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. An intermediate 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.
   

Scenery Design Considerations

Background

The backdrop available for the Polson Canyon section is 22 inches in height. To the south, it will be a continuation of the rain clouds on the Satsop River section. The remainder of the Basalt section will be a two part backdrop: 

•  A blue sky with cumulus clouds suggesting a sunny day. See 5.4.1 Sky  and 5.4.2 Clouds for construction information.

•  An Intermediate hillside. See 5.4.4 Intermediate Hills for construction information. 

Creating the landforms

1. Mid-distance hillside. This is another example of needing some reinforcement to ensure the scenery is not broken in transport. The hillside is modeled with a 2 inch x 4 inch x 8 foot styrofoam panel glued to an 1/8 " luan panel that anchored to the section with rafter stiffeners. The quarry rock is a series of plaster castings. See 5.5.5 Rock Faces for additional information.  

The treeline is a combination of 3d trees and shrubs. See 5.5.7 Three Dimensional Backgrounds for construction details.

2. Embankment. Portions of the foreground between the auxiliary track and fascia is flat or sloped downward toward the Satsop River.

4. A dirt road with a improvised gate blocking traffic. See 5.9.1 Dirt Paths and Roads for construction details.

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

Ground Cover

1. The areas where 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. Production areas will be be gravel and dirt as appropriate. Some undulation will be formed with sculptamold.  

Vegetation

Mid-distance hillside has ground cover, shrubs, small trees.

Embankment has dirt, grass and weeds. 

Waterways

3. The stream bed is multi-layered with several small waterfalls. Dirt banks, gravel and small rocks in the stream. Water is created by Modge Podge. See 5.8.2 Streams for construction details.

Small Projects to Improve My Modeling Skills

For some time I have been doing things other than railroad modeling, It's not that I dont have the time - I do. It's not that I don't have the resources - I do. What I don't have is the mental discipline to take the next step in the railroad modeling activity - improving my skill set.

Now on one hand I find that pretty funny. I've built things all the time. I built 9 or 10 model railroads over the years in the David Barrow's minimalist tradition (its a good thing) based on what I was interested in at the moment. I've been involved in the restoration of real railroad locomotives, rolling stock and done maintenance of way activities on track.

What I haven't done is gone all the way with railroad modeling. I've done the stuff I have listed in the Pages Sections: History - yes. Operations - most of the time. Construction - yep! Right of way - only in the basic (minimalist) terms.

What I haven't done is the other 270 degrees of railroad modeling. I haven't modeled right of way, haven't dug ditches, installed culverts, or built bridges. I haven't created landforms, built mountains, hills, valleys and ridgelines. Nope to the scenery techniques of creeks streams, rivers. I haven't gone beyond the ready to run locomotives or the kit rolling stock. Structures have been note cards with industry names or cardboard cut outs mocking up the industry at best. It wasn't important enough at the time, modeling wise.

So I stalled - subconsciously. And procrastinated. The action wasn't happening. 

Then I got a kick in the pants. A friend of mine that I hadn't seen in years dropped in. He knew I was a modeler and wanted to know how things were going, what progress I'd made in 5 years with the layout. I was embarassed. 'Don't be', he said. 'You can only eat an elephant one bite at a time.' 

He was right of course. And I kind of knew it because  - as I was developing the blog -  I have a number of pages in each one of the Reference Page sections, that were going to explain what I was going to do and how I was going to do it. I just didn't recognize that what I thought was explaination was actually THE CONCEPT at the time. 

The light finally came on when I was browsing the web and found the Proto48 Modeler site and specifically author Shawn Branstetter's Small Projects to Improve Your Track Modeling Skills. He got it  - and finally I got it! The WWSL ver. 3.0 isnt a multi-deck 200 foot main line, it's 400 (square foot) of small projects to improve my modeling skills. 

And I'm taking the leap!

 

 

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.

Layout Design Elements

The Basalt Sand and Gravel section adjoins the Coal Grove section to the north and the Satsop River section to the south . It has eight 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 primary siding track and an auxiliary siding.
5. An embankment located along the front fascia.
6. A stream that traverses from the rear of the section to the fascia. 
7. Two bridges, one on the main line and one on the industry spur track.
8. A MOW section sited near the north switch.
   

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.

