Station 1 - Brady (BR)

Location.

Brady is (was) a farming community, formerly a logging town, four miles northeast of Montesano in southeast Grays Harbor County on the Satsop River. In 1917, the name Brady was given by Northern Pacific Railroad Company in honor of Emily Brady, from whom a right-of-way had been acquired. Earlier names were Woods (Wood’s) Crossing and Juno (not to be confused with Juno in Whitman County, Wash.

History.

Brady was home to the Schafer Brothers Logging Company. They had a 8 track logging yard located north of the NP main line, a main line that ran north into the timber, an automated crossing of the NP main, and a spur that ran south to a two track log dump adjacent to the Chehelis river where log rafts were constructed and then floated down to sawmills in Hoquiam/Aberdeen Wash.

The Northern Pacific employee timetables listed a 75 car siding at Montesano, Washington, located downtown at the depot. They also list a 10 car commercial spur at Brady for interchange with the Shaefer Logging Company, however the plat map of Brady does not show it clearly.







The alternate history expands this location from a commercial siding and controlled crossing to a junction. The junction consists of the NP main line, the WWSL main line and a NP controlled crossing of the NP main line. A separate track would act as an interchange lead track to a multi-track interchange yard. 

Operations. 

By convention and law, a railroad wanting to cross over another railroad at grade would be responsible for operating the junction and paying the annual operating costs, (maintenance and personnel costs). Originally the NP had an automated crossing at Brady. With additional traffic over the crossing based on the alternative history, a junction tower would be established at Brady Junction to control the junction. That tower and its corresponding equipment would be built and maintained by the WWSL.

Design Considerations.

This module opens up alot of opportunities in its design. It is a real place, it serves as the main interaction point with the outside world (in particular the Northern Pacific Railway), and it is the one point that actually has signalling!

I have decided to attempt to render the NP portion of the module as best as possible. This means I should if possible include:

1. Olympic Highway (selectively compressed) behind treeline.
2. NP boundary fence - 4 strand wire 
3. NP Main Line with non-operational Semaphore Signals. The NP main line would be non-operational, it can be used as a photo-staging location for freight locomotives and rolling stock. 

For the WWSL portion I want to include a (one way) operational junction per prototype practices. His would include: 

1. WWSL Main Line with operational Dwarf Signals that crosses the NP main line.
2. An interchange track at Brady Junction that connects with the NP Main Line headed east.
3. A interchange yard. This is the holding area that collects all interchange traffic between the NP and the WWSL and can be used as a storage yard for unassigned empty cars. The yard consists of 6 visible stub-ended tracks and two transversers. Each track is four feet long and can hold 6 cars.
4. A coach yard.

Track Plan

(place holder)


Roadway.

• NP right of way. I know in my heart that the NP roadway was relaxed standards at best in the mid 1950's. However I think I will portray the NP right of way as well maintained branch line track. I will give an example of Class 1 roadway to operators and visitors that will show the difference between Class 1 and Class 3 track.
• WWSL right of way - second class standard (built in 1935)
• Interchange yard - third class (dirt)
• Passing Track - second class standard

Cantenary/Signaling

• (C) Cantenary on main line, interchange yard lead and wired coach storage track.
• (S) NP Main Line with Semaphore Signals
• (S) WWSL Main Line at junction with Dwarf Signals.
• (S) WWSL Dispatcher will act as the WWSL Towerman for purposes of signaling. Signal system will be activated through DCC accessory decoder.

Scenery. 

 

Topographical maps of the Brady area show a wide range of moderate hills north of the Northern Pacific main track. I googled Brady Washington and found that the area was mostly flat with distant hills in the background. I will be paint the background so it looks something like this:




 

If you have never traveled the Tacoma - Centralia WA area you wouldn't know that Mount Ranier (an extinct volcano) is such as visible landmark for a large number of miles. When in the service at Fort Lewis I  lived in the Bachelor Officers Quarters). I had a 'get out of bed morning view' of the Mount Ranier. 

 

Mount Ranier can be seen from the Montesano area and I will use this picture as a painting guide for the east end of the interchange yard backdrop.

Locomotives. The NP motive power at Hoquium in 1955 was a GP7.  I am not sure the specific number stationed there but some research will allow me to model the locomotive for layout photography purposes.

Rolling Stock. The NP used cabooses at the end of their locals. I have identified two cabooses stationed at Hoquium - 1522 and 1663, each a different type, so I will model both for layout photography purposes

Structures.

