added: November 17, 2016

HO Scale Desert Layout Project  -  22/22 See 275 photos of the finished layout taken on November 8, 2016

Union Pacific Big Blow Gas Turbine # 18 is visitting Cajon Pass Only on my layout, a UP Big Blow GTEL is rolling over Cajon Pass. As Scale Trains released their beautiful HO Big Blow, it got a chance to visit a beautiful layout ! Even my layout is a modern time setting, this excellent model got a chance to come alive in scale. In other words, # 18 (currently on display at Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL) has been rebuilt and went back into service just for my layout. Of course, I am aware, it is just a fantasy, but never the less, it looks great.

To present this outstanding model on my layout it gives me a chance to show the differnet places of my desert layout. We start at the Mormon Rocks, pass Hill 582, WSI, Tunnel area (West and East side), Percyville Extension, Werner Enterprises Terminal, the City of Percyville, the Flyover and return to Cajon Pass on the lower level.

UP Big Blow Gas Turbine in front of famous Mormon Rocks  -  3044

These are the real Mormon Rocks. This was the starting point to re-create my HO scale rock formations. (photo by W. Meer)

Photos 3031 - 3335, taken on 11/08/16 (just click on the 4-digit number for bigger size photos)
As usual, I am taking a huge amount of photos from a scene to show a lot of different views.

First time ever, a Union Pacific Big Blow Gas Turbine is rolling over Cajon Pass - in HO Scale
Scale Trains Museum Quality Big Blow # 18 with DCC and Sound is a real master piece - congratulations. My layout is standard DC, so I put up the voltage until the sound started. Now, I increased the voltage just a little bit until the model started to creep (very slow). Therefore, I just let it move slowly over the whole layout and I took pictures while it was moving. We start our journey near Highway 138 and the Mormon Rocks. My scale Rocks were made as seen on a photo taken several years ago. Want to know more about real Cajon Pass?  -  click here
Ready for a trip over Cajon Pass - 3031	- 3032
- 3033	- 3034
- 3035	- 3036
crossing Highway 138 . . . - 3037	. . . and passing the Mormon Rocks - 3038
- 3039	- 3040
- 3041	- 3042
- 3043	- 3044
- 3045	- 3046
- 3047	- 3048
- 3049	- 3050
- 3051	- 3052
- 3053	- 3054
- 3055	- 3056

The UP Turbine will reach Hill 582.
Hill 582 is a fantastic Railfan's lookout in Cajon Pass. In real life, it is located between the former tunnel area and Silverwood at Milpost 58.2. My scale version reflects the year 2015 with additional railings along the East side. I was trying to re-create my model to get an authentic look. There is a difference because in real Cajon, Hill 582 is 90 ° to the tracks but my version is parallel because of space limitations. Want to know more about the real Hill 582?  -  click here
the Turbine is just at the West end of Hill 582 - 3057	- 3058
- 3059	- 3060
- 3061	- 3062
- 3063	- 3064
- 3065	- 3066
- 3067	- 3068
- 3069	- 3070
as we are leaving Hill 582, we are rolling toward Silverwood and WSI (West Summit Island) - 3071
- 3072	- 3073
- 3074	- 3075
- 3076	WSI overlook - 3077
- 3078	- 3079
- 3080	- 3081
- 3082	- 3083
- 3084	left = Tunnel 2, right = Tunnel 1 (West side) - 3085
- 3086	- 3087
- 3088	- 3089
- 3090	GTEL entering West portal of Tunnel 2 - 3091

The UP Gas Turbine is going thru Tunnel 2 to the East side.
We are on the upper level passing Tunnel 2 going from Office 2 to Office 1.
- 3092	- 3093
- 3094	- 3095
these rock formations are a little bit . . . - 3096	. . . like Sullivan's Curve Rocks in Cajon Pass - 3097
- 3098	- 3099
- 3100	- 3101
- 3102	- 3103
- 3104	- 3105
there is a modern freight with SD70M diesels . . . - 3106	. . . on the other track entereing Tunnel 1 - 3107
- 3108	- 3109
- 3110	- 3111
- 3112	- 3113
- 3114	- 3115
- 3116	- 3117
the turbine is rolling over a swing up bridge . . . - 3118	. . . going to the next part of my layout inside Office 1 - 3119

