The Metro-Valley Lines 

The MVL covers three basement rooms in my home. Each room is designed to present a different commuter scene (rural, small town, large city). Layout visitors view each scene from a semi-darkened viewing area that is close to the action. Scheduled commuter trains enter, make station stops and then exit to the next room. Each scene also includes at least one special animation, sound or lighting effect. Pairs of audio speakers positioned under the layout provide sounds that are synchronized to the passing trains.

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An AMTRAK bi-level commuter car is being added to the Plains Flyer intercity train at Revere City to accommodate the evening rush. The train originates in the capitol city of Springfield 

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The schematic diagram above shows the various commuter rail lines on the MVL. Most of the lines are independent of one another, with only a few track turnouts, and no track crossings. 

Click here to see and read about commuter rail operations on the MVL

A long shot of room # 2 taken before scenery was installed, shows the video monitors, video matrix switcher, and one of the HP computers that help the operator to control the MVL.

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A track level view along the Green Line from one of the video cameras that automatically follow trains around the layout. With the help of a computer and video matrix switcher-controlled cameras, all rooms can be monitored from the Revere City CTC panel.

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The Amtrak Prairie Flyer loads passengers at Revere City, while the MVL Local awaits a computer cab signal to proceed.

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The AMTRAK Prairie Wind stops to discharge passengers at Revere City, while a commuter couple eats a picnic lunch in Veteran's Memorial Park

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On the Gold Line: The Metro Express Mirror Lake Local  with a GP9 II road switcher on the point, rounds Horseshoe Bend pulling a consist of Budd streamliners. Over 1,800 commuters ride commuter trains through Hogback Tunnel each day to work at the new Untel Corp. computer chip manufacturing plant located here at Mirror Lake. The MVL engine facilities and shops are also located here. 

Except for special doors that will allow sound from a hidden speaker to escape from the structure, the Brian Stumph Civic Auditorium is ready for its first live concert. The ten-sided building is made of 3/16"-inch foam board, and then covered with computer-rendered walls .In the background on the far left is the new 18-story Metro Times Building, also faced with computer rendered cardstock. Adobe Illustrator software is used to create the walls, which are then glued to a foam board shell. 

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A long shot of room # 3. Five commuter lines (Red, Blue, Green  Orange, and Gold) service the Metro City area shown in this photo. Metro-Valley and Amtrak commuter trains start their runs to Mirror Lake via the almost hidden lower level tracks that enter a portal adjacent to the Civic Auditorium in the foreground. _

 Above is the 80th Street area looking east.

As night falls over Metro City, the last vestige of the busy evening commuter rush trails off to silence...

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