Station 5 - Preachers Slough

Location.

History. Preachers Slough is the Saginaw Timber Company's connection to the joint UP/MILW mainline.

In the alternate history, when the WWSL acquired trackage south of the Chehelis River from the Saganaw Timber Company, the WWSL built the Chehelis River Bridge. The UP/MILW granted trackage rights from the bridge to MP x where the Saganaw Timber Company had a small interchange yard. That yard became the new interchange yard between the WWSL and the UP/Milw. 

Operations. From the Chehelis River module, the WWSL 2nd Division has trackage rights on the MILW / UP main track from South Montesano to Preachers Slough (not modeled). At Preacher's Slough, the WWSL interchanges with the MILW / UP, then continues south toward Wickwood.

Design.  Preachers Slough is designed to be the interchange point between the WWSL and the MILW/UP.  At the south end of the module, a two track spur diverges from the main track to serve the YKnott Lumber Company tie treatment plant and the Cascade Pole Company

Roadway.

Main track.
Passing siding.
Interchange track

Scenery.

Preachers Slough is designed loosely on three prototype photos I found during my research that appealed to me. 

First was a photo of a Milwaukee road freight coming out of a tunnel. (Location unknown). This will be the south portal of Tunnel 2 on the Second Subdivision.

 

I really liked this photo of the Milwaukee Road's main track and siding at Pipestone Pass. It merges well with photo 1. This will be the main track and siding, with a third track added to the left for the interchange track. The elevated road will be Highway 107 which parallels the WWSL trackage.

 

 

I was trying to figure out what the background should be at the southern end of the module. The hillside with the varied treeline in photo 3 (location unknown) came closest to the Pipestone Pass photo.

Catenary/Signaling. Second Subdivision is non-electrified. 

The real MILW/UP branch line had an automated crossing at Preachers Slough for interchange with the Saganaw Timber Company, as the timber company dumped logs into the Chehelis River at that point for movement to Aberdeen's sawmills. As that crossing is signaled, i will install dwarf signals and they will be operated by the Dispatcher.

Structures. The following structures will be built for the Preachers Slough module:

• South Portal Tunnel 2
• Highway 107 Bridge over WWSL main line
• Interchange shed (MILW/UP)
• MOW sheds
• Miscellaneous structures representing the Y. Knott Lumber Company and the Cascade Pole Company

 

REFERENCES

Valence 5

This last work session was focused on finishing up bits and pieces of valence and ceiling projects. 

• Drywall panels that i had delayed putting up were installed in zone 1. 

 

•  Spackling was done in zone 1, 2 and 3 finishing up ceiling work that had been done in bits and pieces. 

• The valence extending over the helix was built and installed.

 

•  Party light string was installed on the upper valence. 
• The upper outer l-girder was installed.

 

 

Next week I have to build the helix benchwork so i can finish the upper and lower deck benchwork and call overall benchwork construction done !

 

Station 4 - Smith Canal

Location.

2nd Division

History. The Schafer Brothers Logging Company had a spur line run from Brady to a two track log dump on the Chehelis River.

The alternate history begins when the Saginaw Timber Company persuades the American Pulp and Paper Company to build a pulp and paper mill along their logging line. The STC runs into financial trouble and approaches the WWSL to bail them out. The WWSL manages to persuade the UP/Milw Road to grant trackage rights from South Montesano to Preachers Slough, then acquire the STC trackage from Preachers Slough to Wickwood. The WWSL upgraded the old STC right of way to main line status, built a bridge spanning the Smith Canal, and then built a multi-span bridge across the Chehelis River at its shortest width. 

The UP/Milw joint branch line right of way is simulated, the interchange track at Preacher's Slough is the only visible connection.

Design. 

Smith Canal is a vignette based on several ideas and a couple of photographs.

While reading up on bridges I came across a timber bridge that used retired rails for its stringers. It would work well for the bridge over Smith Canal. 

The single track main track continues on an embankment (the ground along the Chehelis River is flood plain / wetlands /slough)

 

 

 

It then crosses the Chehelis River on a bridge made up of two deck girder bridges and a concrete girder bridge …. and then enters Tunnel S1.

 





 

 

Track Diagram

 Roadway

•  The WWSL mainline is well maintained main line.
  

Scenery. The module is a 43-inch x 5-foot outside curve at the end of the center peninsula. The scenery will consist of:

•  An embankment at the end of the Demaine yard than ends at the edge of Smith Canal.
• A waterway that begins as a narrow stream (canal) and ends as a small river. 
• A embankment (levee) that is the roadway for the main line between Demaine Yard and the Chehelis River Bridge.
• A tunnel that is bored thru a ridgeline that acts as a scenic view block. 

