<p>
	Don Marenzi,<br> 
	Copper Pass and Western, HO.  
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<p>Concept:  A freelanced-prototype railroad in Alaska. Based on a route that was proposed and surveyed,but never built. 
The route runs north from port facilities on the Pacific Ocean to the Yukon River and serves various resource areas.  
The principle traffic consists of copper, zinc, coal, forest products and other minerals southbound; supplies, fuel and manufactured goods northbound. 
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<p>
Interchange with the rest of the North American rail system is by trainship and ocean going car barges. 
Off layout physical connections include the Alaska Railroad (actual), 
and a CP Rail owned branch in the Yukon (mythical). This allows ARR and CP power to appear on run through trains on the CP&W.
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<p>
The modeled section of the line represents the south end of the railroad, featuring a helper district as the route crosses the costal mountains into a resource rich 
wilderness area. 
The era is set during  1976, during the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. 
Motive power is mostly 1st and 2nd generation EMDs with some early ALCo power running out their last miles.
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<p>
The Layout: 
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<p>
The layout is built in a 19 x 22 foot garage. HO scale, point to point, with a ten track stub end staging yard at each end. Walk around style, full double deck, around the walls, with a center peninsula. 
The 300 foot mainline has five towns, plus one additional passing siding between the two end staging yards. 
A branchline serves three additional towns. 
Two additional smaller staging areas represent other branch lines. 
A helix connects the two levels. There is a nod-under to enter the layout.
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<p>
Control is by CVP EasyDCC wireless throttles with their current software. There are a few sound equipped locomotives on the layout.
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<p>
Current Status: All mainline, passing sidings, staging, and most industrial trackage is complete. 
The final track work is being done in industry related areas. 
Ballasting and basic scenery is about 40% complete. 
Mountains and structures are still in the mockup stage.
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<p>
Operations:
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<p>
Traffic control is by Timetable and Train Order. A 3:1 clock is used resulting in a four hour session representing a twelve hour half day.
Each session has 5 scheduled trains plus another 8-12 trains run as extras.
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<p>
Train orders are issued by a dispatcher located outside the layout room to a single  operator located inside the peninsula of the layout. 
Until phones can be installed, FRS radios are used for communications.  
An order board system indicates when trains need to pick up orders.  
An RFID system is used to simulate OSing.
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<p>
Car routing is by car card/waybills.  The waybills have a destination code (similar to real RR's Clic or Spins codes), along with hazmat placards, 
to aid train blocking; simplifing the correct movement, pulling, spotting and blocking of cars, especially for new operators.
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<p>
Each train run has specific instructions and duties and each station has facia mounted track diagrams.
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<p>
Revised 12/3/2014
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