Our layout was built originally to be broken down and moved about to shows and events in a tractor-trailer rig.  The last show the layout participated in was at TerryTown Mall in Rocky Mount in 1993.  The layout was set back up on the second floor of The Antique Barn and Hobby Shop.  Since then, the layout has not moved but rather evolved.  In 1995 it was decided to make the layout a semi-permanent one.  It would remain in modular form to allow members to install new scenery without having to destroy benchwork.  This gave the club a terrific advantage in the many facets the layout has by giving new members a chance to participate in scenery as old modules are removed or the membership cycles around.  With the decision to convert it to DCC, the layout also was at a point to evolve yet again from a show layout to one with operational goals.

Part of what made this possible was a decision to make all new modules property of the club.  All pre-existing privately owned modules are Grandfathered until the owner decides to remove the original module.  A member would build a scene on top using their own funds and if that member leaves, the module stays.  They can remove the scenery and rebuild it or help auction off the old module and the club inserts a new platform ready to be built on at the member's cost.

Below is a statistical summary of our layout.

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The W&EC

Name:   Wilson & East Carolina

Scale:    HO (1:87) Standard Gauge

Length of main line:     One main line at 465 feet with 8 sidings (7.66 scale miles)

Space Occupied:     110 feet by 20 feet in a backward "y" shape – approximately 2200 square feet

Prototype:      Freelance

Locale:     Richmond, VA - Wilson, NC - Florence, SC - Morehead, NC (Branch Line)

Period:     All periods of motive power and rolling stock

Layout Style:     Single level outside-walk-around loop

Track Height:    42" to 46" mainlines

Benchwork:   4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 foot lengths by 24 to 48 inch depth as a modular frame topped by 1/2" particle board,
                    plywood or OSB.  Frames are Rail and Style construction using 1" x 6" dimensional lumber

Roadbed:     Cork on 1/2" Homasote® , cork on top of 1/2" plywood or OSB platforms

Track:        Atlas Flex-Track code 100 (super-elevation used) / Fast Tracks turnouts / Peco turnouts

Turnouts:    #4 through #8

Minimum Radius:     28" on mainlines and 9" on branch line

Maximum Grade:     2% on mainlines and 4% on branch line

Scenery Construction:     Museum style

Backdrop:       Particle board, OSB or none

Control:    NMRA DCC:  Digitrax Chief II Radio plus Duplex Radio support with 7 boosters, 17 PM4x power managers with 3
                shortcircuit protected reversing sections.  Signals are driven by 7 Digitrax SE8C signal controllers with logic
                control via Railroad & Co's TrainController ver. 5.8 F1.  Switch machines are driven by SE8C's using Circuitron
                Tortoise or SwitchMaster slow motion motors.  Occupancy detection is handled by two RR-Cirkits TC/64
                Tower Controllers with 10 BOD-8 induction block detectors totaling 80 detected blocks.

Operations:    5 to 16 persons using switch lists and mainline dispatcher using TrainController with partially complete
                     track side signal system