In addition, I'd like to include a second track on the embankment not powered by the layout to act as the programming track for the DCC system. (The DCC system is located directly under this module).

 Catenary/ Signaling

Catenary/Signaling. The WWSL 2nd Division is non-electrified. 

Assuming trackage rights on the real MILW/UP branch line, it would make sense that there would be an automated system. There was an automated crossing at Preachers Slough for interchange with the Saganaw Timber Company. Using that system, I will install dwarf signals just before the Chehelis River bridge and they will be operated by the Dispatcher.

Structures.

• 1- 65 foot wood and rail stringer bridge with one wood and one stone abutment.
• 2 - xx foot deck plate girder bridges with a concrete abutment and two concrete piers
• 1 - 30 foot concrete beam bridge with a concrete abutment.
• 1 concrete tunnel portal with wings
  

REFERENCES

 

 

 

Valence 4

Last week i discussed a change in benchwork, resizing the south wall modules from 24 inches to 32 inches in depth. This change while relatively minor resulted in a whole new problem regarding valence location. 

What I failed to realize was that when the ceiling was installed I ran 1"x3"s and 1"x4"s to match drywall panel locations. I did NOT add 1"x3"s at the valence location points. I had two options: 1) I'd  have to mark the ceiling at 32 inches from the wall and cut out the drywall 3 inches wide along the entire 12-foot valence footprint, install a new 1"x3" and then replace the piece of drywall I cut out, or 2) I'd have to estimate the location of each rafter and then use a 6 inch long drill bit to find the real location and then use a longer lag screw to secure the valence to the ceiling. 

Keeping it simple, I quickly installed the east wall valence per normal practice. As i had an 8 inch opening along the south wall ceiling that hadn't been dry-walled yet, finding the rafters was no problem - a 4' drywall T square made estimating easier and within an hour i had the valences installed.  I missed a couple of rafters by several inches (laterally) but that's just a couple of holes to spackle and the damage is hidden. 

 

I then finished dry-walling the last bit of ceiling and will hit it with spackle and a paint job next week.

All that's left is a short 4 foot section had to be cut at the new 48 inch location for the helix valence, and then installing the party light strings. 

Station 3 - Demaine Yard

Location.



History. The area where Demaine Yard is located was originally high ground bounded by the NP main line to the north, a platted residential area to the west, flood plain/slough formed by the Chehelis river to the east, and the Chehelis River itself to the south. An existing Schafer Brothers Logging Company spur line ran from Brady to a two track log dump on the Chehelis River.

In the alternate history Montesano became the Headquarters for the railroad when it was established in 1935. As a common carrier with an increased interchange with the NP, it built an interchange yard at Brady. When the WWSL acquired trackage south of the Chehelis River from the Saganaw Timber Company, the WWSL built the Demaine Yard as its primary freight yard.

Operations.

Demaine Yard is a medium sized classification yard operated under the direction of a Yardmaster under Rule 93. It will support a traffic mix of 4 trains, 2 transfers to interchanges, and an local industry switcher. Approximately 50 cars per day will flow through the yard. Most trains are blocked into lumber and mineral traffic headed north and pulp and paper traffic headed south. Cars destined for local shipment and cars interchanging with the Union Pacific, Milwaukee Road and the Nothern Pacific are also blocked here. 

The Division main lines will begin north and south of the main yard.

Design.

Demaine Yard will have the following capabilities:

• Arrival / Departure Yard. There will be one arrival track and one departure track. Both tracks will  have direct access to the yard lead. The arrival/departure yard will be electrified.
  
• Yard Lead. The yard lead will be sized to handle one 8 car train.
  
• Classification Yard. The classification yard will be a 2-track yard that will alternate between north/south trains and MILW/UP and NP transfers.
  
• Industrial Track. The industrial track will be the industrial lead to four local industry spurs (coal dealership, a lumber distributor, an oil dealer, a propane dealer). Alternatively it can be used as a classification track.

Demaine Yard will designed along the philosophy espoused by Craig Bisgeier's The Ten Commandments of Model Railroad Yard Design

Nice to have Elements. 

• 1 team track located alongside the yard lead. A freight shed and/or a loading dock.
• An engine servicing facility for diesel and electric locomotives.
  
• A caboose track

Right of Way. 

Scenery

• The backdrop will be painted as a Near Trees type format. 
  
• The yard will be modeled as a flat yard with an industrial format.
• The module edge will be yard edge scenery to include drainage and selected small buildings as appropriate.
  

Catenary/Signaling. The arrival and departure tracks, the track leads to the engine service area and Montesano Junction are under wire. Demaine Yard itself is not under wire, nor are the industrial tracks or auxillary tracks.