After passing the bridge, the turbine reached the next part of the layout and is crossing Route 66.
On this part of my layout, we will soon pass the Percyville Extension.
just after the bridge - 3120	crossing Route 66 - 3121
- 3122	- 3123
- 3124	yes, there are Joshua Trees - 3125
- 3126	- 3127
pre-announcement of businesses located in Percyville  - 3128	- 3129
- 3130	crossing Percyville Extension main street - 3131
in the modern world we have Cadillac Escalade stretch limos - 3132	- 3133
- 3134	- 3135
- 3136	- 3137
over the combined street/railroad bridge . . . - 3138	. . . we will reach the East end of Percyville - 3139

After the combined street / railroad bridge, we will reach the Percyville Terminal of Werner Enterprises.
Werner Enterprises is one of the largest five . . . - 3140	. . . . truck carriers in the USA - 3141
- 3142	- 3143
yes, there are more Joshua Trees - 3144	- 3145
- 3146	- 3147
- 3148	- 3149
- 3150	- 3151
Werner Enterprises is celebrating their . . . - 3152	. . . 60th Anniversay in 2016 - 3153

The City of Percyville starts with the Mc Donald's Restaurant, just next to Werner Enterprises at the East end.
Percyville is having several Restaurant's - 3154	- 3155
of course, Mc Donald's is very common - 3156	- 3157
- 3158	next is Foose Desing and West Coast Customs - 3159

On my layout, Foose Design got a special Trailer to attend the 2015 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
A special Foose Design Truck with Foose Design Logo, SEMA Logo and Impostor (1965 Chevy Impala) poster. - 2426
I was very lucky because I was able to meet Chip Foose back in Fall of 2015. I visitted the Foose Design Garage in Huntington Beach, CA and met Chip in person. I was really overwhelmed to meet a real gentleman. Even he was busy in preparing for he SEMA Show, he took his time talking to me and signing something for me. And during the SEMA Show, I was able to meet him again. I said, "I am sorry to disturb again" and he said, "not at all, nice to see you again". We had a good talk, he signed a poster of the Impostor (1965 Chevy Impala) and we took photos together. I only can tell, it was a wonderful experience to meet such a great person again. On top it was a great honour - thank you Chip.
Impostor (Ridler Award Winner 2015) design by Chip Foose - 2439	Chip Foose and Werner Meer at 2015 SEMA - 2440
Copyright of Foose Design Logos and Foose lettering by Foose Design Huntington Beach, CA. Web Site:  http://www.chipfoose.com

Percyville Layout Tour continued below - after Foose Design, there is Cadillac of Percyville.
Percyville - 3160	- 3161
- 3162	- 3163
- 3164	after the Cadillac Dealer is a Taco Bell Restaurant - 3165
next is a Pizza-Hut Restaurant - 3166	- 3167
- 3168	- 3169
next is a KFC and a Denny's restaurant - 3170	- 3171
these 2 buildings are excat replicas . . . - 3172	of their originals located in Mojave, CA - 3173
alos the ARCO Gas Station is standing in Mojave, CA - 3174	these 3 structures were made by Pelle Soeeborg (Denmark) - 3175
I was lucky to get these from Pelle for my layout - 3176	- 3177
- 3178	Percyville City Sign - 3179
- 3180	at the West end is a Super 8 Motel - 3181
here, the curve starts to go to the next roomd (Office 2) - 3182	- 3183
the radius of this curve is 140 cm (55") - 3184	- 3185
here we have 2 road bridges on 2 different levels - 3186	- 3187
- 3188	- 3189
- 3190	- 3191
This was the West End of Percyville

The curve of the West End is leading from the Passage into Office 2 and the Turbine is passing under the two road bridges toward the Flyover.
we are now inside Office 2 - 3192	- 3193
short tunnel under the flyover - 3194	- 3195
- 3196	- 3197
- 3198	- 3199
- 3200	- 3201
- 3202	- 3203
huge billboards are common in the USA - 3204	- 3205
advertisements for Best Deal Auto, Werner Enterprises . . - 3206	. . Cadillac of Percyville and Foose Design - 3207
on the Cadillac ad is actually my own Cadillac SRX - 3208	- 3209
if you are lucky, you may win a Chevy Camaro - 3210	- 3211
- 3212	we can already see the Mormon Rocks - 3213

We are finally back to Cajon Pass, but this time on the lower level.
From the Flyover, we reach Highway 138 and the Mormon Rocks.
the radius of this curve is 104 cm (41") - 3214	- 3215
- 3216	the Hot Dog stand is always busy - 3217
crossing Highway 138 - 3218	- 3219
- 3220	- 3221
- 3222	- 3223
- 3224	- 3225
- 3226	- 3227
- 3228	- 3229
we can already see Hill 582 in the distance - 3230	- 3231
- 3232	- 3233

