Harold Helland Model Railroad

Harold Helland

  • Style: Freelance Union Pacific themed
  • Era: Transition
  • Scale: HO
  • Size: 13' x 14'
  • % Benchwork and Track: 100%
  • % Scenery: 100%
  • Control: DCC
  • Access: On second floor. No elevator
  • Parking: Street parking
  

 

The Harold Helland model railroad is a freelance, Union Pacific railroad based on the transition era.  The layout is fully landscaped including several towns complete with homes, local businesses, a steam engine facility with a working turntable, and industrial buildings.

The model railroad is 13 feet by 14 feet and occupies a spare second floor bedroom.  It includes a 2% grade to the second level which crosses a small lake with a beach.  Including a second level provided the opportunity to build hills, rock outcroppings, and small forests.  Since I enjoy building structures, I have a collection of scratch built and craftsman kit wood models.  Several of my structures are named for family members and friends.  All buildings are lit for night running and I have flashing railroad crossing signals.

Train control is with a Digitrax System and I can run trains with my cell phone.