 

Structures located at this station will include:

• Junction tower
• Junction signalling equipment
• MOW sheds
• Coach yard service facilities
• Car inspection facilities

 

PRINT REFERENCES

Montesano area topographic 1940

Northern Pacific Employee Timetable and Special Instructions

 

Brady Plat map

Layout Design - 6 - Station Maps

In Layout Design Process 4 - Railroad Modeling I identified that the layout design process can be broken down into three primary functional areas: Concept, Structure and Layout Detail.

Layout Detail. Layout Detail identifies the parameters within which the layout must be designed. It is broken down into two main elements: 5) Layout Design, and 6) Construction to build the railroad.

  

Under the element Layout Design, the following area is considered: Station Maps.

Prototye railroads use a variety of  maps to identify right of way information: track diagrams, rail and ballast information, drainage, superelevation and grade line, bridge and building, and signal and communications information. If you're fortunate to have chosen a prototype whose historical society has such maps then you are in luck. Here is my interpretatio of railroad information maps.

Engineering Maps. There are multiple examples of engineering maps. Here is one that focuses on survey information of the right of way, the track diagram includes tangent and curvature information and bridge and building information. 

One of the things i found interesting was the surveying data. Railroad engineering maps  apparently do  use civilian surveying datapoints. The route distances are calibrated on official drawings and blueprints using “stations.” These 'stations' (not to be confused with railroad timetable stations) were measured in feet and were measured from a marker placed somewhere conveniently along the line, not always at a division point. Stations are 100 feet in length. Fractions of a station are denoted by the number of feet appended with a plus sign. Thus 320+45 would be 320 stations plus 45 feet or 3245 feet, which is 0.615 mile.My youngest son found this interesting, as he is a surveyor and he uses GPS data sets on a daily basis.

Mileage Maps.  Here is another type of engineeering map. This map focuses on (from top to bottom) track curvature, grade, track diagram, bridge and signal locations and type. If youre modeling a specific prototype location, this information is invaluable.

This mileage map displays similar information in a different format. The explanations legends are a great tool for modelers interested in the multiple types of buildings, bridge and rail used in prototype operations. I'm going to use this bridge and rail info for right of way information within this blog

There are other references to railroad activities . Here is an example of a Sanborne Insurance map that shows an industrial layout. 

 

 Here is an example of a cantenary engineering diagram. This will be of interest to me as one subdivision of the WWSL will be under wire. 

You're also in luck if youre modeling the early 1900's. Back between 1910 and 1925, the US government required a valuation process for all railroads. Maps were created to document the track alignments, notes were taken on structures, cuts, fills, and bridges, and photos were taken of many structures and bridges. An amazing amount of these historical materials are available to researchers in the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C.

The WWSL

The WWSL will use what I call a Station Map to consolidate railroad information. The station map of each major location will identify basic historical, operation, right of way, scenery and building elements.  As the layout progresses, the station map will be upgraded with a track diagram and right of engineering information that will meet the standards for the NMRA AP program. The section map may have one or more subsections included in the location. 

 

References

Southern Pacific Right of way and Structural Drawings

Southern Pacific Engineering Drawings

Layout Design - 5 - Vignettes

In Layout Design Process 4 - Railroad Modeling I identified that the layout design process can be broken down into three primary functional areas: Concept, Structure and Layout Detail.

Layout Detail. Layout Detail identifies the parameters within which the layout must be designed. It is broken down into two main elements: 5) Layout Design, and 6) Construction to build the railroad.

  

Under the element Layout Design, the following area is considered: Vignettes.

A vignette is a scene or a descriptive sketch. It might focus on a single moment or an image, or it may give a particularly distinct impression of a character or setting. A vignette is a snapshot or a glimpse. As a reader, you may get a distinct and rich impression, but you’re limited in terms of what you see or experience.

I have identified several scenic vignettes that I wish to incorporate in the WWSL. These scenes include:

1. A slough - wetlands area
   
2. A tunnel 
3. A bridge crossing a stream
4. A bridge crossing a river
5. A main line weaving its way through a canyon.
   

 I also have identified people oriented vignettes. These activities fall into the following categories:

1. Car movement
2. Locomotive and caboose servicing
   
3. Car inspection, repair and rebuilding
4. Track maintenance
   

Layout Design - 4 - Layout Design Elements

In Layout Design Process 4 - Railroad Modeling I identified that the layout design process can be broken down into three primary functional areas: Concept, Structure and Layout Detail.

Layout Detail. Layout Detail identifies the parameters within which the layout must be designed. It is broken down into two main elements: 5) Layout Design, and 6) Construction to build the railroad.

