Owner - Jay & Cheri Nugent

 

C J & G Railroad (Cheri, Jay and Grandson Grant)

Jay and Cheri Nugent started in G scale in 1982 with their then 9-year-old daughter Ann.   The current layout construction began in the fall of 1997.  The layout is a “U” shaped plan on three levels, in a 19’ x 30’ room in the lower level of their Urbandale, Iowa home.   

 

Jay formed all the scenery from white foam board. Jay has also designed and built a number of the buildings from scratch. Cheri designed the M & M factory, store and M & M train.  

 

The main loop on the lower level includes: the Santa Fe Station, engine shed and adjoining businesses; the Union Pacific Depot with loading dock; the Cripple Creek Station; and the “Route 66 Drive-In” with vintage automobiles.

 

The second level features the town of “Nugentville”, the m & m factory and store, the Marx Old West Town, Roy Rogers Ranch and Fort Apache, complete with tourist train packed with excited tourists.   

 

The top level consists of Liberty City with the Union Station as the focal point.  All building and accessories are scaled 1:43 to create a sense of forced perspective.

 

Engines are LGB, with the exception of the m & m train, which is a Heartland.  Heading up the list is the Santa Fe F7 A & B unit used to pull both the “Super Chief” passenger train and the freight train. Steam dominates the rest of the engines including:  Santa Fe Forney, Union Pacific Makato, Rio Grande Mogel and two European style engines. Also included is an LGB street car, the LGB “Grizzly Flats” tourist train, an LGB handcar, an Aristo Egg Liner and a K-Line speeder.

 

The main line and sidings are digital, powered by an LGB power pack and controlled with a “Multi-Train System” control unit. The other two loops are analogue, controlled with the Aristo “Train Engineer.”

 

Grandson Grant is fascinated with trains and loves to help Grandpa decide which engine to run first.