very particular about how it was operated and maintained. This layout is essentially a love letter to the El Cap.

Hey thanks!

speedbird

Absolutly fantastic

Hard to believe this is Z

Thanks for inspiring we wannabes

Znutt77

this is a jewel

Excellent craftsmanship! El Cap would be enamored!!
I might take you up on it as I embark on the scratch building the Gaviota bridge on Espee's Coast Line.

Great weekend!
-Tiest