  

Under the element Layout Design, the following area is considered: Layout Design Elements.

  

Tony Koester in the Model Railoroad Planning Magazine 1995 introduced the the concept of Layout Design Elements -  a design technique of identifying a "signature" scenic element of a prototype or prototype scene and building that element in order to capture the feeling of the prototype. Tony developed a Kalmbach Publishing Company book called 'Realistic Model Railroad Building Blocks' in 2005 to further develop this topic.

Primarily focused on the prototype modeler attempting to selectively compress a real railroads main line into a realistic railroad model layout, Tony further suggested that the modeler 'design his layout as a series of connected elements that are visually and operationally recognizable as models of actual places.' The modeler would identify their modeling interests (see Mike Shafers Shafer's Layout Design Guidelines and use maps, track diagrams, photos, etc., to develop the elements to be modeled. 

Since then many railroad modelers have used this technique to design and build their prototype railroad layouts. Daid Barrows in the Model Railroad Planning 1999 and other articles, used layout design elements in his 'Dominos' layout design techniques. 

The WWSL

Connected elements. I found that in designing my layout that developing the layout concept allowed me to make distinctions between the myriad elements of the prototype (e.g., a yard, a station, a junction) i found in my research with the functional layout requirements that might be necessary for a satisfying layout (such as staging, crossovers, runarounds, et al). I collected a set of layout design elements - from a scenic and operational standpoint – prototype towns, engine terminals yards, junctions, industries or scenes that could be compressed and workable for my layout.  

Those layout design elements were classified by right of way, yard, engine service facilities, industrial track layout, and scenic vignettes that were of interest to me.

The WWSL requires the following layout design elements: 

Right of Way

• Main track. A track, other than an auxili­ary track, extending through yards and be­tween stations, upon which trains are operated by timetable or train order, or both, or the use of which is governed by block signals.
• Siding *. A track auxiliary to the main track for meeting or passing trains. The timetable will indicate stations at which sidings are located.
• Junction. A point where two or more railroads are joined.
• Interchange. The location where railroads transfer freight cars from other companies over their lines. 
• Crossing *. A crossing is an intersection where one track crosses another track. It may be located at a junction, but not necessarily so.
  
• Simple Overhead Wire *.  A system of overhead wires used to supply electricity to a locomotive which is equipped with a pantograph. The uninsulated wire is attached by clamps to closely spaced crosswires supported by poles. Easily confused with catenary systems which use at least two overhead wires.

Yards

• Arrival / Departure yard (or track). This is a location in a yard where railcars are dropped off by an arriving train or picked up by departing trains  
• Classification yard *. This is where the railcars are sorted for further movement to other destinations.
  
• Scale Track * .
  

Engine service facility *

• Steam
• Electric
• Diesel 
• Turntable *
• Service Pit Track *
  

Industries

• Log reload
  
• Coal mine
• Sand and gravel plant
• Sawmill
• Logging camp
• Paper mill
• Industrial siding *
• Power plant (Coal Dump Track * and Ash Pit *)
  

Vignettes

• Scenic canyon
• Wide stream 
• Wide river
  

The astericks (*) are layout design elements required for NMRA Achievent Award  (Civil Engineer).

I will be addressing the layout design elements process in follow-on blog posts as they appear on the layout.

 

 

 

 

Layout Design - 3 - Geography

In Layout Design Process 4 - Railroad Modeling I identified that the layout design process can be broken down into three primary functional areas: Concept, Structure and Layout Detail.

Layout Detail. Layout Detail identifies the parameters within which the layout must be designed. It is broken down into two main elements: 5) Layout Design, and 6) Construction to build the railroad.

  

Under the element Layout Design, the following area is considered: Geography.

 

In Prototype Interest 1 - Choosing a locale I chose the Western Washington - Olympic Peninsula - Grays Harbor County - Montesano area for the Western Washington Short Line (WWSL). 

As discussed in Layout Detail - 0 - Designing the WWSL, the NP, the MILW, and the UP were established in Grays Harbor and were conducting business. The Schaefer Brothers Logging Company located north of the Chehelis River and the Clemons Logging Company and the Saginaw Timber Company south of the Chehelis River in what the Forestry Department names the Vesta-North River Watershed.