Locomotives. The Demaine yard switcher will be an ALCO hp switcher. First Subdivision trains will be run with electric locomotives, Second Subdivision trains will be run with diesel locomotives.

Rolling Stock. Unique rolling stock required by the Demaine Yard operations includes:

• Sand car if engine servicing facility is installed.
• ICC Type 103 tank cars for fuel distributor.
• ICC Type 104 tank cars for freight station/team track.
• ICC Type 105 tank cars for propane distributor. 
  

Buildings

• Freight Station
• Car Repair Shop
• Coal Dealer (O.McDonalds Coal Co.)
  
• Lumber Dealer (Planck's Lumber)
  
• Fuel Distributor (Caster Oil Co.)
• Propane Distributor (Buyher Propane)
• Arrival Track Buildings
  

 

References.

The Ten Commandments of Model Railroad Yard Design

Benchwork 8

The last major section of benchwork to be installed was along the south wall. I knew this was going to be something out of the ordinary because this was new construction per se. All previous benchwork came from WWSL version 2 and was pretty simple to build and install. This section was unique in that it was the location of the helix, and helix construction causes all sorts of benchwork issues. 

Undaunted I forged ahead. The valence along the south wall in zone 3 was built. I initially planned to continue the benchwork at 24 inches in depth leaving an 8 inch gap between the layout and the south wall. Sanity quickly over-welmed me as i realized two things: 1)  an 8 inch gap either requires another stud wall, or 2) I would have to divide two 8 foot modules and insert a special 8 inch module piece somewhere along a straight track section so if i ever moved, i would not have to rebuild multiple curved track. Neither solution was appealing to me. 

 

I came to the conclusion that I could use that 8 inches to solve some layout issues I had with the Lumber Camp and the NP interchange yard. (More of that later in the layout planning blog). The four modules on the south wall would be 32 inches in depth rather than 24 inches. Up went the standard compressed stud wall, the lower L-Girder, and the backdrop panels. 

 

 

At this point I need to reverse my normal installation practice. Previously the upper deck was installed first and the lower deck last for ease of installation. This time around the helix base has to be built and installed, then the lower deck built and installed. The upper deck was then gets measured and installed temporarily - knowing final installation was dependent on the location of the helix exit point. 

 

Helix building is a whole new subject that i will get to shortly. .

 

 

 

Station 2 Montesano

Main Headquarters

Location. Montesano is the first station south of Brady Junction. 

 

History

Montesano is a freelanced station on the WWSL. The area was originally high ground bounded by the NP main line to the north, a platted residential area to the west, flood plain/slough formed by the Chehelis river to the east, and the Chehelis River itself to the south. An existing Schafer Brothers Logging Company spur line ran from Brady to a two track log dump on the Chehelis River.

In the alternate history Montesano became the Headquarters for the railroad when it was established in 1935. As a common carrier with an increased interchange with the NP, it built an interchange yard at Brady. When the WWSL acquired trackage south of the Chehelis River from the Saganaw Timber Company, the WWSL built the Demaine Yard. The WWSL headquarters building is mileage 0.0 on the timetable.

Design Considerations.

I saw the Brady Junction - Montesano - Demaine Yard modules to be what a Class 1 railroad would consider to be a Division Point, that is all operations start at this location and extend outward. As a result, we have a major junction, an administrative building/passenger station, an interchange yard and a classification yard in easy communications reach of headquarters. 

The Montesano module ties everything together. One track (normally called the main track) extends north and east to the NP Junction at Brady and WWSL 1st Division and south and west to Demaine Yard and the 2nd Division. It also acts as the station track for passenger operations, and has a turnout that provides passenger car movement from the coach yard to the station.

A second track acts as a the interchange yard lead track. It has turnouts supporting two MOW spurs.

Roadway. 

• WWSL main track - Class B standard
• WWSL interchange lead track - Class B standard
• 2 spur tracks - Class C standard

Catenary/Signaling

• (C) Main track and coach yard lead are wired.
• (C) Interchange lead track is not wired.
  

 Scenery.

• Background is ground level sparse near treeline.
  
• Midground is Headquarters Building
• Foreground is spur tracks with MOW storage areas.

Rolling Stock 

The option to locate a passenger station to the layout would then entail the acquisition of passenger coaches. See Passenger Car history for additional details.

Structures. Structures located at this station will be: 

• Headquarters building is home to WWSL corporate functions. The building also functions as the passenger station. A building that caught my interest years ago is a C&O Railway building in Thurman WV.
• A rail and tie storage yard.
• A bridge parts yard.