We did finally reach Hill 582 on the lower track.
- 3234	- 3235
- 3236	- 3237
- 3238	- 3239
- 3240	- 3241
- 3242	- 3243
- 3244
- 3245	- 3246
- 3247	- 3248
- 3249	- 3250
- 3251	- 3252
- 3253	- 3254
- 3255	- 3256
- 3257	- 3258
a modern truck is meeting a "historical" locomotive- 3259
the loco is just below WSI - 3260	- 3261
- 3262	- 3263
- 3264	- 3265
- 3266	- 3267
- 3268	- 3269
- 3270	- 3271
After passing WSI (West Summit Island), the Turbine will reach the West side of Tunnel 1 on the lower level.
- 3272	- 3273
- 3274	- 3275
- 3276	- 3277
- 3278	any second, the turbine is entering Tunnel 1 - 3279

The Turbine is going thru Tunnel 1 to reach the East side (inside office 1)
- 3280	- 3281
modern diesel and "old fashioned" gas turbine - 3282	- 3283
- 3284	- 3285
- 3286	- 3287
- 3288	- 3289
- 3290	- 3291
- 3292	- 3293
- 3294	- 3295
- 3296	- 3297
- 3298	- 3299
- 3300	- 3301
- 3302	- 3303
these modern reefers did not exist in the turbine era - 3304	there is even a railfan taking photos (at left) - 3305
This is the end of our special UP Gas Turbine tour on my Mojave Desert layout.

2/12/16: Trains are rolling:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqyLRyKma2A&feature=em-upload_owner

1/29/16: Cab Ride 1:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Soaz-cNiU1o&feature=em-upload_owner 1/29/16: Cab Ride 2:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUdxXdO3b1g&feature=em-upload_owner

12/15/15: Test movie 1 of my layout:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBp4X3lnvRc&feature=em-upload_owner Test movie 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDCZzK6MhyQ&feature=em-upload_owner Test Movie 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDSBNYdyK3A&feature=em-upload_owner all movies made by Martin Raemy

Technical Data of my Layout: Size: 4,5 x 6,5 m (13,5 x 19,5 feet), Era: Modern, Location: Southern California in the Mojave Desert (Cajon Pass), Layout Style: unconventional, in house along the walls, 2 swing up bridges, 1 lift out bridge, double track, min. radius 104 cm (41 inch), max. grade 1,5 %, Track: Atlas flextrack code 100, Turnouts: Peco code 100, Power: conventional DC with electrical feeders every 2 m, Mainline: 32 m (96 feet), Height: 93 cm (36,5 inch)

Overview of the layout (each square is 0,5 m)

   I started with my layout in late December 2007 and it was finally finshed in late September 2015.
In the meantime, I made some detailing with city signs, billboards, figures, vehicles etc.
Thank you for your interest in my Mojave Desert Layout - Werner Meer

Page 21 - New 10/30/16:  Part 5 - Trains are rolling - Union Pacific and Santa Fe trains in action - click here  Page 21

Page 20 - New 5/29/16:  Part 4 - Werner Enterprises got 53' Containers for Werner Global Logistics - click here  Page 20

Page 19 - New 4/08/16:  Part 3 - The Layout is getting alive with lots of Details - click here  Page 19

Page 18 - New 2/26/16:  Part 2 - West Tunnels, WSI, Hill 582, Mormon Rocks, Flyover - click here  Page 18

Page 17 - New 2/20/16:  Part 1 - Percyville incl. Extension, Werner Enterprises, East Tunnels - click here  Page 17

Page 16 - New 12/27/15:  Take a Tour on the Percyville Terminal of Werner Enterprises - click here  Page 16

Page 15 - New 11/19/15:  Take a Tour on the finished layout - click here  Page 15

Page 14 - New 9/29/15:  Landscaping Cajon Pass - Hill 582 - finished - click here  Page 14

Page 13 - New 7/27/15: Landscaping Cajon Pass - finished but w/o Hill 582 - click here  Page 13

Page 12 - New 5/10/15: The City of Percyville (3) - Extension is finished - click here  Page 12

Page 11 - New 3/26/14: The City of Percyville (2) - (with main street) is finished - click here  Page 11

Back to main layout page - click here