Deciding to overlay the Olympic Peninsula Logging Company / OPLC onto the Schaefer Brothers Logging Company right of way places us at Brady, Wash. The Schaefer Brothers right of way crosses the NP mainline at Brady. To the north of the NP mainline was a logging yard and the logging railroad continued north into the timber. To the south of the NP mainline was what appears to be a engine servicing/repair area and continuing south as a long spur terminating at the Chehelis river, where the logging railroad had a log dump.

montesano - brady map

Following the alternative history of the WWSL, Brady continues to be the crossing of the NP by the WWSL, and is upgraded to a junction and interchange. The area between Montesano and Brady and south of the NP main line will be the Headquarters of the WWSL. The WWSL headquarters, arrival, departure and classification yard (Demaine Yard) could easily be located west and south of the junction and NP main line. Montesano will be the official interchange point with the Northern Pacific.

The WWSL will have two sub-divisions. The First Subdivision will begin north of the Brady crossing and will extend into the timber area. First Division will extend trackage rights with the OPLC and have two interchange locations. 

The Second Subdivision will begin south of Demaine Yard, (Montesano) cross the Chehelis River at the log dump site, parallel the shared Milwaukee Road and the Union Pacific Railroad main line, then crosses the shared mainline and continues south along the old Saginaw Timber Company mainline to Wickwood. The WWSL will interchange with the MILW and UP at Preachers Slough, Wash, and the Saginaw Timber Company at Wickwood, Wash.

The WWSL 

I have conducted some research into the topographic, biotic, soil and climatology of the area in order to better scenic the layout. That information is located at: 5.1a Chehelis River Overview , 5.1b Northern Division Overview,  5.1c Southern Division Overvie.

Physical layout

The WWSL is a bi-level layout. The Division Headquarters (Yellow) and the Second Division and the Saginaw Timber Company (Orange) is located on the lower level; the First Division (Green) and the Olympic Peninsula Logging Company on the upper level. 

Here is a basic location diagram of the WWSL as constructed. Station numbers identify the name of the station and its physical location. 

Division Headquarters.

1. Brady (BR). Brady is home to the NP/WWSL crossing. It is also the location of the fiddle yard used to simulate the NP interchange.

2. Montesano (MO). Montesano is the railroad Headquarters.

3. Demaine Yard has a two track arrival and departure yard, a three track classification yard. The Yardmaster classifies North and Southbound WWSL trains, Class 1 transfers, and picks up and delivers cars at local industrial spurs.

Second Division.

4. Chehelis River. A scenic area.

5. Preachers Slough. (PS). Passing siding, interchange with the MILW and the UP.

6. North River. A scenic area.

7. Wickwood (WK). I found Wickwood on a map in Warren Wing's A Northwest Rails Pictorial. Nothing comes up today in a Google search so i suspect it was a Clemens Logging Company town. I substituted the real location of Arctic, Wash. for the fictional Wickwood. Makes a perfect location for a freelanced pulp and paper mill and other railroad serviced activities. Interchange with the Saganaw Timber Company.

First Division.

8. Schaefer Prairie. The helix moving traffic from the lower to the upper level.

9. OPLC Camp 1 (OP). If Clemons Logging Company could have a company town so could the Olympic Peninsula Logging Company. Interchange with the OPLC.

10. Headquarters Junction (HQ).

11. Olympic Peninsula Lumber Company (SM). Location of the OPLC sawmill complex.

12. Tunnel 1 (TU). A scenic area.

13. Polson Canyon (PC). A scenic area.

14. Satsop River (SR). A scenic area.

15. Basalt (BS). Location of the Basalt Sand and Gravel Company.

16. Coal Grove (CG). Location of the O.K. Coal Company.

17. Reload (RE). Location of the OPLC Reload #11. Interchange with the OPLC.

 

 

Layout Design - 2 - Theme

In Layout Design Process 4 - Railroad Modeling I identified that the layout design process can be broken down into three primary functional areas: Concept, Structure and Layout Detail.

Layout Detail. Layout Detail identifies the parameters within which the layout must be designed. It is broken down into two main elements: 5) Layout Design, and 6) Construction to build the railroad.

  

Under the element Layout Design, the following area is considered: Layout Theme.

 

In Layout Design 0 I discuss the strategic decision of placing the WWSL in Montesano Washington. 

 

Era. In Selecting an Era I discussed my thought process on choosing Summer 1955 as my operational era. Here I am considering the Western Washington Short Line's physical location in Gray's Harbor County and its interaction with other railroad's in the area.

Concept.  In Choosing a Locale The Western Washington Short Line ('Whistle') is a small class 3 railroad located in the Olympic Peninsula region of Washington State. I found that the cities of Aberdeen and Hoquiam were huge in the lumber industry. I chose to orient on a smaller town just east of the cities - Montesano Washington.

