The History of the Central Junction Line - the
N scale model railroad of the DelMarVa Model Railroad Club
In 1985, a year after the DelMarVa Model Railroad Club was formed, our
Club was informed of a defunct N-Scale club that had a layout under
construction in Salisbury, MD. We made arrangements with the
other Club to acquire it for our Club. The layout was cut into
sections and then moved into the main layout room next to the O scale
layout and re-assembled. Some of the members of the Salisbury
Club joined our Club and continued building it along with dome of our
regular Club members. The layout consisted of benchwork only with
no track and no scenery or control system. After it was
re-assembled and track was laid, the control system selected was DC via
several DC power packs. The original name of the railroad was the
East New Market, Athol
and Queen Anne RR.
In 1995 the DC control system was replaced by a Lenz DCC control system.
In early 2000, the mainline was redesigned and an expansion was added
to the end of the layout nearest the HO and O scale layouts. (The
layout was originally designed as a Point to Point railroad when our
Club received it. After this redesign, it was converted to a
Continuous Run type of Folded Dog-bone configuration.) The
railroad was renamed after the extension was added.
Around 2008, the Lenz DCC control system was replaced by the more
popular Digitrax DCC system.
Although the layout was running, and a significant amount of scenery on
it, a major re-modeling was started in 2011. This work included
new scenery upgrades and changes as well as some major re-wiring to
conform with DCC wiring practices.
In 2014, the main yard was completely re-modeled and changed using a
new track plan.
Also in 2014, it was determined that we would use model airplane servos
and Tam Valley servo controllers for all switch machines not yet
installed. It was also determined that all Atlas toy-like
machines that were very visible would be removed and converted to
servos. There are only four tortoise machines and six twin coil
machines presently installed.
In 2017, it was determined that we should start looking towards model
railroad operations. A scheme was designed, towns were named (or
renamed), sidings and industries were named and cars for the industries
and tracks were designated. This information was put into a
computer program called Rail Op, which would be the operations
program. The program will print switch lists which the operators
will use to run their trains by, picking up and setting out cars at the
various industries around the layout. However, before operations
can begin, all swicth machines and control panels must be installed and
wired up. This was started in 2018 and is currently being worked
on, and will be completed in 2019.
Re-modeling is still taking place as of 2018.
The layout has now grown into a large layout with very interesting
scenery, and it is being improved weekly. The wiring is still
being up-dated as defects are found, and the scenery is continuing to
be either re-freshened or re-done.
Since we first acquired the layout, many different N Scale modelers
have come and gone, all contributing to the layout one way or another
to make it what it is today. At one point, there was only one
person working on the layout for a while. After he departed,
another modeler took it over. During this time, the name of the
railroad was lost and was renamed the Central Junction Line.
As time went by, new members were added and things progressed more
rapidly, both scenery wise and electrical wise. It is still a
work in progress but there is a definite goal that the members are
working towards.
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