Note: this layout is participating in the CIRROPS 2012 Operations Weekend.
The New Union & Western Railroad (NU&W) will provide you a realistic and “hands-on” operating experience. It is a 7½ inch gauge, 1/8-inch scale railroad that operates on 48 Acres of wooded, rolling countryside southern Indiana. The scenery is completely natural; you will not find any “Woodland Scenics” trees on this layout.
The NU&W has almost 2 miles (over 9000 feet) of track, several bridges over ravines and a tunnel. The weather effects are also “natural”, which means that you need to dress for the weather “effects”–again, quite natural. Bring appropriate clothing and shoes that allow for rain and temperature variations,depending on the season.
The operations on the NU&W are loosely based on prototype practices. The locomotives and rolling stock represent the post-1960 diesel era. You can ride this equipment instead of walking along side it. Crews are required to do “real work” to get the job done. The brakeman will be required to get on the ground and set switches and the engineer needs to keep his train on the track. A dispatcher will notify the crew by radio whether its train has clearance. Cars are moved with a purpose, so expect train orders describing the work you will perform. The NU&W uses two-man crews, so you will not be overworked.