 

Type of Railroad. The WWSL is going to be a Short Line - a relatively small, general purpose railroad hauling both passengers and mixed freight, usually generating and terminating its own traffic.

 

Class of Railroad. The WWSL is going to be a Class III railroad - with low operating revenues.

Railroad operations. The WWSL is going to replicate the following: 

• Passenger operations. 1) scheduled excursions such as the Pacific Logging Conference trips to lumber companies, 2) a pacific railroad historical society railfan trip, or as some logging companies did in the late 1050's 3) weekend excursion for the public to points of interest in the Olympic Peninsula National Park using steam driven passenger equipment.

• Freight operations will be conducted along the local freight model - starting at a yard, moving along the main line switching industries along the way and returning to the yard at the end of the business day. Trains will operate as Extras, rather than Time freights listed on a timetable.
  

• The WWSL will have a yard in the vicinity of Montesano. It will do classification of inbound freight by train type to industries along the WWSL main line, and classification of outbound freight to the appropriate Class 1 (Northern Pacific, Milwaukee Road or Union Pacific interchange.

• The WWSL will interchange with the three Class 1 railroads in the area (Northern Pacific at Montesano WA, the Milwaukee Road and Union Pacific at Preachers Slough WA, and with two Class III railroad, the Olympic Peninsula Logging Company in Headquarters WA, and the Saginaw Timber Company in Wickwood WA.
  

• The WWSL will have a short line era appropriate MOW operation to include a MOW train run as necessary to good operations. 

Industries. The Pacific Northwest is a large producer of wood products such as lumber, pulp, paper and specialized building products. Most of the industries on this layout are based on actual industries located on the Olympic Peninsula, which hopefully will provide an authentic feel. Industries are sized based on square footage of layout space allocated and number of carloads transacted.

 

Large sized industry. The WWSL will have two large sized industries:

• Olympic Peninsula Lumber Company, Dimensional lumber is produced at this mill and shipped in boxcars and flat cars. Peelers are shipped to veneer and plywood plants located in Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Centralia and Olympia Washington. The OPLC will have its own railroad operations, employing steam locomotives for log train operations and industrial switching.
  

• American Mill Company. This mill produces corrugated paper for paper bag and corrugated box manufacturing operations. The paper, both rolls and bales, are shipped by boxcars. The mill requires chemicals in tank cars and covered hoppers and wood chips in boxcars gondolas and hoppers. The Mill will be serviced by the Saginaw Timber Company, employing first generation diesel locomotives for chip train operations and industrial switching.
  

Medium sized industry. The WWSL will have two medium sized industries:

• O. King Coal Company.  Coal is mined and shipped in hopper and gondola cars to power plants and major industries located in Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Centralia and Olympia Washington.

• Basalt Sand and Gravel Company. Sand and gravel is quarried crushed and shipped in hoppers, covered hoppers, gondolas and boxcars to the cement plant in Tacoma, Washington and distributors in the Northwest. Basalt S&G will have a self propelled locomotive crane providing switching operations.
  

Small industries. The WWSL will have three small sized industries:

• Cascade Pole Company. Large timbers and poles shipped in gondolas and flat cars.

• Y. Knott Lumber Company. Gondolas and flat cars will carry dimensional lumber and poles from this mill for wood preservation treatment. Tank cars will deliver wood treatment chemicals.

• Western Washington Power Company. Gondolas and hopper cars will carry coal for delivery and carry ash away from the power generating plants in Coal Grove WA, and Wickwood WA.
  

Switching locations. The WWSL will have four switching locations in Montesano:

• Burn-Moore Coal Company. Coal will be delivered in hopper cars for distribution locally by truck.

• Planck Lumber Company. Boxcars and flat cars will carry the dimensional lumber to this local distributor.

• Caster Oil Company. Fuels delivered in tank cars and lubricants in boxcars for distribution locally by truck.

• Buyher Propane Gas.  Propane delivered in tank cars for distribution locally by truck.

Traffic.  The WWSL will replicate a variety of freight and interchange traffic as follows:

• WWSL operates 5 days per week, and moves about 50 carloads a day. Yard switchers, Transfers and Way freights (Turns).

• OPLC operates 5 days per week and moves 30 carloads a day. Yard switcher and logging trains.

• STC operates 5 days per week and moves about 30 carloads a day. Yard switcher.