ROW Design Considerations 

The most critical design considerations on this module is the location of the industrial lead. Its location determines the location of the main line, a  primary siding track and an auxiliary siding. Placing the industrial lead at 12 inches from the fascia permits both main line running and industrial switching.

3. The curved main line from Satsop River places the Basalt main line at 7 inches from the fascia. This allows easy viewing and access. It must be at least seven feet in length (the longest standard operational train length).
 

The primary siding track must be located between the main line and the industry for effective car movement. This places the track at 10 inches from the fascia (the First (Northern) Division is electrified and requires cantenary pole placement. It must also be at least 7 feet in length (the longest standard operational train length). 

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. The WWSL technical specification requires a minimum 4 inches from 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, work train, etc.).

 
4. The industrial spur must be accessed from the primary siding track. In the WWSL history this track is the old logging spur track going back into the timber. For present day operational requirements, it must be at least 3 foot in length to allow pick up and delivery of up to 6 40 foot cars to the industry. 

Off of the industrial spur is the Basalt Sand and Gravel industrial lead. The lead services three industry sidings: 2 processed gravels spurs and one processed sand spur. In this case, the industrial lead is approximately 6 foot in length, the industry sidings a minimum of 2 feet (processed gravel) and 4 feet (processed sand) respectively.
 

8. 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.

 
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. Operationally this bridge is out of service. 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 primary siding 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/primary siding 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.
   
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).
   

Track Standard.

The WWSL 1st Division is designated Class B main line. See See 4.2.11.2  Modeling Technique for Medium Profile Roadway for details.

The WWSL auxiliary track is designated a storage track. See 4.2.11.8  Modeling Technique for Storage Track for details.

The WWSL industrial spur and all the Basalt Sand and Gravel trackage is designated an Industrial Lead or Spur Track. See 4.2.11.7 Modeling Technique for Industrial Lead or Spur Track for details.

Main line to primary siding turnouts are Common Standard #6.  All industry turnouts are Common Standard #5.

Lay out the turnouts

The WWSL engineering department has authorize an non - Common Standard #6.5 Code 100 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 primary siding track layout line at 10 inches, and the divergent leg of the turnout aligns with the main 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 #5 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 owns and maintains its own trackage, and uses the WWSL Common Standard #5 turnout.

Lay out the structures

Modeled portion includes sand plant and silos, a fuel storage facility, and a 2 track gravel loader. The remainder of the plant is east and south of the section and is not modeled. 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 spur 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 finalize the two track spurs servicing the loading platform. 

A MOW section is conveniently sited near the north switch.

In the next blog (Section 15 - Basalt - Part 2) I will discuss the Landform Design Considerations.

Purpose, Goals and Objectives 2023

On January 1, 2022 I wrote a blog page Purpose, Goals and Objectives 2022 indicating my goals for the year. I didnt quite get there - for a variety of reasons. I went into the hospital in late February and recovery, rehabilitation and trying to catch up on the backlog of work took all my time.The WWSL suffered as a result

Of the four short term goals, I didn't get any trackwork done. I fiddled around, but most of my railroad modeling was armchair. I did however get a good bit accomplished on the website. I’m getting my energy back. I started cleaning up. I first put away all the junk collecting on the right of way. Having one hundred feet of shelving does bring out the pack rat.  Getting stuff organized and out of the way will let me get down and dirty on building the right of way.

A summary of my year is below, followed by some brief thoughts on my year and the hobby:

Projects Completed in 2022

• The workbench and crew lounge area amenities was completed.
• Track support section construction is done with the exception of the helix.
• Valence construction is done.
• The blog has been updateded and 22 posts have been published. About 300 pages have been designed and some 174 have been 2nd draft completed and/or published. The remainder are in various stages of completion.
  

2023 goals. 

Have you seen these goals before? Here they are again!

STG#1: I want the trackwork completed from Tunnel 2 to Reload. I want to complete 16 square feet of at least one signature scene within 6 months with the remainder with basic scenery in place. I want enough track from WWSL 2.0 relaid to new design and construction standards. 

STG#2:  I want the trackwork from Demaine Yard to Wickwood (Division 2) drawn ou to new design and construction standards.

STG#3. I want one train (locomotives and rolling stock) built to Tan Standards and running on the the above sections by the end of the year. 

