Welcome to the Official
Platte Valley and Western Railroad Club
Homepage
What is the Platte Valley and Western Railroad Club? The answers
lie below. There is a summary about each topic on this page, but for a
more in-depth discussion, click on any of the subjects (which are links).
The Organization
-
The Platte Valley Model Railroad Club was organized as a Colorado corporation
in October 1983 by a group of model railroaders who had been operating
together informally since 1981. While the club has a well detailed constitution
and by-laws, we prefer to retain a fairly informal atmosphere. The club
is currently composed of 21 members.
The System - Command Control
-
The Platte Valley Model Railroad Club is among the first to utilize the
Rail Command Control system. It is a third generation control system and
allows extremely flexible train operation. Up to 1024 locomotives can be on the
same track at the same time and each be uniquely controlled.
In addition to the command control system giving us more realistic train
operation, we have purchased a computer which is used to prepare train
orders and switch lists for the engineer of each train. It tells the train
crew where to pickup and setout the cars in their train. The computer takes
care of assigning cars to the industries with freight ot ship. All of this
adds to the realism of prototypical train operation. The computer also
maintains the records of the rolling stock on the layout. The computer
does not run trains. Currently, we are having our operating sessions on
one Friday each month. The exact date is determined by the Superitendent
on a month-to-month basis (see the Calendar, link below).
Operations
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By mandate of our charter, we are committed to way-freight switching and
prototype operation. We are developing time table schedules to be run in
accordance with a "fast clock", which runs at a speed of approximately
one simulated minute every 7.5 seconds. Operating sessions are already a
reality with as many as twenty trains scheduled in a (real) two hour period.
Concept
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The Platte Valley Model Railroad Club is an HO Scale Club which feature
heavy mainline operations, a standard gauge branch line and an extensive
narrow gauge (HOn3) feeder railroad. The three systems comprise well over
1000 feet of track, five major yards and several additional switching areas.
Nominally, the railroad is set in the transistional era -- late 1940's
to mid 1950's -- but club members interests are varied to the point that
you might see turn of the century steam or the latest EMD diesels running
at the same time.
Membership
-
The club meets every Friday evening at 7:30pm in the basement of the Denver
Union Station (click for directions). The club
is funded entirely by member dues, iniation fees and various fund raising
projects. We also welcome donations. Anyone with an interest in model railroading
is invited to observe and inquire about membership.
Questions or Comments? Please feel free to send us an email.
Grand Junction / Platte Yard
Platte Valley Calendar
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to visit this page
since Platte Valley went online on July 16, 1999
The name Platte Valley and Western Model Railroad Club
is ® Reserved.
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Valley Railroad Club, ©1999. Do not copy or use without the written
permission of the Platte Valley Railroad Club.