4.2.11.15 Modeling Technique for the Milwaukee Road/Union Pacific Branch Line

Prototype Information

The Milwaukee Road/Union Pacific 16th Subdivision was a branch line coming from Centralia Wa. to Hoquiam Wa. The Saginaw Timber Company had a connection to the Milwaukee Road/ Union Pacific branch line at Preachers Slough.

 Here is the track schematic for Preachers Slough.

Here is the Union Pacific Common Standard for branch lines. 

The WWSL

I am going to freelance the Milwaukee Road/Union Pacific interchange. It will be represented by no more than a single interchange track. There will be a slight ditch on the fascia side of the track, and a double track ditch on the WWSL main line track.

Modeling Information

Ties.  The Union Pacific had one class of ties: 7” x 9”x 8’. The tie lengths were increased in the late 50's to 7” x 9”x 8’6”, and later to 7” x 9”x 9’.  WWSL Common Standard 3 sized tie.

WWSL Tie Spacing Standard No. 4

Rail. Common Standard documents show the Union Pacific was using 90- and 100-lb. rail in 1926, 110-lb. rail in 1937.  A track map of the joint UP/MILW roadway at Preachers Slough showed that 90-lb. rail was installed in 1927, in other locations on the branch line second hand 90-lb rail was installed in 1939.

For WWSL purposes, I am going to use a Shinohara No.6 Wye switch template and flex track at the interchange point. The interchange switch will be Code 83 transitioning to Micro Engineering 90 pound rail (Code 70).

Ballast. I have no pictures of this location. Pictures I do have and data says there should be a brown ballast. The MILW/UP interchange track will be ballasted with 1 part UP Brown decomposed granite ballast (Arizona Rock and Mineral) and one part gray dirt. Ballast will be laid to the top of the interchange track ties.

Modeling Technique

1. Put down the layout lines. See 4.2.1 Putting down layout lines for construction information.

2. Preparing track.

1. I am using the Shinohara switch and flex track tie strip modified as above.
   
2. Wipe down the track with Isopropal Alcohol to remove molding and hand oils and dirt and dust. I use a 70% solution.

3. Lay down the track. See 4.2.3 Straight Track or 4.2.4 Curves or 4.2.5 Turnouts for construction information.

4. Add Track details. Track details to be added at this time are Code 83 to Code 70 rail joint bars at the rail transition point. Four bolt joint bars are on the visible Milw/UP rails.

5. Paint the track. See 4.2.13 Painting Track for general painting technique. For this track type, the ties should be tie formula 3 or 4.

6. Paint the rail. For this track type, the rails should be rail formula 2 or 3. 

7. Ballast the track. See 4.2.14 Ballasting Track for ballasting technique.

8. Final Track details. See

9. Weathering the track. Track should be well weathered, with some indication of weeds and debris on the interchange track.

Reference

Union Pacific Common Standard

Preachers Slough Track Chart