Al debuted a 32"x96" portable layout at the 2004 Midwest Narrow Gauge Show.  The S-scale layout features both Sn2 and Sn3 trackwork.  At the meet, Al distributed a handout, the text below is from that handout.

The HOn3 MDC shay does duty pulling the Sn2 ore cars.  Al used conduit to
route much of the wiring.  Al uses a lightweight open grid benchwork.

The following is text which Al handed out at the meet:
My interest in the Gilpin Tram was aroused by Mallory Hope Ferrell's, The Gilpin Gold Tram, Heimberger House Pub., 1998.  I wanted to capture the essence of the two-foot narrow gauge mining enterprise depicted in his excellent book.  The premise here is limited to a simple mine-to-mill traverse of a mountain face.  When scenery will have been completed, the tram route will be partially obscured by rock cuts, etc.  This 32"x96" portable layout will feature a gold mine, concentrator mill, small engine house, as well as water, coal, and sand structures.  An attempt will be made to unload the ore cars at the mill for more realistic operation.

Al's layout captures contrast between the two-foot and three-foot equipment.
David Keith provided the Sn2 caboose for the photo.  The Sn3 hopper is a Taurus product.

As this plan progressed, I yielded to my curiosity about dual gauge track and a three-way stub turnout.  Integrating the latter into the automated tram operation was a real challenge.  Three frogs to power, three routs, and a switch motor that gave only two positions presented a multi-dimensional problem.  I'd like to share my solution for this a future article in Light Iron Digest.

• Turnout kits: BK Enterprises

• Roadbed: Homabed

• PC ties: TP Ties

• Wood ties: Kappler

• Electronics: Circuitron, Inc   (The Sn2 switchbacks are automated)

• Ore cars: kit-bashed from Grandt Line On2 kits to S scale.

• Motive power: HOn3 MDC Shay which is too long and yet too short in height to represent any of the Gilpin Shays.  Nevertheless it is the "trial-horse" of the present operation.  The Sn3 engine is an Overland C&S #9 2-6-0.  It handles the 22" radius and #4 turnouts well.

• Misc. electrical components: Electronic Surplus.com

A head on view of the Sn3 C&S #9 on the left, and the Sn2 ore-cars on the right.