The DORRE & GAPHETID Ry. Co...inspired by the Gorre & Daphetid Ry. by J. Allen

kyle creel · May 25, 2026, 07:47:45 PM

Howdy fellas

welcome to the D&G Ry. Co. topic.......

For those who might be unaware, this RR will be a 'flipped' rendition of John Allens' Gorre & Daphetid RR....

.....I've made some modifications to the original size (mine's a bit smaller) and re-routed a couple of tracks on the plan, modified the bridge at Dorre (Gorre) and there's no trestle....

leading to Gaphetid (Daphetid).........

However there is a Sector Plate for turning a locomotive in Gaphetid (Daphetid) and with the scale being On30 (1/48th) I believe I've packed a lot of RR into a relatively small space....

....

There will be however NO expansion, "To be continued", or additions of any kind...

....I don't want to be side tracked from the beginning with 'expansion-itis' lurking around in my noggin....

...

Soooo without further delay....

.....The DORRE & GAPHETID Ry. Co...........

As one can see, the track plan is a reverse or 'mirror image' of the original in almost every aspect..hence name 'DORRE & GAPHETID'

...so I'm very excited about the possibilities...

.....

Construction to begin mid June; the base will be 6 feet 2" by 3 feet 4" and will be 2" plus 1" pink foam glued together for a thichness of 3";...

... all scenery will be carved and painted from the same material - no plaster will be used except for plaster cloth to cover the (3) Woodland Scenics 4% Incline and Decline sets; almost all exposed track except turnouts will be hand laid code 100 on wood ties (much of it has already been built) on cork roadbed, all structures (most already built) are scratch built, and trees are scratch built.....The minium radius will be 15" (in tunnels) with 16" to 18" easements into and out of curves, largest locomotive will be a Bachmann 2-6-0 and maybe a BLI 2-8-0 or a Bachmann 4-4-0 American Modern OF, all freight cars are appropriate in length and one combine will be used for mixed trains ....I think that about covers everything....

OH Yeauh ....I'll show progress shots of the preliminary activities, garage cleaning, old layout tear down, and all construction/fabrication as it happens..... I hope ya'll will continue to follow along.... it's gonna be great fun....

thanx again for stoppin' by......see ya.........

KYLE DORRE & GAPHETID Ry. Co.

Jerry · May 25, 2026, 11:23:36 PM

Count me Kyle. Looking forward to the new adventure!!

Jerry

PRR Modeler · May 26, 2026, 06:47:46 AM

I'll be following along.

ReadingBob · May 26, 2026, 07:18:36 AM

I'm in as well. One of my favorite model railroads. John Allen was an amazing model railroader!

Larry C · May 26, 2026, 07:57:32 AM

Yup, me too. Wouldn't miss this new adventure of yours. Nice to see a new thread started for this allowing to other to fade into a fond memory.

Philip · May 26, 2026, 10:31:10 AM

Quite a play on words! Should be epic!

kyle creel · May 28, 2026, 01:22:28 AM

Thanx Jerry, thanx Curt, thanx Bob, thanx Larry C*., and thanx Phillip.....and a big thanx to the 'window shoppers'....

Gage and I took today off after working on the garage yesterday (Tuesday), I can't go at it like I did in the 'olden days', and Gage has to watch his exertion levels (seizures) to keep things on the safe side

....

Curt - this is indeed an adaptation ....but not of an ATLAS plan.....it's the Great John Allens' fine work I'm screwing around with here.....

Phillip - my user name was Kyle Creel and the project was The Grizzly & Dilapidated Ry. ..........yeauh... I like the 'word play'....
It's fading fast Larry C*., but almost all of the 'stuff' is going on the new layout...most importantly '3 very special bldgs*'.....
He was the 'original' Bob - everybody else just followed along..........
Curt and Jerry....I'm anxious to see how this 'turns out' also ...........

Today I did the 'nitty-gritty..down 'n dirty' part of a 'complete track plan / construction guide / blueprint'..

....The regular track plans are always great to look at for a 'representation' of what's to come...

but even the full color versions are only 'ideas on paper' ..

...'the real deal' is the actual scale drawing with elevations, clearances-both vertical and horizontal, grades with lengths and elevations, different level heights(elevations), and any other important features such as scenery boundaries, or cut-out holes for a TT, or (in my case) also a Sector Plate.....

that's a lot to take into account in order to have the best 'map' going forward....

