activities · 5
what they do
direct service · 4
- Hosting Model Railroad Operating Sessions Public Model Railroad Operating SessionsConducts regular monthly operating sessions, annual three-day invitational events, and public visiting hours, allowing up to 40 volunteer operators and supervised children to run model trains using DCC throttles and engage in assigned operating roles, following 1957 Union Pacific procedures and rules.
- Operating an HO Scale Model Railroad Layout Model Railroad Layout Construction & MaintenanceConstructs, maintains, and operates a 3,750 square foot HO scale model railroad layout in Cornville, AZ, modeling 485 miles of the Union Pacific Railroad from Cheyenne to Ogden in 1957, featuring over 5,300 feet of track including staging and helix sections.
- Preserving Railroad History and MemorabiliaMaintains a collection of mid-20th century railroad photographs, artwork, Union Pacific advertising materials, and era-specific memorabilia, and constructed a crew lounge designed to store Union Pacific historical materials.
- Producing Model Railroad Videos Model Railroad Layout Construction & MaintenanceProduces multi-part videos showcasing the model railroad layout and its operations, following freight trains across most of the layout.
capacity building · 1
- Documenting Model Railroad Construction and Operations Public Model Railroad Operating SessionsMaintains a public photo archive and provides public access to detailed design, construction, and operations documents, including technical drawings, operating procedures, and equipment specifications for the model railroad.
strategies · 7
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Accessible and Simplified Operating Systems 4_card_operating_systemEmploys simplified operating systems like the 4-card car forwarding method and a "single trick car card" system to lower the barrier to entry for new operators while providing a foundation for progression to more complex prototypical operations.
- Community and Educational Engagement through Model Railroading inclusive_model_railroadingEngages youth, women, and experienced operators through supervised hands-on activities, structured youth protocols, and documentation of operating sessions to promote inclusivity, safety, education, and community participation in model railroading.
- Cooperative and Purpose-Driven Operational Realism simulated operational realismEmphasizes cooperative, purposeful train operations that simulate real railroad functions—such as dispatching, switching, and freight/passenger delivery—to create an immersive industrial simulation experience.
- Custom Electronic Control Systems for Operational Efficiency custom_electronic_control_systemsUses electric switch machines and custom-built control panels with integrated track diagrams and LED indicators to manage turnout operations in inaccessible areas, enhancing operational control and layout functionality.
- Empirical Scaling and Precision Construction for Historical Accuracy empirical_scaling_for_historical_accuracyApplies empirical scaling equations and detailed construction techniques to accurately model real-world railroad features such as tunnel lengths and grades based on 1961 UP Profile Charts, ensuring historical fidelity in layout design and infrastructure.
- Evolutionary and Phased Development Model evolutionary_operations_developmentDevelops and refines model railroad operations and layout construction incrementally through phased testing and group operating sessions, allowing for validation of DCC functionality and operational procedures before advancing, supporting long-term complexity and reliability.
- Prototypical Historical Operations Simulation historical_operations_simulationSimulates historically accurate 1957 Union Pacific Railroad operations using prototypical rules like Rule 251D with written track warrants, timetabled passenger services, and waybill-based freight movements to achieve operational realism and educational authenticity.
named programs · 3
what they call their work
Crew Lounge and Historical Archive
Facility space dedicated to meetings, presentations, and storage of Union Pacific historical materials including photographs and books, supporting educational and preservation activities.
Operating Sessions
Regular informal operating events where guests and local modelers run multiple trains simultaneously, simulating real-world rail operations and testing layout performance under load.
Wyoming Division HO Scale Layout
Full-scale model of the Union Pacific Railroad from Cheyenne, WY to Ogden, UT in 1:87 scale, featuring operational trains, historically accurate grades, and detailed terrain modeling including helices, staging yards, and prototypical infrastructure.
relationships · 13
who they work with
- Allen Montgomery Partner — Videographer for the Wyoming Division Layout video.
- An Affair With Trains Partner — Local hobby store that sells excess bus bars imported by the Wyoming Division Historical Society for model railroad wiring.
- An Affair With Trains Partner — Primary supplier for the Wyoming Division model railroad, providing hobby materials, matching internet prices, and accepting overstock donations.
- Groups.io, WyoDivOps Partner — Uses this Groups.io group to send out invitations for operating sessions.
- Ken Meade Partner — Videographer for the Wyoming Division Layout video.
- Lorne Noyes Partner — Photographer who documents operating sessions of the Wyoming Division model railroad and shares images publicly.
- National Model Railroad Association Network — Member organization whose quarterly publication featured articles about the Wyoming Division layout.
- Rick Fortrin Partner — Source of the design idea for control panels with recessed electrical switches to operate Tortoise switch machines.
- Scottsdale Model Railroad Club Partner — Collaborates with members of the Scottsdale Model Railroad Club for operating sessions and technical feedback.
- Union Pacific Network — Models the Union Pacific Railroad's operations from Cheyenne, Wyoming to Ogden, Utah during the late steam era.
- Verryl Fosnight Partner — Collaborates on historical society materials and photo documentation.
- Verryl Fosnight Partner — Collaborator and key contact for operational sessions and visitor engagement at the Wyoming Division Historical Society.
- Verryl Fosnight Partner — Copyright holder for the website content.