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The Guilford & Tristate Railroad is a freelance model railroad depicting New England in the late summer. The layout is contained in two rooms in a walk-in basement—the Guilford Railroad in one room and the Tristate Railroad in the other. The layout is HO scale.

Modern railroading is featured on the G&T with current-day diesel locomotives and freight cars. Most traffic is mixed freight trains, both through freight and local freight, with an occasional passenger train thrown in for variety. With a main line length of 280’ a train takesconsiderable time to go from end to end. There are 76 industries in 24 locations to provide interest and switching activity for local train crews. Industries are mostly kits with some kit-bashed and scratch-built structures along the line.

Power and train control are provided by an NCE DCC system. Signals have been installed but are not yet active as a CTC system is being installed using the CATS system. Car movement is managed using switchlists.

Scale: HO

Locale: New England

Prototype: Guilford

Era: 1980’s to present

Layout Size: 42’ x 24’ and 18’ x 25’

Trackage: Commercial code 83

Construction: Around-the-room, peninsula, free-standing

Control: NCE DCC

Scenery: 60%

Accessibility: Walk-in basement

Parking: Maximum 8 cars in driveway

Layout Visits: Yes

Operation Sessions: Yes

The Manufacturer's Railroad is an HO scale representation of the same-named prototypical railroad in New Haven, CT. The prototype served a large number of industries and worked closely with the NYNH&H railroad to deliver railcars to local customers.

The layout is 5’ x 14' in an "L" configuration. The railroad serves the town of New Haven and services 13 industries. The entire layout operates within yard limits. Commercial turnouts and track in code 100 size are used. Structures are kit, kit-bashed and scratch-built. Motive power consists of early diesel locomotives and age-appropriate freight cars. Trains are operational even though the layout is undergoing construction. Currently there is no scenery. Power and control of trains are accomplished with an NCE DCC system. The railroad normally operates with two trains and two crews. Car movement is controlled via switchlists.

Scale: HO
Locale: New Haven, CT.
Prototype: Manufacturer's Railroad
Era: 1948
Layout Size: 5’ x 14'
Trackage: Commercial code 100
Construction: Modular (box)
Control: NCC DCC
Scenery: None
Accessibility: Walk-out basement
Parking: Street parking
Layout Visits: Yes
Operation Sessions: Yes

It’s September 26, 1959, and autumn is just starting to show. The Berlin, Bangor and Maine Railroad is doing well. The BB&M is considered a "Southern Division" of the BAR, with the modeled areas stretching from Oakland, ME through Northern Maine Junction, and terminating in Eastport, ME. There are interchanges with the Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, B&M, MEC, Belfast & Moosehead Lake, BAR, Aroostook Valley, and the LCLRwy, a narrow gauge logging railroad. There is an extensive branch line that parallels the coast from Machias and Machiasport to Bucks Harbor as well. The layout is HO scale. 

There are twelve towns on the railroad which host a total of forty rail-served industries. The main line totals 185' of track. All visible track is hand-laid code 83 and code 70 with code 55 on the branch. Structures on the layout are a mix of kits, kit-bashes, and scratch-built. 

Motive power is first-generation diesel, RS-1s, GP-7s, and F-7s with a few steam locomotives remaining on the roster. If you look hard enough, you’ll see Alcos lettered for the New Haven as well as the Rutland. The fleet of 250 freight cars from the 1940s and 1950s is augmented by a passenger fleet of Budd RDC cars that provide transportation for passengers. There is both passenger and freight service throughout the day. The layout is considered a heavy local/switching railroad. In addition, there are extensive yard operations as well with three active yards, three locals, and a branch line that requires a separate crew. 

The layout is powered and the trains controlled by an NCE DCC system. The layout is electrically divided into eight sections, each with its own circuit breaker. Train operations are controlled by a dispatcher issuing verbal orders and car routing is controlled by the use of car cards. 

Scale: HO 

Locale: Central and Northern Maine 

Prorotype: BAR / MEC 

Era: 1959 

Layout Size: 20' x 20' and 15' x 20' 

Trackage: Code 83, 70, and 55 

Construction: Open grid, L-girder, and mushroom 

Control: NCE DCC 

Scenery: 75% complete 

Backdrop: Painted wall and Masonite and some photo-backdrops 

Accessibility: Basement location - stairs 

Parking: Somewhat limited - car pooling suggested 

Layout Visits: Yes 

Operation Sessions: Yes 

Website: No