June 2018 Division Layout Tour

Gurdon Subdivision, Missouri Pacific RR (HO)
Ben Sevier - Rancho Penasquitos, CA

The Gurdon Subdivision is a part of the Arkansas Division of the MP. The Arkansas Division is the MP mainline from North Little Rock, AR to Texarkana, and the MP mainline from Gurdon, AR down to El Dorado and Monroe, LA. The Gurdon Subdivision is that part from Gurdon to Texarkana and the part down into Louisiana. The MP is a North – South railroad, and in the modeled period (1960) is one of the largest railroads in the country in terms of route miles. The operations of the layout include Red Ball freights, mail express and passenger, local switching and other traffic that was common at this point in time.

The layout is located in the garage, occupying a 14x17 space in a "W" format, and is largely a “switching” layout, with some mail express, passenger and Red Ball freight mixed with locals. It is point to point and interchanges with several other railroads both at intermediate towns and in the ending yards.  All staging is off-layout, in shelving above the Texarkana (south) yard. Movement to and from staging is via “fiddle” actions (mole). Operations is by tab-on-car (TOC), providing crews with lots of action without having to deal with paperwork, and the trains are run using Lenz DCC. All engines have sound. There have been track changes and ops scheme modifications since the last open house.

Directions will be sent to the Division members in a reminder email. If you are not a member, please email the indicated contact.