• NP, MILW, and UP operate 6 days per week and move about 50 carloads a day. Transfer runs.

Traffic Patterns.

• 1^st Subdivision. Traffic pattern is primarily empties in and loads out for coal, lumber and stone. Some lumber moves northbound from Headquarters to Coal Grove for weighing. OPLC logging trains have been granted based on trackage rights.between Headquarters and Camp 4 reload site.
  

• 2^nd Subdivision. Traffic pattern is primarily loads in and empties out for paper mill and power plant. STC switcher for plant servicing, chip train from STC main line to chip spur.

• Interchange yard. Transfer runs from SM yard to NP, MILW and UP interchange tracks and vice versa. 

Locomotives. The Northern Pacific Railway, the Milwaukee road and the Union Pacific Railroad utilize first generation diesel-electric locomotives. The WWSL uses electric locomotives. The Olympic Peninsula Logging Company continues to operate steam locomotives. The Saginaw Timber Company uses first generation diesel-electric locomotives.

 

Rolling stock of interest to the modeler. 

 

Layout Design - 1 - Prototype v Freelancing

In Layout Design Process 4 - Railroad Modeling I identified that the layout design process can be broken down into three primary functional areas: Concept, Structure and Layout Detail.

Layout Detail. Layout Detail identifies the parameters within which the layout must be designed. It is broken down into two main elements: 5) Layout Design, and 6) Construction to build the railroad.

 

Under the element Layout Design, the following area is considered: Prototype v. Freelancing.

 

Degee of Fidelity to Prototype

The common goal of model railroading is fun, and each model railroader has his own idea what fun is. For a railroad modeler there are three design approaches, or three degrees of fidelity in modeling the prototype: prototype, prototype freelancing or freelance prototype.

Prototype. This design approach where actual main and branch line schemaics, site trackage and scenes, place names, trains and ther consists, interchanges and operating practices are adopted. This approach offers the advantage of an in-place reference system - where the model is the faithful reproduction of the original in miniature.

Prototype freelancing. This is a variation of the prototype approach. Usually the variation is found in the question 'What if ..... ? (.... X railroad is still in existance) ( .......... abandoned line acquired by someone else) or (....... X railroad built a line from Y to Z).  It uses one or more prototype railroads to establish a set of guidelines and then creates a railroad within the chose framework. The modeler chooses to portray an area of the country or an operation activities that are based on sound prototype practice, a plausible traffic rationale and functional interchanges wth prototype railroads.

Freelance Prototype. The railroad is fictional, but is based on prototype practice, is run as a prototype and is modeled in such depth as to become believable a railroad. The modeler selects the topography, industries, motive power and rolling stock, etc., and combines them to form a railroad to his exact liking. It balances creativity and credibility. 

There are 4 excellent sources for showcasing railroad modeling:

• Great Model Railroads, a Model Railroading annual magazine.
  
• Model Railroad Planning, a Model Railroading annual magazine.
• Prototype Modeler (out of print) located at trainlife.com
• RailModel Journal (out of print) 
  

I was influenced by a number of railroad models: 

• Jack Burgess’ Yosemite Valley,  (prototype)
• Tony Koester’s Nickel Plate Road (prototype)
• Tony Steele's D&H, (prototype)
• Bill Darnaby's Maumee (freelance prototype)
• Allen McClelland's Virginia and Ohio (freelance prototype)
• Tony Koester's (freelance prototype)
•  , Omaha and Northwestern (freelance prototype)

The WWSL

Well you wont find the Western Washington Short Line referenced in any books, magazines or railroad historical societies, or located on any map except the one here. The Western Washington Short Line is a freelance prototype railroad. It is a fictional Class III railroad, occupying a real logging railroad right of way originally built by the Schaefer Brothers Lumber Company in the late 1800s, with its own alternate history blended into the real economic and social history of Gray's Harbor County.

The WWSL will interchange with three Class I railroads : the Northern Pacific, the Milwaukee Road and the Union Pacific. These railroads will be modeled under the prototype fidelity design approach.

The WWSL will also interchange with two Class III railroads, the freelance prototype Olympic Peninsula Logging Company and the real but otherwise prototype freelanced Saganaw Timber Company (What if the STC didn't dissolve in 1947 but instead sold its right of way to the WWSL and became an industrial line servicing a pulp mill?).

Why add two more railroads to the mix? While it would be easy for the WWSL to service all those industries, I thought it would be interesting to have additional railroads participating on the layout for operational diversity. 

A little of everything in the layout design: prototype, prototype freelance AND freelance prototype!