STG#4. I want a majority of the subject pages in the Layout Design, Operations, Construction, and Right of Way Reference Pages section completed.

Section 12 - Tunnel 1 - Part 2

In the last blog (Section 12 - Tunnel 1 - Part 1) I identified the layout design elements of the Tunnel 1 Section and laid out the roadway lines. 

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

Scenery Design Considerations

1. There are 2 backdrops 22 inches in height. They will be simple backdrops - a clear blue sky suggesting a sunny day. 

2. The terrain at the North Portal will be consistant with the Polson Canyon ridge line.

3. The terrain through which the tunnel is driven is basalt rock. No additional engineering is required within the tunnel area.

The terrain at South Portal will be a basalt cliff face with a concrete portal.

Landforms  

Ridge. Here is the generic photograph of the southern part of Polson Canyon as it approaches the the North Portal of Tunnel 1.  

On this section, I continued the construction of the Polson Canyon ridgeline with the 2 inch styrofoam.

Rock Faces. Here is the generic rock face along the main line as it approaches

Embankment. The embankment follows the general construction of the Polson Canyon section.

Once the basic landform is completed, it will be covered with Sculptamold on the flats and hydrocal plaster on the slopes.

Ground Cover

1.Areas of undulation will be covered with sculptamold   

2 Far ground cover

3 Near ground cover

Vegetation

 Far landform Sparce tree line with some indication of previous logging activities 

Near landform - ground cover, shrubs, small trees

Section 12 - Tunnel 1 - Part 1

Its time to layout the Section 12 - Tunnel 1 section. The layout design given and druthers of this section is indentified in Station 12 - Tunnel 1.

Design Elements

Tunnel 1 is the lower reach of the Polson Canyon river valley. The right of way tunnels through the ridge line paralleling the Satsop River and approaches the Olympic Peninsula Logging Company sawmill.

This Section consist of one section and consists of  layout design elements (from geographic north to south):

1. A single track main line from Polson Canyon to Sawmill.
2. A single track tunnel. 
   
3. An abandoned OPLC logging line crossing the WWSL main line.
   
4. A turnout off the WWSL main line to the OPLC main line and industry complex.
5. A 90 foot turntable in support of the Sawmill operations.

Section Construction

This section is a turnback curve portion of the WWSL layout. It is approximately 5 foot wide by 4 foot in depth.  It follows standard section construction, except it has three 1x3 girders The two ends of the section are cut out to permit attachment of the module electrical connectors and section interface bolts. See the WWSL section construction reference page for the construction technique.

ROW Design Considerations 

The most critical design considerations on this section is curvature of the main line. The turnback curve section width is 60 inches. Technical specification is a minimum 4 inches between track and the edge of the fascia. This restricts the turnback curve to 48 inches (24 inch radius).

2. Curved track within a tunnel is generally rare in the prototype. It is more common in railroad modeling layout design. The location of the tunnel and the restrictive view minimizes the suggestion of a curve within the tunnel.

Laying out 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 to do it before. 

Essentially you're going to follow this process: 

1. Lay out the main line curves. It is a simple 24 inch turnback curve.
   
2. Lay out the tunnel template.
3. Lay out the north and south tunnel portals. 
4. Layout the northern switch to the OPLC main line and sawmill complex. 
5. Layout the turntable approach track from the sawmill yard and spurs.
6. Generally locate the turntable location. 

Because this section ties into both the Section 11 - Sawmill and the Section 13 - Polson Canyon, some layout of those sections will need to be done at the same time, primarily the main line locator at the southern-most Polson Canyon curve (xx inches from the fascia ) and the WWSL and OPLC main lines at Sawmill  (xx inches from the fascia).

Laying out the Turnout

A turnout is required to connect the WWSL main line with the OPLC main line and sawmill industry complex.

Laying the track.  Tunnel 1 Roadway is WWSL Medium Profile Roadway. See 4.2.11.2  Modeling Technique for Medium Profile Roadway for details. See 4.2.3 Straight Track and 4.2.4 Curves for construction details.

Laying out the Structures 

North Portal

North Portal

The North Portal will be a re-creation of the Homestake Pass MT, west portal, NP Tunnel #5. I will represent the latter with a timber portal and a rock shed that extends from the portal. See 4.1.10c for construction details. 

