Section 15 - Basalt - Part 2

In the last blog (Module 15 - Basalt Module - Part 1) I identified the layout design elements of the Basalt Module and laid out the roadway lines. 

In this blog I am identifying the scenery construction concept and laying out the landforms.

As a refresher, here are the scenic elements.

1. A mid-distant hillside,with a basalt cliff.
2. An embankment dropping toward an unmodeled river located along the front fascia.
3. A stream that traverses from the fascia to the rear of the section. 
4. A forest road that parallels the stream.
5. A hillside is located on the north side of the stream, offset from the backdrop to hint the location of an abandoned logging roadbed. It is S-shaped and cut from the 2 inch foam roadbed. 
   

Creating the landforms

1. The mid-distance hillside is two part. The first is a backdrop scene of a mid-distance hill. In front of that is modeled with a 1 inch x 4 inch x 8 foot styrofoam panel. This will give me the low cliff that I use as the foundation for some quarry rock castings and implanting the treeline.

2. Cut the roadway at a 45 degree angle to form the bank.

3. Streambed is multi-layered with several small waterfalls. Dirt banks, gravel and small rocks in the stream. Water created by Modge Podge.

4. A dirt road with a improvised gate blocking traffic.

5. A hillside with some rockwork. Hints of coal seams.

 

Section 15 - Basalt - Part 1

Its time to layout the Basalt Sand and Gravel section. The layout design given and druthers of this section is indentified in Station 15 Basalt.

Design Elements

The Basalt Section 15 adjoins the Satsop River section. It has six scenic elements (from backdrop to fascia):

1. A mid-distant hillside,with a basalt cliff.
2. A sand and gravel processing plant with product piles.
3. A spur track leading to an industrial lead serving the sand and gravel industry.
4. A main line, a passing track and an auxiliary siding. 
5. A MOW section.
6. A riverbank located along the front fascia.
7. A stream that traverses from the fascia to the rear of the section. 
8. Two bridges, one on the main line and one on the industry spur track.

Section Construction

See the WWSL section construction reference page for the construction technique. 

Basalt is a two section set. The first section (15a) is a standard 2 foot by 8 foot section. The second section (15b) is a 2 foot by 5 foot section. Section 15b is necessary to give proper length to the main line and passing siding, and also acts as a view block between Basalt and Coal Grove.

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Scenery Design Considerations

1. The backdrop is a distant hillside of moderate height.
2. The mid distant hillside is two inch rectangular foam with casting to represent quarry operations past or present.
3. The sand and gravel company sand plant sits on flat land between the Satsop River and the hillside. Modeled portion includes sand plant and silos, a fuel tank, and a 2 track gravel loader. The remainder of the plant are east of the section and is not modeled. 
4. A MOW section sited near the old east wye track.
5. Foreground between auxiliary track and fascia is flat or sloped downward toward the Satsop River.
6. A stream is modeled from the backdrop to the fascia.
7. A fire road parallels the stream.
8. A branch line timber trestle on the main line.
9. A timber truss trestle on the interchange track.

ROW Design Considerations 

The most critical design considerations on this module is the 26 inch curved leg wye, the eastern leg being retired and removed by the WWSL prior to the leasing of the land to the Basalt Sand and Gravel Company.

1. The curved leg wye connects with the main line. The main line must be toward the front of the layout for easy viewing and access. It must be at least seven feet in length (the longest standard operational train length).
2. The passing track must be located between the main line and the industry for effective car movement. It must also be at least 7 feet in length (the longest standard operational train length).
3. The auxiliary track is a scenic element with some operating value but will be primarily vignette in nature. It can be located closest to the fascia. There is no specific length required but should be at least 3 feet in length to allow for several cars to be located there for miscellaneous reasons (bad order, water cars during fire season, etc.).
4. The industrial spur must be accessed from the primary siding track. Historically this track is the old logging spur track going back into the timber. By operational standard, it must be at least 3 foot in length to allow pick up and delivery of cars to the industry. Off of the industrial spur is track consisting of an industrial lead, and three industry sidings. In this case, the industrial track is approximately 6 foot in length.
5. I pulled up a construction diagram of a timber trestle built by the Canadian Pacific for the main line bridge. See 4.1.9.6 Basalt Bridge N6a for construction details.
   
6. I found a temporary timber bridge made of tree trunks in the 1920's to be used as a scenic element for the industry spur bridge. See 4.1.9.6 Basalt Bridge N6b for construction details.

Laying out the Right of Way

I am not going to go into great detail about putting down the roadbed lines. See the Right of Way Reference Page  for the details if you haven't had the fun of doing it before. 

Essentially you're going to follow this process: 

1. Lay out the main line at the seven inch line.
2. Lay out the passing track at the ten inch line.
3. Lay out the auxiliary track at the four inch line.
4. Lay out the transition template for the mainline/passing track switch.
   
5. Lay out the main line curve and turnout.
   
6. Lay out the north passing siding turnout.
   
7. Lay out the industrial spur. To show some historical use of the area for logging (specifically Camp 9's location) I wanted the industrial spur track to end near the backdrop and sceniced as though it was an abandoned right of way.
   
8. Layout the industrial lead at 12 inches, the sand track at 14 inches and the gravel loader tracks at nine and seven inches.
9. Locate the abutments and piers for both bridges (to include heights).
   

Lay out the turnouts

The WWSL engineering department has authorize an unstandard #6.5 curved turnout for the south Basalt mainline to passing track. I have to ensure that the  normal route leg of the turnout (26 inch radius) aligns with the main track layout line at 10 inches, and the divergent leg of the turnout aligns with the passing track layout line at 7 inches.

I laid out the maximum train length templates along the passing siding and main line. I have the WWSL common standard #6 turnout templates to locate main line to passing track turnouts, and main line to auxillary siding.

I have a WWSL common standard #8 turnout to locate the industrial spur set out track. its divergent angle conveniently angles the interchange track with the Basalt Sand and Gravel industrial lead. Basalt Sand and Gravel use the WWSL common standard #5 turnout.

Lay out the structures

I created structural footprints for all the structures anticipated to be used on the section. While i was doing this I realized that I had omitted drawing in the sand house industry track. I've got to remember to add that to the track design plan. Once I have placed the gravel loading platform footprint along the industrial lead / sand track, I can locate the two track spurs servicing the loading platform.

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