...I decided to do this one as if it were a Woodland Scenics Layout Kit...

...and try to cover all the bases that I could........

Here it is...............the color codes for the track (elevations) in inches are...
0-0 BLKACK. level
0-4 RED. up
4-4 YELLOW. level
4-0 GREEN. down
4-7.5 BLUE. up....
all train movements are listed going CLOCKWISE, ie. UP/DOWN

Believe it or not it's much easier for me to proceed using this "blueprint" than to 'wing it' as I have on some past projects...not ALL....but some....

....I hope it answers some questions ya'll might have or be having, and maybe gives somebody an idea or two....

.....that's all I can think of - back to the garage tomorrow (Thursday) and then next week it's on to taking down the Grizzly & Dilapidated Ry. Co. layout....

......ya'll stay tuned and thanx again for all the comments, questions, and suggestions.....see ya....

KYLE CREEL
DORRE & GAPHETID Ry. Co.

Larry C · May 28, 2026, 08:05:25 AM

Kyle nice blueprint and I can see how this would give greater detail for construction. Good luck and have some fun!!!!

friscomike · May 29, 2026, 04:07:09 PM

Howdy Kyle, the new diagram looks great. I can't wait to see it under construction. Have fun, mike

kyle creel · May 29, 2026, 11:28:53 PM

Thanx Larry C*., and thanx Mike, thanx also to the folks that grabbed a look-see ....

....

My back started "gettin' on to me" about "not takin' it easy on him"...

....it sucks getting stiff and having 2 bad discs....

....oh well, a couple of days should fix it.....

....

In the meantime, I was studying the color plan and the 'blueprint'; and I swear the ghost of "The GRAND POOBAH" himself snuck in on me; and mentioned, "Nice drawings, excellent planning, (in the book he said that's his most important and enjoyable part)

......he continued..."Now do something (INSPIRED BY ME), THAT'S YOUR OWN CREATION"

....SO I DID....

then Gage walked in, and I told him the whole bit about JOHN ALLEN telling me to design and build something original inspired by him......

HE DIDN'T BUY IT

.... but I did explain my thoughts on this, my final model railroad,

(I'm getting too old and tired to do another one after this one), and the fact that I want it to be special and combine everything I've learned, along with all the features I can put in WITHOUT THE SPAGETTI BOWL EFFECT

....making it 'TOY-LIKE'...

.....

Gage is very intuitive and observant; regarding answering a question like "Which one do YOU think I should build???"...without pause he said..." You should build something YOU thought of, I mean John Allen's great but what about your ideas"

?....

....BINGO.....it's never to late to change before the journey begins..

I presume ya'll are extremely weary of my jumping around from plan to plan to plan....

(of course they are Kyle, anyone would be)...

...

So let us have a discussion and a vote ...I take the opinions and ideas, thoughts and suggestions, and all other relevant offerings (raspberries included)

..very seriously

....I just want to know which plan would YOU build ? ..

.......I know how I'm leaning....

Try not to give any extra credence or weight based on one being in full color.......Both RRs are 6ft. 2" x 3ft. 4"

A.....DORRE & GAPHETID................

B.....the as yet unnamed model railroad...

The 'unnamed railroad' has two levels, as does the D&G... however, the trains 'disappear' into the tunnels

for longer than they are visible on the G&D;.... almost the entire main line is visible on the 'unnamed RR'; and the mine spur is also more visible;.... even with the hidden reversing loop there is more total visible trackage ....

.....The primary town (and the terminus of the short line 'unnamed RR') is on the UPPER level and the destination point, the "I Me Mine" and the "ITZ-A-MYTH-IUM" processing bldg is located on the LOWER level in a sort of 'canyon', along with a small engine shed, a mess hall, a bar called 'The Mine Shaft', some small 'bunk houses', a RR/fgt. office and some soon to be added outhouses

...this is in essence the exact opposite of the D&G concept....and the 'mine spur' also is a reversing loop, so no turntable is needed on that level....

....I think this is what I've been trying to get at for a very long time, and yet it seems so simple ...

"go down to the other town instead of up"......all the grades are the same - however the elevation for the mine area is 1" and the elevation for the upper level town is 5" .....4"elevation is my 'ground level', so the train only has to drop or climb 3"@ 4% to get to or from the mine area-and the train only has to 'climb' 1"@ 4% from 'ground level to reach the upper town area.......the yellow line is the D&RGW interchange, the red is the 'mine spur' and the blk is the main, green is yard tracks and purple is sidings.......whadda ya think.......it's gonn be one or the other.....

