There are serious levels in the Sunset Valley, and rarely is it demonstrated as clearly as it is here:

The operator seen here is calling dispatch to find out why he's facing a Red signal up there on the top layer.

Here a log train is descending into camp in a scene directly below the top tracks seen in the previous photo.

One of two passenger stations Bruce has located in Portland, this one is pure fantasy.

This is the inside view of the building just on the right edge of the previous photo. Sorting mail appears to be a major occupation here. Below is the first floor view:

Okay, it's 10:30pm local time and I need to be up before 6am. And I haven't had better than maybe a half-hours continuous sleep in the past 36. So... I'm going to bed. More photos as I have time.

Dear Jeff,

Is the SV still analog, or is CMRI now talking DCC?

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Prof, I can answer.

CMRI is digital in that it transmits data bits using RS-485 and ribbon cabling, but it's not DCC. The Sunset Valley uses NCE DCC, with some sound decoders for running the trains, but it uses CMRI to operate the CTC and signaling systems.

CMRI is the detection system with its own wiring, and it's separate from the DCC wiring. I know all this because I keep in touch with Bruce, and have looked extensively at using CMRI on the Siskiyou Line. JMRI has CMRI point-and-click programming capability, so you no longer need to write a BASIC computer program to program CMRI to work with your railroad. 

You just get JMRI, CMRI cards, hook it all up, and have fun making your signal system and detectors do their thing. The signals and detectors all need to be CMRI compatible, which does not use the DCC signal to do anything - it uses its own bus and wiring.

Dear Joe,

Thanks for that. I knew CMRI was seperate from the traction-control in a system sense, but IIRC it also had "auto cab forwarding" to take care of block-toggle switching (between analog throttle X and loco #1) back in the day?

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

WOW

Okay, I've tried this twice now and it hasn't taken. Let's try it another way.

Bruce Chubb was very popular, naturally - here he is signing Les' SVOS pass:

One of the people running trains on the SVOS - this was a logging train, complete with geared locomotives and a series grade....

Ever wonder what a well organized electrical panel looks like? Wonder no longer:

There is a bit of "Deja huh?" when dealing with the SVOS - not only does it contain elements near my home, but it contains a version of the entire run of Joe Fugate's Siskiyou Lines. Here is Bruce's rendition of Roseburg Forest Products in Dillard, Oregon:

Andrew here was running trains pretty much every time I saw him:

To be continued (with about 40 more photos)...

Another moment of Deja Huh? - Woodburn, Oregon, which I believe is laid out backwards to the real one, but which fits on the layout much better this way:

This unfinished industry captured my eye - it's now Truitt Bros. cannery on Front. St. in Salem, Oregon - and it's something I need to model on my own layout:

And here is the Salem, Oregon Train Station, which, since a refurbishment a few years back looks like this again:

Jefferson, Oregon is located in the bathroom... appropriately enough there is a fertilizer industry there:

A model of a Southern Pacific Daylight "3/4 dome" car that the ESPEE built themselves out of other passenger cars:

Here is a view of the layout going down the backside of the crew lounge:

Albany, Oregon passenger depot:

A corner of the crew lounge room makes for a rather pastoral scene (complete with cows, I believe):

One of the several large yards on the SVOS:

Ah - it's Eugene - and here is the controls for one of the several turntables on the layout:

The SP Dispatcher CTC Panel:

And the Portland Terminal CTC panel:

This engineer is looking ahead to his next signal indication:

Lots of cameras, lots of pictures with Bruce:

Okay, back to the scenery...

More scenery:

Coos Bay/North Bend Branch:

This gentleman is controlling those two Geeps on the right side of the photo:

And here comes the GN Empire Builder.... through Grants Pass, Oregon?

And right around the guy running the switch job. Note - based on what I saw, you could easily get a run of an hour or more in traversing the mainline on the SVL:

I think that is the same switch job going across the bridge into Coos Bay, Oregon:

Meanwhile the Empire Builder continues and goes across one of the many dramatic high bridges on the SVL:

Time for another comment...

Always like seeing the national show vicariously through you.  Looking forward to more

Steve