Garden State Model Railway Club, Inc. - Virtual Layout Tour

Virtual Layout Tour

The Branch Line - Otter Creek

A CNJ switcher negotiates the crisscrossing industrial spurs to fetch cars from Moliere's Graphics, Inc. Note the handlaid curved diamond.

North of Crystal Lake, the branch passes over the GSN main two times as it simultaneously gains elevation and crosses Crystal Lake. Immediately after crossing the trestle, the railroad makes a hard turn to the left over a large fill and enters the town of Otter Creek. The branch expands to double-track just before the Otter Creek station, and many industries fan off of both tracks as one continues to head north. At the far end of town, the railroad passes its wye and minor steam servicing facility collapsing back to single-track and continuing further up the mountain.

Otter Creek is the eastern terminus of the Otter Creek & Perry Railroad Company, a railroad that never existed in full scale. Like Perry, the scene is set for the time between World War I and World War II, or about 1914 -1945, but like the rest of the Garden State Northern, equipment of all eras frequent the rails here.

There are many industries located in the town of Otter Creek served by the OC&P and the Garden State Northern. Most of the town is on the OC&P level, and is much higher than the level of the GSN Mainline. However, the town has both a depot on the OC&P and the GSN levels.

The town is currently under construction. Within the past few years, work has rapidly progressed: A thick bed of homasote was laid on top of the plywood, and all but one of the industrial tracks are in use. As of February 2004, Otter Creek is fully operational. Most of the beautifully detailed buildings, both for the industries and the town itself, are almost complete. Scenery work has also begun.

There is never a dull moment at the Otter Creek Freight Depot!

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Back to Norristown Junction, the start of the Branch Line.

Northbound...

Southbound to Crystal Lake Junction