.........all for now...thanx again for stoppin' by, ya'll stay tuned....& keep those cards 'n letters coming.........see ya...........

......

KYLE CREEL

?? &

?? Ry.Co.

Larry C · May 30, 2026, 09:18:57 AM

Kyle since the colored railroad has yet to be built why not use the same name; I won't tell I promise. Personally I like plan B.
As much as a TT adds interest I personally think using the turnouts instead makes more sense with the smaller size and also gives you more switching opportunities plus you still have the sector plate so you get a TT vibe. Since, as you stated, this will be your last layout make it the way YOU want it. Just my "nickel's worth" since they don't make pennies anymore.

kyle creel · May 30, 2026, 01:24:50 PM

Thanx Larry C*.,..... I may just do that..........How 'bout some "APPLES TO APPLES"...

A.............

B.............

KYLE CREEL

&

???Ry.

Jerry · May 30, 2026, 04:57:01 PM

Hell I like both of them!!

Just make John proud!!

Jerry

PRR Modeler · May 31, 2026, 07:09:45 AM

I think I like the first one best. Some of the inside sidings of the second I believe are way too sharp to be realistically used.

I had the same issue on one section of my layout and after near constant derails I had to redo it.

Just my thoughts.

kyle creel · June 01, 2026, 10:41:26 PM

Thanx Jerry, ..I shall....

thanx Curt, the yard radii are all at least 16", my 2-6-0 and my 2-6-2, will be OK I think...

....and Larry C*.,...I'm gonna keep the name..."shhhhhhhh"

..

Thanx to the 'window shoppers' also

.....

I've taken this little 'pause before the action begins' in order to consider all the opinions and suggestions;

...and I've decided to combine both plans

......

I love John Allens' work,

...and I have a natural ability (curse) to envision layouts and 'scale them out' on paper....it's not indecision, it's more "what am I forgetting or overlooking that'll bite me later".....

....so I decided to do what ya'll said collectively ....."Build something 'I' want"... and (Jerry) "make John proud"....

.....

Soooooo-here it is.......... Black is the main, green are yard tracks and red are sidings........the towns DORRE AND GAPHETID are back at their previous elevations and locations

The first thing I did was to make sure the trains don't vanish into tunnels for extended periods of time;.....

I did this by moving the large "Arch rock escarpment" 'off' the "main portion" of the layout, to a spot where Po-Dunk Jct. would've been ...to be added back later......this allows the following.........................

Slightly rerouting the inside track on the left so that it doesn't enter a tunnel till it reaches 1 and 1/2 inches in elev. and is well into its' climb up a 4% grade; up and around the back part of the layout in order to reach the tunnel exit at the bridge above DORRE in the right front of the layout and a 4" elev.....This keeps it visible for as long as possible

....

....and it traverses 3/4 of the layouts' "first trip around" entirely in view.....

...

There's nothing I could do (I tried and tried) to extend the visibility of the far left outside track (that descends a 4% grade down from 4" to -0- elev.) without losing the rocky outcropping "Woods' Ridge".....

and that ain't happening...

...so that stays the same.....

...

I rerouted the center track (of the 3) back towards the middle of the layout just after it passes Woods' Ridge - ...when it reaches the elevation needed to clear all the tracks...6"...it then crosses a bridge @ 6 1/2"... and heads into GAPHETID elev. 7 1/2".....

...

This gives me the Gorre & Daphetid "VIBE"

, and lets me see more of the trains when just 'rail fanning'...

...

I also got rid of most of the "2 and 3 track" trackage that would've been in the front @ DORRE (Gorre) ....there's only so much width (3 feet 4") available ....and I'm not increasing it...

...so I "arranged" the trackage 'diagonally' as if it continued....."off of the layout"........

... This way, the design creates the "illusion" that it goes on........

...and I still have the D&RGW interchange track....

.......

I love the way a plan can "come together"....

.......when one tries again and again, till it happens......

......whadda ya'll think?,.....let me know;... and as always ALL suggestions, comments, questions and input (including raspberries) (no wait, that's OUTPUT)...

......are welcomed, appreciated and needed......ya'll are the best.....

......all for now.... stay tuned.......see ya.......

KYLE CREEL
DORRE & GAPHETID Ry. Co.