Station 12 - Tunnel 1

Location.

WWSL 1st Subdivision

Tunnel 1 is located on WWSL's 1st Subdivision Mile Post xx.

History. The idea of a logging railroad having tunnels seems remote but there have been good reasons for loggers to build tunnels. The Olympic Peninsula had three operational logging tunnels.

• Clemons Logging Company had a tunnel in the vicinity of Melbourne. It was built in 1922-23. [1]

• The Port Angeles and Western (originally Olympic Spruce Railroad #1) had two tunnels - the Daley-Rankin bore and the 46 foot McFee bore built in 1917-1918. They were operational for 36 years.  [2]

Design. Tunnel 1 has two functions. First (South Portal) it is the end point of the Station 11 (OPLC) module and contains a 90 foot turntable in support of the Sawmill operations. Second (North Portal) it is the start point for the Station (13) Polson Canyon Module. 

Track Diagram

Roadway.  

• WWSL main line will be WWSL relaxed standard. 
• WWSL tunnel will be WWSL main line standard and will have a rerailing fixture at both entrances. 
  

Scenery.

South Portal

The south tunnel entrance will be a re-creation of the April 2002 Mainline Modeler cover photo.The backdrop will be medium blue sky. The far scenery will be the basalt rock formation shown on the cover. The mid and near scenery will be level ground.

The tunnel itself will be a wood paneled tunnel lining upgraded in 1953 with a concrete portal and gunnite lining. The fascia will be removable to allow viewing of the interior.

 

 

North Portal

The North Portal will be a re-creation of the Homestake Pass MT, west portal, NP Tunnel #5. [3]

 The backdrop will be medium blue sky. The far scenery will be a basalt rock formation. The mid scenery will be a mountainous terrain dropping to track level. The near terrain will be a cut to river level.

 

 

Catenary / Signal. 

• (C)  The main line will be wired. The turntable and the approach track will not be wired.

Rolling Stock.

Maintenance of way operations will require a hopper car with an icicle removal frame. If there is room, a tunnel maintenance inspection car could be added.

Reference:

[1]Vesta - Little North River WSA - compiled for the US Forest Service by Tim Scherer, Team Leader WSA

[2] Fading Memories, Model Railroad Craftsman, October 2000.

[3] West Portal Tunnel No.5 Homestake MT, Joel's SP In The Cascades