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Alvin All-Star Railroad (AASRR)

HO Layout Diagram


At right is a schematic diagram of the layout (representative). The "3-rail" lines are railroad tracks. The sections of track are colored to correspond with the colored circle which marks the location of the toggle (on/off) switch for that block.

Though not indicated on the diagram, there is electrical insulation between the two main lines at the top-center of the diagram (directly above the indication "E-W"). This is the boundary for the blocks controlled by the two black circle toggle locations. The larger black circle in the upper right represents a toggle with three positions, E-off-W, meaning that this block can be powered by either the East or the West throttle, or shut off.

Turnouts (track switches; where trains can be routed one way or another) are operated manually at the location of each turnout/switch. [Note: model railroaders generally refer to track switches as "turnouts" in order not to confuse themselves with the on/off block switches (toggles). Full-scale railroaders usually use the term "switch" for where tracks diverge, and "block" for designated sections of track.]

The dual-throttle power pack is on a small table located just off the platform at the top of this diagram. The throttle on the east side controls the tracks on the East, and likewise the west throttle controls the tracks on the West. Students stationed at the power pack have an unobstructed view of both sides of the platform.

The thickly dotted black outlines mark the locations of the significant structures.

Roads are indicated with a center dashed line and outside solid lines.

The solid black line down the middle is the white divider on which the students' "3-D" historical building drawings are mounted.

See a map of today's SMV Railroad on the web site of the Santa Maria Valley Railway Historical Museum. We are modelling the areas marked downtown yard (red star) and the sugar mill at the area marked "Betteravia".

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