 

 

 

 

Tunnel Bore

The tunnel itself will be a rock tunnel lining upgraded with gunnite coating.Dark gray paint will complete the illusion.The fascia will be removable to allow viewing of the interior. See 4.1.10b for construction details.

Southern Portal  

South Portal

The south tunnel entrance will be a re-creation of the April 2002 Mainline Modeler cover photo.  

The rock wall will be constructed with vertical 2 inch styrofoam insulation with a rock casting overlay.

I will represent the latter with a concrete portal. See 4.1.10a for construction details.

 

 

 

In the next blog (Section 12 - Tunnel 1 - Part 2) I will discuss the Landform Design Considerations.

 

Section 13 - Polson Canyon - Part 2

In the last blog (Section 13 - Polson Canyon Section - Part 1) I identified the layout design elements of the Polson Canyon Section and laid out the roadway lines.

In this blog I am identifying the Scenic Design Considerations. Polson Canyon is a river valley. The right of way parallels a ridge line on the east side and the Satsop River on the west side. 

As a refresher, here are the scenic elements:

1. A spur off of the ridgeline with a sparse growth of second growth conivers, dead trees, stumps and bushes. An abandoned OPLC right of way at the left (north) end of the module - formerly OPLC Camp 7.
2. A ravine steeply rising to the background with series of rock shelves making a waterfall scene.
   
3. An abandoned spur - formerly OPLC Camp 5, curving along the ravine.
   
4. A curved river valley with moderately steep hillsides and rock faces. with a sparse growth of second growth conifers, dead trees, stumps and bushes. 
5. An embankment with several streams and draws coming down the steep hillside and embankment to the river.
6. A heavy growth of shrubs and bushes at the river's edge. 
7. A river's edge along the fascia.

Scenery Design Considerations

Background.

Sky, Clouds. The backdrop available for the Polson Canyon section is 22 inches in height. To the north, it will be a continuation of the rain clouds on the Satsop River section. The remainder of the Polson River section will be a simple backdrop - a clear blue sky suggesting a sunny day. 

Distant and Intermediate Hills. The ravine in the North Canyon will have distant and intermediate hills on the background.

Closer Hills. The ridgeline in the southern canyon will require a continuation of the modeled hillside above the rock faces. 

Creating the Landforms

Cut. To the north there is a hillside with a Cut made to roadway to abandoned OPLC Camp 7.

Ravine.  Width of ravine to permit timber trestle - plate girder bridge - timber trestle and roadway to abandoned OPLC Camp 5.

Ridge. The ridge should be at least s 3x the height of the train. Using 2 inch styrofoam insulation, this would make the hillsides at least 7 inches high with a maximum of 11 inches at the rear of the section.

Rock Face. Rock faces would have to be at least 6 inches high to provide a reason for the curvature of the main line thru the river valley. 

Embankment. Locate and cut in the eastern Satsop River riverbank. For my purposes, I used the AREA standard 60 degree angle from the edge of the roadbed to the river bottom. The Middle Fork of the Satsop River runs parallel to the main line in the front of the section. The river will be approximately centered on the module and will disappear to the left and right front.

Hills.

Once the basic landform is completed, it will be covered with Sculptamold on the flats and hydrocal plaster on the slopes. 

Ground Cover

1.Areas of undulation will be covered with sculptamold   

2 Far ground cover

3 Near ground cover

Vegetation

 Far landform Sparce tree line with some indication of previous logging activities 

Near landform - ground cover, shrubs, small trees

Waterways

Northern bridge site The ravine at the northern bridge site is a multi-level free flowing stream that joins the Satsop River. I will use 3/4 inch styrofoam and hydrocal plaster to model the rock shelves and will use matte medium and modge podge for the waterfalls and stream.

center bridge site waterfall

southern bridge site brook or stream coming off ridge line

river at fascia I wanted to have several inches of riverbed modeled along the right of way. As in the Satsop River Section, the river bottom is to be gravel with larger rock strewn among the waterway and the bank. I am using xxxxxx at a depth of one thickness. The river's edge is a continuation of that product and sand/dirt from the river from the river's edge.

River bed. The river bank will be a slow rise to the right of way. The river bottom is composed of a large number of various sized stones and gravel. A shallow pour of properly tinted resin and the creation of rough water will round out the overall look and feel of the river.